Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, is to sign a deal that could pave the way for France to build nuclear reactors in the United Arab Emirates.
Starting his third trip to the region in three weeks, Sarkozy arrived in Saudi Arabia on Sunday and is due to visit Qatar and the UAE, seeking to further establish French ties in the region.
"My visit to the United Arab Emirates will be ... the occasion to sign an agreement on the peaceful use of nuclear energy," Sarkozy told the Al-Hayat newspaper ahead of his three-day visit to the Gulf.
The deal for co-operation in civilian nuclear activities, a first step toward building a nuclear reactor, would be the third France has signed recently with Muslim nations after Libya and Algeria.
"I have often said that the Muslim world is no less reasonable than the rest of the world in seeking civilian nuclear [power] for its energy needs, in full conformity with international security obligations," Sarkozy told the London-based Al-Hayat.
Nuclear power
The UAE has expressed an interest in developing nuclear power despite having its own oil and gas reserves.
Neil Partrick, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, told Al Jazeera the UAE's move towards nuclear power was both "strategic" and "practical".
"Particularly in the UAE, there is increasing energy demands and limited - believe it or not - energy resources," he said.
"A nuclear power program is practical and more widely may have some strategic weight, but we need to put it in perspective - it could take ten or fifteen years before the first power station comes on stream."
Under the deal, French companies Areva, Total and Suez could build two, third-generation nuclear plants in the UAE.
The weekend edition of France's Le Figaro newspaper said one plant could be built under the agreement, although a formal contract was some way off.
During a December visit to Egypt, Sarkozy also expressed France's willingness to assist Egypt in the nuclear field.
Message to Iran
Building nuclear reactors for civilian use for these countries would mean lucrative contracts for France, which generates most of its own electricity from nuclear power.
Such contracts could also be seen as sending a message to Iran, whose own nuclear program has led it into conflict with other world powers.
The Iranian nuclear dispute with the international community was among the topics on Sarkozy's agenda during his three-day trip.
Sarkozy says he wants international pressure increased on Iran over its refusal to halt its nuclear program.
"Iran is persistent in not respecting its international obligations, we want to continue to increase international pressure within the [UN] Security Council and European Union, until the country fulfills all its international obligations," he told Al-Hayat.
PHOTO CAPTION
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. [AFP]
Al-Jazeera