These resolutions relate to the strengthening of the Agency’s activities in science, technology and nuclear applications. They focus on supporting the development of nuclear applications in the Member States to strengthen infrastructure and promote science, technology and engineering.
The Kingdom has submitted a resolution on the economic production of drinking water using low and medium-power nuclear reactors.
The resolution, negotiated and presented by Morocco, refers to the Rabat Call “Water for Africa”, as well as the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP22), held in Marrakech in November 2016.
The resolution also calls on the Director General to mobilize funds to catalyze and contribute to the implementation of all the Agency’s activities related to nuclear desalination and cogeneration.
In support of the African Union Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign, the G77+China urged called on the IAEA to continue to give high priority to agricultural development in the Member States and to double efforts to build capacity and further develop the techniques of combining the sterile insect technique (SIT) with other control methods to create tsetse fly free zones in sub-Saharan Africa.
Regarding the Integrated Zoonoses Action Project (ZODIAC), the G77+China, through Morocco, emphasized the need for the Agency to respond to the needs and priorities of States and to continue to implement all its programmatic activities in a balanced manner and in consultation with States.
The Group, therefore, requested the IAEA Secretariat to focus its efforts on the use of nuclear and nuclear-derived technologies in relation to ZODIAC, and to ensure equal access to project planning and implementation, as well as to relevant training materials and information, including through the ZODIAC portal for all interested Member States.
Concerning the renewal of the Agency’s nuclear applications laboratories at Seibersdorf, the G77+China emphasized the need for the Agency to continue to conduct appropriate research and development in the areas of nuclear science, technology, and applications where it has a comparative advantage.
The IAEA should also continue to focus on capacity-building initiatives and the provision of technical services to meet the basic sustainable development needs of member states, the resolution submitted by Morocco said.
The use of isotope hydrology for water resources management is not left out, as another resolution called on the secretariat to further strengthen efforts to fully exploit the potential of isotope and nuclear techniques for the development and management of water resources in interested countries.
Through the resolutions presented by Morocco, the Group focused on strengthening support to the Member States in food and agriculture.
The G77+China thus called on the IAEA Secretariat to intensify its efforts to combat food insecurity and further enhance its contribution to improving agricultural productivity and sustainability, reducing poverty and hunger, and improving farmers’ incomes, through the development and integrated application of nuclear science and technology.
In an address on this occasion, Ambassador Permanent Representative of Morocco to the International Organizations in Vienna, Azzedine Farhane, assured the Chairman of the Plenary Committee of the full commitment and cooperation of the Group during the discussions and negotiations held this week.
Morocco participates in the 66th IAEA General Conference with a delegation including, besides Mr. Farhane, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Health, Abdelkrim Meziane Belfqih, the acting director of AMSSNuR, Mounji Zniber and the acting director general of CNESTEN, Hamid Marah.
