With friends like Pooty-Poot, who needs enemies?MOSCOW — Egypt has accepted an offer by Russia to provide nuclear assistance and upgrade strategic relations. Egypt claims it discontinued its nuclear program last year.
How tight are the financial control requirements for $2 billion in aid from the US? Maybe Mubarrak can buy a nuke, or at least tickle the dragon's tail.
Russian officials said Moscow has offered to supply expertise and technology to Egypt's nuclear program including energy and research projects. Egypt has accepted the Russian offer for nuclear cooperation, officials said. They said Cairo and Moscow would soon sign a formal accord that could include nuclear as well as defense and space cooperation.
The whole meal deal. Be a nuclear power on your block and you will have respect. ***sigh*** Mad Mullah Lite.
Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency director Alexander Rumyantsev said Cairo and Moscow were preparing what he termed a comprehensive cooperation agreement on nuclear energy. Rumyantsev accompanied President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Egypt on April 27, where he met President Hosni Mubarak, Middle East Newsline reported.
Russia has the nuke expertise, Egypt may have the cash. Just like Iran.
In 2004, Egypt appeared to shelve its nuclear energy program. Officials disagreed on the nature of Russia's assistance and the future direction of Egypt's program.
"We want reactors!"
"We want nukes!"
"Hey fellas, we may have some middle ground where everybody wins." A booming win-win.
"The parties will discuss concluding technical details of the document aimed at increasing bilateral cooperation in nuclear energy," Rumyantsev said upon arrival in Cairo.
Rumyantsev said Egypt has established a regional research and medical center based on a Russian cyclotron. He said the two countries were ready to install an accelerator to produce nuclear isotopes required for medicine.
OOOOH! Cyclotrons and accelerators for nuclear medicine. Great cover.
The two countries were also discussing what officials said were additional civilian nuclear projects. Officials said they included the establishment of a nuclear-powered desalination plant.
Hope it doesn't go Chernobyl on ya. Your neighbors in the Med are gonna be pissed off.
"Russia and Egypt are not talking about building a nuclear plant," Rumyantsev said.
So how will a nuclear desalination plant work without a nuclear reactor?
But later Putin's foreign policy adviser Sergei Prikhodko appeared to disagree. Prikhodko said Moscow has sought to renew supplies of military equipment and spare parts to the Egyptian military, construct a nuclear power station and cooperate in space.
We'll get our public story straight later.
Another member of Putin's delegation was Mikhail Margelov, chairman of the Federation Council International Affairs Committee and regarded as a presidential adviser. Margelov said Russian defense and energy contractors have increased their activities in Egypt and other Arab countries.
Looking for cash. Things are tight in Mother Russia.
"A new Middle East policy is an important part of Russia's mission in Eurasia," Margelov said.
Bring on the arms and Nukes for whirled peas. /cynicism