Palestinian Authority signs nuclear safeguards deal with UN agency

Under the guidance of President Mahmoud Abbas and delegated by His Excellency Minister of Foreign Affairs and expatriates Dr. Riad Malki , the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Austria and permanent observer to the United Nations and international organizations in Vienna, Salah Abdul Shafi signed a comprehensive safeguards agreement between the State of Palestine and the International Agency preference Atomic relations on Friday 14/6/2019 at the agency's Vienna headquarters.

The Convention was signed by the agency's Director-General, Mr. Yukiya Amano. The signing of this agreement follows the accession of the State of Palestine as a State party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear weapons at the beginning of 2015. Under the agreement, IAEA inspectors have the right to conduct inspections and verification in the State of Palestine to ascertain the proper uses of atomic energy, and the state of Palestine, for its part, should provide a complete inventory of all uses of radioactive materials in Palestine in all sectors of health, agriculture, science and research.

Ambassador Abdul Shafi conveyed to director General Amano the greetings of the President and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and stressed that the signing of this agreement is further proof of the state of Palestine's assuming its international responsibilities as an active member of the international community and thanked the Agency's staff for their cooperation. For his part, General secretary Amano stressed his happiness for the signing of this agreement and the readiness of the Agency to continue providing technical assistance to the State of Palestine.

The signing ceremony was attended by the Palestinian side, along with Ambassador Abdul Shafi, First Secretary Ihab al-Ghoul, First secretary Dr. Rola Afifi, director General Amano, director of communications and Director of the legal department.