Venezuela celebrates historic participation of Palestine in the IAEA Board of Governors

Published at: 05/03/2025 12:25 PM

As a historic event and an advance in the recognition of the rights of the State of Palestine, the sister country represents the positions of the Arab Group during the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which meets in Vienna (Austria) from last Monday to Friday, March 7.

Even though the State of Palestine has Observer status in the IAEA and is only allowed to make statements during Board meetings at the agenda item “Other Issues”, its role and participation has been growing, hand in hand with several countries in the Global South that support the Palestinian cause, including Venezuela, which have raised their voices to promote respect for their legitimate right to participate within this important Organization specialized from the United Nations (UN).

During the current meeting of the Board of Governors, under the leadership of the delegations of Egypt and Venezuela, a common position was reached by the countries of the G77 + China to reiterate that the IAEA urgently adopt measures aimed at examining the magnitude of the threat that could exist in radioactive sources in hospitals destroyed in the Gaza Strip by the genocidal regime of Israel, which pose risks to public health, population and the environment.

In the framework of the 67th General Conference of the IAEA in September 2023, through resolution GC67/RES/14, it was agreed that Palestine should be referred to as a “State” in the Agency's official documents, and that additional rights and privileges should be granted to participate in its work, including making statements on behalf of groups of countries.

What happened this week in Vienna represents a long-awaited act of justice that has taken place in one of the most important bodies of the United Nations System, aimed at guaranteeing international peace and security, through the peaceful and safe uses of nuclear science and technology.

The State of Palestine is a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), has signed a Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA and has acceded to other instruments of the Agency, demonstrating its willingness to contribute to the work carried out in the multilateral body.

MPPRE