STOCKHOLM, Aug 5, 2006 -- Xinhua

 

The Norwegian Fisheries Association has asked the Norwegian Government to launch a strong protest against alleged Russian plans to resume nuclear tests on the island of Novaja Semlja in the Barents Sea, said reports reaching here from Oslo on Saturday.

According to Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK), in a recent speech the Russian defense minister opened for the possibility of resuming nuclear tests on the island.

The Russians have also spoken openly about plans for building floating nuclear power plants, and transport spent nuclear fuel on ships along the Norwegian coast for repossession in England and France, NRK reported.

If the plans are carried out, the nuclear tests would be negative for both Norwegian and Russian fisheries industry, said head of the Norwegian Fisheries Association, Reidar Nilsen.

The then Soviet Union tested 132 nuclear bombs on Novaja Semlja from 1955 to 1996, according to the report.

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