UAE reiterates efforts to combat nuclear terrorism

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The delegation stressed on the efforts the UAE has made to combat nuclear terrorism focusing on the successful efforts of fighting terrorism financing. Ambassador Hamad Al-Ka’abi, UAE permanent representative to the IAEA, stated that the UAE’s decision to join the global initiative stems from a common vision to support global efforts to counter terrorism of all types.

“UAE Government has put tremendous efforts and effective resources to achieve its objectives by not only working to counter potential terrorist actions but going further to eliminate the sources of such actions. This is reflected in the Government’s policies, regulations and implementation processes. Today, we have an active legislative framework, empowered local authorities, and trusted global partners , which, all together, ensure the process is efficient and successful in denying terrorists any safe haven,” Al-Ka’abi said.

The UAE has adopted numerous laws, regulations, measures and procedures including joining and ratifying UN related conventions, implementing UN security council resolutions, updating local laws, and continuous engagement with its international partnership. The UAE has signed and ratified 17 international conventions to combat terrorism, and implemented 24 UN security council and General Assembly resolutions, which led to freezing suspected accounts of terrorist organizations and individuals. The UAE is a party to multiple international and regional initiatives endorsed and implemented legislations related to Anti-money laundering, terror financing, and took stringent measures to prevent the use of banking system for criminal purposes. The UAE today has an active legislation framework and a strong regulatory and supervisory system to ensure banks and other financial institutions have internal controls, processes and procedures to identify and track all suspected transactions and persons involved.

Further supporting global efforts, UAE has established permanent committees such as the national anti-money laundering committee and the national counter terrorism committee composed of multi-institutional representation to deal with all legal and other issues related to money laundering, terrorism and terrorism financing.

In implementing local regulations and international resolutions, Government agencies have been working very closely with their counterparts internationally to achieve their common mission. In June 2002, the anti-money laundering and suspicious cases unit at the central bank became the first unit in the region to be accepted as a member of the Egmont Group. In line with Egmont principles, the unit has signed 20 MOUs with partner nations for facilitating exchange of financial information on money laundering and financing of terrorism.

In addition to combating terrorism financing, today the UAE government is taking further tangible steps to support the non-proliferation efforts of the international community. These steps, which include the development of an innovative model for adopting peaceful nuclear energy, should help to reduce global proliferation concerns by demonstrating that nuclear energy can be adopted in a manner that is highly transparent, safe, secure, and peaceful by design. The model‘s non-proliferation commitments are enshrined by the UAE commitments to forgo enrichment and reprocessing, and the development of security and regulatory infrastructure in accordance with best international standards. These commitments were highlighted in the Government’s policy paper, published in April, 2008, and titled, The UAE Policy on the Evaluation and Potential Implementation of Nuclear Energy.

“One nuclear terrorism act could lead to dramatic consequences globally, the UAE is looking forward to continue working with partner nations in developing mechanisms to combat nuclear terrorism and other type of terrorism , in particular in a world where terrorists are continuously advancing their capabilities and intelligence and are not bounded by any border.” Al-Ka’abi concluded.

The Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism has 75 member nations and aim to enhance cooperation among those nations, increasing their capacity to combat the threat of nuclear terrorism around the world including accounting, control, and protection of nuclear material, detecting illicit trafficking, and strengthen legal frameworks of nations and cooperation in activities to combat nuclear terrorism.

 

 

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