(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expressed disappointment at the failure of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) state parties to reach consensus on a substantive final declaration regarding the implementation of the NPT safeguards in the Middle East.
In his address to the 59th regular session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) here on Monday, President of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy Dr. Hashim bin Abdullah Yamani said the Kingdom hopes for practical measures by the international community to rid the region of nuclear weapons.
He called on the UN nuclear watchdog to verify with maximum transparency the implementation of the provisions of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed by Iran and the P5+1 in Vienna on July 14, 2015 Dr. Yamani stressed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia gives great importance to nuclear energy as a vital technology for many peaceful applications which benefit the Kingdom and the world.
He added that his country aspires for declaring the Middle East a zone free of weapons of mass destruction as early as possible.
The week-long annual meeting of the IAEA gathers representatives from the IAEA's Member States, including several ministers, to consider and decide on key elements of the Agency's work, budget and priorities. The State of Kuwait is represented by the country's Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Delegate to the UN Agencies in Vienna Sadeq Ma'rafi.