UAE and US agree on peaceful nuclear use

(AFP)   

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has signed a memorandum of understanding on co-operation on the peaceful use of nuclear energy with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Bahrain.

Commenting on Monday’s signing, Sheikh Abdullah said: “The MoU represents an excellent example of co-operation the UAE hopes to forge with responsible nuclear supplier states in the area of peaceful nuclear energy. There are mutual benefits to both parties from deepening ties in the development of the UAE’s domestic nuclear energy sector.”

The foreign minister further welcomed the prospect of negotiating a more extensive bilateral agreement for peaceful nuclear co-operation (known as Section 123 Agreement in the United States), which would establish the necessary legal basis for trade in significant nuclear commodities between the two countries.

The signing follows the public launch of the detailed policy document by the UAE on the evaluation and potential development of peaceful nuclear energy. The UAE policy is based upon the principles of complete operational transparency and the highest standards of safety, security and non-proliferation.

It also contains a number of commitments and strategies designed to ensure these principles would be upheld by any UAE domestic nuclear programme, including a pledge to forego any domestic enrichment or reprocessing capability in favour of long-term external fuel supply arrangements.

The UAE policy also calls for close co-ordination with the IAEA, as well as co-operation with the governments and firms of responsible nuclear supplier nations. Sheikh Abdullah presented to his US counterpart a diplomatic note endorsing the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism.

The UAE is the 67th nation to join the initiative, which is a network of partner nations working to address all aspects of nuclear terrorism threat. (Wam)