Nuclear intimidation

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There is hardly an Egyptian or an Arab who doesn't wish for his country to become a member of the nuclear club. And it is not an unattainable wish. Some Arab countries have the resources and the scientists who can make it true. Egypt, with dozens of scientists working in its peaceful nuclear programme, is one of these countries.

Israeli and US media recently spoke of a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) claiming that traces of high-grade uranium were found in the Inshas reactor.

For the first time the US has called on Israel to join the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Egypt ratified the NPT in 1981 but didn't sign the additional protocol because of Israel's refusal to join.

The Arabs need weapons of deterrence to keep balance in the region. At present Israel has nuclear weapons and Iran is about to obtain them. Arab countries are not doing anything about it. Allegations about the nature of Egypt's nuclear programme are not new. Several such allegations were made in 2004 and 2005, and proved to be false.

President Hosni Mubarak has made it clear on more than one occasion that Egypt honours its commitments and that its nuclear programme is open to inspection. But aren't the Arabs entitled to develop weapons of deterrence to stop other regional powers, that already have nuclear weapons, from dominating the region?

Egypt is acting transparently towards the IAEA inspectors. It has submitted adequate data concerning the Inshas reactor and the venue in which isotopes, needed for scientific research, are being produced. IAEA admits that the data submitted by Egypt is satisfactory.

It is clear that the US and Israeli media want to twist facts. According to the Egyptian Nuclear Energy Authority, the traces of high-grade uranium that have been discovered were nothing but particles left behind by a contaminated containers carrying isotopes used for scientific and medical purposes. If anything, the recent media campaign aims to tarnish Egypt's credibility. But Egypt is not going to bow to intimidation and bullying. We can answer these claims, and we know who stands behind the allegations. Every member of the UN must have the power and resources to defend itself.

Egypt opposes the possession of nuclear weapons by any country in the region, as Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit said. And it will go on defending the interests of Arab countries against Israeli intimidation.