An official source: Egypt committed to NPT obligations

Egypt said on Tuesday it is fully committed to the obligations of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NDP) signed 21 years ago.

An official source told MENA that Egypt's nuclear activities are all confined to the peaceful fields, refuting rumors propagated recently about Egypt breaching the NPT.

The source said:

ÊÊÊ First, Egypt is fully committed to its obligations as set in the NPT and the Agreement of Comprehensive Guarantees (ACG) signed with the International Atomic Energy Organisation (IAEA);

ÊÊÊ Second, Egypt's nuclear activities are all dedicated to the peaceful purposes allowed by the NPT.

These activities are subjected to the inspection of the IAEA in accordance with the ACG's terms.

The findings of these research experiments are periodically published in the scientific magazines at home and abroad.

Third, the different interpretations of a number of ACG: articles, especially after the updatings they had undergone since the mid 1970s, disrupted reporting to IAEA about some experiments and research activities that have been allowable under the NPT regulations.

These experiments and activities were conducted a long time ago in the permitted form and within the allowable time.

Fourth, This confusion is being addressed and adjusted through complete cooperation and transparent dealing with IAEA to whom Egypt is showing the maximum, degree of good intention.

We touched an understanding from the part of IAEA to the limited scope of this issue and complete appreciation of the level of cooperation and IAEA's desire to have the complete details clarified as soon as possible.

Fifth, the Egyptian bodies concerned have already started to make use of the IAEA's experience in augmenting the Egyptian potentials in the field of implementing the ACG System in a way that would guarantee Egypt's full commitment to its terms.

Sixth, Egypt emphasizes its unwavering belief in the universality of the NPT and the necessity to subject all Middle East nuclear installations to surveillance of the IAEA's ACG system.