October 4, 2010

Jordan to ink nuclear pack with Washington


Amman's refusal to relinquish its authority under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty to enrich uranium -- a process that can produce atomic energy fuel as well as fissile material for a weapon -- for two years has held up negotiations on a 123 nuclear trade pact with Washington, Jordanian Atomic Energy Commission Planning Director Kamal Khdier said.
"We received a positive gesture from the U.S. administration, and we are hoping to reach a compromise and sign the agreement by the end of this year," Khdier said in Dubai.
"Our official strategic plan is not to enrich uranium now, but in the future this may change, so we will not give up our right to do so," he said.
Last week, U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration chief Thomas D'Agostino said countries like Jordan had the right to convert their domestic uranium resources into atomic fuel. "We are not trying to tell other nations that you can't have enrichment," D'Agostino said (see GSN, Sept. 23).
"In 10 to 20 years from now, the technology to enrich uranium may become more accessible and cheaper, and that's the main reason why Jordan does not want to give up the right to enrich now," Khdier said.
Amman has already inked bilateral atomic trade pacts with eight nations that include China, Russia and France (Amena Bakr, Reuters, Sept. 28).