I"A GENERAL CONFERENCE CONCLUDES IN VIENNA STATES BACK STRONGER PROGRAMMES
Press Release
IAEA/1326
IAEA GENERAL CONFERENCE CONCLUDES IN VIENNA STATES BACK STRONGER PROGRAMMES
19980925 VIENNA, 25 September (IAEA) -- States meeting at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference this week in Vienna strongly supported additional measures to strengthen the Agency's programmes related to nuclear verification, technical cooperation, and nuclear, radiation, and waste safety. They adopted resolutions in each of these areas during the conference's closing sessions today.Further resolutions are expected to be adopted before the conference concludes later today on matters that include nuclear testing and the application of safeguards in the Middle East. The conference is being attended by high-level governmental delegates from 105 of the Agency's member States.
Also during the week, fifteen States of the European Union, Canada, Bulgaria, Holy See, Croatia, Uzbekistan, and New Zealand signed Additional Protocols to their IAEA safeguards agreements designed to strengthen the Agency's international verification of nuclear programmes. (See IAEA Press Release 98/19, issued 22 September 1998.) Altogether 32 States and other parties to safeguards agreements have signed additional Protocols since the model text was approved by the IAEA Board of Governors in May 1997.
Highlights of selected conference resolutions follow. The full texts of the resolutions -- as well as conference documents, press releases, and other information -- are accessible over the IAEA's World Atom Internet services at http://www.iaea.org/GC/gc42.
Strengthening IAEA Safeguards
Expressing its conviction the IAEA safeguards can promote greater confidence among States and thus contribute to strengthening their collective security, the conference welcomed the fact that 32 States and other parties to safeguards agreements have signed additional Protocols aimed at strengthening the effectiveness and improving the efficiency of the safeguards system. It affirmed that strengthening the system with a view to detecting undeclared nuclear activities must be implemented rapidly and universally, and it requested all concerned States and other parties to safeguards agreements to sign additional Protocols promptly.
Strengthening IAEA Technical Cooperation
The Conference requested the Director-General to pursue efforts with member States to strengthen IAEA technical cooperation activities through the development of effective programmes aimed at improving the scientific, technological and regulatory capabilities of developing countries, and by continuing to encourage peaceful applications of atomic energy and nuclear techniques. It emphasized that these programmes should contribute to achieving sustainable development in developing countries, and particularly in least developed countries.
Strengthening Nuclear, Radiation, and Waste Safety
The conference adopted a number of resolutions. One, on the Safety of Radiation Sources and the Security of Radioactive Material, requested the IAEA Secretariat to prepare a report for the IAEA Board of Governors on how national safety systems in these areas can be operated at a high level of effectiveness, and whether international undertakings concerned with the effective operation of such systems and attracting broad adherence could be formulated. A second resolution, on the Safety of Transport of Radioactive Materials, noted the concern that the transboundary movement of radioactive material should meet applicable international standards and that there is broad implementation of the IAEA's Transport Regulations by member States through binding national regulations. It requested the Director-General to keep the Transport Regulations under review, in cooperation with the competent organs of the United Nations and with specialized organizations. It further invited shipping States to provide appropriate assurances to potentially affected States upon their request that their national regulations take into account the IAEA Transport Regulations and to provide them with relevant information relation to shipments of radioactive materials. A third resolution, on the Study of the Radiological Situation at the Atolls of Mururoa and Fangataufa, welcomed the study's conclusions and emphasized that they should not be used in justifying the development and testing of nuclear weapons. A fourth resolution, on the Convention on Nuclear Safety, stressed the important role of the IAEA in acting as a driving force in nuclear safety through its programmes and in promoting global cooperation, and it expressed satisfaction that a first review meeting of Parties (as called for by the Convention), will be held in April 1999. A fifth resolution, on Measures to Address the Year 2000 Issue, urged Member States to share information with the IAEA Secretariat regarding diagnostic and corrective actions being planned or implemented by operating and regulatory organizations at their nuclear power plants, fuel cycle and/or medical facilities which use radioactive materials to make those facilities Year 2000 ready. It further emphasized that Member States, if they have not already done so, should take all necessary efforts to have contingency plans in place at operation and regulatory organizations well before 31 December 1999, in order to handle potential problems which may arise at that time at those nuclear facilities.
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Safeguards in Democratic People's Republic of Korea
The conference expressed deep concern over the continuing non-compliance of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea with its IAEA safeguards agreement, and called upon that country to comply fully with it. It urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to cooperate fully with the IAEA, and to take all steps the Agency may deem necessary to preserve all information relevant to verifying the accuracy and completeness of that country's initial report on the inventory of nuclear material subject to safeguards until it comes into full compliance with its safeguards agreements. The conference commended the IAEA Secretariat for its continuous efforts to monitor the freeze of specified facilities in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea as requested by the United Nations Security Council. Nuclear Inspection in Iraq
The Conference condemned Iraq's decision of 5 August 1998 to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, which it said, constitutes a totally unacceptable contravention of its obligations under the relevant Security Council resolutions and the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq and the United Nations Secretary-General on 23 February 1998. The conference demanded that Iraq rescind the decision and cooperate fully with the IAEA in accordance with its obligations, as well as resume dialogue with the IAEA immediately. It stressed that the IAEA's Action Team should continue to exercise its right to investigate further any aspects of Iraq's nuclear programme. Illicit Nuclear Trafficking
The Conference welcomed the IAEA's activities in the fields of prevention, response, training and information exchange in support of efforts against illicit trafficking, and supported continuing work in accordance with the relevant conclusions of the IAEA Board of Governors. Production of Potable Water
The Conference underlined the urgent need for regional and international cooperation in helping to solve the serious problem of water shortages, and stressed the need for global cooperation in the planning and implementation of nuclear desalination demonstration programmes through national and regional projects. It requested the Director-General to assign appropriate priority to the nuclear desalination of seawater and small-and-medium reactor development in the process of preparing the Agency's programme, and to promote effective international information exchange and cooperation. IAEA Budget for 1999
In its budget resolution, the Conference approved expenditures in 1999 of $224.3 million. It further approved the target amount of $73 million for voluntary contributions to the IAEA Technical Cooperation Fund. * *** *