CAIRO: French President Nicolas Sarkozy has expressed his country’s willingness to assist Egypt’s nuclear program, a pro-government newspaper said Saturday.Sarkozy, who was vacationing in Egypt with his girlfriend, made his remarks ahead of an official meeting with President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo on Sunday.”I find it natural for any country to seek nuclear energy, Sarkozy told Al-Ahram newspaper.”France with no doubt has the best expertise and the greatest experience in this field and it is ready to cooperate with Egypt, if Egypt wants, he said.In October, President Hosni Mubarak called for Egypt to revive plans to develop atomic power, after publicly shelving the nuclear program in the aftermath of the 1986 accident at the Soviet nuclear plant in Chernobyl.Mubarak said that the aim was to diversify energy resources and preserve its oil and gas reserves for future generations. In a joint press conference after Sakozy’s meeting with Mubarak Sunday, Sarkozy said France would cut off talks with Syria until Damascus shows its willingness to let Lebanon elect a new president.Lebanon’s Western-backed government and pro-Syrian opposition have been unable to break a deadlock over filling the presidential post, empty for a month, and many Western countries have accused Damascus of interfering in the process – a claim Syria denies.France, Lebanon’s former colonial ruler, has led the international effort to mediate between feuding Lebanese politicians and has consistently implored the Syrians to cooperate.Syrian Information Minister Mohsen Bilal called Sarkozy’s comments “surprising,” adding that Damascus was “working with France to reach an agreement on a president who represents all Lebanese.”Sarkozy also called on Israel to halt construction in Jewish settlements as a gesture to push forward peace negotiations.”I have said on several occasions … that it is the moment for the Israelis to make some gestures that would show that peace is possible – including a freeze on the implantation of colonies,” Sarkozy said.Mubarak also called on Syria to push Lebanese politicians to follow through with the election, saying it was “illogical” for the country to go without a president for so long.”I ask Syria, with its influence, to intervene so that the parliament meets and elects a president,” said Mubarak at the press conference. ”I call on Syria to do so because it has more influence on the conflicting parties than the others.” -AP
Sarkozy offers to assist Egypt's nuclear program
