By IANS
Abu Dhabi : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and France Tuesday signed two important agreements on military and nuclear cooperation WAM news agency reported.
The agreement, signed by French Defence Minister Herve Morin and UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is one of various bilateral cooperation agreements signed during French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s on-going visit to the UAE.
Sheikh Abdullah welcomed the French defence minister saying, “This agreement is one dimension of joint cooperation between the two countries in different fields”.
The French defence minister expressed his country’s desire to further boost bilateral cooperation and thanked the UAE government for the warm reception accorded to the French delegation.
Under the nuclear agreement, the UAE and France will form a joint committee to oversee cooperation in the areas of nuclear power generation, water desalination, basic and applied research, as well as, in the fields of agronomy, earth sciences, medicine and industry.
“The UAE is trying to create a framework for the evaluation and possible implementation of a peaceful nuclear programme, ensuring compliance with the highest standards of non-proliferation, safety and security,” Sheikh Abdullah said after signing the agreement.
He added that UAE was looking for cooperation in the field of nuclear energy with various governments including the US, Germany, the France, Russia, China, and Britain as well as with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Sheikh Abdullah expressed hope that UAE’s efforts would serve as a model for non-nuclear countries to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes with the full support of the international community.