Vienna, September 29, 2022, SPA -- The General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) elected today the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, by a majority of votes, to become a member of the Agency's Board of Governors within the Council's member states from its geographical group - the countries of the Middle East and South Asia. The IAEA’s Board of Governors, which consists of 35 members, is considered one of the most important decision-making tools in the Agency, especially with regard to some critical issues, foremost of which is the safeguards file, which is the Agency’s responsibility to verify the peaceful activities of the state parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. -- SPA 23:26 LOCAL TIME 20:26 GMT 0039 www.spa.gov.sa/w1791901