The United Arab Emirates reiterated today its commitment toward strengthening nuclear safety, security and safeguards globally, while promoting the responsible use of nuclear energy, in its national statement to the 58th regular session of the IAEA General Conference in Vienna, Austria.
During the conference, the UAE highlighted continued progress made in the development of its nuclear energy programme and related infrastructure, following the IAEA guidance and international best practices.
“In 2012 we started the construction of the first reactor followed by the second unit in 2013. Construction of Unit 1 of the Barakah nuclear power plant is more than 57% completed. Early this month, two additional reactors were granted license for construction, and just yesterday the construction on the third reactor has started,” affirmed Ambassador Alkaabi in his speech.
Ambassador Alkaabi, the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the IAEA, also affirmed the UAE's commitment to working with the Agency toward enhancing nuclear safety in the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi accident, and toward the implementation of the IAEA Nuclear Safety Action Plan.
“In the scope of civil liability for nuclear damage, my country recognizes the importance of establishing a national liability framework, and a harmonized international liability regime. The UAE has recently ratified the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage,” stressed Ambassador Alkaabi in the national statement.
He also noted that the programme was being carried out in full transparency, and with a strong commitment for cooperation with the IAEA.
“The Agency’s support provided to member states in the area of safeguards and non-proliferation implementation is also valuable. The UAE has recently and successfully undergone an IAEA mission that assessed the country’s State System of Accounting for and Control of Nuclear Material,” noted Ambassador Alkaabi.
Regarding the concern of non-compliance, the UAE called on countries whose safeguards implementation is in question to fully cooperate with the IAEA to address all outstanding issues, including those concerns related to a possible military dimension, and to restore confidence in the exclusive peaceful nature of their programmes.
The UAE’s full statement is available at http://uae-mission.ae/mission/iaea/Content/1489
