UAE | General

GCC seeks nuclear energy

The Gulf states reveal that they are considering a shared nuclear programme for peaceful purposes despite Iran facing a standoff with the West over its nuclear ambitions.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 00:00 December 11, 2006
  • Gulf News

  • UAE President Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed of Oman.
  • Image Credit: EPA

Riyadh: The Gulf states announced at the end of the 27th GCC Summit yesterday that they were considering a shared nuclear programme for peaceful purposes.

"The (leaders) commissioned a study by members of the Gulf Cooperation Council to set up a common programme in the area of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, according to international standards and systems," said the final communique of the two-day meeting.

President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed satisfaction with the positive outcome of the summit, WAM reported.

In a cable to King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, after returning to Abu Dhabi, Shaikh Khalifa said the results of the meeting would boost joint GCC action in all domains.

Referring to the plan for nuclear energy, Prince Saud Al Faisal, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, told reporters that the GCC states hope that the statements [on the study] are not misunderstood.

Iran crisis

"This is not a secret and we are doing this out in the open. Our aim is to obtain the technology for peaceful purposes, no more no less."

"We want no bombs ... Our policy is to have a region free from weapons of mass destruction," he added. "This is why we called on Israel to renounce (nuclear weapons)."

The statement read by Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah, GCC secretary general, did not elaborate on the proposed nuclear programme .

The leaders the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar called for a peaceful settlement of the crisis over Iran's nuclear programme.

They also demanded that Israel join the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Violence denounced

The GCC heads of state also urged the Iraqi government to immediately disband militias and called for non-interference in Iraq's internal affairs.

The leaders are "deeply concerned at the deteriorating security situation" in Iraq "and affirm their support for the Iraqi government in confronting these acts, urging it to immediately disband militias and end armed manifestations," they said in the statement.

They stressed the need for "non-interference in Iraq's internal affairs by any party … spreading its political or cultural influence … which is liable to consecrate divisions and sectarianism," the statement said.

Denouncing the political assassinations in Lebanon, the leaders urged dialogue among feuding factions.

They criticised "the resumption of the cycle of violence and political assassinations" in Lebanon, and also stressed the need for the Lebanese to opt for "dialogue and reason in order to overcome the present circumstances," the statement said.

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