[R-G] US, Turkey Agree on Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

If nothing else, the Bush White House can claim that it indeed has
given birth a new Middle East -- totally nuclear, from North Africa to
West Asia! -- Yoshie

<http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=143834>
US, Turkey agree on peaceful nuclear cooperation

Turkey and the United States have started a 15-year nuclear energy
cooperation agreement, according to State Department spokesperson Sean
McCormack.

Turkey and the United States have begun a 15-year nuclear energy
cooperation agreement with the exchange of diplomatic notes by
officials from the two countries.

The two countries agreed to cooperate on civilian nuclear projects
with the "US-Turkey Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation,"
according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry and the US State Department.

Turkey and the US had signed the cooperation agreement in Ankara on
July 26, 2000, but it was only brought into force on Monday due to
problems in the ratification processes, a statement by the Turkish
Foreign Ministry said yesterday.

"The agreement -- mindful of the provisions of the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which both countries have long been
parties, and of the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency's
[IAEA] security inspections in preventing proliferation -- sets up a
framework for the peaceful use, development and inspection of nuclear
energy," the statement said.

The ministry also indicated that the agreement permits the transfer of
technology, information, materials, equipment and components for
nuclear research in such areas as medicine and agriculture, as well as
for nuclear power production.

The agreement does not permit transfers of sensitive nuclear
technology and restricted data. In a similar statement the US State
Department's Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs said: "The
agreement establishes a firm foundation for mutually beneficial
cooperation in the important field of peaceful nuclear energy for many
years to come. It opens up opportunities for US and Turkish nuclear
industries to cooperate in this field."

The agreement has an initial term of 15 years, with a provision for
automatic renewal in increments of five years each unless either party
decides to terminate it. "By bringing the Agreement for Peaceful
Nuclear Cooperation into force, the United States and Turkey have
taken an early step in what they both expect will be a very long and
fruitful partnership in efforts to enhance their energy options and
promote their energy security," the US statement said.

Sedat Laçiner, the head of the Ankara-based International Strategic
Research Organization (ISRO/USAK), told Today's Zaman that the
agreement shows the extent of the trust that the United States has for
Turkey. "Nuclear materials are highly sensitive products. There is a
danger that they can be sold to third countries on the US black list,
such as Iran. So the White House cannot by itself approve selling
nuclear technology. It goes through a process of approval by
Congress," Laçiner said.

He also said American companies have a stronger hand in this agreement
than others, such as French and Canadian firms, which are most
interested in Turkey's nuclear development projects, because the
agreement involves technology transfer, mutual production of materials
and the education of Turkish engineers in the field of nuclear
production. "If other countries' companies cannot provide these
things, American firms will have an upper hand," he said.

In January US President George W. Bush approved a civilian nuclear
cooperation deal with Turkey, saying that private-sector proliferation
worries have been addressed.

Then Bush sent the US Congress a July 2000 agreement, signed by
then-US president Bill Clinton, which would clear the way for
cooperation with Turkey's planned civilian atomic sector.

"In my judgment, entry into force of the agreement will serve as a
strong incentive for Turkey to continue its support for
nonproliferation objectives and enact future sound nonproliferation
policies and practices," Bush said in a letter to lawmakers on Jan.
23. "It will also promote closer political and economic ties with a
NATO ally, and provide the necessary legal framework for US industry
to make nuclear exports to Turkey's planned civil nuclear sector,"
Bush also said.

The deal stalled shortly after being signed in July 2000 because US
agencies received "information implicating Turkish private entities in
certain activities directly relating to nuclear proliferation," the
White House said, adding that those "issues have been sufficiently
resolved."

The US Congress still has to approve the agreement. The agreement will
facilitate Ankara's September tender to build the first of three
planned nuclear power plants that will provide Turkey with an
additional 5,000 megawatts of electricity.
-- 
Yoshie
<http://montages.blogspot.com/>