In response to a request from the Government of the Republic of Iraq, the IAEA organized a legislative assistance meeting in Vienna, Austria, 9-11 July 2024. This meeting aimed to help the country strengthen its national nuclear legal framework and its consideration to join the relevant legal instruments adopted under IAEA auspices.

During the meeting, the IAEA and Iraqi representatives discussed the IAEA’s written comments on the draft comprehensive nuclear law. The discussions aimed at supporting the country in developing comprehensive and adequate national nuclear legislation addressing all areas of nuclear law, namely nuclear safety, security, safeguards and civil liability for nuclear damage. Discussions also focused on the relevant international legal instruments to which Iraq is not yet party, including, the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and the relevant nuclear liability instruments adopted under IAEA auspices.

The Iraqi delegation met also with the IAEA Director General on the margins of the bilateral legislative assistance meeting. Baker Fattah Hussen, Resident Representative of the Republic of Iraq stated that “the discussions this week on Iraq’s draft nuclear law are a milestone for the peaceful nuclear future of Iraq. We look forward to further cooperation with the IAEA to realize the enactment of the revised law.”

This event was carried out within the framework of the?IAEA Legislative Assistance Programme?under the Interregional Technical Cooperation project for legislative assistance.