Canada, UAE sign nuclear cooperation agreement
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E-mail Xinhua, September 19, 2012
OTTAWA, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Canada and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed an agreement here on Tuesday to start civilian nuclear cooperation.
The agreement will allow companies in Canada's nuclear industry to deal with designated civilian nuclear installations in the UAE under safeguards by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
In accordance with Canada's non-proliferation policy, nuclear items can only be exported to countries that meet several requirements, which include assurances that such items will be used solely for "peaceful, non-explosive end-uses" and that they will be subject to "adequate physical protection measures to ensure that they are not stolen or otherwise misused."
Canada must also have control over both the storage and subsequent use of any separated plutonium, as well as the high enrichment of Canadian uranium and the subsequent storage and use of the highly enriched uranium.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Ministry said the UAE has met the conditions by implementing a comprehensive nuclear safety regime and regulatory framework designed to ensure that all nuclear-related installations are operated safely.
UAE Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan hailed the agreement as a "model" for Iran, which is locked in a standoff with the West over its nuclear program.
"It's unfortunate that other countries - and here obviously I'm talking about Iran - do not look at the bigger picture when it comes to civilian nuclear programs," he said.
The UAE is Canada's largest export market in the Middle East, and the nuclear cooperation agreement can help the Persian Gulf country "meet its growing energy needs," said Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird.
Canada's nuclear energy industry generates an annual revenue of about five billion U.S. dollars and receives one billion dollars a year from uranium exports.
Also on Tuesday, Canada and the UAE planed to establish a joint business council to deepen trade ties and strengthen bilateral cooperation following a chill between the two countries that developed in 2010 when Canada refused to grant extra landing rights to two major UAE commercial airlines.
The Gulf nation responded by evicting the Canadian Forces from its military base outside Dubai, which was used as a staging ground for the Canadian mission in Afghanistan, and imposing a visa requirement on Canadians visiting the UAE.
While Canada hasn't budged on the landing rights issue, Al Nahyan indicated that the visa requirement for Canadians might be phased out. Enditem
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