RIGA, April 1 (RIA Novosti) - Latvia's government made a decision on Tuesday to pay $700,000 to Russia for the removal and burial of spent nuclear fuel from the dismantled Salaspils research reactor.

Last year, Latvia and Russia signed an agreement under which spent nuclear fuel from Latvian nuclear reactors would be transported to Russia for burial. Most of the expenses will be paid by the U.S. Department of Energy as Latvia is a party to the U.S. special program for the disposal of nuclear waste from Soviet reactors, the Latvian environmental ministry said.

The Salaspils research reactor halted operations in 2004 and has since been fully dismantled.

The Russian Federal Agency for Nuclear Agency, Rosatom, earlier said the reactor's fuel was produced by Russia.