Saudi Nuclear Interest is Heightening Worries (Also new ties with Iran)

[Gloria]

From the new World Media Watch up now at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical


3//Keralanext.com, India 21-April-2005

http://www.keralanext.com/news/?id=186031



SAUDI NUCLEAR INTEREST IS HEIGHTENING WORRIES

Middle East News, VIENNA — Saudi Arabia has quietly begun talks on a UN-sanctioned agreement that could curtail any outside probe of its atomic intentions — a move that heightens concerns in a region already edgy about rival Iran’s nuclear programme.

The Saudis deny any plans to develop nuclear weapons, and diplomats close to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told AP that the UN nuclear monitor has no firm evidence that would cast doubt on the Saudi assertions.

But the diplomats say that past Saudi nuclear interest is heightening worries, as is the timing of the efforts to sign on to the IAEA’s small quantities protocol that would exempt the country from most of the agency’s control authority.

Born of more trusting days, the agreement has been joined by dozens of countries, most of which have never experimented with nuclear weapons. But the protocol is now viewed with suspicion within the agency, after revelations of other loopholes that have allowed prewar Iraq, Iran, Libya and other countries to work secretly on known or suspected nuclear weapons programmes.

MORE


RELATED:

Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran

http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-17/0504190181095800.htm



SAUDI ARABIA TO EXPAND MILITARY COOPERATION WITH IRAN



Riyadh, April 19, IRNA--Saudi Arabia's Chief of Staff General Salih bin Ali Al-Muhayya said here Monday that his country is determined to expand military cooperation with Iran.



He made the remarks during an interview with IRNA reporter on the sidelines of a special ceremony held in the Saudi capital on the occasion of Iran's Army Day.





RELATED:



2//PakTribune, Pakistan Wednesday April 20, 2005 (1545 PST)

http://paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=102445



PAKISTAN WILL NEVER ALLOW IAEA TO INSPECT NUCLEAR FACILITIES: MUSHARRAF



MANILA, April 21 (Online): Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said on Wednesday he would never allow foreign inspectors into the country to examine its nuclear facilities.



"That is tantamount to admitting that we cannot be trusted in our own house," he told a breakfast meeting of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, reports AFP news agency.



Asked whether he would allow inspectors from the United Nation's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to inspect the country's nuclear facilities, Musharraf said: "Why?".

[Colorado Blue]

1. Oh, great. nt

[despairing optimist]

2. Don't worry. The Saudis are our friends. They're not on Condi's list

of tyrannies.

What's a few alpha and beta rays between friends?

[Mojorabbit]

3. So you think

by becoming closer to Iran they are saying they do not trust Bush not to come after their oil next?

[Wright Patman]

4. Same answer as Israel would give

Asked whether he would allow inspectors from the United Nation's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to inspect the country's nuclear facilities, Sharon said: "Why?".