Saudi Arabia participated in ICNS

On Friday ,9 December 2016 the 2^nd International Conference on Nuclear Security Commitments and Actions concluded its activities.  The Conference convened at the IAEA’s Headquarters in Vienna over the period (5-9 December).  Saudi Arabia was represented by a delegation headed by HE the President of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy Dr. Hashim Abdullah Yamani.  Having discussed its communique, the following major points were agreed:

• Ministers of the IAEA member States have attended the sessions of the 2^ndInternational Conference on Nuclear Security are concerned for the threats faced by nuclear security, and therefore are all committed to preserve the sustainability, enhancement and strengthening nuclear security through national actions which may involve international cooperation through the IAEA.
• They reaffirm their commitment to their shared goals of nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful use of nuclear energy.

• They welcome the progress achieved by the IAEA’s member States towards the development and enhancement of national nuclear security, as well as the positive impact of the IAEA’s efforts exerted to sustain nuclear security.
• They underpin the importance of the role played by science, technology and engineering in understanding and addressing  challenges and threats faced by global nuclear security, and undertake to remain vigilant while they carry on with taking the necessary actions and measures to face, limit and eradicate such threats and challenges.
• They reaffirm that responsibility for nuclear security within the State shall be shouldered by such State in accordance with related national and international commitments.
• They further reaffirm the pivotal role of the Agency to internationally enhance  nuclear security framework, lead and coordinate international activities  in the area of nuclear security.
• Commit to implement decisions of the Security Council unanimously approved at the General Conference 60.
• They welcome the imminent entry into force of the Amendment to the Convention on Physical Protection of the Nuclear Material and look forward to its full implementation and encourage non-member states to join the Convention and implementation thereof.
• They commit to make available to the Agency reliable and adequate technical, human and financial resources in a manner that will help attain their nuclear security objectives.
• Encourage States to voluntarily pursue  lessening  the use of highly-enriched uranium (HEU) to instead use low-enriched uranium (LEU) as far as technical and economic resources permit.
• They commit to maintain at all times security of all radioactive material.
• They reaffirm the essential responsibility and the central role  of the International Atomic Energy Agency in strengthening the global nuclear security architecture and in developing international guidance and its leading role in facilitating and coordinating nuclear security activities.

Note:

 The first ICNS was held in 2013, but the 2016 conference has taken on a new significance,it is the first major international nuclear security conference since the fourth and final Nuclear Security Summit (NSS or Summit) in April this year. There are 168 IAEA member states compared to the 52 represented at the 2016 NSS. Notably, Russia’s large delegation in attendance at the ICNS is in contrast to its complete absence from the 2016 NSS. The recognition that this year’s conference has taken on a particular significance is clear by the number of attendees, which has ballooned since 2013, when there were 1,300 participants from 125 member states and 21 organizations.