Russia, US expect more civilian nuke cooperation

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President George W. Bush are expected to make progress at next week's meeting toward an agreement on civilian nuclear power, a Western official and analysts said. The two leaders have been promoting nuclear energy as a clean alternative and made similar proposals earlier this year on providing nuclear power to developing countries while building in safeguards for nonproliferation. "I think it is possible you're going to see further discussion of how to advance that cooperation" at the presidents' meeting on the eve of the Group of Eight summit that starts Saturday in St. Petersburg, a Western diplomat said Friday, speaking on condition of anonymity.