Russia and Azerbaijan should Solve Problem of Detained Cargo for Bushehr Nuclear Power Station: U.S. State Department

The Azerbaijani and Russian governments should solve the transit problem of the cargo for the Bushehr nuclear power station in Iran which has been detained on 29 March in the Astara region on Azerbaijan-Iran border. Shon McCormack, the spokesman of U.S. State Department said to the media, ITAR-TASS reported.  

"The two countries should find a way out of the situation in line with the commitments laid down by all the resolutions of the UN Security Council calling for the prohibition of any transit materials that can be used for illegal purposes," he said.

According to PRIME TASS, McCormack also added that the U.S. does not have grounds to suspect that the cargo detained by Azerbaijan is transported contrary to the UN SC resolution.

According to Russian Atomstroyexport, the equipment exported to Bushehr according to contract on constructing nuclear power station in Bushehr went through all export control procedures.

There were no any violations while transit of Russian equipment for the nuclear power station in Bushehr through Azerbaijan. Valentin Sobolev, the acting secretary of Security Council of Russian Federation said to media.

The cargo for the nuclear power station in Bushehr, transported from Russia to Iran, was detained at the customs point in Astara on the Azerbaijan-Iran border on 29 March. The cargo is reported to have been detained due special permission not having been obtained from the Azerbaijani government for its transit. 

The official Moscow has not yet responded to the inquiry made by Azerbaijan regarding the type of cargo which belongs to Atomstroyeksport, the contractors for the construction of nuclear power station in Bushehr.  The Atomstroyexport cargo, supplied for the nuclear power station in Bushehr, does not have a dual purpose and is not nuclear material, Irina Yesipova, the press secretary of Atomstroyexport said to Trend earlier.

Atomstroyexport is currently solving the problem together with the Russian Embassy in Azerbaijan,' she said.

Iran believes that the detention of cargo of equipment on Azerbaijan-Iran border meant for nuclear power station in Bushehr is due to the custom problems and Iran believes that it will be solved soon, Nasir Hamidi Zare, the Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan said to Trend earlier.