Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said here on Thursday evening
that Egypt will continue its scientific research to develop
peaceful nuclear technology regardless of its high cost.
Developing nuclear energy program was for the future of the
country and the Egyptians, said Mubarak at the closing session of a
three-day fourth annual conference of the ruling National
Democratic Party (NDP).
"We must augment our benefit from the sources of new and
renewable energy including the peaceful use of nuclear energy,"
said Mubarak, whose country started very limited nuclear
technological research in 1957.
He called for holding a serious dialogue that takes into
consideration what the clean and cheap sources provided by nuclear
technology, "especially as we do not start from zero, we have the
knowledge of this technology that allows us to proceed from
there."
"Whichever way this dialogue ends, we will proceed with it
simple mentation without hesitation, prompted by a conviction that
the future of energy is a key element in building the future of the
nation and that the issues of energy are part and parcel of the
ruling system of Egypt's national security," he added.
Mubarak's remarks came after Gamal Mubarak, his son who was also
NDP's powerful Assistant Secretary General and Policies Secretary,
repeatedly called on Egypt to develop peaceful nuclear technology
since the beginning of the NDP conference.
Gamal Mubarak said that international agreements allowed
signatories, if they were willing to, the right to possess peaceful
nuclear energy and Egypt has signed the Non-Proliferation
Treaty.
Gamal, 42, said the NDP considered energy as a pillar of
development, adding that the issue of peaceful nuclear energy has
been under discussion for a year.
Gamal said that President Mubarak has asked for drawing up a
working paper on energy, which was materialized in the working
paper drafted by the party.
Mubarak and his son's remarks came against a backdrop of
regional tensions owing to the nuclear dispute between Tehran and
Washington, which alleged Iran of trying to develop military
nuclear program under the disguise of peaceful nuclear
activities.
But US ambassador to Egypt Francis Ricciardone told local
television earlier in the day in an interview that the US would be
fine with Egypt's hope to develop nuclear program. The US could
even cooperate with Egypt if it decided to develop nuclear energy,
Ricciardone said.
Also in his speech, Mubarak, 78, said that the Middle East
region was witnessing attempts to impose a new regional reality, in
a reference to US policies to remake the Middle East. "Latest
developments have highlighted the dangerous situation in our
region," he said, citing the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, the
deteriorating situation in the Palestinian lands and the
developments in Iraq, Darfur and the Horn of Africa region.
"The failure and stalemate of the peace process is the core of
the Mideast problems," Mubarak said, calling on the international
powers to admit this fact and to seriously and fairly deal with the
issue.
Any talk about a greater or new Middle East ignores this
reality, and any talk about war on terror must be linked to talk on
the causes and roots of terror, Mubarak said, vowing to pursue
efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region.
"We will defend our vision for the future of the region... and
will not allow any attempts to tarnish our Arab identity," said
Mubarak, who has ruled the most populous Arab nation since
1981.
(Xinhua News Agency September 22, 2006)
