[NYTr] Arabs Propose Uranium Alliance

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com

Arabs Propose Uranium Alliance

Dubai, Nov 2 (Prensa Latina) The six states of the Persian Gulf
proposed creating a consortium to guarantee enriched uranium to
countries of the Middle East, including Iran, announced Saudi Arabia
chancellor, Saud al Faisal. 

In declarations to the Middle East Economic Digest (MEED), he said
that the Islamic Republic considered the proposal interesting and was
studying the issue. "We hope the Iranians accept," he said. 

The Saudi chancellor added that talks continue with Persian authorities
concerning the need to view this issue not only from an energy
perspective but also regarding interests of security in the region. 

Al Faisal explained that the initiative foresees the construction of an
atomic plant in a neutral country, Switzerland for example that would
be in charge of distributing the uranium to any installation in the
Middle East according to their needs. 

Iranian president Mahmud Ahmadineyad announced on October 24 the
willingness of his government to set up consortiums with other nations
to use the new installations for the production of energy. He pointed
out that the project intends to supply the Islamic Republic network
with 20 thousand megawatts from nuclear plants and the association
could be based in the Persian state or any other part of the world. He
added that during his recent visit to New York several nations
expressed interest in participating. 

Ahmadineyad affirmed that the Republic of Islam has the technology to
establish these consortium with other nations and will not permit
anyone to interfere in the issue or who may "intend to eliminate the
nuclear rights" of Teheran. hr/jcd/avp/mf