Geneva - Information Office – 21 September
Peoples of the Middle East feel more than others the threat of nuclear weapons and the need to make progress on nuclear disarmament and believe that it is a basic step in this direction to create a nuclear-free zone and compel Israel to implement relevant international resolutions and join the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the State of Qatar reaffirmed in a statement before the annual conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA), currently underway in Vienna.
HE Ambassador Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al-Thani, the State of Qatar's ambassador to the Republic of Austria and permanent representative to the United Nations and international organizations in Vienna, made the remarks as he addressed the conference.
The State of Qatar expressed regret over not implementing the decision of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to NPT 25 years later, urging the IAEA to overcome the fake obstacles hindering progress towards creating a nuclear-free zone.
As for the peaceful uses of nuclear power, the State of Qatar considered them a major stimulator of achieving development, bringing people together and building a safer society.
The statement said that Qatar pays special attention to developing its institutions that are concerned with the peaceful implementations of nuclear power, especially in the fields of foodstuffs, agriculture, human health and environment, adding that the country is steadily progressing according to a long-term plan that was included in the State of Qatar's development program (Qatar National Vision 2030). Doha is also working on preparing the main environment for maximizing the benefit from the different peaceful implementations, including the preparation of qualified personnel.
The State of Qatar expressed gratitude for the cooperation and expertise that IAEA offered it in terms of executing projects and looking to expand and enhance this cooperation in the future so as to accelerate the pace of Qatar's development programs and educational progress.
The statement also praised the central role of IAEA in consolidating international cooperation and its plans that aim at promoting the peaceful use of nuclear power, nuclear safety and security, and the safety of nuclear waste, stressing that nuclear safety and security is no longer an issue only for countries that have nuclear power plants or those planning such facilities but rather a matter of concern for the whole human society, which calls for enhancing the international, regional and local legal frameworks, increasing transparency, sharing information and building trust in these activities.
In this regard, the State of Qatar pointed to the growing threats of cybersecurity crimes on the safety and security of nuclear power plants and the need to enhance IAEA efforts to boost cyber security.
In its statement, the State of Qatar congratulated HE IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano on his re-election, commending his professional, independent and wise management of the agency and his consistent efforts to boost its role in using nuclear power in serving peace and economic and social development, employing the highest degrees of safety and security at nuclear power plants, and facing the threat of nuclear power proliferation.