Egypt refutes tougher nuclear inspections

CAIRO, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- A top Egyptian official says that his country will not accept preconditions or permit additional measures for more stringent inspections of its nuclear program.

Egypt Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit cited Israel's refusal to sign the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty as a reason why Egypt will not sign on for tougher inspections and stressed that Egypt has a legitimate right to independence in acquiring energy.

"Egypt will not accept any preconditions or additional obligations, like importation of nuclear fuel, to start its peaceful nuclear program," Abul-Gheit said in a statement.

"The Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty does not deny its parties the right to carry out nuclear activities, including uranium enrichment and recycling, as long as these activities are subjected to the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency and used in peaceful means."

Abul-Gheit says Egypt's IAEA agreements record is clean and that his country has no intention of signing the additional protocol of the IAEA giving greater access to information and inspections.

Abul-Gheit says that because of the current dispute over Iran's nuclear program, the requirements for Egypt and other developing countries to obtain enriched uranium fuel are unnecessarily difficult and that exporters of fuel have imposed several preconditions that are a burden and make developing countries dependent on developed countries.