India and Russia plan to sign a nuclear reactor purchase agreement when Russian President Dimitry Medvedev visits New Delhi in December, the Indo-Asian News Service reported yesterday (see GSN, Nov. 17).
The nuclear deal calls for Moscow to build four power reactors at Kudankulam, already the site of two Russian-provided power plants under construction (see GSN, Feb. 13). The agreement, initialed earlier this year, was eased in September when the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group reduced nuclear export restrictions against India (see GSN, Sept. 8).
"We hope to expand civil nuclear cooperation. All the formalities are done," Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon said yesterday (Indo-Asian News Service/Hindustan Times, Nov. 17).