Vienna: Qatar has confirmed its interest in using nuclear technology in the fields of food, agriculture, human health and the environment in addition to other peaceful purposes.
The state also approved a programme to set up national institutions concerned with peaceful applications of atomic energy and initiated a technical cooperation programme with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to modernise its laboratories, participate in training programmes and to get advice from IAEA experts.
This came in two statements by Qatar during a meeting of IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna.
Ali Khalfan Al Mansouri, Qatar’s Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative to international organisations in Vienna, delivered the statements.
On the technical cooperation report 2014, he said Qatar’s delegation supported the statement by the Egyptian ambassador on behalf of the Arab Group and the statement by the Chilean ambassador on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
He praised a report of the Director-General on implementation of the technical cooperation programme 2014 and information provided and it reflected the importance of the programme in supporting developing countries in the use of nuclear technology in agricultural and healthcare, management of water resources, environmental protection and harnessing nuclear power to generate power.
Al Mansouri called on the general secretariat to continue to strengthen and develop its joint working methods with member states through consultation to assist them in the required implementation and explore new prospects for cooperation.
He expressed Qatar’s appreciation for IAEA’s efforts towards building capacities and said the report highlighted the agency’s support to the ‘Upgrading the Central Food Laboratory’ project No. QAT/5/004. Al Mansouri said Qatar will continue to pay its contribution to the technical cooperation programme. QNA
