International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Yukiya Amano is scheduled to visit Cairo on 21 June to discuss the training of personnel for Egypt’s first nuclear energy reactor, the construction of which will begin in 2013. Amano is expected to meet with Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit and Electricity and Energy Minister Hassan Younis.
According to informed sources, Amano will also discuss initiatives aimed at ridding the Middle East of weapons of mass destruction, in addition to ways of overcoming Western double standards associated with Israel’s undeclared nuclear arsenal.
The sources added that Egypt planned to ask the IAEA chief to refrain from putting restrictions on countries building nuclear reactors for peaceful purposes–a right guaranteed by membership in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Egypt’s first nuclear plant, intended for electricity generation, is scheduled to become fully operational in 2017.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
