Morocco Gives High Priority to Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action Initiative, Ambassador Says
Morocco gives high priority to the Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (ZODIAC) initiative as approved by the 64th General Conference of the IAEA under the Moroccan presidency and welcomes the progress of implementation presented to the Member States in September 2021, said Monday the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom in Vienna, Ambassador Azzeddine Farhane.
"Morocco, which remains convinced of the importance of the ZODIAC initiative, is pleased to see that in November 2021, 147 Member States have designated their ZODIAC National Coordinators, giving a global reach to the initiative," said Farhane, who read the Kingdom's statement to the IAEA Board of Governors under Item 2 on "Technical Cooperation: the Agency's proposed program for 2022-2023."
He also commended the ZODIAC initiative, which engages in discussions with other international organizations and global initiatives to address new and re-emerging zoonotic diseases.
"Morocco, which has contributed financially to the implementation of the ZODIAC initiative, encourages the Agency to reinforce the mobilization of additional resources and encourages all Member States in a position to contribute to further support this initiative," said the Moroccan diplomat.
Farhane noted that Morocco welcomes the contribution of the IAEA to the work of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP26) held in the United Kingdom to promote the peaceful uses of energy and nuclear applications and techniques in climate change.
Further to the IAEA’s COVID-19 response, the Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (ZODIAC) initiative was established in June 2020 to help countries prevent pandemics caused by bacteria, parasites, fungi or viruses that originate in animals and can be transmitted to humans. Using a systematic and integrated approach, ZODIAC seeks to strengthen the preparedness and capabilities of Member States to rapidly detect and timely respond to outbreaks of such diseases.
MAP 22 November 2021