The Australian Conservation Foundation has welcomed a Federal Parliamentary committee report that recommends the Federal Government not proceed with an international treaty to permit uranium exports to Russia.

The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties recommends the proposed treaty be subject to a range of fundamental pre-conditions, including Russian compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) by 2010 and independent verification that its military and civilian nuclear industries are not linked.

“Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith should recognise that Russia’s recent threats to attack Poland with nuclear weapons and its decision to engage in warfare with Georgia should disqualify Russia from purchasing Australian uranium,” said ACF Nuclear Free Campaigner, David Noonan.

“The onus is on Russia to demonstrate compliance with its NPT nuclear disarmament obligations and to observe international law – including in its behaviour toward neighbouring states.

“Scrapping this flawed treaty, proposed by former Prime Minister Howard and Russian President Putin, will strengthen Prime Minister Rudd’s Nuclear Disarmament Commission in its aim to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

“This report gives the Federal Government an opportunity to pause and review Australia’s bilateral uranium sales agreements to ensure they are in accordance with the Government’s election policy commitment to strengthen rather than weaken Australia’s policy and practice on nuclear safeguards.”

The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties report follows US President Bush’s recent withdrawal of support for a proposed USA-Russia nuclear cooperation treaty.  Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s new International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament is expected to be launched next month.