Bahrain is committed to supporting peaceful uses of nuclear energy: Speaker Zainal

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain is committed to fulfilling all its obligations stipulated in international agreements related to the field of nuclear security.

It will also support all efforts made by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to consolidate the principle of peaceful uses of nuclear energy, in a manner that serves to enhance the stability and security of the region and the world at large.

This was the assurance made by Council of Representatives Speaker Fawzia bint Abdullah Zainal who participated in a meeting organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation and the IAEA on the sidelines of the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in the Austrian capital Vienna.

The Speaker affirmed the Kingdom’s ability to benefit from nuclear energy for peaceful uses in the fields of power generation, medical treatment, healthcare, agriculture, food preservation, industry and research, among others. She pointed out that Bahrain possesses enough legislation and specialised committees to take the initiative in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and its keenness to ensure a safe environment from nuclear dangers and adopt precautionary measures.

Zainal called for strengthening cooperation and joint coordination between parliaments, IAEA and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) to formulate the necessary legislation that supports international efforts to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

During the meeting, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi reviewed the main areas of work of the agency as the global centre for cooperation in the nuclear field.

He explained the work of the IAEA, which is of particular importance to the conference, including post-pandemic recovery and achieving sustainable development goals, climate change and gender equality.

Grossi also touched on the importance of universal adherence to multilateral treaties related to nuclear safety and security, nuclear non-proliferation, civil liability for nuclear damage, and the special role of parliaments in ensuring their ratification.