KUWAIT CITY, Jan 28:  Dr. Nader Al-Awadhi, Executive Commissioner for International Cooperation and National Liaison Officer with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), affirmed that the State of Kuwait places significant importance on strengthening its national nuclear security system.

Al-Awadhi made this statement on Monday during the launch of a workshop focused on reviewing the national plan for the sustainability of nuclear security in Kuwait. The event, organized by KISR in collaboration with the Radiation Protection Department at the Ministry of Health and the IAEA, will continue through Thursday. The workshop has attracted participants from several organizations, including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, General Administration of Information, General Fire Force, and the General Administration of Customs.

The primary goal of the workshop, according to Al-Awadhi, is to review the achievements of Kuwait’s national plan for nuclear security sustainability and update it to address emerging security needs. The workshop will emphasize maintaining an effective and sustainable nuclear security system as a priority.

Al-Awadhi explained that the workshop would cover six functional areas of the international plan to support nuclear security: policy and national strategy, legislative and regulatory frameworks, deterrence, detection, response, assurance, and continuous improvement.

He also highlighted that Kuwait, as a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, is committed to implementing all agreements related to nuclear security. This includes complying with IAEA safeguards for radioactive and nuclear materials and taking proactive measures to prevent illicit access to such materials.

Kuwait is one of the first countries in the region to develop an integrated nuclear security support plan, which it has been implementing since 2009 in collaboration with the IAEA and the involvement of various national authorities. Al-Awadhi emphasized that this national plan is a significant addition to the country’s public security system, aiming to enhance human, institutional, and technical capabilities in nuclear security.

The plan's objectives also include enhancing nuclear security through the monitoring and securing of radioactive sources, developing a national emergency response plan, combating illicit trafficking in nuclear and radioactive materials, and improving border control. These efforts contribute to achieving sustainable development goals by establishing a comprehensive and integrated nuclear security system.

Al-Awadhi also pointed out that Kuwait has made important strides to strengthen its nuclear security framework, such as ratifying the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its 2005 amendment, as well as joining the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. He further recognized the pivotal role of the Radiation Protection Department at the Ministry of Health, which is responsible for establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for nuclear security and overseeing the use of radioactive sources.

He commended the IAEA for its support of Kuwait’s national efforts to enhance nuclear security, noting that an IAEA mission in 2023, part of the Agency's International Advisory Service for Physical Protection, concluded that Kuwait had established a nuclear security system in line with international standards. The mission also provided recommendations to further enhance current practices.

Al-Awadhi expressed his gratitude to the IAEA for its effective contribution to the workshop and expressed hope that it would foster enhanced international cooperation and the exchange of expertise to achieve national and regional goals in nuclear security.