The 60th general conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concluded in Vienna, Austria on Friday, with a number of important resolutions. Among those resolutions were the application of agency safeguards. The resolution affirms the urgent need for all countries in the Middle East, except Israel, to accept full-scope agency safeguards to their nuclear activities. According to a statement by Egypt's foreign ministry, a majority of the 122 countries in the agency voted for the decision, while six abstained from voting. No countries voted against the decision. Amr Amer, Egypt's permanent ambassador at the IAEA, said in the statement that the resolution adoption resulted from the ongoing efforts of Egypt's embassy in Vienna. He also added that the resolution reflects Egypt's stance towards creating a nuclear-weapons free zone in the Middle East that supports the goal of regional peace and security. The decision is also considered a step towards the establishment of a Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone (NWFZ). It calls upon all parties directly concerned to consider undertaking needed steps, including confidence-building and verification measures, aimed at establishing an NWFZ in the Middle East. It also reiterated the director general's mandate from earlier resolutions of the general conference to pursue further consultations with Middle East countries to facilitate the early application of safeguards. The decision was raised by Iran and Egypt back in 1974 in the UN general assembly. Meanwhile, Egypt is finalising necessary paperwork prior to the establishment of its first nuclear energy station. President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met with Rosatom CEO Sergey Kiriyenko in Cairo on Thursday to discuss the final technical and financial aspects of the contracts between Egypt and Russia to launch the Dabaa nuclear power plant.
