13 EU MEPs Call for Nuclear-Free Middle East

13 EU MEPs Call for Nuclear-Free Middle East

 More than a dozen EU MEPs expressed their concern about the United Arab Emirates (UAE) new nuclear plant that may cause new environmental hazards in addition to triggering nuclear race in the Middle East, which is already vulnerable to many conflicts. The 13 MEPs signed a peitition launched by the London-based International United Nations Watch

The petition urged that the Middle East should remain free of nuclear plants as the region is plagued by conflicts and civil wars. ”The possibility of targeting these nuclear plants in light of ongoing tensions in the region and the risk of starting a new nuclear race in the region requires that the Middle East should stay nuclear-free,” the petition added.

The United Arab Emirates has launched operations at the Arab world's first nuclear power plant. Nuclear fission has begun in one of four reactors at the Barakah plant, which uses South Korean technology. The plant was due to open in 2017 but start-up was delayed for what officials said were safety requirements.

The peition urged that the Middle East should remain free of nuclear plants as the region is plagued by conflicts and civil wars. ”The possibility of targeting these nuclear plants in light of ongoing tenions in the region and the risk of starting a new nuclear race in the region requires that the Middle East should stay nuclear-free,” the peition added.

The peition, signed by EU MEPs, concluded by demanding the following:

■           We call on the European Commission and the European Council to take steps to to protect the Middle East from being a nuclear zone and prevent the dangers of nuclear reactors in the Emirates, based on the role of the International Corporation for the Promotion of Safe, Safe and Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy.

■          We call for establishing a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and continuing the ongoing commitment to support all efforts aimed at achieving progress towards this end.

■          We call for adopting an official EU position to pressure the international public opinion towards preventing the dangers of nuclear reactors in the Middle East.

■          We call for providing mediation to solve the political and economic problems driving UAE to start its nuclear programe in order to prevent a new possible conflict in the Middle East.

Undersigned:

1. Karen Melchior MEP

2. Margrete Auken MEP

3. Kira Marie Peter-Hansen MEP

4. Clare Daly MEP

5. Martin Buschman MEP

6. Ignazio Corrao MEP

7. Grace O'Sullivan MEP

8. Nikolaj Villumsen MEP

9. Heidi Hautala MEP

10. Daniel Freund MEP

11. Kateřina Konečná MEP

12. Mounir SATOURI MEP

13. Mohammed CHAHIM MEP