By IANS,
Abu Dhabi : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) remains committed to peaceful use of nuclear energy, according to an official document released Sunday.
The document was presented by UAE’s Centre of Information Affairs at the opening session of a symposium on “UAE Efforts in Peaceful Nuclear Energy”, the official Emirates News Agency (WAM) said.
Analysing the UAE’s policy on the evaluation and potential development of peaceful nuclear energy, the document said the Gulf nation had always called for non-proliferation of nuclear and mass destruction weapons.
It affirmed that the use of nuclear energy should be confined to peaceful purposes, and in accordance with the standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
It said the UAE would 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.
The document quoted UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan as 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.”
The paper pointed out that UAE’s policy on the evaluation and potential development of peaceful nuclear energy mirrored, as the general policy document defined, the visions adopted by the country as its approach to initiating a nuclear energy programme for peaceful purposes.
This policy, the paper said, underlines complete operational transparency, highest standards of non-proliferation, and safety and security.
It also emphasises coordination with the IAEA, cooperation with governments and firms of responsible nuclear supplier nations as well as a commitment to long-term sustainability.