Morocco, US Co-sign joint statement on radiological & nuclear emergency response

Morocco and the United States have co-signed, in Vienna, a joint statement on strengthening cooperation in preparedness and response to radiological and nuclear emergencies.

The statement, inked on the sidelines of the ongoing 66th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is part of the long-standing partnership between Morocco and the United States in preparedness and response to radiological and nuclear emergencies.

Signed by Ambassador Azzeddine Farhane, Morocco’s Permanent Representative in Vienna, and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Nuclear Security at the Department of Energy, Jil Hruby, the text recognizes the substantial contribution of Morocco as Chair of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism’s Response and Mitigation Working Group and Coordinator of the 2019-2021 GICNT Implementation and Assessment Group.

The statement also highlights the long-standing cooperation partnership on radiological emergency response (Exercise Convex 3) between the National Center for Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology (CNESTEN) and the General Directorate of Civil Protection.

It affirms the readiness of the US Departments of Energy to further strengthen cooperation with the relevant Moroccan departments to address challenges related to radiological emergency preparedness and response.