MOSCOW, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Russia's president said international uranium enrichment centers should be created under strict regulation to increase global nuclear energy power.
Vladimir Putin also said Tuesday, a day before a visit to India, that nuclear energy is needed to meet global energy demand and should be equally available to others providing nuclear weapons are not created, RIA Novosti reports.
"We believe it is necessary to establish a network of international centers for nuclear fuel enrichment under the control of international organizations," especially the International Atomic Energy Agency, Putin said.
"Within the framework of these centers, in our opinion, equal, non-discriminatory and democratic access must be provided to technologies and materials, while simultaneously complying with the principles and requirements of nonproliferation," he said.
Putin heads to India Wednesday for various negotiations, including on energy cooperation. India is angling for participation on a number of oil and natural gas ventures in Russia. Russia is currently building nuclear reactors in India.
"Our country has done a great deal for the development of the Indian nuclear energy industry," Putin said.
He said any nuclear energy plans must include nonproliferation of nuclear weapons.
