Paris, (SANA)-Deputy Foreign Minister Fayssal Mikdad said there is need for serious efforts to make peaceful nuclear energy available to countries in the world.

Speaking before an international conference on civilian nuclear energy in Paris, Mikdad said "Syria believes it is important to consider alternative sources of energy."

French President Nicolas Sarkozy opened the conference on Monday with a call to give equal opportunity for all countries to peaceful nuclear energy.

Syria joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1969.

Mikdad condemned the double standard policies practiced by some states at the nuclear club to deny member countries nuclear technology while making it available for non members.

He said "Some NPT member states have imposed strict conditions on export policy that hindered access of other member developing countries to nuclear knowledge and energy."

"Real international cooperation is required to provide training and financing for the developing countries to obtain nuclear energy," Mikdad said.

"Syria benefited from the peaceful application of nuclear energy in many fields such as health and medicine, scientific research, agriculture and industry, etc. However more is needed, including international cooperation in these areas," he added.

President Sarkozy said that France was ready to provide technical and financing aid to allow all countries access to nuclear technology.

H. Said /Mazen