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Venezuela may begin talks with Iran to discuss the possibility of developing nuke power
CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuela is interested in beginning talks with Iran on the possibility of developing nuclear power as an alternative power source in this oil-rich nation, President Hugo Chavez said. "We must start working on the nuclear (energy) issue," Chavez, speaking during his weekly radio and television program "Hello President," said on Sunday. "If we had the technical capacity and the resources right now, we would participate in this effort because it's one of the paths toward diversifying energy sources," Chavez added, without indicating whether he had broached the subject with Iranian officials.
Chavez, an ally of Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, has defended the Iran's right to develop a nuclear energy program for peaceful purposes despite opposition from Washington, which fears that Teheran may be secretly working developing a nuclear weapons program. Iranian officials have repeatedly denied that claim, arguing that the country's nuclear program is geared toward generating electricity. Chavez and Khatami - both critics of Washington's foreign policy - have argued that wealthy nations like the United States cannot keep today's energy-related technologies for themselves while developing countries struggle to produce enough energy to satisfy domestic needs. The Venezuelan leader has said that every country in the world has a right to develop nuclear energy. He has held up Brazil's nuclear energy program, which as also come under US criticism, as an example for Third World nations. In November, Brazil bowed to diplomatic pressure to allow some International Atomic Energy Agency inspections of its uranium-enrichment plant, which would serve Brazil's nuclear power stations. Brazil's reluctance to open up its facilities to full inspections raised worries that other countries being asked to provide full access to their nuclear programs could also follow suit. Posted by: Steve 2005-05-23 |
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