In a speech at the 68th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Ms. Benali stressed that the Kingdom remains “fully committed” to continuing to share, either bilaterally or in cooperation with the IAEA, its experience with its partners with a view to promoting the use of nuclear applications, science and technology for peaceful purposes. While welcoming the IAEA’s initiatives in the areas of environment, agriculture and health, Ms. Benali reiterated Morocco’s continued support for the Agency’s central role, including in providing technical assistance to Member States.
Morocco’s training infrastructure for peaceful nuclear applications received several awards from the IAEA last year, the minister recalled. In this regard, she noted that the National Center for Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology (CNESTEN) received the first award in Africa as an International Center Based on Research Reactors (ICERR) and that the National Institute of Oncology in Rabat (INO) was designated an anchor center within the framework of the “Rays of Hope” initiative.
For its part, the National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST) was designated last September as a Collaborating Center in the fields of molecular biology and genomics, while the Moroccan Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security (AMSSNuR) created with the IAEA the “African School of Radiological Safety Regulators,” she continued. These institutions have already started offering training, including to many African experts, the minister said, specifying that Morocco and its institutions have shared their technical expertise with more than 40 African member states.
They committed to supporting technical cooperation and capacity building in various areas, such as radiotherapy, water, nutrition and radiology, she detailed. In addition to training in collaboration with the IAEA and member states, Morocco continues to help many partners analyze samples in the laboratory using nuclear techniques, Ms. Benali said.
Furthermore, the Moroccan official emphasized a challenge that is “crucial for the survival of humanity” and whose urgency was recalled in HM the King’s speech last July, on the occasion of the Throne Day, namely that of water. Ms. Benali insisted on the imperative of implementing solid policies that guarantee equitable access to water resources by promoting international cooperation in sustainable water management.
“Effective and inclusive” multilateral actions, which take into account the national circumstances of developing countries, are urgent, she insisted, noting that vulnerable communities, disproportionately affected, “should be at the centre of our considerations”.
In his message to the COP28 in Dubai, HM the King highlighted the situation of middle-income countries, which are leading the battle for socio-economic development as well as sustainable development, she recalled, stressing that the Sovereign had advocated for special and more sustained attention from the international community for these countries. In this sense, Ms. Benali noted that within the framework of the IAEA projects supporting water policy, Morocco is presenting this year a resolution submitted by the G77 to be adopted at our General Conference on the “Plan for the economic production of drinking water using a small and medium-sized nuclear reactor”.
This resolution underlines the need for continued strengthening of international cooperation in the planning and implementation of nuclear desalination programmes, she concluded.
In addition to Ms. Benali, the Moroccan delegation to the 68th General Conference of the IAEA includes the Ambassador Permanent Representative of Morocco to the International Organizations in Vienna, Azzeddine Farhane, the Director General of AMSSNuR, Saïd Mouline and the Director General of CNESTEN, Hamid Marah.
