ANKARA — Turkey has approved a nuclear power agreement with the
United States.
Officials said the government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has
endorsed a civilian nuclear accord with the United States. They said the
accord was signed with Washington in 2000 but delayed for years.
The government announced the ratification of the nuclear accord in
Turkey's Official Gazette on July 9, Middle East Newsline reported. The Gazette said the United States
would provide nuclear power to Turkey under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty.
Ankara has approved plans to build three nuclear power plants by 2015.
Last week, International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Mohammed El
Baradei visited Turkey and discussed safeguards for such a program.
Turkey has also become active in U.S.-led non-proliferation efforts. In
June 2005, Turkey signed an agreement to participate in the Proliferation
Security Initiative, designed to block such countries as Iran, North
Korea and Syria from acquiring nuclear weapons and missiles.
In May 2006, Turkey hosted a PSI naval exercise in the eastern
Mediterranean. Officials said the exercise sought to test the ability of the
United States and its allies to block missile and nuclear technology from
reaching Iran.
