Egypt keen to adopt highest int'l nuclear standards - Al-Sisi

CAIRO, Feb 3 (KUNA) -- Egypt's President Abdulfatah Al-Sisi affirmed Sunday his country's keenness to implement highest international standards in nuclear safety and security field.
Al-Sisi made his remarks while meeting with the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano in Cairo, Egyptian presidency said in a statement.
He pointed out adopting such top world criteria is part of Egypt's El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant project, located in El Dabaa, Matrouh Governorate, in northwestern the country, Presidential spokesman Bassam Radhi said in a statement.
Al-Sisi expressed his country's aspiration for a closer cooperation with IAEA to benefit from its expertise in training and qualifying Egyptian workers, which would boost the plant's operation and maintenance.
Cairo also seeks to take advantage of the peaceful applications available in nuclear energy in order to meet its development goals, said the Egyptian President.
He also affirmed his country's keenness to boost cooperation with IAEA in accordance with the two sides' legal commitments, particularly in implementing the agency's safeguards agreements.
Egypt strongly supports IAEA's efforts toward establishing a Nuclear-Weapons-Free Zone and a Weapons of Mass Destruction Free Zone in the Middle East, Al-Sisi affirmed, adding such efforts would boost stability and security in the region.
He also stressed the importance of taking into consideration Cairo's pivotal role in coordinating an Arab action to back IAEA's goals.
Furthermore, Al-Sisi lauded Amano's efforts to secure a peaceful use for nuclear science and technology, and attain UN's 2030 sustainable development goals.
For his part, Amano highlighted IAEA's ways to bolster cooperation with Egypt, particularly in preparing Egyptian workers to utilize nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
He also lauded Cairo's "effective" role, on regional and international levels, in preventing nuclear proliferation and using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, in addition to its contribution, as a founding member, in IAEA's decision-making process.
Amano also expressed his keen interest in boosting consultation and coordination with Egypt to promote IAEA's activities and efforts in Africa, especially with Cairo's forthcoming chairing of the African Union this year.
He also praised recent achievements of Egyptian energy sector under the leadership of President Al-Sisi, noting such a progress would elevate the country's development status to brighter prospects. (end) rg.ma