Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos said on Monday that his government is not at odds with the atomic energy plans that Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez could implement with the help of Russia, provided that it is not for military purposes.

The idea of developing nuclear energy "is not bad" provided that "it meets all the safeguards and protections" established by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and it is not for "military purposes", as suspected in the case of Iran, the chief diplomat told Spanish public television channel TVE.

Moratinos recalled that the Spanish's government policy "does not favor" the use of nuclear energy, but some other countries, such as France, promote its use, according to "international standards and practices," Efe reported.