Russia will create an international nuclear fuel cycle services center with the help of France, a senior Russian nuclear official said here on Wednesday.

"Russia will be ready to receive a mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2008-2009," Konstantin Pulikovsky, the head of the Russian technical standards watchdog Rostekhnadzor, said in a meeting with a senior official of the French Atomic Energy Commission.

"The key problem of today is spent nuclear fuel in Europe and Russia. I am ready to promote all approaches France has in order to resolve these issues," Pulikovsky said, according to Rostekhnadzor press service.

Last week, the head of Russia's Federal Atomic Energy Agency, Sergei Kiriyenko, said formalities for converting the Angarsk nuclear plant into an international uranium enrichment center might be completed by Jan. 25, 2007, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

The Russian government has decided to exclude the Angarsk plant from the list of restricted areas, he said.

"This is the first precedent in Russia ever. Ore-dressing plants have always been restricted areas. But the Angarsk is now open to inspectors of the IAEA and representatives of countries, which express the wish to cooperate with the international center, " Kiriyenko said.

The initiative to open international centers, which would give third countries access to peaceful atomic energy technologies but prevent nuclear proliferation, was put forth by President Vladimir Putin, Kiriyenko said.

Source: Xinhua