UAE ESTABLISHES INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR ADVISORY BOARD

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000270 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA, ISN/NESS AND ISN/RA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG KNNP PGOV AE SUBJECT: UAE ESTABLISHES INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR ADVISORY BOARD ¶1. (SBU) On February 22, the UAE announced the establishment of an International Advisory Board (IAB) for the UAE's nuclear power program, under the leadership of former IAEA DG Hans Blix (complete text of official announcement in para 4). The Advisory Board, which was first referenced in the UAE's 2008 nuclear policy white paper, is currently in Abu Dhabi for its first round of meeting with UAE nuclear entities. MFA Special Representative for International Nuclear Cooperation and IAEA PermRep Amb. Hamad Al Kaabi told EconOff on February 23 that the IAB is meeting with key UAE entities, including the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) and Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC). He said the Board is charged with reviewing and publishing public reports on the UAE's nuclear program twice yearly. Al Kaabi stressed that the IAB is a fully independent entity, even though it was established and paid for by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, and logistically supported by Abu Dhabi's Executive Affairs Authority. He added that UAE nuclear entities look forward to the Board's comments and input on improving the program. ¶2. (SBU) Al Kaabi also confirmed that the UAE has now signed and ratified all of the IAEA protocols and conventions outlined in the White Paper, with the exception of the Additional Protocol, which is still working its way through the UAEG ratification process. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: The UAE continues to deliver on its stated commitment to develop a fully transparent nuclear power program that can serve as a model for other countries in the region. The establishment of the independent advisory board, predominantly staffed by Americans and other Western experts, complements the existing independent federal nuclear regulator, but adds a degree of external expertise and oversight that will facilitate public understanding of the program. End Comment. ¶4. (U) Begin Text of official news agency (WAM) release: UAE government establishes International Advisory Board to support UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program Abu Dhabi, Feb 22nd, 2010 (WAM) - In keeping with its commitments, as described in the "Policy of the United Arab Emirates on the Evaluation and Potential Development of Peaceful Nuclear Energy" the Ministry of Presidential Affairs today announced the establishment of an International Advisory Board (IAB). The IAB will provide the UAE nuclear program with the benefit of the expertise and knowledge of a highly select group of internationally recognized experts in the fields of peaceful nuclear energy. The board benefits from a distinguished membership chosen from among the world's most recognized experts in nuclear science, non-proliferation, regulatory affairs, energy generation and distribution, reactor operations, waste management, human resource development and related fields. The IAB consists of nine members and is chaired by Dr. Hans Blix, who served as the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency for four terms, from 1981 till 1997. Additional members of the board include: - Mr. Jacques Bouchard, special advisor to the Chairman of the French Commissariat L'Energie Atomique, and former Chairman of the Generation IV International Forum (GIF). - Dr. KunMo Chung, who served twice as Minister of Science and Technology in South Korea. - Ambassador Thomas Graham, who serving as a senior U.S. Diplomat was involved in negotiation of every major international arms control and non-proliferation agreement during the period 1970-1997. He is currently the Executive Chairman of the board of Lightbridge Corporation, a company which holds patents on a new type of nuclear power fuel based on thorium. - Mr. Takuya Hattori, President of Japan Atomic Industrial Forum, Inc. (JAIF) and President of JAIF International Cooperation Center. Mr. Hattori also, served as Executive Vice President of Tokyo Electric Power Co. Inc. (TEPCO). - Lady Barbara Judge, Chairman of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. Lady Judge previously served as Commissioner of the US Securities and Exchange Commission. - Dr. Mujid Kazimi, Professor of Nuclear and Mechanical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Kazimi previously served as Head of the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering at MIT. - Mr. Jukka Laaksonen, Director General of Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority in Finland. - Sir John Rose, Chief Executive of Rolls- Royce plc, a major nuclear component and service provider in UK. The International Advisory Board will meet semi-annually, to receive reports on the progress of the UAE Nuclear Program against targets of achieving and maintaining the highest standards of safety, security and non-proliferation. Board members will provide their invaluable insights into how the program can be optimized against these targets. Based upon these semi-annual reviews, the board will issue regular reports that suggest potential areas for improvement. As part of its commitment to transparency, the government of the United Arab Emirates will make these reports available to the public, ensuring that both domestic and international stakeholders are able to monitor the program's performance against the highest international standards. The IAB is expected to conduct its first meeting in February, 2010. End Text. OLSON