IAEA’s General Conference adopts Egypt's draft resolution on nuclear facilities in Middle East

CAIRO – 20 September 2024: The 68th session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s General Conference has adopted by majority a draft resolution proposed by Egypt to apply IAEA safeguards to all nuclear facilities in the Middle East.

The draft resolution was adopted with 112 votes in favor and no one against, while nine abstained.

In statements on Thursday, Egypt's ambassador in Vienna and its permanent representative to IAEA Mohamed Nasr said the adoption of the draft resolution confirms Egypt’s weight within the agency and the just cause it is calling for as regards applying IAEA safeguards to all nuclear facilities in the Middle East.

The IAEA’s General Conference is held from September 16-20 at the agency’s headquarters in Vienna.

Joining IAEA Board of Governors

At the plenary session of the IAEA General Conference, Egypt, along with 10 other countries, was unanimously elected to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors.

Besides Egypt, 10 countries have been newly elected as IAEA Board members: Argentina, Colombia, Italy, Luxembourg, Georgia, Ghana, Morocco, Pakistan, Thailand and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Following the election, Nasr expressed Cairo's gratitude for the confidence shown by the African Group in nominating Egypt for the Board membership.

He pledged that Egypt would work to promote the priorities of the African continent regarding the IAEA's work.

Nasr highlighted Egypt's support for the IAEA's role in nuclear safety and security and emphasized the need to advance efforts to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.

He stressed the importance Egypt places on this issue due to its direct impact on the stability and security of the region.

Nasr expressed Egypt's gratitude for the trust placed in it by the IAEA African group to be the African nominee for the Board of Governors membership.

He pledged that Egypt will work to advance Africa’s priorities with regard to the IAEA’s work as well as strengthening the agency's role in the field of nuclear security and safety.

Egypt will also work to advance efforts to free the Middle East of nuclear weapons in light of the priority Egypt gives to this file due to its direct impact on the stability and security of the Middle East region, Nasr said.

Through its current membership, Egypt looks forward to strengthening the IAEA’s role in the peaceful uses of atomic energy to achieve sustainable development goals.

Egypt will aim for maximizing the developing countries’ benefit from the many applications of nuclear science in the fields of health, food security, environmental preservation, and cancer treatment, Nasr noted.