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Other arab states seek nuclear technology { November 4 2006 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2436948,00.html http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2436948,00.html November 04, 2006 Six Arab states join rush to go nuclear By Richard Beeston, Diplomatic Editor Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, UAE and Saudi Arabia seek atom technology THE SPECTRE of a nuclear race in the Middle East was raised yesterday when six Arab states announced that they were embarking on programmes to master atomic technology. The move, which follows the failure by the West to curb Iran’s controversial nuclear programme, could see a rapid spread of nuclear reactors in one of the world’s most unstable regions, stretching from the Gulf to the Levant and into North Africa. The countries involved were named by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Saudi Arabia. Tunisia and the UAE have also shown interest. All want to build civilian nuclear energy programmes, as they are permitted to under international law. But the sudden rush to nuclear power has raised suspicions that the real intention is to acquire nuclear technology which could be used for the first Arab atomic bomb. “Some Middle East states, including Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Saudi Arabia, have shown initial interest [in using] nuclear power primarily for desalination purposes,” Tomihiro Taniguch, the deputy director-general of the IAEA, told the business weekly Middle East Economic Digest. He said that they had held preliminary discussions with the governments and that the IAEA’s technical advisory programme would be offered to them to help with studies into creating power plants. Mark Fitzpatrick, an expert on nuclear proliferation at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said that it was clear that the sudden drive for nuclear expertise was to provide the Arabs with a “security hedge”. “If Iran was not on the path to a nuclear weapons capability you would probably not see this sudden rush [in the Arab world],” he said. The announcement by the six nations is a stunning reversal of policy in the Arab world, which had until recently been pressing for a nuclear free Middle East, where only Israel has nuclear weapons. Egypt and other North African states can argue with some justification that they need cheap, safe energy for their expanding economies and growing populations at a time of high oil prices. The case will be much harder for Saudi Arabia, which sits on the world’s largest oil reserves. Earlier this year Prince Saud al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, told The Times that his country opposed the spread of nuclear power and weapons in the Arab world. Since then, however, the Iranians have accelerated their nuclear power and enrichment programmes.

Ahmadinejad ready for nuclear talks { May 2006 } Cia says no proof of nuclear arms { October 2006 } Cnn lied about iran nuclear ambitions Eu considers france overseeing iran nuclear enrichment EU upbeat after iran nuclear talks { June 2006 } Iran allows inspectors before nuclear meeting { January 30 2006 } Iran at least 5 yrs away from nukes says blix { March 2006 } Iran begins small scale uranian enrichment { February 14 2006 } Iran claims to enrich uranium for first time { March 2006 } Iran denies secret nuclear sites { May 28 2003 } Iran drive to nuclear fuel has slowed { May 29 2006 } Iran exaggerating nuclear progress { April 12 2006 } Iran invites US to share in power plant construction Iran lack of nuclear progress worries west { December 2007 } Iran may have halted nuclear program { February 2007 } Iran minimum 9 years away from nuclear bomb Iran nuclear threat contradicted { December 3 2007 } Iran over 10 years from obtaining nuke { August 2 2005 } Iran president says they dont need nuclear arms { January 14 2006 } Iran ready for serious nuclear talks { July 2006 } Iran says western nuke worries are big lie { May 10 2006 } Iran sparked mideast atomic energy interest { May 20 2008 } Iranians puzzled by nuclear accusations { September 8 2003 } Jordan wants to develop nuclear power Middle east following iran lead on nuclear energy { April 15 2007 } Nations doubt iran nuclear progress { April 10 2007 } No proof found of iran arms program { August 23 2005 } Nuclear agency says no imminent threat { March 31 2006 } Nuclear analysts say tehran far from nuclear capabilities { April 13 2006 } Other arab states seek nuclear technology { November 4 2006 } Pentagon says iran 5 years from nuclear bomb { August 31 2006 } Russia threatens iran on nuclear payments { March 13 2007 } Senior intelligence say iran nukes are decade away { April 13 2006 } UN inspects iran nuclear sites after talks { June 2007 } UN nuclear watchdog finds no iran nuclear threat US iran intelligence is incorrect { February 22 2007 } Files Listed: 36

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