KUWAIT: The Executive Commissioner for International Cooperation at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research and the National Liaison Officer with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Dr Nader Al-Awadhi, affirmed that Kuwait pays great attention to strengthening its national nuclear security system. This came in Al-Awadhi’s speech on the occasion of the launch of a workshop to review the national plan for the sustainability of nuclear security in Kuwait, which is organized by the institute in cooperation with the Radiation Protection Department at the Ministry of Health and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The workshop will continue until next Thursday with the participation of representatives from several bodies, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, the General Administration of Information, the General Fire Force, and the General Administration of Customs. Al-Awadhi explained that the workshop aims to review the achievements of the national plan for the sustainability of nuclear security in Kuwait and update it to keep pace with emerging security needs, with a focus on prioritizing to ensure maintaining an effective and sustainable nuclear security system.
He added that the workshop will address the six functional areas of the international plan to support nuclear security, which are the policy and national strategy, the legislative and regulatory framework, and the field of deterrence, detection, response, assurance, and continuous improvement. He pointed out that Kuwait, as a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, is committed to implementing all agreements related to nuclear security, including the International Atomic Energy Agency’s safeguards for radioactive and nuclear materials, as well as taking effective measures to prevent illegal access to radioactive and nuclear materials.
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He explained that Kuwait is one of the first countries in the region to prepare an integrated nuclear security support plan since 2009 in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and with the participation of all relevant national authorities, stressing that this national plan is a qualitative addition to the public security system in the country to enhance human, institutional, and technical capabilities in various aspects of nuclear security.
He stated that this plan also aims to enhance nuclear security by monitoring and securing radioactive sources, developing a national emergency response plan, combating illicit trafficking in nuclear and radioactive materials, and enhancing border control, adding that it contributes to achieving sustainable development goals by developing a comprehensive and integrated nuclear security system.
He stressed that Kuwait has taken important steps to enhance its national nuclear security system by ratifying the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its amendment of 2005 and joining the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, in addition to the tasks of the Department of Radiation Protection at the Ministry of Health, which plays a pivotal role in developing a comprehensive regulatory framework for nuclear security and regulating the use of radioactive sources.
Al-Awadhi praised the role played by the International Atomic Energy Agency in supporting national efforts to enhance nuclear security, noting that a mission from the agency’s International Advisory Service for Physical Protection concluded in 2023 that Kuwait had established a nuclear security system in line with international standards, with recommendations to enhance current practices. He expressed his thanks to the International Atomic Energy Agency for its effective contribution to holding this workshop, hoping that it would contribute to enhancing international cooperation and exchange of expertise to achieve national and regional goals in this field. — KUNA