Arab Nations Plan Nuclear Meeting Next Week

Representatives from six Arab nations plan to meet with International Atomic Energy Agency officials next week to discuss their plans to study development of nuclear technology, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Jan. 22).

The Gulf Cooperation Council — consisting of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — announced its nuclear intentions last year (see GSN, Dec. 15, 2006), and GCC representatives have scheduled IAEA meetings for Feb. 22, according to AP.

The nuclear plans are strictly peaceful, according to the council’s top official.

“Nuclear technology is legal as long as it’s for peaceful purposes:  for electricity, desalination and agriculture,” said GCC Secretary General Abdul Rahman al-Attiyah. 

The IAEA meetings would ensure that the development of nuclear technology would be “a transparent process, within international standards,” he added.  “We are re going to meet them and talk to them about the framework and frames of reference for the study” (James Calderwood, Associated Press/PlantSave.com, Feb. 11).

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