Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said here on Thursday evening that Egypt will continue its scientific research to develop peaceful nuclear technology regardless of its high cost.

Developing nuclear energy program was for the future of the country and the Egyptians, said Mubarak at the closing session of a three-day fourth annual conference of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP).

"We must augment our benefit from the sources of new and renewable energy including the peaceful use of nuclear energy," said Mubarak, whose country started very limited nuclear technological research in 1957.

He called for holding a serious dialogue that takes into consideration what the clean and cheap sources provided by nuclear technology, "especially as we do not start from zero, we have the knowledge of this technology that allows us to proceed from there."

"Whichever way this dialogue ends, we will proceed with it simple mentation without hesitation, prompted by a conviction that the future of energy is a key element in building the future of the nation and that the issues of energy are part and parcel of the ruling system of Egypt's national security," he added.

Mubarak's remarks came after Gamal Mubarak, his son who was also NDP's powerful Assistant Secretary General and Policies Secretary, repeatedly called on Egypt to develop peaceful nuclear technology since the beginning of the NDP conference.

Gamal Mubarak said that international agreements allowed signatories, if they were willing to, the right to possess peaceful nuclear energy and Egypt has signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Gamal, 42, said the NDP considered energy as a pillar of development, adding that the issue of peaceful nuclear energy has been under discussion for a year.

Gamal said that President Mubarak has asked for drawing up a working paper on energy, which was materialized in the working paper drafted by the party.

Mubarak and his son's remarks came against a backdrop of regional tensions owing to the nuclear dispute between Tehran and Washington, which alleged Iran of trying to develop military nuclear program under the disguise of peaceful nuclear activities.

But US ambassador to Egypt Francis Ricciardone told local television earlier in the day in an interview that the US would be fine with Egypt's hope to develop nuclear program. The US could even cooperate with Egypt if it decided to develop nuclear energy, Ricciardone said.

Also in his speech, Mubarak, 78, said that the Middle East region was witnessing attempts to impose a new regional reality, in a reference to US policies to remake the Middle East. "Latest developments have highlighted the dangerous situation in our region," he said, citing the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, the deteriorating situation in the Palestinian lands and the developments in Iraq, Darfur and the Horn of Africa region.

"The failure and stalemate of the peace process is the core of the Mideast problems," Mubarak said, calling on the international powers to admit this fact and to seriously and fairly deal with the issue.

Any talk about a greater or new Middle East ignores this reality, and any talk about war on terror must be linked to talk on the causes and roots of terror, Mubarak said, vowing to pursue efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region.

"We will defend our vision for the future of the region... and will not allow any attempts to tarnish our Arab identity," said Mubarak, who has ruled the most populous Arab nation since 1981.

(Xinhua News Agency September 22, 2006)