WASHINGTON, April 2, 2016 - The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has donated $10 million to establish a specialized center to combat nuclear terrorism at the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in Vienna, Austria.  Saudi Arabia has also donated $570,000 for the project to modernize the IAEA laboratories in Seibersdorf, Austria.

This announcement was made yesterday by Dr. Hashim Abdullah Yamani, President of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy and head of the Saudi delegation to the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.

Dr. Yamani said Saudi Arabia was one of the first countries that supported international resolutions related to nuclear security. He said the Kingdom has ratified the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and supports the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism as a party to the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.  

Dr. Yamani reiterated Saudi Arabia's commitment to international activities in the field of nuclear security, citing the Kingdom's support for the establishment of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Center in 2011. Saudi Arabia pledged $10 million to the U.N. to establish the Center in 2008. In 2014, Saudi Arabia donated $100 million to the Center to build its capabilities and effectiveness in helping countries combat terrorism.