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It could be argued that when French President Nicolas Sarkozy endorsed nuclear energy for the Arab world he had an ulterior motive. After all, France is a leading nation in the supply of nuclear reactors for peaceful purposes. It is also a leader of nuclear energy for domestic purposes. So France is an exponent of nuclear energy and keen to export its technology, not least for commercial reasons.
However, since Napoleonic times, France has seen itself as a champion of the Arab cause and has often sided with the views of Middle East leaders against those of Western nations. It is not just a hankering for the old colonial days, but of preferring to take a considered and different stand from that of European, or more frequently, American, positions. Therefore, it is not surprising for Sarkozy to say the West should learn to trust Arab nations which pursue their own domestic nuclear energy requirements. Although the comment comes on his visit to Libya, and after successfully signing agreements with Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi, it gives the West fair warning of the line the French intend to take in future.
It is more than likely that Sarkozy is very aware that the GCC countries are investigating the feasibility of creating their own nuclear reactors to assist in the enormous demands for electricity and potable water. Undoubtedly the French would be more than delighted to assist any or all of the GCC nations in their inquiries, with the ultimate aim of obtaining the lucrative contracts for supply, management and maintenance of the facilities. With France's expertise in the field, equalled only by that of the US, Arab nations may prefer to look to Europe at this time, especially in the light of the recent American attitude towards Arab business approaches.
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