Kuwait Submits UN Draft Resolution to Renew Support for IAEA's Role
Kuwait submits a draft resolution to support the International Atomic Energy Agency's role, sponsored by 111 countries, with backing from Director General Grossi.
Translated by Qiyas from الجريدة — Original source
Kuwait today submitted a draft resolution to the United Nations General Assembly, which received an unprecedented historic sponsorship from 111 countries, marking a diplomatic achievement that reflects broad international support for the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) role in promoting international peace and security and harnessing nuclear science and technology for development.
On this occasion, Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Tariq Al-Banna, stated in his address to the General Assembly that the draft resolution is based on the Agency’s Statute and the 1957 Agreement between the Agency and the United Nations, within the framework of institutional cooperation between the two organizations.
He added that the text under consideration builds upon the General Assembly resolution of last year, with updates reflecting decisions and resolutions adopted during the seventieth regular session of the IAEA General Conference, as well as statements made by the Conference President regarding five items on its agenda.
In this context, he noted that one member state had raised the same objection regarding the Agency’s 2025 annual report, which had previously been circulated concerning the 2022 annual report, while some member states pointed out that three resolutions referenced in footnote two of the draft resolution had been adopted by vote.
He clarified that the President of the seventieth regular session of the General Conference expressed understanding that the Agency would continue implementing decisions related to the five agenda items in the form adopted in previous General Conference sessions, and that the Director General would continue reporting on them until new relevant decisions are adopted.
Ambassador Al-Banna emphasized that the draft resolution reaffirms strong support for the Agency’s indispensable role in encouraging and facilitating the development of nuclear energy and its practical applications for peaceful purposes, as well as technology transfer to developing countries, and its role in nuclear safety, security, and safeguards.
He stressed that the importance of this support is growing in light of current challenges, which underscore the need to preserve the Agency’s technical role, independence, professionalism, and neutrality, and to enhance international cooperation to ensure the benefits of peaceful nuclear applications and to strengthen confidence in the safeguards and verification system.
He explained that the draft resolution resulted from comprehensive and constructive consultations in Vienna, during which its referral to the General Assembly at their conclusion received consensus support. He expressed Kuwait’s appreciation to all delegations that contributed to these consultations in a spirit of cooperation, and to all countries that sponsored the draft.
Ambassador Al-Banna called on other member states to join the sponsorship of the draft resolution before its adoption, expressing hope that the General Assembly would adopt it without a vote, as a reaffirmation of shared support for the Agency and the importance of its work in promoting peace, security, and development.
In this regard, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi praised Kuwait’s efforts, directing his special thanks and appreciation to Kuwait’s Permanent Representatives and to its missions in New York and Vienna.
Grossi expressed his pride that the number of sponsoring countries for the draft resolution had reached 111, describing it as a “historic record,” and affirmed that this support embodies the growing importance of the Agency’s work for all countries.
