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