United Arab Emirates-US Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation

in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

Monday 21 April 2008, Manama: UAE Foreign Minister, His Highness Sheikh

Abdulla bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, and US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice,

signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in peaceful uses of

nuclear energy on April 21, 2008 in Bahrain.

The signing of the UAE-US MOU follows the public launch by the United Arab

Emirates of a detailed policy document on the evaluation and potential

development of peaceful nuclear energy within the UAE. The UAE policy 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 program, including a pledge to forego any

domestic enrichment or reprocessing capability in favor 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.

Commenting on the MOU signing, the Foreign Minister remarked that “the UAEUS

Memorandum of Understanding represents an excellent example of the kind

of cooperative relationships that the UAE hopes to forge with responsible nuclear

supplier states in the area of peaceful nuclear energy.” Noting the 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 a “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 Foreign Minister also presented Secretary Rice with 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.