Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi met Tuesday with the Deputy Director General and Head of the Nuclear Safety and Security Department at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Lydie Evrard. During the meeting, Al Budaiwi reiterated the GCC"s interest in strengthening cooperation with the IAEA, particularly in nuclear safety and security, the safety of nuclear facilities and the Incident and Emergency Centre"s significant role in addressing nuclear and radiological incidents and emergencies. Al Budaiwi also underlined the need to advance relations towards broader horizons to support nuclear safety and security and protect societies and the environment from the effects of harmful radiation. The officials further discussed the possibility of developing cooperation between the GCC Emergency Management Centre and the IAEA and the means to benefit from the IAEA"s programs, practices, joint training courses and capacity building. Al Budaiwi also met in the Deputy Director-General and Head of the Department of Safeguards at the IAEA Massimo Aparo. Al Budaiwi confirmed the GCC"s interest in strengthening cooperation with the IAEA, and discussed with Aparo ways in which GCC countries may be supported in the search for peaceful use of nuclear technology. The two officials also discussed nuclear energy programs in the Middle East and ways the GCC countries can benefit from the IAEA"s global network in nuclear safety and security. — SPA