U.A.E. 123

NY Times Editorial, January 19, 2009

The United Arab Emirates has bested other oil-rich Persian Gulf countries by becoming the first to conclude a legally binding nuclear cooperation agreement with the Bush administration. It deserves even greater congratulations for forswearing uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing. Those are the key processes for making fuel for nuclear reactors — or nuclear weapons.

Many countries have these agreements — known in the business as 123’s — with Washington, which allow them to buy American nuclear reactors and fuel. But none have made that important concession.

Under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, all members in good standing have the right to make their own fuel. But the temptations are considerable and the technology far too easy to divert (see Iran).

That is why the U.A.E’s choice is so especially important, and why other nuclear suppliers should be encouraging their clients to make the same choice.

Nuclear energy is one way to address climate change, and developing countries — that agree to international rules for inspections — must have the same access to nuclear technology as the developed world.

President Bush promoted nuclear energy with gusto but notably failed to develop a strategy to ensure that a proliferation of nuclear power would not also lead to a proliferation of nuclear weapons. Mr. Obama and the new Congress must do better.

More than 25 nations plan to build nuclear power plants for the first time. That includes Saudi Arabia, which is negotiating its own cooperation deal with Washington.

Many of these countries say they must diversify to meet future energy needs. And the major nuclear suppliers are only too eager to compete for their business.

Too often these countries ignore serious questions about whether more nuclear plants will pose new safety and waste disposal hazards, and whether their clients’ sudden enthusiasm is driven less by concerns about global warming or declining oil reserves and more by rising fears of Iran’s nuclear ambitions and appetites for their own weapons programs.

Congress must review the U.A.E. deal before it is finalized. Some lawmakers have raised worrisome questions about goods with military or potential nuclear- related uses moving through Dubai, one of the emirates, to Iran. Officials there must explain how they plan to strengthen their export controls. If not, Congress may have to slow its approval or place tougher restrictions on the 123 agreement until it is sure that American technology sold to the U.A.E. cannot be diverted.

There is also something unsettling about the slick lobbying campaign the U.A.E. has mounted to push the deal through quickly.

The agreement sets an important and welcome new standard. But Congress must exercise due diligence with this agreement and all of the others that will follow.