Posted on 09/07/2007 10:29:51 AM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
RUSSIA has promised it will not use Australian uranium for its nuclear weapons program or sell it on to rogue states.
Central to talks between Prime Minister John Howard and Russian President Vladimir Putin today was a nuclear cooperation agreement that will allow Russia to buy Australian uranium for its expanding atomic energy program.
Mr Putin today became the first Russian or Soviet leader to visit Australia when he flew in for the APEC leaders' summit, beginning tomorrow.
His arrival in Australia follows a similar historic visit to Indonesia, where the two nations struck a deal worth $1.2 billion to sell Russian weaponry to Jakarta.
Analysts are worried about what that deal could mean for a regional arms race and whether it could leave Australia vulnerable.
Mr Putin defended the agreement with Indonesia as open and transparent, explaining it would not disturb the equilibrium in the region.
"Indonesia is a fully fledged member of the international community. Thank God, the country is under no sanctions, therefore the purchase or selling of weapons on international markets cannot be restricted ... These are legal and open transactions and they lead to no negative consequences in the world," he told reporters.
"They do not disturb any balance."
Both Mr Howard and Mr Putin insisted there would be no negative consequences from Australia's uranium deal with Russia.
Mr Howard said it would update current arrangements, which allow Russia to process Australian uranium for sale to another country agreed by Australia but not use it for its own domestic use.
The prime minister rejected suggestions Russia could use the Australian yellowcake to further its weapons program, either directly or by freeing up Russian uranium for the military.
"Any uranium that is sold to Russia will be sold subject to very strict safeguards," Mr Howard said.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
So all that means is that the uranium from Australia will free up uranium from other places to be used for nefarious purposes. Yep, I was born yesterday.
My first thot as well. Guess we were both born yesterday.
Yup. But some will believe it.
Yep Tailgunner, looks like a Lot of us were born yesterday. I can’t believe anyone actually buys into this crap. Or maybe it is easier to turn a blind eye. Put your fingers in your ears and sing La La La, and cover your eyes. That ought to make it go away.
I think a whole lot of people are going to get a wake up call soon. Things cannot carry on the way they have been. Something is ready to break. And I don’t think it is fixable.
Trust, but verify.
Well, if they vow, that’s good enough for us.
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