Yemen says would like to join Gulf nuclear plans !!!!!!!!!!

[Daanyeer]

Source: reuters
December 29, 2006



ADEN, Yemen (Reuters) - Yemen said on Friday it was interested in joining a regional nuclear energy program being studied by neighboring Gulf Arab states.

The six Gulf Arab states said earlier this month they would study a possible peaceful nuclear program amid concerns in the West and the region over Iran's nuclear programme.

"We in Yemen support the decision by the ... Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to study the launch of a joint Gulf program in nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," state media quoted Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh as saying.

"Yemen is ready and interested to join such a program," Saleh said.

Yemen, one of the poorest Arab countries, has been holding talks to join the GCC, which groups energy producers Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.

The loose, political and economic alliance approved a Yemeni request in 2002 to gradually enter the GCC, but said it must implement economic and security reforms before it can become a fully fledged member.



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