Egypt calls for sustainable development via peaceful nuclear energy use

Egypt has called for achieving sustainable development in the Middle East through maximum use of peaceful nuclear energy, saying that people in the region have the right to live without being threatened by nuclear weapons. "It is our responsibility to work hard to achieve equal security for regional countries away from nuclear threats, to pave way for a world free of nuclear weapons, and to use the nuclear energy only for the service of humanity and development," Minister of electricity and energy Ahmad Imam told the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) conference Monday. IAEA's credibility regarding the implementation of its objective is closely linked to clearing the Middle East from nuclear weapons and application of comprehensive safeguards on all nuclear facilities in the region. Egypt deeply regrets postponement, since 2012, of an international conference over the clearance of the Middle East from nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction (WMD), he said. Egypt, he added, would table during this conference a draft resolution over the application of safeguards in the Middle East