Japan to seek final talks over nuke cooperation deal with Russia

TOKYO, Jan. 17 Kyodo -
The Japanese government plans to send senior officials to Moscow possibly later
in the month for final-stage negotiations toward concluding a bilateral civil
nuclear cooperation agreement with Russia, government sources said Saturday.
The move is part of Japan's efforts to seek settlement of the matter when
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's planned visit to Japan is realized --
although the date is not yet set -- taking into consideration that Putin is
placing importance on the energy area.
The Japanese government's initial blueprint was to conclude the nuclear deal,
which is expected to pave the way for Japan to export the latest nuclear
electric power generation plant to Russia, if Putin had visited Japan by the
end of last year.
But his visit has not been realized as the impact of the global financial
crisis on Russia's economy has kept him busy, also putting the nuclear talks at
a standstill.
In past negotiations, Japan and Russia have been at odds over the International
Atomic Energy Agency's involvement, with Japan demanding the agency's ''strict
examination'' of Russia's nuclear facilities to confirm that the plant Japan
will export will be used for peaceful purposes, and Russia showing reluctance
by insisting that the country is already a nuclear power, the sources said.
As Japan will field its own candidate in the fall election for the next head of
the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the government is expected to continue to press
Russia to accept the demand so it can gain support from other countries in the
election.
Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso is hoping Putin's visit is realized
at an early date, with sources close to him saying such an event will help lift
the public perception of his administration, which is seeing low support
ratings.
==Kyodo