Why has the tone of the Egyptian discourse changed before the International Atomic Energy Agency? See PDF in Arabic
The tone of the official Egyptian discourse changed toward Israel during the speech delivered by the representative of the Arab Republic of Egypt Dr. Mohamed Shaker El-Merkabi, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, before the 61st session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on 18. (Egypt Statement PDF)
The Egyptian minister did not mention Israel in words, and only referred to the existence of one state in the Middle East that refuses to implement the IAEA’s safeguards.
A screen-shot of the Egyptian Minister speech is below.
At the start of the plenary session, Ambassador Maria Zeneida Angara Collinson was elected as President of the 61st IAEA General Conference. Delegates then approved Grenada’s application for IAEA membership.
Director General Yukiya Amano delivered his opening statement in which he reviewed the year’s highlights and defined priorities for the coming year. During the opening session, the General Conference by acclamation approved the re-appointment of the IAEA Director General for a further four year term.
During the first day sessions, the Chinese Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) has pledged to train experts from across Asia in the various peaceful uses of nuclear technology, under an agreement signed today. The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the IAEA’s 61st General Conference, will strengthen expertise in nuclear energy, nuclear safety and nuclear science and applications.
China has agreed to provide regional training courses and long-term education programmes such as Masters Degrees and PhDs for students from developing countries — including least developed countries and small islands developing states (SIDS) — in the areas of nuclear energy, nuclear safety and security, and nuclear sciences and applications. The training will be delivered under the IAEA technical cooperation programme.
On the other hand, the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK•CEN and the US Department of Energy Idaho and Oak Ridge National Laboratories will make their research reactors, labs and education and training facilities available to scientists from other countries for training and research and development, representatives of the labs announced at the IAEA General Conference today.
Both institutions received designations as IAEA International Centres based on Research Reactor (ICERR).
“This is an outstanding recognition for Belgium. The nuclear expertise and experience obtained through our research and development support the education and training activities with which we transfer knowledge and skills to current and future generations,” said Eric van Walle, Director General of SCK•CEN. “We are proud to contribute to IAEA’s goal with our unique infrastructure.”
