Global Security Newswire

Bahrain yesterday joined an international program intended to prevent nuclear terrorism as it signed a civilian nuclear cooperation deal with the United States, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, Jan. 30).

Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa endorsed the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism in a diplomatic note to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, making Bahrain the 67th nation to join the effort since it was established in 2006, the State Department said.

The country's involvement, the State Department said, demonstrates Bahrain's commitment to ensuring "that sensitive nuclear-related materials stay out of the hands of the most dangerous individuals."

Rice and Khalid signed a memorandum of understanding stated their nations' willingness to cooperate in civilian nuclear energy development.  The State Department called the deal a "tangible expression of the United States' desire to cooperate with states in the Middle East, and elsewhere, that want to develop peaceful nuclear power in a manner consistent with the highest standards of safety, security and nonproliferation."

Nations open to such cooperation "serve as models for the responsible pursuit of the benefits of nuclear technology," the department said.  "This MOU reflects Bahrain's commitment to serve as a model in the region."

"Bahrain affirmed its intention to forgo sensitive fuel cycle technologies and rely on existing international markets for nuclear fuel," the U.S. statement added, noting that its approach "stands in direct contrast to Iran's nuclear activities" (Agence France-Presse I/Google News, March 24).

Meanwhile, Russia and Egypt signed an agreement today allowing Moscow to bid for a contract to build the first planned civilian nuclear power plant in Egypt, AFP reported.

Egyptian Energy Minister Hassan Younis and Russian nuclear energy agency head Sergei Kiriyenko signed the agreement at the home of Russian President Vladimir Putin (Agence France-Presse II/Google News, March 25).

Elsewhere, Turkey called on companies yesterday to file bids for a contract to build the country's first nuclear power station, AFP reported.

The 4,000-megawatt facility would be constructed at Akkuyu in southern Turkey, the Anatolia News Agency reported.

"I have officially launched the tender process today.  This is the start of a very important and positive process for our country's future," Anatolia quoted Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler as saying (Agence France-Presse III/Spacewar.com, March 24).