Russia-Iran discuss issues surrounding Bushehr n-power plant

Moscow, Apr 22 (UNI) An Iranian delegation, led by Atomic Energy Organisation deputy director Ahmad Fayazbakhsh, will hold talks today with the Russian side on settling the financial issues surrounding the Bushehr nuclear power plant.

''The central issue is the timely and complete financing of the final stage in the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant,'' the spokesperson for Atomstroiexport, the Russian contractor company, Irina Yesipova told Interfax news agency.

The head of Atomstroiexport Sergei Shmatko was leading the Russian delegation at the talks, Yesipova said, adding it was not clear how long the negotiations will continue.

Russian-Iranian consultations on resolving the financial issues surrounding the construction of Bushehr power plant started on March 7 and both sides have continued to discuss the problem alternately in Moscow and Teheran, so far, without finding a final solution.

Earlier, Russia accused Iran of failing to make payments for the construction since mid-January, saying the project had only received 60 per cent of the required funding by the fourth quarter of 2006.

Ahead of the talks in Moscow, Iran said only eight per cent of the work remained to be done and that ''this year its construction will be completed.'' UNI