UAE | Government
UAE nuclear power 'only for peaceful means'
The UAE's efforts to develop peaceful nuclear energy were at the focus of a symposium organised yesterday by the Abu Dhabi-based Centre of Information Affairs where diplomats and experts engaged in open discussions.
- WAM
- Published: 23:28 August 24, 2008
Abu Dhabi: The UAE's efforts to develop peaceful nuclear energy were at the focus of a symposium organised on Sunday by the Abu Dhabi-based Centre of Information Affairs where diplomats and experts engaged in open discussions.
A paper analysing the UAE's general policy on the evaluation and potential development of peaceful nuclear energy was presented by the centre at the opening session called UAE Efforts in Peaceful Nuclear Energy.
According to the paper, the UAE has always reiterated its call for the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, affirming that the use of nuclear energy should be confined to peaceful purposes, and in accordance with the highest standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the paper stressed, has already clarified this stance by saying: "Talking about peace in this vital area of the world requires intensified efforts to remove all causes of tension; therefore, establishing an effective balance of power in the region will be achieved only if all Middle East countries undertake to ban the use of nuclear and other mass destruction weapons."
Guiding principles
The UAE will follow a number of guiding principles, including complete operational transparency; the highest standards of non-proliferation, safety and security; and close coordination with the IAEA, said the paper.
The GCC Secretary-general, Abdurrahman Al Atiyyah, praised the UAE's general policy document, describing it as "an important move that agrees with the GCC countries' efforts aimed at developing a peaceful nuclear energy programme, with the commitment to full transparency and the highest standards of non-proliferation and of safety and security," as quoted by the paper.
The paper also pointed to the approval of this policy by the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice; the US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, David Welch; the UK Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Lord Digby Jones of Birmingham; Chinese Foreign Ministry's Spokesperson Liu Jianchao; and Finland's Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, Markus Lyra.
Vincent Floreani, Deputy Head of Mission at the French Embassy in Abu Dhabi, presented a paper called, France's Contribution to the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy' in which he said that the cooperation agreement to develop the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, which was signed in Abu Dhabi on January 15, 2008, during the visit of President Sarkozy to Abu Dhabi, has set out the institutional framework for cooperation on nuclear energy between France and the Emirates.
"From a French perspective, the requests of countries wishing to benefit from this clean low-cost energy are legitimate," the French diplomat said, noting that, "in the face of the global challenges such as global warming and raising the cost of oil, we cannot content ourselves with seeing only to our own French needs."
He quoted President Nicolas Sarkozy as saying "nuclear energy can be a tool for peace. It can be a tool for development."
He also stressed that France is actively supporting the establishment of a multilateral supply mechanism, which could take the form of a fuel bank.
This bank will guarantee everyone continuous access to uranium supplies for their reactors without the need to develop autonomous enrichment capabilities.
Pro-active
Dr Andreas Sizmann, a German expert in science and technology, presented a paper in which he said that the UAE is shaping its energy future pro-actively with various alternative energy initiatives and programmes.
The UAE's Masdar Initiative is a highly visible and valuable contribution to create worthwhile perspectives and to break new ground for renewable energy systems, he said.
Matti Lassila, Ambassador of Finland to the country, said the UAE is taking its part in the proper management of our globe.
"It is certain that the country will take its global responsibilities seriously and environmental issues will be high amongst its priorities," he said.
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