Speaking at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting, held in Vienna from Sept. 7 to 11, Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the international organizations in Vienna, Ambassador Azzeddine Farhane, stressed the agency’s importance in addressing growing challenges and risks related to nuclear security.
Under the agenda item on nuclear security, Farhane welcomed the continued implementation of the IAEA’s Nuclear Security Plan, highlighting the agency’s role in strengthening global nuclear security and preventing nuclear and other radioactive materials from being diverted from their intended purposes or misused.
He said the involvement of member states in preparing the next Nuclear Security Plan should reflect “our collective commitment to preserving and strengthening the international nuclear security system.”
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Morocco has contributed to the agency’s efforts in this area through a national workshop held in October 2025 on nuclear security measures during major public events, as well as a regional workshop in February 2026 on developing cybersecurity regulations. The country also hosted a workshop on human resource development and training mechanisms in nuclear security.
Rabat further hosted the second general meeting of the Global Forum to Prevent Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism in February 2026.
In this context, Farhane pointed to measures taken by Morocco’s Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security to strengthen nuclear security awareness among national institutions and users of radioactive sources, particularly through workshops and training sessions focused on threat assessment.
At the multilateral level, Morocco reaffirmed its “full commitment” to working with regional and international partners to strengthen the international nuclear security system and advance the IAEA’s objectives.
Such efforts, Farhane said, should maintain a balance between the safe and peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology while strictly respecting commitments related to nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament.
Under the agenda item on strengthening the IAEA’s activities in nuclear science, technology and applications, Morocco welcomed progress in areas including radioactive waste management, research reactors, health, agriculture, food and isotope hydrology.
The ambassador also highlighted Morocco’s participation in an IAEA coordinated research project on developing and applying isotope techniques for the effective management of water resources, which concluded in 2025.
He welcomed the agency’s initiatives, including “NUTEC Plastics,” “ZODIAC,” “ReNuAL 2,” “Rays of Hope” and “Atoms4Food,” which contribute to advances in health, agriculture and the environment.
Five years after the launch of the ZODIAC initiative, Morocco renewed its proposal to organize an evaluation meeting open to all member states. The meeting would provide an opportunity for a collective assessment, an exchange of experiences and discussions on ways to strengthen the long-term effectiveness and impact of the agency’s flagship initiatives.
Morocco also renewed its support for the IAEA’s Technical Cooperation Programme and called for additional financial resources to help strengthen the capacities of national experts in nuclear science, technology and applications.
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Farhane also highlighted the contribution of Morocco’s National Center for Nuclear Energy, Sciences and Technology (CNESTEN), which serves as an IAEA collaborating center and a regional center under the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA).
The center contributes to capacity building in several African countries and other regions. Over the past year, it organized seven regional events, carried out expert missions for African institutions, hosted IAEA fellowship beneficiaries and participated in international training programs in partnership with Moroccan universities and the IAEA.
Morocco remains committed to sharing its experience and expertise with African countries, whether bilaterally or in cooperation with the IAEA, Farhane said, with the aim of advancing scientific research and the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology.
