HIBAPRESS Ambassador, Morocco's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, Azzeddine Farhan, affirmed on Wednesday that Morocco, under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, remains convinced that constructive dialogue and cooperation in all its forms and effective multilateralism are fundamental pillars for maintaining trust and strengthening cooperation at the sub-regional, regional, and international levels.
Farhan explained, in a speech during the high-level segment of the 70th session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, that this session coincides with the conclusion of Morocco's two-year term on the Agency's Board of Governors, and the beginning of a new responsibility with the Kingdom assuming, starting tomorrow Thursday, the presidency of the African Regional Agreement for Cooperation in Research, Development and Training in the Field of Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA).
He recalled, in this context, the Kingdom's continuous engagement in the Agency's governance, particularly through Morocco's presidency of the 64th session of the IAEA General Conference, and the presidency of the G77 and China in Vienna in 2022, as well as its membership in the Board of Governors during the 2024-2026 period, during which it also held the position of Vice-President, stating that "Membership, for Morocco, has never meant merely occupying a seat, but rather contributing, facilitating, and building bridges of communication."
Regarding safeguards and non-proliferation issues, Mr. Farhan highlighted that Morocco has consistently supported the integrity of the Agency's verification mandate, full cooperation with its Secretariat, and respect for the rights and obligations arising from the international non-proliferation regime, while simultaneously calling for the preservation of the necessary space for diplomatic action.
In this regard, he referred to the Kingdom's coordination with other Arab members of the Board of Governors, namely Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt, particularly for the purpose of holding an extraordinary session of the Board following the attack on the "Barakah" nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates.
He explained that this step specifically aimed to reaffirm the fundamental principle that nuclear facilities dedicated to peaceful purposes must not be targeted by armed attacks.
The diplomat also addressed the efforts made regarding the safeguards issue in Syria, emphasizing that the four Arab members of the Board contributed, through extensive consultations, to aligning the handling of this matter with evolving circumstances, and reaching a consensus outcome that allowed for the withdrawal of the Syrian file from the Board's agenda, while preserving the Agency's technical responsibilities.
On the other hand, Mr. Farhan highlighted Morocco's contribution to strengthening the international nuclear safety and security regime, recalling that the Kingdom chaired, in 2005, the negotiations that led to the adoption of the International Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.
He added that twenty years later, on the sidelines of the 69th session of the General Conference, Morocco brought together the IAEA, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, along with UN partners, including the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the International Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism and the adoption of an amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material.
The Ambassador stated that "our goal was part of a forward-looking vision aimed at strengthening the universality and effective implementation of these two instruments, as well as consolidating international cooperation to confront evolving threats to nuclear security."
On the national level, Mr. Farhan affirmed that the Kingdom has chosen a path of transparency by voluntarily submitting its nuclear and radiological framework to the IAEA's peer review mechanisms.
In this framework, Morocco hosted three review missions from the Agency, which focused, among other things, on emergency preparedness and response, integrated nuclear infrastructure, and the integrated assessment of research reactor safety, as well as a mission for the integrated regulatory review service.
Mr. Farhan also stressed that the strength of the international nuclear safety and security regime should be measured by its ability to achieve tangible benefits for the population.
In this context, he recalled Morocco's initiative within the G77 and China on a resolution concerning the economic production of potable water using small and medium-sized nuclear reactors, highlighting the importance of water security and the potential contribution of nuclear technologies in this field.
The diplomat continued by saying that "Africa remains at the heart of the Kingdom's commitment," recalling that Morocco hosted in Rabat, in 2024, the first African regional meeting dedicated to the IAEA's "ZODIAC" initiative, aimed at strengthening national capacities in the detection, surveillance, and control of zoonotic diseases.
He also highlighted the contribution of Moroccan institutions and centers of excellence in training, grants, scientific visits, and expertise sharing for professionals from over 40 African member states of the Agency, in fields ranging from nuclear medicine to strengthening regulatory capacities.
Mr. Farhan concluded that "Morocco's mandate on the Board of Governors is drawing to a close, but its commitment to the Agency, Africa, the international nuclear safety and security regime, and effective multilateralism continues," calling for the strengthening of multilateral institutions and ensuring a more equitable sharing among nations of the benefits of nuclear science and technology.
