ABU DHABI, 24 March 2008 — The UAE Cabinet yesterday approved a memorandum on the possible development of a nuclear energy program for peaceful purposes.
According to state news agency WAM, the memorandum, presented by Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah ibn Zayed Al-Nahyan, was approved during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Sheikh Mohammad ibn Rashid Al-Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai.
The complete details on the program will soon be published in line with the UAE’s keenness to deal with the international community transparently, Sheikh Abdullah said. Awareness programs on the nuclear energy project will be introduced, he added.
Accordingly, the UAE intends to establish a Nuclear Energy Implementation Organization (NEPIO) as recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and is proceeding to evaluate the establishment of a peaceful nuclear program that would make the potential benefits of nuclear power available to the people of the UAE.
To make clear its intentions with regard to nuclear power, the government has prepared and formally endorsed a policy statement as a reflection of its views on the potential establishment of a peaceful civilian nuclear energy program.
The policies and actions described in the document are of two kinds: those that will be implemented as part of the UAE’s ongoing evaluation of nuclear energy and those which would be undertaken only in the event that the UAE opts to build nuclear facilities within its borders.
Through the adoption and implementation of these policies and actions, the government of the UAE hopes to establish a new model via which non-nuclear states may explore and potentially deploy nuclear energy with the full support of the international community.
Meanwhile, the Council of Ministers has lauded President Shaikh Khalifa ibn Zayed Al Nahyan’s decision to allocate AED16 billion to develop infrastructure in the northern emirates.
The Cabinet said the initiative reflected Shaikh Khalifa’s keenness to provide decent living standards and to raise economic and social status of UAE citizens. The cabinet also ratified the UAE’s new emblem following approval given by Sheikh Khalifa to the new design. The cabinet issued directives to all federal and local government entities to start using the new emblem within a period starting from May 1 to December 31 of this year.
It also urged application of the new emblem on all documents with specific validity such as passports and driver’s licenses.
