ABU DHABI — Qatar, one of the richest energy states in the world,
is researching and conducting talks on the launch of a nuclear program.
Western diplomatic sources said Qatar has been planning a nuclear
research and energy program with foreign assistance. They said Asian and
Western countries have been approached.
"It makes no sense for Qatar to have a nuclear energy program," a
diplomatic source said. "It makes all the sense in the world for Qatar to
start acquiring nuclear expertise."
On Monday, Qatar and South Korea began talks on nuclear energy
cooperation. The South Korean Science and Technology Ministry met
representatives of Qatar's Supreme Council for the Environmental and Natural
Reserves.
The Qatari delegation was scheduled to spend nearly a week in Seoul. The
delegation planned to tour South Korean nuclear facilities and discuss
nuclear applications in agriculture, medicine and biotechnology.
The diplomatic sources said Qatar and other Gulf Cooperation Council
states have sought to develop nuclear programs to desalinate water. They
said Iran's nuclear weapons program
has alarmed GCC states, particularly Saudi Arabia, the largest country in
the region and biggest energy producer in the world.
