• English
  • العربية
  • 中文
  • Français
  • Русский
  • Español

You are here

IAEA Chief Visits Iraq

On 11 November 2012, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano met Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (right) in Baghdad, Iraq, to extend his congratulations on Iraq's ratification of the Additional Protocol. (Photo: C. Brady/IAEA)

On 11 November 2012, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano met Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad, Iraq, to extend his congratulations on Iraq's ratification of the Additional Protocol.

The Director General said, "Iraq sends a clear message to the region and the world for having brought the Additional Protocol into force. I hope this great achievement will be recognised as a best practice in this region and beyond."

In his meetings, the Director General said, "I exchanged views with Prime Minister Al Maliki and Foreign Minister Zebari in a very open and useful way. Iraq's gesture to implement the Additional Protocol sends a positive message to the Middle East region and around the world."

During his visit, the Director General also assured the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of the IAEA's on-going support for the nation's peaceful use of nuclear technologies, noting, "We have also discussed ways to strengthen our activities in Iraq in activities like cancer control and others."

Prime Minister al-Maliki expressed his hope that Iraq's decision may serve to demonstrate throughout the region that the implementation of the Additional Protocol can increase mutual trust and regional security.

Minister Zebari reiterated the nation's firm resolve to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, and noted that Iraq was already benefiting from the technical cooperation extended by the IAEA to support Iraq's development.

Background

On 23 October 2012, the Director General was notified via an official letter from Iraqi Foreign Minister Zebari that the Additional Protocol had entered into force.

With Iraq's ratification, the number of States with an Additional Protocol in force has now reached 119.

The Additional Protocol is a legal document granting the IAEA complementary inspection authority to that provided in underlying safeguards agreements. A principal aim is to enable the IAEA inspectorate to provide assurance about both declared and possible undeclared activities. Under the Protocol, the IAEA is granted expanded rights of access to information and sites.

Last update: 27 Jul 2017

Stay in touch

Newsletter