US, Russia want to give all access to nuclear power-Putin

ST PETERSBURG, Russia, July 15 (Reuters) The United States and Russia want to create a system to give all states access to nuclear power while guarding against proliferation of nuclear weapons, Russian President Vladimir Putin said today.

President Putin, speaking after talks with U S George W Bush, told a news conference a joint initiative envisaged the creation of international enrichment centres under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

''We have adopted a joint statement based on our separate initiatives on safe development of nuclear energy,'' he said.

''Its main goal is to facilitate stable and reliable supply of all sorts of energy together with reducing the threat of nuclear proliferation. We believe this will become possible after the creation of international enrichment centres united into a single network under strict IAEA control,'' he added.

Reuters AK VV1450