Indo-US 'N' deal a matter of India's internal policy now: Russia

New Delhi, Jun 17 (UNI) On the eve of the crucial meeting of the UPA-Left over the Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement, Russia today said the deal was useful for India and would open doors for Indo-Russian cooperation in nuclear technology.

''In my personal view, the Indo-US nuclear deal is useful for India. But it is for India to decide to what extent... I hope sooner or later this deal will be signed probably with some modifications,'' Russian Ambassador to India V I Trubnikov said at a press conference after inaugurating the press section of the Russian Information Centre (RIC) here.

The Ambassador said the Indo-US nuclear deal was now more a matter of India's ''internal policy'' rather than external and it was now for India to decide how to reach an agreement useful for the country and its partners.

He said sooner or later, India would join the international community in peaceful uses of nuclear energy. He hoped that India would be able to find a way out of the present situation.

''It will open doors for India-Russsia cooperation in the nuclear sphere...,'' he said.

Referring to India's record in nuclear non-proliferation and development, Mr Trubnikov hoped the country would be able to find a solution to the problem. ''I am optimistic that sooner or later they will find aa solution,'' he added.

Expressing satisfaction at the current level of cooperation between India and Russia in the nuclear field, the Ambassador said Russia would fulfil all its obligations as per its internal and international laws and IAEA guidelines.

The second stage of the Kudunkulam nuclear power plant would be completed by the end of this year.

''We continue the cooperation and are prepared to carry it on,'' he added.

To a question on Iran's nuclear programme, the Ambassador said he could not say that Russia supported Iran but it agreed with Tehran's legal right to have modern nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

''We will support Iran to the extent of fulfilling its expectations for lawful and legal sharing of nuclear technologies.

But we can't support any effort to develop any military technology,'' he asserted.

He said Russia tried to persuade Iran to comply with the IAEA guidelines and upto now they had complied. Although sometimes there were reports to the contrary, there was no proof of Iran building military capabilities.

''We definitely favour diplomatic ways of resolving the issue and no use of force. We are for a serious dialogue...,'' he said.

India, too, had been sticking to that line, he said adding that Russsia could not violate international guildelines as it was a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG.) UNI RB RR CS1717