Washington (Platts)--20May2009

President Barack Obama has approved a US-United Arab Emirates agreement
on civilian nuclear cooperation and authorized Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton to carry out its implementation. In a May 20 statement issued by the
White House, Obama said he has determined that the agreement "will promote,
and not constitute an unreasonable risk to, the common defense and security."
The US and the UAE signed the agreement, which has been touted as a template
for civilian nuclear energy programs in the Middle East, on January 15. Under
that accord, the UAE vows not to develop indigenous programs for uranium
enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing. The agreement also gives the US the
right to cut off cooperation if the UAE pursues such programs. Under the US
Atomic Energy Act, a nuclear agreement can enter force after 90 days of a
so-called continuous session of Congress after the president submits it, if
lawmakers do not pass legislation disapproving it. During that period,
Congress can also vote to approve it, or approve it with conditions.