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19:12 GMT
VIENNA, Sept 20 (KUNA) -- State of Kuwait said Tuesday gaurantees
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.
Al-Sallal, addressing IAEA's General Conference, 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 Middl East, he said.
He said Kuwait regretted that although many countries in the region were
respecting NPT and applying the comprehensive guarantees, 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 weaons 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 USD 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 learnedfrom 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. (end)
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