IAEA will Keep Cooperating with Cuba

Havana, Nov 24 (ACN) Najat Mokhtar, Deputy Director General and head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reiterated in Havana her agency’s collaboration commitment to Cuba.

Mokhtar told reporters here about the IAEA plans confirming that the agency will keep on with its scientific and technical cooperation with Cuba particularly in the areas of personnel training and transfer of technology.

She particularly referred to supporting of new projects and initiatives in radiotherapy, plastic pollution, and the project known as Beams of Hope, which backs IAEA member states in diagnosing and treating cancer through radiology medicine; as well as the use of nuclear technology to control plastic pollution (NUTEC Plastics).

The IAEA official signed memos of understanding with Doctor Elba Rosa Perez, Cuban minister of Science, Technology and the Environment. She also recalled integral measures against Zoonotic diseases jointly adopted with the Cuban Agriculture and Livestock Health Center, which coordinates actions in the western province of Mayabeque.

The official said that a joint project with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) aims at obtaining new vegetable varieties to back Cuba’s food security efforts. She also visited the Center for Environmental Studies in the south central province of Cienfuegos, which she said can use know-how and share it, since the center was designated by the IAEA in 2007 as a Regional Center of Reference in the implementation of nuclear techniques to solve problems related to the Integral Costal Management.

Najat Mokhtar stressed the large participation of Cuban women in leading roles, and she