MOSCOW, Jan. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed on Wednesday setting up a global network of nuclear fuel cycle services including enrichment to meet the growing demand fornuclear energy.

    Russia "is prepared to set up an international center of this kind on its territory," Putin was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying, adding that the network must be supervised by the International Atomic Energy Agency and be accessible on a non-discriminatory basis.

    The demand for sustained energy supplies is growing steadily while shortages of organic fuels and environmental problems have become key issues on the international agenda, Putin said.

    If the network is to be created, next-generation technologies will be required to build reactors and their fuel cycles, and these tasks can be only tackled with broad international cooperation, the Russian leader said.

    Russia is helping Iran build its first nuclear power plant and has proposed that uranium enrichment -- the most sensitive part of the nuclear fuel cycle -- be carried out under a joint venture on the former Soviet republic's soil. Enditem