French FM due in Jordan to sign nuclear deal

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

AMMAN (AFP) — French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner is due in Jordan on Friday to sign a nuclear cooperation agreement with the energy-poor kingdom, Jordanian officials said.

The pact is part of Jordan's efforts to find alternative energy resources and follows the adoption of legislation in 2007 allowing the use of nuclear power to generate electricity and desalinate water.

Jordan, which is home to around six million people, has already reached a nuclear cooperation deal with the United States and hopes to approve similar pacts with Canada, China and South Korea.

"The kingdom wants a global partner that can operate its mines, build a nuclear reactor, train staff and assist us in setting high safety standards," an official at Jordan's nuclear energy...