http://www.arabtimesonline.com/arabtimes/world/Viewdet.asp?ID=8771&cat=a
IRAN, ISRAEL URGED TO COOPERATE; GCC calls for joint N-tech study; Oman opts off coin RIYADH (Agencies): Gulf Arab countries want to acquire nuclear energy capability and have ordered a study on a possible joint atomic programme, a statement read on Sunday at the close of a two-day Gulf Cooperation Council summit said. "The countries of the region have the right to nuclear energy technology for peaceful purposes," said Abdul-Rahman al-Attiya, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The statement comes amid concerns over Iran's nuclear ambitions and suspicions that Israel has nuclear weapons. The statement called on Iran to cooperate with the international community over its nuclear energy programme, which Western countries led by the United States suspect is aimed at acquiring atomic weapons. Tehran says the programme is peaceful. It also called on Israel to cooperate with international bodies over its nuclear energy facilities. Saudi officials have said a nuclear Iran could spur a regional arms race, hinting that Saudi Arabia, a key US ally, could look to acquire the technology too. The GCC statement said its nuclear programme would be aimed at meeting energy needs. "The higher committee ordered a GCC-wide study to be carried out to create a joint programme in nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, according to international standards and arrangements," he said, reading a closing statement. At least six Arab countries are developing domestic nuclear power programmes to diversify energy sources, the Middle East Economic Digest reported last month. It said Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco and Algeria have shown interest in developing nuclear power primarily for water desalination. Similar plans by the United Arab Emirates and Tunisia were only at an early stage, it said. The GCC, which groups Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, has said it is worried about environmental damage from an Iranian nuclear plant on the other side of the Gulf waterway. But Gulf governments, led by Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, also want to check what they view as the creeping influence of Shi'ite power Iran in the Arab region through support for Lebanon's Hezbollah, Shi'ite parties in Iraq and Tehran's alliance with Damascus. "We hope that our statements (on the study) will not be misunderstood," Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, told reporters after the announcement. "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." The US and some allies allege Tehran is secretly developing nuclear weapons and are pressing for sanctions against the Shiite Muslim country. But Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, and its hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has repeatedly vowed to press on with enrichment. The Persian nation's first reactor in Bushehr --- just across the Gulf waters from Kuwait and the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia --- is projected to go on line in late 2007. Officials in the Sunni-led Gulf nations have previously focused on safety issues involving the program, but they also are concerned about a possible military clash between the United States and its ally Israel and Tehran. The Gulf Countries with US military bases --- Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar --- fear Iran could retaliate against them. On Sunday, the Gulf leaders reiterated their position that the standoff with Iran should be "resolved peacefully." The Gulf Arab leaders Sunday also urged the Iraqi government to immediately disband militias and called for non-interference in Iraq's internal affairs, in an apparent reference to Iran. The leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council 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 a statement. The six heads of state 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. Meanwhile, Oman has opted not to join a single Gulf Arab currency by 2010, dealing the biggest setback yet to plans to create a European-style monetary union in the world's top oil exporting region. The other five Gulf Arab states could extend the 2010 deadline if they face more obstacles, Saudi Finance Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf said on Sunday. Oman will not be ready for currency union in time, Assaf said, confirming a comment by an official from the GCC. "Oman has opted out, because it will not be ready," he said. The other five countries are still working towards the 2010 deadline and have agreed on most of the details of the project, Assaf told reporters after a regional summit in Riyadh. "If we face other issues or obstacles, then the timeframe may be extended," Assaf said. The six countries had agreed five criteria for economic union including capping budget deficits at 3 percent of gross domestic product, public debt at 60 percent of GDP and inflation at the GCC average plus 2 percent. Interest rates are to be no higher than the average of the lowest three states plus 2 percent, and countries must have foreign exchange reserves to cover four to six months of imports. Oman's central bank governor raised the first public questions about the 2010 deadline last month when he said Oman was dissatisfied with the progress made so far. A GCC official, who asked not to be named, then said on Saturday Oman had opted to join at a later date. "It's a blow to the union not to have all the member states inside it," said Simon Williams, an economist at HSBC in Dubai. "The interesting thing will be to see if others will step back and reconsider. The next six months will be key, and they need to make concrete progress." Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates are still committed to the 2010 deadline, Assaf said. "We are still continuing the coordination of our action toward monetary union ... Of course 2010 is still the targeted deadline." However, even Saudi Arabia, the region's largest economy, feels the 2010 deadline is ambitious, Assaf said. Asked whether it meant Saudi Arabia could not meet the criteria for monetary union he replied: "It's very ambitious." +++ -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? 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