Monday, 22nd of September 2014, the Head of the Saudi Delegation, Dr. Hashim Abdullah Yamani, President of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, has delivered the Kingdom’s Speech at the outset of the inaugural 58th session of the IAEA General Conference. In his inaugural speech Dr. Yamani welcomed the recent accession to the membership of IAEA of the Union of Comoros, Djibouti Republic, the Republic of Guyana, and Vanuatu. KACARE’s President in his speech has also stressed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is irrevocably convinced of the paramount importance of the atomic energy to the so many peaceful applications and uses, taking into account the benefits generated inasmuch as it supports the advancement and growth of humanity worldwide. Dr. Yamani added that the Kingdom’s participation is a step forward on the path of encouragement and development of the peaceful uses of atomic energy. In its march on this path, he added, the Kingdom takes into consideration the importance of following the best practices, in full compliance with safety procedures and measures, and strict adherence to the principle of transparency, and observance and strict application of safeguards system on all nuclear materials and installations. In so doing, Dr. Yamani stressed, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia does appreciate and highly evaluate the pivotal role the IAEA plays in all of this. Spurred by its convictions, he added, the Kingdom firmly and with unshaken faith is moving ahead determinedly towards compliance with all the legal, organizational, financial, and economic requirements of its national nuclear program. To this end, the Kingdom leave no stone unturned to enhance and strengthen its cooperation, whether at the regional or international levels, with full respect of the principle of transparency. The Kingdom of Saudi aims at the fulfilment of sustainability of its national program through endeavoring to promote and develop a robust infrastructure required for R&D and localization of nuclear industry and services thereof. KACARE’s President stated also that the City is keen and determined to adopt and apply the highest international criteria possible in the domain of nuclear safety. This will be attained, he emphasized, through efficient and effective organization and mobilization of activities and practices relying on atomic energy. In this connection, Dr. Yamani referred to the strategic partnership between KACARE and the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Organization in Finland. He stressed that latter has become a strategic partner to KACARE, with an objective of laying down and developing of the infrastructures required to set up an independent and highly efficient national entity to be specialized in nuclear control and security in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Such a step, he stressed, is instrumental for the implementation of a peaceful and ambitious nuclear energy program aimed at providing the Kingdom with highly sustainable alternative energy sources with. Dr. Yamani declared that KACARE has already drafted the Saudi Nuclear Law and the Law of Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages. He stated that both laws are now in the process of editing and revision by national and international partners. This set of laws, he added, will be presented to Saudi legislatures for approval. Concluding his speech, Dr. Yamani stated that the Kingdom has on many occasions demonstrated its robust and sincere support to the IAEA’s efforts exerted in the domain of nuclear security. These endeavors have shown themselves through participation in other global efforts such as, to cite just one example, Nuclear Security Summit and other arenas. He remarked that that the Kingdom is adherent to the principles related to nuclear disarmament in order that humanity be rid of imminent nuclear risk. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia does believe that the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons remains the only remaining global reference forming a legal undertaking obliging all states to work listlessly and untiringly to work hard towards iradication and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. Finally, Dr. Yamany concluded by stating that the Kingdom hopes to see achieved all the objectives we all aspire for in a world where security, stability, progress and well-being for all humanity prevail.
