Experts urge Iraq to get peaceful nuclear reactors

ARBIL / IraqiNews.com: An international expert called on Iraq to get nuclear reactors for peaceful uses, asserting that Iranian reactors do not threaten Arab countries. “Arab counties seek to have nuclear reactors for peaceful purposes to generate electricity,” Werner Burkart, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, told IraqiNews.com news agency. “The United Arab Emirates has signed a $20 billion deal as the first country to use a nuclear reactor for peaceful uses,” he said, addling that Egypt and Jordan also seek to have nuclear reactors. He wished that Iraq could have one of these reactors, asserting that its neighbors are working in that direction. “Iran is working on Boushahr reactor near the Iraqi territories,” he said, pointing out that the reactor is intended for peaceful uses only and its under the supervision of the IAEA. “The international community has no fears from the Iranian reactor near borders with Iraq,” he said. The UN Security Council on Wednesday gave Iraq a green light to develop a civilian nuclear program, ending 19-year-old restrictions aimed at preventing the country from developing atomic weapons. The 15-nation council also approved two other resolutions, one ending the controversial oil-for-food program and another calling for an end as of June 30, 2011 to all immunities protecting Baghdad from claims related to the period in which former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was in power. Meanwhile, Arab experts said that the peaceful uses of the nuclear power are important for Arab countries. This came during their participation in the 10th Arab Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, which will end today in the city of Arbil. The conference was attended by Iraqi and Arab representatives of relevant energy organizations, academics and officials including Kurdistan RegionG prime minister Barham Salih. “The peaceful uses of Atomic Energy are so important in solving the food problems and the Arab countries need to invade the nuclear technology field and benefit from it to overcome solve problems like water scarcity, water desalination and the increase of agricultural and livestock production,” he said, underlining that the Arab countries have the human, financial and natural capabilities to enter this field, but it needs only a political decision in this regard. Head of the Jordan‘s Nuclear Power Agency, Mahmoud al-Kahela, told IraqiNews.com news agency that his country suffers from lack of power and water resources, noting that the use of the nuclear power will benefit the whole region. SH (I)/SR 480