UAE- Nuclear deal to be done and dusted in early Dec 

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) The UAE and the US will complete the last formality in their epochal civilian nuclear energy deal — the exchange of diplomatic notes — in the first week of December. It has already been through bilateral executive and legislative processes.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Anwar Gargash, said here on Monday, "The agreement is likely to be notified in the gazette towards the end of November and the diplomatic notes will be exchanged in the first week of December."

He was holding an interactive session with journalists from several countries, on a visit to the UAE for the 38th National Day commemoration on December 2, and spoke on various matters of regional and global concern.

However, the minister declined to say when the UAE would place the order for the first nuclear reactor, saying this aspect was not within the 
purview of his portfolio.

The UAE's first nuclear reactor is expected to go on stream in 2017, Hamad Al Kaabi, the country's representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency had stated recently.

Many companies from countries like the US and France have been pushing for contracts from the UAE. The US-based GE has made its intent known.

Emphasising the UAE would pursue a "peaceful and transparent nuclear programme", the minister said the country would abide by the norms of safety prescribed by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

"Our nuclear programme will be worthy of emulation by other countries in the region, and we will not engage in uranium enrichment," he said before going into a regional matter of global concern.

Dr Gargash said Iran must make its nuclear programmes transparent and accept the proposal of the IAEA and the international community.

On the subject of Iran, he said the country should take the initiative to return the occupied islands — Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa — to the UAE and usher in peace in the region.

"This region has seen too many conflicts, like the Iran-Iraq war, invasion of Kuwait by Iraq, and the war that led to ouster of Saddam Hussein. We cannot afford more conflicts in the region.''

The minister said the UAE was strongly opposed to terrorism and extremism and described these tendencies as "against Islam and detrimental to the interests of the country".

In a related matter, he said the UAE played an active role in establishing peace in Afghanistan and supported Pakistan in combating terrorism.

"In Afghanistan, the UAE's role has been mainly providing inputs for humanitarian efforts," he said. "We are the only Muslim country that has presence in the peacekeeping efforts there since 1983. We have not suffered any injury or casualty."

On the Palestinian issue, he said, "It will be a shame if we are not able to grab the opportunity of having a (US) President who is keen to initiate dialogue with the Muslim world."

Emphasising the need for supporting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the minister said it would be a setback for moderates in Arab world if he had to return empty-handed from the negotiations.

By T Ramavarman