MOSCOW, May 18 (RIA Novosti) - Russia needs open competition on the U.S. nuclear market, not concessions, the head of Russia's nuclear agency said Thursday.
Sergei Kiriyenko is set to visit the United States May 18-24 to hold talks with U.S. companies and the Department of Energy, in particular with regard to restrictions on Russian companies on the U.S. market.
"In the United States, we will certainly discuss the lifting of discriminatory restrictions on access to the U.S. market for Russian nuclear products and services. We need no indulgences - we need open competition on this market," Kiriyenko said.
Russia is currently allowed to operate on the U.S. market only through special intermediary agents, and restrictions on imports from Russia of low-enriched uranium have been in force since the Soviet era.
Difficulties began in 1991 when Russia started supplying a large amount of natural uranium to clients worldwide, including the U.S., bringing down prices and provoking anti-dumping procedures.
