CRS Report for Congress: The United Arab Emirates Nuclear Program and Proposed U.S. Nuclear Cooperation: June 11, 2009 - R40344 - Softcover

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has embarked on a program to build civilian nuclear power plants and is seeking cooperation and technical assistance from the United States and others. During 2008 and early 2009, the Bush Administration and the UAE government negotiated and signed a memorandum of understanding and a proposed bilateral agreement on peaceful nuclear cooperation pursuant to Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act (AEA) of 1954. Then-U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed the proposed agreement on peaceful nuclear cooperation with the UAE on January 15, 2009. The Obama Administration submitted the proposed agreement to Congress on May 21, 2009. Under the AEA, Congress has the opportunity to review such a proposed agreement for 90 days of continuous session, after which the agreement becomes effective unless, during that time, Congress adopts a joint resolution disapproving the agreement and the resolution becomes law. H.J.Res. 55, introduced May 21, 2009, would express congressional disapproval of the proposed agreement. The agreement text states the intent of both governments to cooperate in a number of areas including, but not limited to, the development of the UAEs civilian nuclear energy use in a manner that contributes to global efforts to prevent nuclear ...