David Miliband

Foreign Secretary

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Wednesday 14 October, 2009

UAE Nuclear

Earlier this month the UAE (United Arab Emirates) banned domestic enrichment of uranium and brought in strict regulations preventing the theft of nuclear material. It is the first country in the world to do this. The Law helps to create confidence within the international community and the UAE's neighbours that its intentions are entirely peaceful. 

The UAE is setting a model for other countries (in the Middle East and beyond) to follow in their legitimate pursuit of peaceful nuclear energy. This model is based on transparency, adoption of international agreements, and co-operation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). The UK supports the rights of all states to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. To this end, we signed a memorandum of understanding with the UAE in 2008 and a further civil nuclear agreement with Jordan earlier this year.

It is worth noting that the actions of the UAE stand in stark contrast to those of Iran, whose dealings with both the IAEA and the international community have often been far less than transparent. I believe that the UAE's example of confidence building is one that states such as Iran would do well to emulate.

Posted at 13:54 14 October 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[3]

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Sir, my congratulations to UAE for this great achievement. Such examples will make good atmosphere at international level for peacefull use of nuclear energy. Success like PELINDABA TREATY and UAE will be the ideal and true examples before the world community to make a transparent NPT and International Arms Trade Treaty. [Prabhat Misra, District Savings Officer, Etawah, U.P., India]

Posted by Prabhat Misra on October 14, 2009 at 03:11 PM BST #

Dear David,congratulations to yr.excellent report.I also think that it`s remarkable that the United Arab Emirates-UAE-is the 1st country worldwide which has banned domestic enrichment of uranium.Within this context it's also important that they brought in strict regulations in re. of preventing the theft of nuclear material.This is a proof that the intentions of the UAE are peaceful.A significant point to me is the fact that the UAE's model is based on transparency and co- operation with the IAEA.Congratulations also to the U.K.`s memorandum of understanding with the UAE last year.Millions of people across the world-incl. me-can now only hope that this model is a strong signal to Iran.Maybe their government will NOW rethink their present politics.Just wishful thinking? I don't believe...Best wishes, Ingo-Steven Wais

Posted by Ingo-Steven Wais on October 16, 2009 at 05:17 PM BST #

David as Iran has signed the NPT it is open to inspection. It's countries like Israel, who have not signed up and who are very secretive about their nuclear capabilities which we should all be very worried about particularly when Israel's belligerency continues with impunity. This hypocrisy serves no-one.

Posted by L Pain on October 27, 2009 at 08:42 PM GMT #

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