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: general@uae-iaea.org

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

www.uae-iaea.org Page 2

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

www.uae-iaea.org Page 8

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)

www.uae-iaea.org Page 9

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: general@uae-iaea.org

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.