Electricity and Energy Minister Hassan Younis met on Wednesday with Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano to discuss future cooperation between Egypt and the agency regarding Egypt's nuclear program. The meeting follows recent Egyptian criticism of the agency for not guaranteeing nuclear non-proliferation in Middle East with regard to Israel. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the IAEA's 55th general conference, held in Vienna, Austria, Al-Masry Al-Youm was informed. Younis and Amano discussed methods to enhance IAEA training programs for Egyptians as part of the ministry's preparation for a future launch of an Egyptian nuclear program. Amano confirmed his agency's support for the Egyptian nuclear program through training programs, information and technical studies, as well as providing support to develop the Anshas nuclear reactor, said sources speaking on the condition of anonymity. “Egypt supports the IAEA proposal to host preliminary talks among Arab countries and Israel to make the Middle East a zone free of nuclear weapons,” said Younis. Egypt had earlier requested the IAEA disclose all of its available information about the Israeli nuclear program. At the 151-nation meeting, a Syrian official said that Israel's undeclared nuclear arsenal is a threat to world peace. Cuba and Venezuela also defended Iran's right to a nuclear program. Translated from the Arabic Edition
