UAE to join more Nuclear Safety and Security conventions

The Permanent mission of the United Arab Emirates to the International Atomic Energy Agency has communicated today the UAE Government's decision to join a number of additional international conventions related to Nuclear Safety and Security.

The UAE's decision was communicated by Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi, UAE Permanent Representative to the IAEA, who delivered the related accession letters from UAE Foreign Minister, H.H. Sheik Abdulla Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to the IAEA Director general. Specifically, the UAE communicated its decision to join the IAEA Convention on Nuclear Safety, the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. The UAE further communicated its acceptance of the amendment to the Convention on Physical Protection, bringing the latter closer to the requisite number of signatories needed to bring it into force.

"The UAE decision to Join these international instruments is consistent with UAE commitment to maintain the highest standards of safety, security and non proliferation in its efforts to evaluate and develop a peaceful nuclear energy program" Alkaabi Said. "This is a major milestone for the UAE and represents the fulfillment of all commitments made by the UAE related to the latter's accession to various international instruments during its evaluation of a peaceful nuclear energy program" The commitments to join these conventions were originally outlined in UAE policy of April ,2008, and obligations stemming from these conventions have already been reflected in UAE nuclear energy development plans, strategies and domestic legislation.

The Convention on physical protection obligates parties to make specific arrangements and meet defined standards of physical protection for international shipments of nuclear materials and obligates parties to receive determined assurances and protection before they allow export ,import or transit of nuclear materials .

The IAEA convention on Nuclear safety commits participating States to maintain a high level of safety by meeting international benchmarks. The obligations of the Parties are based on the principles contained in the IAEA Safety Fundamentals for Nuclear Installations.

The conclusion of the additional international IAEA instruments follows numerous other steps taken by the UAE Government, including the conclusion of multiple bilateral nuclear cooperation agreements, multiple support activities with the IAEA and the recent signing of the Additional Protocol to the UAE's Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement.