The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced today it has donated ten million US Dollars for the establishment of specialized center to counter nuclear terrorism at IAEA's Headquarters in Vienna, and Five Hundred Thousand Euros to upgrade the IAEA's Laboratories in Seibersdorf. In the meantime the Kingdom recalled that it has also been at the forefront of those countries that supported the international resolutions in relation to nuclear security. Namely, it has paid particular attention to the development of nuclear security infrastructure. This was spelled out in a speech delivered by the Head of the Saudi Delegation, Dr. Hashim Abdullah Yamani, President of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE) before the Nuclear Security Summit held in Washington. Dr. Yamani added that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always been at the forefront of those countries that supported the international resolutions related to nuclear security. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, he added, has ratified the Convention on the Physical protection of Nuclear Material and supported the initiative to combat nuclear terrorism. Besides, Dr. Yamani added, "the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a party to the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism". Dr. Yamani reminded the audience that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always been there, actively and positively, in most of the international activities having to do with the nuclear security ever since the 1st Summit held in Washington in 2010. He elaborated that the Kingdom has paid particular attention to the development of nuclear security infrastructure, cognizant of the integration between the nuclear security and nuclear safety. By the same token, he added that that the Kingdom has included the nuclear security as one of the utmost importance of the constituents of the Regulatory Commission now under construction in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Such being the case, the Kingdom has been working hard to activate its Strategic Partnership with Nuclear and Radioactive Safety Commission in Finland, as a strategic partner providing technical support, knowledge and expertise necessary for the organization of the atomic energy sector in the Kingdom, and to develop the manpower necessary for the creation of an independent national nuclear surveillance. At the international level, he added, the Kingdom has provided, and will continue to provide full support to all international activities in the field of nuclear security. In 2014, for example, the Kingdom has donated 100 million Dollars the UN Center to combat terrorism.
Dr. Yamani added that the Kingdom pays much attention to the international system relevant to nuclear security, particularly to the pivotal role played by the IAEA. Therefore, we call upon all those concerned to support and enhance technical and human capabilities of the IAEA through the establishment of a Center, whose main mission shall be combatting nuclear terrorism, at the Agency's HQs in Vienna. I declare that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is donating the amount of ten million US Dollars for the establishment of such Center. Furthermore, he added, I am pleased to announce, too, the donation of 100,000 Euro for the modernization of the Agency's Laboratories.
