Aust, may seek uranium deal

Press, 31 May 1977, Page 9

Aust, may seek uranium deal

NZPA Rome , Australia may get an [“under the table” agreement I from members of the European Economic Community to reopen the door for Australian agricultural products, in return for placing E.E.C. [members on the list for Australian uranium, diplomatic [sources said in Rome yesteriday. , The sources said that discussions along these lines (could develop at talks in [Rome between the Australian Prime Minister (Mr Malcolm [Fraser) and his Italian counterpart (Mr Guilio Andreotti). [The sources said that uran- | ium, and the balance of trade between Australia and the | E.E.C. was expected to domI inate the talks. ■ Mr Fraser’s meeting with the Italian Prime Minister is being classified in Rome as .being in the nature of a I "courtesy' call,” but sources [disclosed that Mr Andreotti was prepared for substantial [talks on Australia’s uranium 'prospects, and all aspects of .Australian-Italian trade. ! The sources said that Mr [Fraser would be able to point out to Mr Andreotti a dramatic decline in exports of Australian agricultural prod-

3 ucts to the E.E.C., during the I ten years ended 1975-76. On 1 ’uranium, the sources said that t Italy was becoming desperate - about its energy supply, and ) was able to supply only about - 16 per cent of its needs from i its own resources. However, they said, the - political situation in Italy at : present might cause some -1 headaches for Mr Fraser [when discussing the issue. - Recent opinion polls have 5 put the Communists ahead of E their Christian Democrat i coalition partners. One poll 1 showed that if an election - had been held last week the . Communists would have out- - polled their partners. s There is also the fact that 7 [ltaly already has energy ties -[with the Soviet Union, which ■ could arouse fears of contra - 1[ vention of that part of Aus- ; > tralia’s nuclear safeguards 5 j policy requiring prior AusHtralian consent for the trans--5 fer of Australian uranium to i a third party. 1 f Train crashes Five people have been r killed and another 20 injured J in a collision between a pas--1 senger train and a truck at a f crossing near Burgos, Spain. Madrid.