The State of Kuwait said guarantees implemented by the UN nuclear watchdog were a key pillar for nuclear non-proliferation.

Kuwait's Ambassador to Austria and the Permanent Representatives to the Vienna-based international organizations, Mohammad Al-Sallal, called on countries around the globe to sign the comprehensive guarantees agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as well as the agency's additional protocol.

Addressing IAEA's General Conference, Al-Sallal hoped all parties to Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) would fully comply with the treaty and the additional protocol.

Kuwait is pinning high hopes on application of IAEA's guarantees system in the Middle East, he said.

He added: "Although many countries in the region were respecting NPT and applying the comprehensive guarantees, Kuwait regretted that Israel was refusing to sign the NPT or allowing IAEA inspectors to inspect its nuclear facilities."

Al-Sallal, meanwhile, welcomed the IAEA Director General's call to hold a Forum next November over expertise related to the establishment of a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East.

He also welcomed endeavors of the US, Russia and China to organizing an international conference in 2012 in order to make the Middle East free of nuclear weapons and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). "This is an important and first step within the increasing global realization of the danger that Israel remains outside NPT," he added.

Al-Sallal, however, asserted that countries around the world have the right to possess and develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

He said Kuwait welcomed the establishment of a bank for nuclear fuel to be under IAEA's supervision, announcing US$ 10 million donation for the bank.

On the other hand, Al-Sallal called on Iran to boost cooperation with the Vienna-based IAEA to dismiss fears and doubts over the nature of its nuclear program.

He called for strict implementation of regulations related to safety and security of radioactive materials.

Al-Sallal said painful lessons learned from the nuclear accidents "makes us more determined to have guarantees as well as boosting our collective capabilities against any future nuclear incidents."

The Kuwaiti Ambassador also talked about the fruitful cooperation between his country and the IAEA in order to acquiring nuclear energy.

 

Source: Kuna - Kuwait News Agency