Egypt: Russia agrees to provide nuclear know-how

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http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL20103759.html

Tue 20 Nov 2007, 14:01 GMT

CAIRO, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Russia has agreed to provide nuclear know-how and technical expertise to Egypt to help Cairo with plans to build civilian nuclear power stations to meet growing energy needs, Egyptian state media said on Tuesday.

State news agency MENA said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak had told Egypt that Moscow welcomed the planned resumption of Egypt's nuclear programme.

"Moscow is ready to give nuclear knowledge and its technical expertise to the Egyptian side in light of Russia's large experience in building nuclear power stations," MENA said, quoting a foreign ministry spokesman.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said last month Egypt would build several nuclear power stations, a year after his politician son Gamal floated the idea of a civilian nuclear programme, but did not indicate when the project would get under way.