Lawmakers urge Bush to shelve Russia nuclear deal

Key U.S. lawmakers urged President George W. Bush on Wednesday to shelve a civilian nuclear cooperation pact with Russia until concerns about Russia`s nuclear ties to Iran are cleared up.

Letters from members of the House of Representatives and the Senate expressed widespread unease on Capitol Hill about links between Moscow and Iran. Washington believes the latter harbors ambitions to acquire a nuclear weapon.

"Prior to consideration of this agreement, Congress needs a detailed assessment of Russian assistance to all aspects of Iran`s nuclear and missile programs," said a letter to Bush from Rep. John Dingell, who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Bart Stupak, chairman of the subcommittee on investigations. Both are Michigan Democrats.

In the Senate, a missive to Bush signed by 32 senators said Russia`s "increasingly abrasive foreign policy" was one reason Bush should not send the civilian nuclear cooperation deal to Congress for review.

The letter written by Minnesota Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and Indiana Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh also said Russia`s assistance to Iran`s nuclear fuel cycle program and support for Iran`s ballistic missile program were hurdles to cooperating with Moscow on civilian nuclear technology.

Russia and the United States on Tuesday signed the pact allowing the world`s two biggest atomic powers to boost their nuclear trade. It was initialed by Bush and former Russian President Vladimir Putin two years ago, and it was signed on the last day Putin was in office.

A 123 agreement, so-called because it falls under section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act, is required before countries can cooperate on nuclear materials, such as storing spent fuel, or work together on advanced nuclear reactor programs.

The deal was applauded on Wednesday by the U.S.-Russia Business Council, which said working to develop new technologies with Russia could be "extremely beneficial" to the United States.

CONCERNS ABOUT IRAN

The Bush administration argues the deal could help solve the concerns about Iran by clearing the way for Washington to cooperate with Russia`s offer to host an international uranium enrichment center that would supply nuclear fuel to countries like Iran.

Putin has said that such a uranium enrichment center, a sort of fuel bank, would discourage Iran and other countries from developing nuclear fuel cycle facilities that could be used for covert weapons programs.

The Bush administration is keen to have the pact with Russia go into force this year, its last in office. Once the deal is sent to lawmakers, it would take effect if Congress does not pass a disapproval resolution within 90 days.

But many lawmakers are wary of Russia`s past and present ties with Iran, including its exports of nuclear fuel to Iran`s nuclear power plant at Bushehr.

Dingell and Stupak pointed out that the House was already on record as saying no nuclear cooperation pact should be made with Russia until the U.S. president can report that Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons, or that Russia is no longer assisting with Iran`s nuclear program.

Those requirements were part of a bill that passed the House overwhelmingly last September. A similar bill with some 70 co-sponsors is pending in the Senate.

sections: Politics