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Monthly Newsletter March 2015 edition: news and highlights on activities between the UAE Government and the Agency, including key events and activities of the Permanent Mission.
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www.uae-iaea.org Page 1
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
Monthly Newsletter
In this issue:
In Focus
IAEA Chief Yukiya Amano visits UAE– pp. 1-2
Inside Stories
------------------
In Focus
International Advisory
Board meets in Abu Dhabi
to review the UAE nuclear
power programme
progress – p.1
Other Stories
UAE Ambassadors abroad
meet in Abu Dhabi for their
annual forum – p. 2
UAE participates at IAEA
Board Meeting – p.3
UAE participates at
Carnegie International
Nuclear Policy Conference
in Washington, D.C.– p.4
UAE joins “Austrian Pledge”
calling for urgent steps
toward Nuclear
Disarmament – p. 5
Towards 2015 NPT Review
Conference: Building a
Safer World without Nuclear
Weapons – p. 6
Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Regime in the UAE – p. 7
UAE Permanent Mission
supports a project on
Nuclear Journalism – p. 8
Status of the UAE Nuclear
Power Plant – p. 9
Vol.4, Issue 2 March 2015
In this Issue
The ninth meeting of the International
Advisory Board (IAB) took place in Abu
Dhabi from 15-16 March 2015.
Chaired by Dr. Hans Blix, the Board
assessed the progress of the UAE's
peaceful nuclear energy programme
and provided its views on the
performance of the programme in key
fundamental areas of safety, security,
non-proliferation, transparency and
sustainability. The Board also provided
recommendations for the relevant
entities regarding their strategies to
improve and strengthen the
programme.
Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi, UAE
Permanent Representative to the IAEA,
briefed the Board on the UAE
Government‟s efforts in non-proliferation
and international cooperation. The
Board also received multiple briefs from
main stakeholders including the Federal
Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR)
and the Emirates Nuclear Energy
Corporation (ENEC), as well as
Government entities involved in the UAE
nuclear programme.
Tel: +43 715 0028
Fax: +43 715 0028 - 5555
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.uae-iaea.org
Twice a year the International Advisory Board meets in Abu Dhabi to review the progress of UAE nuclear
power programme (Photo: IAB)
International Advisory Board meets in Abu Dhabi
to review the UAE nuclear power programme
progress
The IAB consists of a team of globally
recognized experts in nuclear science,
non-proliferation, regulatory affairs,
reactor operations, waste management,
human resource development and
related fields. The Board meets twice a
year to receive reports on the UAE‟s
progress in achieving and maintaining
the highest standards of safety, security
and non-proliferation within its nuclear
power programme.
Based on these semi-annual reviews, the
Board issues its regular reports which
include evaluations and
recommendations for the programme.
The latest IAB Reports, which reflect
outcomes of its previous meeting have
been made available on the Board‟s
website:
http://www.uaeiab.ae/publications.php
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PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
Over 100 UAE Ambassadors and Heads of
Missions abroad met for their annual
symposium from 15-16 March at the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in Abu Dhabi, the
United Arab Emirates.
The 9th Forum of UAE Ambassadors was
held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh
Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign
Minister, joined by Dr. Anwar Gargash,
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and
other high level officials from MoFA.
The two-day annual forum covered key
political and economic issues and topics
related to the fields of energy and public
diplomacy. It also reviewed a variety of
administrative and consular-related
matters.
Group Photo of Participants at the Annual Ambassadors Forum 2015, Abu Dhabi
UAE Ambassadors abroad meet in Abu Dhabi for their annual forum
Energy Panel: Minister of Energy (middle left) with Ambassador Alkaabi
(middle right) , IRENA Director General Adnan Amin (far right), Mohamed
Al Hammadi, ENEC CEO (far left)
www.uae-iaea.org Page 3
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
Participation in the IAEA Decision Making Process
UAE participates at IAEA Board of Governors
Since its establishment, the UAE Permanent Mission has represented the UAE during its
tenure as a Member of the IAEA’s Board of Governors during two cycles. UAE was reelected
in 2013 as a Board Member through September 2015.
From 2 to 6 March, the UAE Permanent Mission
participated at the IAEA's Board of Governors‟ regular
session and the first this year. The four-day session
addressed a variety of IAEA's activities.
The Agency‟s work in the field of the peaceful
applications of nuclear safety and Technical
Cooperation, including recent support provided to
African countries in their fight against the Ebola
epidemic, were discussed.
The March deliberations of the Board also addressed
nuclear verification issues, conducted by the Agency
under safeguards agreements.
Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi, UAE Governor to the
Board, delivered several national statements during
this session.
The Board of Governors, which is composed of 35
Member States, is the main policy making organ that
manages and directs the work of the Agency with
subsequent approval at the General Conference by
the all IAEA Member States.
The UAE first held a seat at the Board of Governors in
the period from 2010 until 2012.
Meeting of the Board of Governors at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria, March 2015 (Photo: IAEA)
www.uae-iaea.org Page 4
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
UAE participates at Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference
in Washington, D.C.
On 24 March 2015, UAE Permanent Representative to the
IAEA, Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi, took part in a panel
discussion on the future global standards for nuclear
cooperation during a nuclear policy conference in
Washington, D.C., USA.
The “2015 Carnegie International Nuclear Policy
Conference” was organized by the Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace, and convened on
23 March to discuss emerging trends in nuclear non-
proliferation, disarmament, deterrence and nuclear
energy.
A panel discussion entitled “A global standard for nuclear
cooperation,” emphasized the UAE‟s approach and
experience on forging a strong international nuclear
cooperation framework.
Other panelists of the discussion included Cécile
Maisonneuve, French Institute for International
Relations, and Henk Cor van der Kwast, Special
Representative of the Netherlands to the
Conference on Disarmament.
Among the high level keynote speakers of the
conference were the IAEA Director General Yukiya
Amano, U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moriz and
other senior officials of the nuclear industry around
the world.
The conference brought together over 800 experts
and officials from more than 45 countries and
international organizations.
UAE Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi delivers remarks during the Carnegie Nuclear Policy Conference in Washington
D.C. (Photo: CEIP/Kaveh Sardari)
International Nuclear Policy
www.uae-iaea.org Page 5
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
UAE joins “Austrian Pledge” calling for urgent steps toward
Nuclear Disarmament
Towards Global Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
On March 20, the UAE Government announced its
decision to endorse an Austrian Pledge on supporting
international efforts to expedite nuclear disarmament.
The initiative aims to stigmatize, prohibit and eliminate
nuclear weapons in light of their unacceptable
humanitarian consequences and associated risks.
The "Austrian pledge" was announced by Austria in the
framework of hosting and chairing the Vienna
Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear
Weapons in December 2014.
The Conference was attended by representatives
from 158 countries, as well as international and civil
society organizations. The Austrian Pledge refers to the
commitment made by the endorsing States to transfer
important facts and results from the Conference to
various relevant international fora.
Under the Austrian Pledge, endorsing States call on
parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to renew their commitment to
the urgent and full implementation of nuclear
disarmament obligations under Article VI, and to this
end, to identify and pursue effective measures to fill
the legal gap for the prohibition and elimination of
nuclear weapons.
The Pledge also calls on States that possess nuclear
weapons to take concrete interim measures to reduce
the risk of nuclear weapon detonations. This includes
reducing the operational status of nuclear weapons
and moving nuclear weapons away from deployment
into storage.
The aim is to diminish the role of nuclear weapons in
military doctrines and to rapidly reduce all types of
nuclear weapons.
The Austrian Pledge outlines, amongst other issues, the
importance of nuclear disarmament due to:
• The unacceptable harm that victims of nuclear
weapons explosions and nuclear testing have
experienced, and recognizing that the rights and
needs of victims have not yet been adequately
addressed;
• Understanding that the immediate, mid- and long-
term consequences of a nuclear weapon explosion
are significantly graver than it was understood in the
past and will not be constrained by national borders;
• That the consequences of a nuclear weapon
explosion and the risks associated with nuclear
weapons concern the security of all humanity;
• The scope of consequences of a nuclear weapon
explosion and risks associated raise profound moral
and ethical questions that go beyond debates about
the legality of nuclear weapons.
On the occasion of the UAE joining the Austrian
Pledge, H. E. Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi, UAE
Permanent Representative of UAE to the IAEA, stated
that “the UAE endorsement of this initiative is
consistent with the country‟s overall Government
nuclear policy objectives toward strengthening
nuclear non-proliferation on the one hand, and
pursuing efforts to achieve global nuclear
disarmament on the other hand.”
He also mentioned that the UAE has participated in
the series of three conferences on humanitarian
consequences of nuclear weapons.
He added, “The UAE Government shares the
aspiration of a world free of nuclear weapons and
therefore calls for urgent steps to achieve this goal.”
www.uae-iaea.org Page 6
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
Towards 2015 NPT Review Conference: Building a Safer World
without Nuclear Weapons
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is the core component of the
global non-proliferation regime and establishes a comprehensive, legally-binding
framework for global elimination of nuclear weapons.
From 27 April to 22 May, 191 States Parties to the
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
(NPT) will assemble for their ninth Review Conference
at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA.
The 2015 NPT Review Conference will review the
implementation of the Treaty since the last 2010
Review Conference.
The implementation of the 1995 Resolution on the
establishment of the Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in
the Middle East (NWFZME) will be the major focus of
the Conference discussions among other major pillars
of the treaty.
The 2015 Review Conference is expected to consider
a number of key issues, including: universality of the
Treaty; nuclear disarmament, including specific
practical measures; nuclear non-proliferation,
including the promoting and strengthening of
safeguards; measures to advance the peaceful use
of nuclear energy, safety and security; regional
disarmament and non-proliferation; implementation
of the 1995 resolution on the Middle East; measures to
address withdrawal from the Treaty; measures to
further strengthen the review process; and ways to
promote engagement with civil society in
strengthening NPT norms and in promoting
disarmament education.
In the interim of Review Conferences, States Parties
meet three times for the Preparatory Committee
(PrepCom) meetings to consider principles,
objectives and ways to promote the full
implementation of the Treaty, as well as its
universality, and to make recommendations thereon
to the Review Conference.
During the PrepCom meetings, the States also make
procedural preparations for the next Review
Conference.
It has been 20 years since the indefinite extension of
the treaty. The United Arab Emirates acceded to the
NPT in 1995.
UAE Commitment to International Nuclear
Non-Proliferation
1995: Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
(NPT)
2000: Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)
2003: IAEA Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement
2003: IAEA Convention on the Physical Protection of
Nuclear Material
2004: UN Security Council Resolution 1540
2005: UN International Convention for the Suppression
of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism
2009: IAEA Amendment to the Convention on the
Physical Protection of Nuclear Material
2010: IAEA Additional Protocol to Safeguards
Agreement
www.uae-iaea.org Page 7
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Regime in the UAE
The UAE is a member to all relevant non-proliferation treaties. The Government is actively
involved in non-proliferation matters beyond its own national nuclear power programme in
support of global non-proliferation efforts and to enhance confidence through
international cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear power.
The UAE made its political commitment to non-
proliferation in 1995, upon accession to the Treaty on
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and
prior to its decision to pursue a nuclear energy
programme. This commitment was expanded later
with the UAE‟s accession to all relevant international
instruments that govern nuclear disarmament and
non-proliferation.
Commitment to Forgo Domestic
Enrichment and Reprocessing of
Nuclear Fuel
The UAE‟s peaceful nuclear energy programme is
living up to its commitment to abide by the highest
standards of nuclear non-proliferation. In an effort to
limit the danger of proliferation, the Government of
the UAE has also adopted a policy renouncing the
development of any domestic enrichment and
reprocessing capability, in favor of long-term
arrangements for the external supply of nuclear fuel.
In 2009, the UAE Government transformed this policy
commitment into a national law (Federal Law 6 of
2009) forbidding “the development, construction, or
operation of uranium enrichment or spent fuel
reprocessing facilities within the borders of the UAE.”
Support for International Nuclear
Fuel Bank
In 2008, the UAE took the lead in support of the
establishment of the IAEA international uranium fuel
bank. The UAE contributed US$10 million to the
establishment of the fuel bank which is being set up
by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
This international low-enriched uranium fuel bank
would help to provide an additional layer of
assurance to the reliable international market.
Joining the Global Alliance against
Nuclear Terrorism and towards creating
a World Free of Nuclear Weapons
The UAE is one of nine founding members of the Non-
Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI), a
cross-regional, ministerial-level group initiative
created to promote and support the implementation
of commitments made by all States Parties to the
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
(NPT), and to advocate further progress through
practical contributions and proposals.
The UAE supports a number of initiatives, including
the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). The PSI is
aimed at stopping shipments of Weapons of Mass
Destruction (WMD), their delivery systems and related
materials worldwide. In support of this Initiative, the
UAE has hosted multiple events including training
exercises.
The UAE is a partner nation to the Global Initiative to
Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT). This Initiative is
aimed at strengthening global capacity to prevent,
detect and respond to nuclear terrorism by
conducting multilateral activities that strengthen the
plans, policies and procedures of partner nations.
GICNT Plenary Meeting in Abu Dhabi, 2010
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PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
Support to Nuclear Non Proliferation and Disarmament Education
UAE Permanent Mission supports a Project on Nuclear Journalism
Challenges in today‟s nuclear journalism can be
attributed to the lack of experts and independent
opinions from which journalists can obtain profound
knowledge and insightful views related to on-going
nuclear matters.
In light of supporting journalism that covers nuclear
issues, the UAE Government awarded a grant to Atomic
Reporters and the Vienna Center for Disarmament and
Non-Proliferation (VCDNP) for a project to enhance
nuclear journalism in the region.
The grant supports training and networking workshops
on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation for senior
journalists from countries of the Middle East.
The aim of the UAE is to enhance journalistic
understanding and coverage of complex nuclear
issues, and therefore allow related activities to be
accurately reported on and shared with the
international community.
A group of senior journalists from 12 Middle Eastern countries deepen their knowledge and
understanding of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation through a project organized
by the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP), Atomic Reporters,
and the James Martin Center for Non-proliferation Studies, with financial support from the
UAE Permanent Mission to the IAEA.
Eighteen journalists
representing news
media in Egypt, Iran,
Israel, Jordan, Oman,
Palestine, Qatar, Sudan,
Syria, Turkey, the UAE,
and Yemen participated
in the series of training
workshops. It served as
an introduction to the
nuclear non-proliferation
regime, and highlighted
current proliferation
challenges in the world
and the Middle East.
The series of training workshops focused on the history of
nuclear non-proliferation and its technological aspects.
The training also covered major issues on the
international agenda relating to nuclear security, safety,
as well as weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and non-
proliferation measures.
A wide range of international experts were invited as key
note speakers, including senior experts from the
International Atomic Energy Agency and other
international organizations, national government
representatives, non-governmental experts, scholars, and
civil servants.
Two workshops have been held so far in Vienna, upon
completion of the project. Participants commented on
the training programme as an “eye opener” and
expressed their gratitude for the high-level knowledge
transfer and for the opportunity to address matters with a
variety of international experts.
Group photo of participants of the workshop on reporting nuclear news, VCDNP Center
Vienna, Austria, 23 June 2014 (Photo: Atomic Reporters)
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PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
April 15-16, Integrated Work Plan
(IWP) review and coordination
meeting, Vienna, Austria
April 20-21, Gulf Nuclear Energy
Infrastructure Institute (GNEII)
Symposium, Abu Dhabi, UAE
April 27- May 22, „2015 NPT Review
Conference,‟ New York, USA
April 27-30, IAEA Expert team mission
to Review the Regulation and Guide
on Pre-Disposal Management of
Radioactive Waste, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Upcoming Events
Status of the UAE Nuclear Power Plant
About the Permanent Mission
The UAE has been a member to the IAEA since 1976. The
Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates to the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) acts as the main liaison between the
UAE government and the IAEA in Vienna, Austria.
The UAE Permanent Mission was established in 2008. Its objective is
to represent the interests of the UAE government at the IAEA and
to facilitate the UAE‟s engagement and cooperation with the IAEA
in the areas of nuclear safety, nuclear security, non-proliferation
and safeguards, technical cooperation, and the implementation
of relevant international obligations.
Permanent Mission of the United Arab
Emirates to the International Atomic
Energy Agency, Vienna
Chimanistrasse 36,
1190 Vienna, Austria
Tel: (+43 1) 715 00 28
Fax: (+43 1) 715 00 28 – 5555
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.uae-iaea.org
Follow us: @UAE_IAEA @UAE_IAEA
UAE Permanent Mission to IAEA
Operator Submits Operation Licence
Application for Nuclear Power Plant
Units 1 & 2
On 26 March, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) announced
that it submitted the Operating License Application (OLA) for Barakah Units
1 & 2 to the UAE‟s Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR). This
submission is a key milestone in the country‟s nuclear power programme.
The OLA, which is approximately 15,000 pages in length, culminates the
five-year-long process which began in 2010 with ENEC and the Korea
Electric Power Corporation‟s approval of the Construction License
Application by FANR for Units 1 & 2.
Currently, three out of four nuclear reactors are under construction at
Barakah, in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi. Barakah Unit 1 is projected
to be operational by 2017.