UAE | General

Consultant yet to be picked for N-project

The International Atomic Energy Agency has agreed to provide technical expertise to Gulf Cooperation Council countries to develop a common and single nuclear energy power grid, Abdul Rahman Hamad Al Attiya, Secretary-General of the Council, said yesterday.

  • By Nissar Hoath, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:00 March 6, 2007
  • Gulf News

  • Officials during a panel discussion on the opening day of the ECSSR 12th Annual Conference on Arabian Gulf Security-Internal and External Challenges in Abu Dhabi.
  • Image Credit: Ravindranath/Gulf News

Abu Dhabi: The International Atomic Energy Agency has agreed to provide technical expertise to Gulf Cooperation Council countries to develop a common and single nuclear energy power grid, Abdul Rahman Hamad Al Attiya, Secretary-General of the Council, said yesterday.

Al Attiya said his meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Chief Dr Mohammad Al Baradei last month in Vienna was successful.

"My meeting with the IAEA was in accordance with the GCC 2006 Riyadh Accord, requiring the Agency to consider a feasibility report on peaceful nuclear energy for GCC countries," he said on the sidelines of the 12th Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research annual conference on Arabian Gulf Security-Internal and External Challenges.

Al Attiya said he briefed Al Baradei about the GCC's peaceful nuclear energy programme.

"The IAEA has agreed to provide us with technical expertise and experts working jointly with our experts, and accordingly set up a framework, and set terms and conditions and all points required for the study of the project," he said.

Transparency

When asked about the time frame for the completion of the project, the GCC official said he was not sure how long would it take, but the initiative has been taken.

"Today I'm meeting all the GCC Foreign Ministers and I will submit a report on the Vienna meeting and its outcome. As soon as the ministers approve the report, our experts, with the help of the IAEA, will start the work," he said.

He said after the approval of the report, GCC experts will discuss a feasibility report with IAEA experts to consider the collective GCC peaceful nuclear programme.

Regarding the appointment of a consultant firm for the project, Al Attiya said: "We have not appointed a consultant yet, but we will have our peaceful programme in accordance with international criteria and full transparency."

Bloc opposes military action against Iran

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) strongly opposes any military confrontation with Iran over its nuclear issue, Abdul Rahman Hamad Al Attiya, Secretary General of the Council said yesterday.

"We all in the GCC collectively reject any attack or military confrontation with Iran over its nuclear issue," said Al Attiya.

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