Commenting on the signing of MoU, Sheikh Abdullah said that "the UAE-US MoU represents an excellent example of cooperation the UAE hopes to forge with responsible nuclear supplier states in the area of peaceful nuclear energy. There are potential mutual benefits to both parties from deepening cooperation in the development of the UAE’s domestic nuclear energy sector." The Foreign Minister further welcomed the prospect of negotiating a more extensive bilateral agreement for peaceful nuclear cooperation (known as Section 123 Agreement in the United States), which would establish the necessary legal basis for trade in significant nuclear commodities between the two countries.
The signing follows the public launch of the detailed policy document by the UAE on the evaluation and potential development of peaceful nuclear energy within the UAE. The UAE policy in this respect is based upon the principles of complete operational transparency and the highest standards of safety, security and non-proliferation. It also contains a number of commitments and strategies designed to ensure that these principles would be upheld by any UAE domestic nuclear programme, including a pledge to forego any domestic enrichment or reprocessing capability in favour of long-term external fuel supply arrangements.
Additionally the UAE policy calls for close and continuous coordination with the IAEA, as well as cooperation with the governments and firms of responsible nuclear supplier nations.
Sheikh Abdullah presented to his US counterpart a diplomatic note endorsing the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism.
The United Arab Emirates is the 67th nation to join the Initiative, which is an action-oriented, flexible network of partner nations working to address all aspects of the nuclear terrorism threat, including deterrence, denial, detection, material confiscation, and response.
