UAE to get at least 55 out of 98 votes in Irena bid: diplomat

Abu Dhabi: A well planned campaign with sincere and concrete offers to the Irena has increased the UAE's success possibility in its Irena bid, a top diplomat from a western country told Gulf News last recently.

"I make this assessment from the fact that many European countries have decided to support the UAE's bid", said the diplomat who did not want to be named.

The disagreement among European countries on the selection of the new Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency will reflect in the Irena bid also, he said.

Candidates from three European countries, Spain, Belgium and Slovenia are competing for the post of IAEA Director General, apart from Japan and South Africa.

The UAE is competing with three other European countries, Germany, Austria and Denmark, in its bid to host the Irena headquarters.

Considering the disagreement among European nations, the UAE is all likely to get at least 55 out of a total 98 votes, he said.