UAE expands cooperation deal with US

Abu Dhabi: The UAE's Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) and the US' Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) have signed a cooperation agreement in Washington, DC, for the exchange of technical information and cooperation in nuclear safety, security and safeguards matters, FANR said Monday.

"This arrangement was made within the framework of the bilateral nuclear cooperation [123] agreement between the Governments of the United Arab Emirates and the United States, and implemented on December 17, 2009," FANR said in a statement.

The UAE's civilian nuclear energy programme upholds the highest standards of safety, security, non-proliferation and operational transparency, it added.

"The FANR-NRC Cooperation Arrangement will allow the exchange of technical information relating to the regulation of safety, security, safeguards and the environmental impact of nuclear energy facilities. The scope of the arrangement also covers safety research exchange, as well as nuclear safety training for personnel," FANR said.

The signing ceremony was attended by Yousuf Al Otaiba, UAE's Ambassador to the US, and other UAE officials.

Al Otaiba called the agreement a "major milestone" in cooperation with the US.