Japan to export nuclear tech. to Turkey, UAE after parliamentary holdup

Japan's lower house of parliament on Friday passed two nuclear treaties with Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UEA) to allow Japan to begin exporting its nuclear power technology and related equipment to both countries. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), its coalition New Komeito ally and the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan ( DPJ) voted to pass the treaties, which could come into effect as early as May. Under the agreement, Japan will be able to export its nuclear power-related technology and infrastructure to both Turkey and the UAE -- the deal with the two countries was originally made by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe when he visited the two countries last May. Parliamentary deliberations on the treaties failed last fall, as anti-nuclear sentiment was rife in the wake of the 2011 nuclear meltdowns at the Daiichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture, the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986, and were postponed until the current Diet regular session. The DPJ opted to back the treaties and break the deadlock as the opposition party was "pro-nuclear exports" when it was in power prior to falling to the LDP in December 2012. Japan has nuclear treaties with 11 countries and is currently eyeing wrapping up similar deals with Brazil and India.