US questions Myanmar nuclear deal with Russia

Washington, May 17: The United States expressed concern about a deal between Myanmar and Russia for a nuclear research reactor in the Asian nation, which it said lacked a regulatory framework for such a programme.

Under the deal, Russia would build a 10-megawatt, low-enriched uranium reactor as part of a center for nuclear research in the poor country formerly known as Burma.

State Department spokesman Tom Casey said he had ''no idea'' what Russia's motivation was for the agreement, made public yesterday.

''Burma has neither the regulatory nor the legal framework or safeguard provisions or other kinds of things that you would expect or want to see for a country to be able to handle successfully a nuclear programme of this type,'' Casey said.

''It's not a good idea,'' he added.

Casey said Myanmar did not, for example, have a nuclear regulatory commission or safeguards in place to prevent accidents, environmental damage or proliferation.

One risk was that nuclear fuel could be diverted, stolen or otherwise removed because of a lack of accounting or other procedures in place to prevent this, Casey said.

''There certainly would have to be a heck of a lot more work done by the Burmese before I think we would feel comfortable that they could safely deal with having a nuclear facility of this type on their soil,'' said Casey.

The United States has been strongly critical of the ruling junta in Myanmar for its human rights record and particularly for its continued arrest of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.

Russia, along with China, has become a major supporter and supplier of arms to Myanmar's junta.

Reuters>