Sarkozy: Trust Arab states with N-power
Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi and French President Nicolas Sarkozy on his arrival at Bab Azizia Palace in Tripoli, Libya.26 July 2007
Tripoli: After agreeing to nuclear cooperation with Libya, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the West should trust Arab states to develop such technology for peaceful purposes or risk a war of civilisations.
France agreed on Wednesday to help Libya develop a nuclear reactor to supply drinking water from desalinated sea water. The reactor might be supplied by French atomic energy firm Areva. Sarkozy told reporters in Libya that to consider the Arab world "is not sensible enough to use civilian nuclear power" would, in the long run, risk a "war of civilisations".
"Nuclear power is the energy of the future," he said. "If we don't give the energy of the future to the countries of the southern Mediterranean, how will they develop themselves? And if they don't develop, how will we fight terrorism and fanaticism?"
Respecting rules
Many Mideast countries are interested in developing atomic energy resources. Claude Gueant, Sarkozy's chief of staff, noted the nuclear cooperation deal means "a country that respects international rules can obtain civilian nuclear energy". Sarkozy denied any link between the nuclear deal and the release this week of six foreign medical workers who spent eight years in Libyan jails and were convicted of infecting hundreds of children with HIV.
Saudi Arabia, along with GCC partners UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar announced a joint project for peaceful nuclear energy, mainly for water desalination, last December. Egypt is also looking to revive its nuclear programme to meet energy needs.
Tripoli: After agreeing to nuclear cooperation with Libya, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the West should trust Arab states to develop such technology for peaceful purposes or risk a war of civilisations.
France agreed on Wednesday to help Libya develop a nuclear reactor to supply drinking water from desalinated sea water. The reactor might be supplied by French atomic energy firm Areva. Sarkozy told reporters in Libya that to consider the Arab world "is not sensible enough to use civilian nuclear power" would, in the long run, risk a "war of civilisations".
"Nuclear power is the energy of the future," he said. "If we don't give the energy of the future to the countries of the southern Mediterranean, how will they develop themselves? And if they don't develop, how will we fight terrorism and fanaticism?"
Respecting rules
Many Mideast countries are interested in developing atomic energy resources. Claude Gueant, Sarkozy's chief of staff, noted the nuclear cooperation deal means "a country that respects international rules can obtain civilian nuclear energy". Sarkozy denied any link between the nuclear deal and the release this week of six foreign medical workers who spent eight years in Libyan jails and were convicted of infecting hundreds of children with HIV.
Saudi Arabia, along with GCC partners UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar announced a joint project for peaceful nuclear energy, mainly for water desalination, last December. Egypt is also looking to revive its nuclear programme to meet energy needs.
posted by HRM Deborah of Israel and the Messenger of Peace at 7:39 AM
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