Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat- Abdurrahman al-Attiyah, the secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), confirmed the existence of intensive efforts to complete all of the details related to studying the creation of a joint gulf nuclear program. This is a study that he was directed to perform at the “Jabir Summit” in Riyadh prior to the next gulf summit that has been decided to be held in the Omani capital of Muscat at the end of this year.
In a statement to “Asharq al-Awsat,” Al-Attiyah said that he is doing all he can to expedite the accomplishment of this study, in implementation of the Jabir Summit resolution, so that it can be placed on the gulf leaders’ table at the next summit. It is expected to be held at the end of 2007.
The secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council is noticeably active these days setting up everything related to the gulf nuclear program of a peaceful nature. The day before yesterday, he met Dr Salih al-Adhl, the head of the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia.
“Asharq al-Awsat” has learned from a gulf source that the meeting between Al-Attiyah and Dr Al-Adhl comes as an extension of the meetings that the Gulf Cooperation Council secretary general decided to hold with officials of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna during the coming period.
It is expected that Abdurrahman al-Attiyah will head to Vienna to meet the officials in the International Atomic Energy Agency, although the secretariat of the GCC countries has not yet announced a set time for this meeting.
Al-Attiyah said that the meeting he is expected to hold with officials in the international agency is aimed at preparing a framework and authoritative conditions for the joint gulf study, without getting into the details of the program. That is the step (i.e. the details) that will be indicated after the completion of the gulf (nuclear) program study. The GCC secretary general reiterated his confirmation of the peaceful nature of the nuclear program that will be used purely for peaceful purposes, in accordance with the international standards.
Al-Attiyah said in statements yesterday that the Jabir Summit resolution stipulates the preparation of a joint study for a joint peaceful nuclear program by the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
In his comment on the nature of the talks that will be carried out with the officials of the IAEA, Al-Attiyah said that the gulf countries are starting out from the principle of transparency and clarity in their dealings. “In light of the nature of this peaceful program, we have decided to contact the officials in the IAEA, which stands in the forefront of the organizations connected with this file.”