The Moroccan Ambassador to the United States, Youssef Amrani, took part, Monday in Washington, in a meeting chaired by the American Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, Bonnie Jenkins, on the Sustained Dialogue on the Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology (SDPU). During this meeting held at the State Department headquarters, Mr. Amrani praised the efforts made under the SDPU initiative, “an important platform and a valuable partner” for scientific and technological cooperation in various key sectors, including water, environment, food and health. He clarified that the objectives of this initiative are in line with Morocco’s national priorities set out in the New Development Model, as well as the Kingdom’s commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The ambassador recalled in this regard that Morocco actively participates in activities related to SDPU, particularly through its competent agencies, namely the National Center for Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology (CNESTEN) and the Moroccan Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security (AMSSNuR).
Since its accession to the IAEA in 1957, Morocco has introduced nuclear techniques for peaceful purposes in various sectors and has benefited significant cooperation and support from the IAEA, particularly through training, expertise and the acquisition of cutting-edge equipment, noted Mr. Amrani. He added that AMSSNuR and CNESTEN are both recognized, at the regional and continental levels, as centers of excellence in capacity building, training and technical support, as well as the promotion of regulations in this area. Referring to the assistance provided by Morocco to African countries in this area, the ambassador expressed the Kingdom’s readiness to work towards the development of triangular and multilateral cooperation initiatives, involving on the one hand the SDPU and the IAEA, and on the other hand interested member states. Such partnerships would, he said, further strengthen knowledge and expertise in this important area across Africa. The SDPU is an initiative to support continued progress and the right of all to the benefits of peaceful uses of nuclear technology, as enshrined in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). This initiative also aims to create a cooperative platform to raise awareness of the areas in which nuclear technologies have the most impact, within the framework of achieving the SDGs.
