A/31/PV.60 General Assembly

I should like to inform members that the General Assembly will proceed on Monday, 15 Novem- ber, to the election of the 25 members of the International Law Commission whose term of office is due to expire at the end of 1976. It should be recalled that, in accordance with the statute of the International Law Commission, the Secretary-General communicated to the Governments of Member States, in document A/3I/134, the list of the names of candidates submitted within the required time for the submission of nominations-that is, by 1 June 1976. Subsequent to that date the Secretary-General received additional information concerning candidates' already on that list as well as new candidates. The additional infor- mation is to be found in documents A/31/I34/Add.I-6, A/3I/Is7 and Add.1, and A/3I/203. 2. In this connexion I should like to invite the Assembly's attention to article 8 of the statute of the International Law Commission, which reads as follows: "At the election the electors shall bear in mind that the persons to be elected to the Commission should indi- vidually possess the qualifications required and that in the Commission us a whole representation of the main forms of civilization and of the principal legal systems of the world should rye assured." 3. In 'dew of the changes in the original list of candidates and in the light of article 8 of the Commission's statute, it would be desirable, in order to facilitate the election, for the Assembly to have before it a consolidated list of candidates. Accordingly, I propose to request the Secre- tary-General to issue in a separate document a list which, on the basis of the latest information available, would contain the names of the persons nominated as candidates, Wednesday, 10 November 1976, at 10.55 a.m. ~ NEW YORK whether their names were submitted before 1 June 1976 or after that date,i as well as to prepare the appropriate ballot papers. If I hear no objection, I shall take it that the Assembly agrees to that proposal.

It is a matter of record that the Government of the Polish People's Republic attaches great importance to the broad activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] in the important field of the peaceful application of nuclear energy. Poland's consis- tent support for the Agency results primarily from our appreciation of the impact of the Agency's activities in the field of guaranteeing that this energy is used for the benefit of all mankind and not as an instrument of mass annihi- lation. 5. For that reason my delegation acknowledges with appreciation the annual report of IAEA2 so ably intro- duced and supplemented by its Director-General, Mr. Sigvard Eklund, in his penetrating statement to the General Assembly [59th meeting, paras. 92-129]. 6. During Mr. Eklund's visit to my country earlier this year the Polish Government expressed its high regard for his personal contribution to the effective discharge by IAEA of its important duties. 7. As a Vice-Chairman of the Agency's Board of Gover- nors, Poland can even better appreciate the complex nature of the IAEA mandate. It results from the task of reconciling the promotion of the peaceful applications of atomic energy with effective action to prevent the diversion of fissionable materials to other than peaceful purposes. 8. Owing to the generally favourable international climate generated by the process of detente, and given the unprecedented development of nuclear technology through- out the world, the role of IAEA is constantly gaining in importance. 9. As a country vitally interested ill seeing the regime of non-proliferation become more effective, Poland lends its full support to the activities of the Agency oriented towards the expansion and increased effectiveness of its 1 Subsequently circulated as document A/311328/Rev.1. 2 International Atomic Energy Agency, Annual Report for 1975 (Vienna, July 1976); transmitted to the members of the General Assembly by a note of the Secretary-General (A/31/171). 11. In this connexion let me recall that the recent proposal of the Soviet Union to hold all-European con- gresses, inter alia in the field of energy-a proposal Poland fully supports-would promote international co-operation in the field of the rational use of energy, including nuclear energy. This, we believe, would coincide with the Agency's objectives, wLich, according to article 11 of its statute, are: "... to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world. It shall ensure, so far as it is able, that assistance. provided by it or at its request or under its supervision or control is not used in such a way as to further any military purpose." 12. The headway made in the use of nuclear energy in the last few years has greatly increased the Agency's responsi- bilities and tasks with regard to safeguards. Earlier this year Japan became the hundredth State to ratify the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and it is hoped that more ratifications will follow. 13. We also welcome the Soviet-American Treaty of 28 May 1976.3 As stated by the Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Stefan Olszowski, in the general debate in this Assembly, on 27 September 1976: "We hope that this Treaty will bring closer the prospect for a comprehensive test-ban treaty and will help in the peaceful utilization of nuclear energy for the benefit of man." [Sth meeting, para. 67.} 14. In the opinion of the Polish Government, the rapid development of nuclear energy and the accumulation of nuclear waste, combined with advances in the technology of reprocessing nuclear materials, are problems which call for special attention. The idea of regional nuclear fuel-cycle centres and IAEA-involvement in the study of such questions deserves full support. Likewise, we support the Agency's efforts to draw up safety standards for nuclear power plants. It seems advisable that this work should be extended to cover the fuIJ '..:el cycle also. 15. As the Polish representative stated at the twentieth session of the General Conference of IAEA in Rio de 3 Treaty on Underground Nuclear Explosions for Peaceful Pur- poses, signed at Washington and Moscow on 28 May 1976. For the text, see document A/31/125, annex. 16. In conclusion, let me make some observations on the Agency's programme of technical assistance to the de- veloping countries. As is indicated in the Agency's annual report, this programme is one of the main fields of IAEA activities. 17. Recognizing the role of technical assistance rendered by the Agency to the developing countries, Poland has declared a voluntary cash contribution of 1 million zlotys and has offered substantial discounts on the Agency's purchases in Poland of laboratory and research equipment related to the nuclear industry. Moreover, Poland has offered the Agency fellowships for candidates from the developing countries to undergo, free of charge, training in Polish scientific and research institutions. 18. In view of the positive assessment or" the Agency's activities, the delegation of Poland joined two other delegations in sponsoring draft resolution A/31/L.16, which was introduced yesterday by the representative of India {59th meeting} and which commends the efforts of IAEA and contains some important directives for its future work.

As can be seen from the lAEA report before us, the Agency's activities for the period under examination have been aimed at,consolidating international co-operation in the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes, at strengthening the system for the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons in accordance with the non-proliferation Treaty of 1968, and at developing the practical uses of nuclear technology and energy for the benefit of mankind as a whole. In the opinion of the Czechoslovak delegation, the Agency's activities have thus been aimed basically in the correct direction. 20. The Agency has paid great attention to the imple- mentation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation ofNuclear Weapons, to which a number of countries have recently become parties. New safeguards agreements have been concluded between IAEA and States parties to the non- proliferation Treaty in accordance with article Ill, para- graph 1, of the Treaty. However, there are still a great many States that have yet to sign such agreements. Moreover, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the safeguards agreements have yet to be signed by some nuclear Powers and States possessing a large industrial nuclear potential, and, as is known, the number of States capable of producing fissionable material, and hence nu- clear weapons, is growing all the time. Safeguards are actually not being put into practice in countries members of the European Atomic Energy Community {EURATOMj, even though the relevant safeguards agree- 21. As to increasing the effectiveness of the safeguards systems, here again, there are possibilities of improving the situation. One such possibility would be to increase the number of highly skilled experts recruited, first of all, in those countries already parties to the non-proliferation Treaty, and also to give them a more sophisticated control apparatus. I think we should commend the efforts of IAEA to increase the effectiveness of measures to control those States which have not yet acceded to the Treaty. The measures taken by the Agency-and I have in mind here, for example, the decision of the Board of Governors contained in paragraph 32 of IAEA document GOV/OR/486-are intended, in our view, to strengthen and increase the effectiveness of the safeguards and improve international co-operation in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. 22. It is also a positive development that the Agency has given attention to the implementation of the non-prolife- ration Treaty from the point of view interalia of preparing standard and universal safeguards and establishing national control systems. Czechoslovakia will be ready, in the future too, to make its positive contribution to this field of IAEA activity and to make its experience available to the Agency. 23. Even though work on the implementation of some specific tasks of the Agency in the field, for example, of nuclear explosions for peaceful purposes has not been completed so far, I think we can express our satisfaction at its progress and the results obtained. The problems involved are very complex indeed, and a hasty or superficial approach is not desirable. We feel that the Agency's programme of activities in this field is a realistic one. Czechoslovakia has actively participated in the implemen- tation of this programme and will continue to do so in t:le future. 24. In this connexion, I should like to emphasize the importance of the Soviet-American Treaty on Underground Nuclear Explosions for Peaceful Purposes, signed on 28 May last. Apart from the fact that the new agreement supplements the 3 July 1974 Treaty on the Limitation of Underground Nuclear Weapon Tests, already in effect between the two countries, it also lays the basis for deriving practical advantages from nuclear explosions for peaceful purposes. This Treaty, we feel, will certainly help IAEA in carrying out its task of drawing up an international agreement in connexion with article V of the non-prolife- ration Treaty. 25. The Soviet-American Treaty on Underground Nuclear Explosions for Peaceful Purposes is also an important step forward in our efforts to nsolve the question of a general and complete prohibition of tests of nuclear weapons. 27. Czechoslovakia also supports the technical assistance given by the Agency. However, we believe that t \ offering its technical assistance the Agency should take into account whether the States receiving the assistance have or have not acceded to the non-proliferation Treaty. Czechoslovakia has in the past already participated actively in offering tech- nical assistance to the developing countries, both on a bilateral basis and through the Agency. 28. We appreciate IAEA activities concerning the inter- national nuclear information system. There is no doubt whatever that as regards the future development of inter- national co-operation in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes the IAEA General Conference on prob- lems of atomic energy to be held in Salzburg in May 1977 will play a very important role indeed. In our view, the Conference will provide a useful forum in which specialists in nuclear energy from all over the world will be able to meet and to exchange information and views concerning the further development of nuclear energy and nuclear safety throughout the world. 29. The Agency has done a good deal also for the implementation of the first stage in the creation of regional fuel-cycle centres. The research on this problem conducted by the Agency, with which member States had an oppor- tunity to get acquainted before the twentieth session of the General Conference of IAEA, was an important theoretical contribution in that respect. We believe that in the future the Agency will continue to pay attention to this field, since it involves serious theoretical probiems which are of great political importance. 30. At the twentieth session of the Agency's General Conference my delegation transmitted the Czechoslovak Government's offer to act as host to two special activities of the Agency in 1977, and informed members of its readiness to organize a symposium in 1978 in Czecho- slovakia. Moreover, the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic is ready to offer five long-term scholarships to States mem- bers of IAEA in 1977 for students to continue their studies in Czechoslovak universities, and four one-year scholarships to be spent in institutes of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences or other research organizations within the Czecho- slovak nuclear programme. 31. From what I have said, it is clear that my delegation supports draft resolution A/31/L.l6 on the Agency's report.

First of all I wish to convey, on behalf of my delegation, our thanks to Mr. Eklund, the Director-General of the IAEA, and his dedicated staff, who have so successfully discharged their complex and impor- tant tasks. My delegation has examined with great interest the Agency's annual report for 1975, which is a compre- hensive and thorough assessment of the general activities of the Agency over the past year. We note with satisfaction that the work being done by the Agency is encouraging and stimulating. 34. This encouraging development has been accompanied by a number of important problemswhich are of interest to all of us. One crucial aspectin this connexion is that, as the utiliza'tion of nuclear energy increases, the prevention of its diversion to military purposes acquires added importance. Thus the role of IAEA in encouraging the development and practical application of nuclearenergy for peaceful uses, on the one hand, and in preventing its diversion to military purposes, on the other, is becoming even more important. In view of the rapid spread of the peaceful uses cf atomic energy, my delegation wishes to stress once again the importance of IAEA safeguards, and strongly hopes that the methods and procedures of the present safeguards system will be further developed with a view to ensuring both efficiency and reasonableness in the implementation of the safeguards. 35. The physical protection of nuclear materials and regional fuel-cycle centres also serve asimportant means of preventing nuclear energy from being diverted from peace- ful to military use. For this reason, we are particularly happy to find a reference to those subjects in operative paragraph 5 of draft resolution A/31/L.16. 36. In the same vein, we wish to emphasize our concern at the possible misuse of peaceful nuclear explosions, and we note with appreciation the study of this question being carried out by IAEA. We hope that the Agency will continue its work with a view to ensuring, among other things, that peaceful nuclear explosions are not diverted to military purposes. 37. Despite the efforts being made by IAEA,the danger of nuclear proliferation persists. I must emphasize that the first and foremost step in preventing that proliferation is to secure the accession of as many countries as possible to the non-proliferation Treaty. As mentioned by Mr. Eklund in his statement and today also by the representative of Poland, my country ratified the Treaty on 8 June of this year. Japan hopes that the greatest possible number of those countries which have not yet ratifiedit will accede to it, so that the Treaty may become a truly effective international instrument for preventing nuclear prolife- ration. 38. My country welcomed the decision taken by the United Kingdom and the United States of America to submit all their civil nuclear facilities to IAEA safeguards and hopes that other nuclear-weapon States will follow their example. We believe that such action will surely contribute to minimizing inequality between the States pos- sessing nuclear weapons and those which do not in sharing the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and also to wider participationin the non-proliferation Treaty system. 40. Japan is making every effort to find solutions for these problems, but we believe that some aspects can effectively be dealt with at present only through international co- operation. These questions are being studied in IAEA and other international forums, and we sincerely hope that those efforts will result in the discovery of effective answers. 41. We shall celebrate the twentieth anniversary of IAEA next year. During the last two decades IAEA has enjoyed a very high standingas an effective international organization within the United Nations family, under the outstanding guidance of Mr.Sigvard Eklund, This recognition is the result of the harmonious co-operation of the States members of IAEA. My delegation sincerely hopes that the good tradition of friendly and close co-operation of Member States, in a spirit of mutual understanding and respect, will continue and that the activities of IAEA will be further strengthenedin the years to come. 42. Japan, for one, has always recognized the importance of international co-operation through IAEA for the pro- motion of the peaceful uses of nuclearenergy in Japan and in the rest of the world, and I should like to state here that Japan will continue actively to participate in IAEA activi- ties and give it its support in the years to come.

The delegation of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic believes that IAEA has, generally speaking, carried out very well the tasks entrusted to it in the field of the peaceful uses of atomic energy. 44. The IAEA is carrying out useful work on the further development of international co-operation in the sphere of the peaceful uses of atomic energy, nuclear energetics, environmental protection, the international nuclear infor- mation system, and the organization of technical co-opera- tion and assistance to developing countries. 45. Particular emphasis should be laid on the activities of the Agency for the practical implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. 46. In this connexion we should like to emphasize the necessity for improving the systemof non-proliferation and seeing to it that international co-operation in the field of the peaceful uses of atomic energy does not become a channel for the proliferationof nuclear weapons. 48. Of course, a great deal will still have to be done so that the control system for nuclear facilities and materials carried out by the Agency is improved and the controls become really effective in order to preclude the possibility of using nuclear materials for purposes that are incom- patible with the peaceful use of atomic energy. 49. It is also important to emphasize IAEA activities in carrying out tasks in the field of nuclear explosions for peaceful purposes. 50. In this connexion we wish to point out the importance of the Treaty signed by the Soviet Union and the United States on 28 May last on underground nuclear explosions for peaceful purposes. The objective of that Treaty is to ensure that the underground nuclear explosions referred to in the Treaty are used for peaceful purposes, and all necessary safeguards for that purpose,includingcontrols,are provided for in it. The Treaty will contribute to the development of co-operation between the Soviet Union and the United States in the peaceful use of atomic energy, which can only be to the advantage of other States. Taken in conjunction with agreements signed previously that Treaty constitutes one more link in the whole chain of measures to prevent increased armaments and lead to a general and complete prohibition of tests of nuclear weapons. 51. As a founding member of IAEA, the Byelorussian SSR is taking an active part in its work and supports the idea that the Agency should promote better co-operation among States in the field of the peaceful use of atomic energy and in this way help to consolidate peace and international security. In Byelorussia there exists a practical basis for the performance of tasks in the field of the peaceful use of atomic energy within the framework of the implementation of the Republic's national economic plans, and for the improvement of our co-operation with other countries. Important results have been obtained in using the proper- ties of the atom for the development of various branches of industry, agriculture and scientific and medical research. Comprehensive research projects are under way with a view to finding new ways of using nuclear energy for power production. For more than 14 years an experimental nuclear reactor has been working successfully in our Republic. 52. Byelorussia shares its experience in the use of nuclear energy with other countries, including the developing ones. For three years our Republic has been making voluntary contributions to the Agency's general fund, which is used for assisting developing countries. 53. In welcoming the Agency's activities in this field, the Byelorussian delegation would like to point out that it is inadmissible to offer assistance to those countries which have policies of aggression and racism. 54. In the present international situation, there is no more urgent task than to put an end to the arms race and achieve

IAEA has been chargedwith the responsibilit: of promoting adequate planning for nuclear energy through advice, training and information exchange and of developing safety and protection stand- ards.It also has a mandate to enhance international security through the most effective exercise of its growing safe- guards responsibilities and the development of standards for the physical security of nuclear material. These responsi- bilities are becoming more and more important with the expansion of nuclear power-generation programmes throughout the world. Canada considers these particular areas of activity to be vital to ensure that nuclear power is safe for man and his environment and that the peaceful uses of nuclear energy will contribute to world progress and not be allowed to become a destabilizing factor through diversion to nuclear arms. 56. Canada continues to support the expansion of the world's nuclear power programmes where these have been decided upon as the most appropriate option for a country-for example, in diversifying its energy base from a generalized reliance on fossil fuels. Some of the factors which must be considered in choosing the nuclear energy option-for instance, the need for economies of scale- apply to any energy decision involving massive capital outlays. The decision to adopt or expand the nuclear power alternative, however, involves additional consequences which require thorough analysis and planning. It is essential that decisions to enter upon or expand nuclear power programmes also take into account these additional issues. Nuclear programmes require sourcesof fuel, and this means that more uranium, now in short supply, will be necessary to satisfy increased demand. Skilled personnel must be trained to operate the plants and regulatory mechanisms must be in place to ensure their safety, and long-term waste management systems must be demonstrated to store irradiated materialssafely. 57. I mention these concerns in no sense in a negative way. Rather, they are challenges to be faced as we seek to ensure adequate energy for economic development. The introduction of any new technology implies the introduc- tion of new problems and challenges. International pooling of efforts is essential because of the complexity of the energy choices we are all forced to make. In the analysis and solution of these problems, Canada looks to the Agency for leadershipin its area of special competence. 58. We have been pleased to note in the Agency's annual report for 1975 the attention given to training personnel and to providing assistance and advisory services to member States, particularly developing countries. 59. Total resources available for tech-Jcal assistance con- tinue to expand, and the annual report takes note of the (?O. As an integral part of our long-standing support of the Agency and of the non-proliferation Treaty, Canada has always placed great emphasis on increased levels of as- sistance to developing countries through the Agency in the peaceful application of nuclear technology. We look with favour ?n the encouragement given by IAEA to develop- ments m the concrete application of nuclear science to world programmes. Accordingly, to assist the Agency in its valuable developmental work, Canada has decided to establish, in co-operation with the Agency, a special cash contribution of $300,000 in the form of a fund-in-trust. This fund will be wholly administered and managed by the Agency and available to parties to the non-proliferation Treaty. It is intended that this contribution will be additional to the amount of development assistance regu- larly provided by IAEA to countries parties to the non-proliferation Treaty. 61. The interest shown by the Agency in the exploration mining and development of uranium resources is also a~ area of particular interest to Canada, not only because we are a major uranium producer but also because of the importance of uranium to all countries with nuclear power programme We have always sought to make our expert knowledge and experience in uranium production available to the Agency and we will continue to do so. 62. We are pleased again this year to see the intensified activity of the Agency in the area of nuclear safety. The Agency will be required to send an increasing number of missions to member States to advise on licensing, siting and other control and regulatory functions in the safety and environmental protection fields. We are happy to see that the initial draft codes and guides on power reactor safety are progressing satisfactorily. We hope that in due coursea comprehensive set of codes and guides with sufficient flexibility to be applied to all reactor systems will be available for application. We believe that internationally acceptable safety standards are imperative if national nuclear programmes are to be consistent with the develop- ment needs of a nation and are to grow within safe parameters. 63. ~anada actively supports the continuing Agency study of regional fuel-cycle centres. The dangers inherent in the unrestricted and uncontrolled availability of excess plu- tonium stocks are obvious, as are the benefits to world energy supply and international security if well-managed and internationally controlled stocks of fuel are available as needed by the world community. Clearly, many questions now raised remain to be resolved, but it is our belief that work in this area must continue at full speed. We are impressed by the thoroughness of the experts' work under Agency auspices on the question of regional centres and we 64. The fear that the diversion of nuclear materials will contribute to international confrontation has been a critical element of the nuclear debate in many countries and in some instances threatens public acceptability of nuclear power programmes and international co-operation. As the Director-General has noted, a basic concern in this respect is that the Agency's safeguards mandate and its resources should always be adequate to the task. This is essential. The growth in the Agency's safeguards functions has reflected the growth in international nuclear power programmes. Advances in safeguards standards and techniques have been and continue to be significant and impressive. The safe- guards inspectorate continues to grow,and it must do so to meet the need. We are pleased to see the establishment of a Division of Safeguards Operations, and we also welcome the concept of regional field offices, which will contribute markedly to the efficiency of safeguards administration. We agree with the Director-General that the work of the Standing Advisory Group on Safeguards Implementation is vital. Canada is looking to that group to playan important role in advlsing the Director-General on a wide range of issues relating to the effectiveness of safeguards and the availability of information about their administration. We are participating actively with the Agency in the further development of safeguards techniques and We shall con- tinue to do so. We wish to congratulate the Director- General on drawing attention to a shortcoming in the present international safeguards system in terms of limita- tions on the scope of safeguards in certain countries. We believe that the international community should review means open for members of the Agency working together to move towards a comprehensive, universal and effective international safeguards structure. 65. I should like to express my confidence that the good work of the Agency will continue in the coming ye ars. It goes without saying that the task of international collabora- tion involving many nations in such a complex field is indeed a difficult one. Nevertheless, the Agency has been able to achieve a consensus, often under difficult circum- stances. Its effectiveness has been a result of the commit- ment of all member States to finding solutions of difficult technical problems. International co-operation is indispen- sable in solving problems associated with the application of the atom. The Agency has proved to be a most effective international forum and mechanism, and, yet, to remain effective it must continue to enjoy the same co-operation from member States that it has had since its inception. We shall do our part in meeting this responsibility in years to come. 66. In closing, I should like to congratulate the Director- General on the leadership which he has displayed and the vigour, ability and good judgement which have character- ized that leadership. Having had the honour of serving on the Agency's first Board of Governors nearly 20 years ago, it gives me great personal satisfaction to see the Agency doing so well. I pledge the full support of Canada for the activities of the Agency and its programme for the future.

The United Kingdom delegation has listened with great interest to the Introduc- 68. The United Kingdom Government continues to believe that the non-proliferation Treaty offers the surest available means of containing the danger of the spread of nuclear explosive devices, and we strongly urge all those Govern- ments that have not acceded to it to do so. However, we also recognize that certain countries feel unable, for their own reasons, to adhere to the Treaty, even though they share the general wish to avoid nuclear proliferation. We therefore welcome particularly the arrangements made by I~EA to enable States not party to the non-proliferation Treaty to put all their civil nuclear facilities under Agency safeguards. For our part, I am pleased to report that the t..Ilateral agreement between the United Kingdom, the Ag,.'ncy and EURATOM, which submits to Agency safe- guards those parts of the British nuclear industry which support our civil nuclear programme, was signed in Vienna on 6 September. We hope that this agreement, and the parallel voluntary offer made by the United States, will encourage other nuclear weapon States to act in a similar way. 69. The other main danger inherent in the exploitation of nuclear energy arises from the potential health and environ- mental hazards, particularly those associated with the management of radioactive waste. This is another area in which the Agency has an important role to play. My Government will continue to support it in full. 70. The United Kingdom has played its part in the important study which the Agency has undertaken on multinational fuel cycle centres. The United Kingdom has also taken part in the work of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Nuclear Explosions for Peaceful Purposes. My delegation feels that both those studies are important and we are gratified by the progress so far achieved. We do not entirely understand Wily one of those studies should be mentioned in a preambular paragraph in draft resolution A/31/L.16 and one in an operative paragraph. We would have thought that both should be referred to, with approval,in operative paragraphs. Apart from this comment, we fully support the draft resolution. 71. May I end by reiterating my Government's apprecia- tion of the invaluable work of the Agency and our firm support for the Director-General and his staff in their endeavours. 72. ~r. DE PRAT GAY (Argentina) (interpretation from Spanzsh): The Argentine delegation has very carefully stu~ed the annual report of IAEA for the year 1975, which has been drafted with the same clarity and precision that wasa feature of earlier reports. 73. We heard with the same interest the statement that was made yesterday by the Director-General of the Agency. It was a statement which, because of the importance of the matters dealt with and because it supplemented the report 7? Within the framework of this plan, which also provides for the development of the national capacity to provide nuclear supplies, the Argentine Government intends to continue the close and co-operative relationship that we have traditionally enjoyed with the Agency. The contribu- tion of the Agency has been valuable and my country has in large part reciprocated by allowing our own exnerts to take their knowledge and experience to those places which the Agency considers most in need of them. Within this context, I think it would be appropriate to express the hope that the training courses for Latin American experts can be in the future held in our own region. 76. The very fruitful assistance that we have received from the Agency is only one more reason to express our concern at. a tendency which directly affects the developing coun- tries. 77. I refer to the existing lack of balance between the increase of the resources of the Agency and the lower growth in the funds devoted to technical assistance to the developing countries. We are, of course, not unaware of the fact that the Agency is subject to constant pressures to intensify its efforts in other areas of its activities. However, v:e a~e in duty. bound to recall that its main responsibility lies III extending the benefits of peaceful nuclear tech- nology to those that need them most, to those that lack the means of developing that technology for themselves-in one word, to the majority of the peoples of the international community. 78. IAEA. must pr~vi~e a two-fold system of safeguards: those provided for m ItS statute to limit its assistance to peaceful activities-safeguards which Argentina voluntarily ?ccepted-and also tnose safeguards included in that guiding I~strument to ensure its co-operation without discrimina- tion and to p~e~ent meJ~lber States from beingsubjected to any monopolistic practices, regardless of the intentions of those that endeavour to engage in such practices. 79. Articles 11 and III of the statute of the Agency arc c1e?r. They.e~press, both in letter and in spirit, a balanced senes of priorities and obligations that cannot be altered de facto by their application in practice or by ignoring their contents. 80. Obed!cnt to its voca tion and its h.story, the Republic of Argentina has always spoken in favour of peace and 81. In that context, my delegation is happy to be able to support draft resolution A/31/L.16.

The delegation of Grenada wishes to express its appreciation and admiration for the work of IAEA and, in particular, for the leadership' providedby Mr. Sigvard Eklund, its Director-General. 83. The efforts of the. Agency have contributed to the successful completion of many tasks and also to the various achievements listed in its report. 84. We attribute great importance to the work of technical assistance, and, although Grenada as of now does not receive any such assistance, we feel that the programme should be expanded and that assistance should be provided on a strictly non-discriminatory basis. 85. With regard to the establishment of nuclear-fuel processing centres, we think that they should be located on a regional basis, according to the provisions of the Agency's statute. 86. The need for the further regulation of the necessary safeguards has become even greater with the considerable proliferation of explosions, experiments and areas. Grenada believes that the creation of new denuclearized zones in the world offers the best hope. We have therefore signed the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America (Treaty of Tlatelolco) and we support all efforts in that direction. 87. Grenada considers further that, for the sake of efficiency and economy, no new agencies should be established. All activities in this area should continue under the existing Agency, since the mushroomingof agencies and international entities places a heavy burden on our budgets and does not to any important degree increase in fact service or efficiency in achieving the goals and purposes that we all seek. 88. There is a present and real danger resulting from the activities of certain countries which are now endeavouring to develop atomic military potential. Technological de- velopment is such that it is not beyond the realm of possibility that the number of countries with nuclear weapons may increase in the near future, creating consider- able new hazards for mankind as well as a greater likelihood of eventual military use of these "little" nuclear weapons. 89. In this connexion, Grenada subscribes to the state- ment made here this morning by the representative of Japan, the country which has known the horror of atomic war. 90. The aims of the Agency with regard to the provision of adequate supplies of uranium must be further strength- ened because, although the deposits may be considerable, we are now experiencing a shortage in the supply of nuclear 91. Grenada is a small country for which most of the activities in research and development of nuclear industries are well beyond the realm of possibility. Nevertheless, we feel that we must add our voice and our support to the efforts of the Agency. Grenada will therefore vote in favour of draft resolution A/31/L.16.

First of all, the Soviet delegation wishes to reaffirm the great importance which the Soviet Union attaches to the activities of IAEA in contributing to world-wide co-operation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. 93. As is shown in the Agency's report and the Director- General's statement, the Agency has carried out important work in the practical implementation of the provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The role of the Agency as an important control organ has greatly increased, in view of the essential task of preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. This is only natural, considering the present trends in the development 'of nuclear energetics and the rapid growth in trade in nuclear materials, installations and technology. Although recently a number of States have acceded to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, including the Fed- eral Republic of Germany, Italy and Japan, and the number of safeguards agreements concluded in connexion with the Treaty has increased, the problem of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons' has not yet been completely solved. This has been pointed out with particular emphasis in the Soviet Union's memorandum on ending the arms race and disarmament /A/31/232/ presented recently to the United Nations General Assembly at its thirty-first session. 94. It is important to aim at making the non-proliferation Treaty genuinely universal. On the other hand, it isessential to have strict safeguards in order that international co- operation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy cannot become a channel for the proliferation of nuclear weapons. This is not a question of trade but a political question involving international security, and it is naturally the particular responsibility of States Which are suppliers of nuclear materials. The measures they have taken in this connexion are aimed at an important goal-to preclude the possibility of countries which for some reason are not parties to the non-proliferation Treaty producing their own nuclear weapons. These measures are by no means dis- criminatory. They are dictated by the higher Interests of strengthening international security and are fully in accord- ance with the objectives of the Treaty, whichhas now been signed by more than two thirds of the States of the world. 95. As for the Soviet Union, its nuclear-export policy is based on the strictest standards, precluding the possibility 96. In that connexion a very important agreement has been reached by 22 countries, including the Soviet Union, not to supply nuclear materials and installations without Agency control. What is important now is that as many countries as possible should become parties to that agree- ment and that the list of materials, installations and technology the supply of which requires control should be expanded. It is of particularimportance for the strengthen- ing of the non-proliferation "jste~{, t the Agency safeguards should cover the ent' I'C nuc(~a cl-cycle of the non-nuclear-weapon countries t~""t ...> parties to the non-proliferation Treaty. Installations ;l:lU materials should not be supplied and assistance should not be given, in the field of peaceful nuclearactivities, to those States that have not signed the Treaty unless they undertake not to use those materials to produce their own nuclear-explosion plants. Among other measures designed to achieve the same purposes, measures for the physical protection of nuclear materials deserve consideration. The Soviet Union is pre- pared to participate in working out an appropriate inter- nationalagreement on that score. 97. The Soviet Union supports the Agency's study of the question of the establishment ofinternationalnuclearpower fuel-cycle centres. We believe that that is in conformity with the interests of the countries whichwill participate in such centres. Moreover, it wouldcontribute to the econom- ical use of atomic energy and to the localization of radioactive waste. Even more important, it would ensure the most effective control by the Agency. 98. While firmly and on principle pursuing the policy of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, the Soviet Union is in favour of the wide use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes. This applies also to nuclear explosions for peaceful purposes, which are one of the most important aspects of the Agency's activities. A numberof possibilities for using such explosions have now become clear. An important step in their regulation wasthe Treaty concluded on 28 May 1976 between the Soviet Union and the United States. The provisions of that Treaty could be effectively used by the Agency in the orgaruzation of international co-operation in the field of nuclear explosions for peaceful purposes, in accordance with article V of the non-prolifera- tion Treaty. 99. The Geneva Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons confirmed that the Agency is precisely the international body through which non-nuclear-weapon States should receive services in the use of nuclearexplosions for peaceful purposes.s The Agency is doing important work in that field. At present it is essential to concentrate attention on studies of safe methods to produce such explosions. That would accelerate a solution of the administrative, legal and economic aspects of the problem. Of course, a great deal 4 For the Final Declaration of the Conference, see document All',1/1068, annex I. 100. The Soviet Union has active ties withmany countries in various fields of the peaceful uses of atomic energy. In particular, it offers technical assistance in the construction of atomic power stations. Our country is also co-operating very closely with the Agency in this regard. The Soviet Government recently decided to increase the USSR volun- tary contribution to the Agency's technical assistance fund for 1977 to 600,000 roubles, in national currency. That contribution could be used by the Agency to buy Soviet installations in order to provide assistance to developing countries, or to organize study tours of the Soviet Union and other technical assistance measures, for the benefit primarily of the parties to the non-proliferation Treaty. 101. The Soviet Union intends to contribute in the future also to the development of international co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, in conformity with the Agency's statute and the non-proliferation Treaty. In that spirit, we approve of the Agency's activities duringthe past year, and the Soviet delegation will vote in favour of the draft resolution now before the General Assembly.

On behalf of the United States Government, I commend the Director- General and staff of IAEA for the superior quality of their work over past years, and for the annual report for the year 1975. This report reflects the wide range of work being conducted in the field of peaceful uses of nuclearenergy to the ultimate benefit of all mankind. IAEA has proven itself to be an effective and productive vehicle for peaceful nuclear energy development, applications, and safeguards throughout the world. 103. The United States looks forward to the conference on nuclear powerand its fuel cycle to be held in Salzburg in May 1977 within the framework of events commemorating the twentieth anniversary of IAEA. Given the increasing energy requirements of the world in the coming years, it is appropriate that IAEA should be one of the important instruments in assessing the over-all role to be played by nuclear energy as an alternative energy source. The report of this Salzburg conference will be awaited with interest by my Government. 104. The United States Government strongly endorses the work of the Agency and is anticipatingits annual report for 1976. We urge world-wide co-operation and support for this important Agency and its activities, which are increasingly essential if there are to be peaceful uses of nuclear energy without a contribution to the proliferation of nuclear weapons or other nuclearexplosive devices. 11.> Mr. NEAGU (Romania): The report of IAEA, which has been submitted to us with his well-known distinction and spirit of sincerity by the Director-General of the organization, Mr. Sigvard Eklvnd, is fully illustrative of the fruitful activity deployed by the Agency, and I am particularly pleased warmly to welcome the presence of Mr. Eklund in the debate on this item. I should like to express to him our deep appreciation for the self-denying 106. It is a pleasant duty for me to express on behalf of my Government our sincere appreciation of the fruitful endeavours of the IAEApersonnel, who, displaying compe- tence and a spirit of initiative, have succeeded, with the rather modest material facilities at the disposal of the Agency, in bringing to a successful conclusion various actions in the field of international co-operation in the peaceful use of nuclear power. " 107. Romania, as a developing socialist country, has embarked upon avast programme aimed at turning to account its human and material resources and it is deeply interested in the activities of IAEA designed to facilitate wide access by all States, and especially by developing States, to the. peaceful uses of nuclear technology and to provide adequate safeguards: 108. As is pointed out in the IAEA report, the Agency achieved important progress in 1975. During the period covered by the report, owingto the total funds allotted for technical assistance in 1975 by IAEA and alsoin contribu- tions from the United Nations Development Programme amounted·to almost $10 million, twice asmuch as the sums devoted to similar activities in 1970. This resulted in an increased number of techr'cal assistance projects either financed from the IAEA budget or for which IAEA has been an executing agency. 109. Particular attention has also been paid to the training of personnel from the developing countries by setting up special programmes of courses, the first of which has already been organized in Karlsruhe, in the' Federal Re- public of Germany. 110. An important place among lAEA activites was, as before, held by those in such fields as nuclear power production and the application of isotopes and radiation in food and agriculture, medicine and biology, domains in which the co-operation between the '\gency and several specialized agencies of the United Nations, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization, has become traditional. 111. Among the multiple activities carried out by IAEAin 1975, it is worth mentioning those relating to nuclear energy as well as those which led to the elaboration of safety codes and guides concerningsome aspects connected with the building and operation of nuclear power stations. 112. IAEA, as an institution created to further and facilitate the peaceful uses of nuclear power by all States and for the benefit of all nations, has now reached a decisive stage in its activity. It is the stage of nuclear-power industrialization and of its transformation into a resource accessible to a larger number of States to raise their material and spiritual welfare. J13. It is a fact that, in view of the increasing energy requirements of mankind, and as a result of technological developments in this field, nuclear energy has become a source of directly productive power on which we largely 114. In our view, the Agency should in its programmes pay particular attention to ways and means of facilitating the access of all States on a non-discriminatory basis to the peaceful uses of nuclear power and of increasing technical assistance to non-nuclear States by supplying them with nuclear material and equipment as wen as by liberalizing the transfer of technology. 115. The promotion of fundamental and applied nuclear research in the developing countries also requires an intensification of the activities carried out by the Agency in the field of nuclear energy, the granting of research contracts to developing countries and the organization of more scientific meetings on issues of general interest to those States. 116. In the light of these considerations Romania wel- comes the proposal of the Director General to convene a conference on nuclear power and its fuel cycle in 1977. While expressing the hope that the future activities of IAEA will be focused on these problems, which are of particular interest to the developing countries, we wish to stress that fruitful, practical activity by the Agency largely depends on the maintenance of a rational balance between the funds devoted to the fulfilment of its main function-that is, development of the peaceful uses of nuclear power-and those devoted to its activities in the field of safeguards. 117. The Socialtst Republic of Romania, which is a developing socialist country, intends within the next five years to install, on the basis of its national programme, about 5,000 megawatts of power of nuclear origin. It goes without saying that Romanian industry and research will have to make sustained efforts to implement a programme of such considerable proportions. We would be very glad if in this considerable national effort we might also enjoy in the future effective IAEA technical assistance. 118. We are confident that our national efforts, together with the fruitful co-operation of States which have devel- oped their nuclear power to the industrial production stage, will allow the successful construction of the first Romanian atomic electric power stations. 120. My delegation supports, and will vote for, draft resolution A/31/L.16 submitted by India, Poland and Senegal.

Permit me, on behalf of the delegation of the German Democratic Republic, to thank the Director-General of IAEA for the report and his additional statement on the work of the Agency. In this connexion, I wish to pay a special tribute to the untiring efforts of the Director- General, Mr. Eklund, to fulfil the taks of the Agency. \ 122. The twentieth session of the IAEA General Con- ference has made an important contribution to the imple- mentation of the purposes and tasks of the Agency. It could be noted that the great majority of the Agency's members endeavoured to make full use of the Agency's potential for the attainment of JAEA objectives and for strengthening the process of international detente. As a matter of fact, lAEA can actively assist in givng substance to international detente by promoting international co- operation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The basic pre-condition is that any misuse of the results of such peaceful application should be excluded. 123. The German Democratic Republic strongly advocates measures aimed at ending the nuclear arms race and finally liquidattng nuclear weapons. The memorandum on ending the arms race and disarmament submitted by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to the United Nations General Assembly at, this session /A/31/232], which gives due consideration also to matters relating to the non-prolifera- tion of nuclear weapons, assumes especial significance for the actitivities of the Agency and should therefore, in the view of my delegation, be accorded due attention in the work of the Agency. 124. The twentieth session of the IAEA General Confer- ence has proved anew that the Agency is the recognized centre for the co-ordination of the efforts of States in the peaceful application of nuclear energy. This is in regard particularly to the development of nuclear power, the exchange of scientific and technological information, environmental protection, research on controlled nuclear reactions and, in close co-operation with nuclear-weapon States, the future use of underground nuclear explosions for peaceful purposes in non-nuclear-weapon States. 125. The rapid scientific and technological progress made in the field of the peaceful usesof nuclear energy, above all in the development of the nuclear power sector, makes it, in the view of my delegation, imperative to exclude any misuse of nuclear energy and to save peoples from the danger of a thermonuclear war. 126. In this, the German Democratic Republic attaches primary importance to the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. In the past six years, that Treaty has proved its viability and has effectively contributed to the towards meeting the safeguards requirements in connexion with the rapidly growing utilization of nuclear energy in the world. In the view of my delegation, it should be a constant concern of the Agency to work intensively on the further improvement of conditions in terms of personnel,organiza- tion and technology for an effective international safe- guards system. This also includes the development of new techniques and devices, as well as the further qualification of Agency inspectors and the improvement of national systems of control. 127. Recently, IAEA has made great efforts to improve the content of safeguards agreements concluded with States not parties to the non-proliferation Treaty. The purpose of this is effectively to exclude the possibility of diverting nuclear material for the manufacture of nuclear weapons. Of immense value in this connexion is the agreement reached by 22 countries, including the German Democratic Republic, not to transfer nuclear material and equipment to third States without IAEA safeguards. We believe it should become the general basis of a universal agreement. In the view of the German Democratic Republic, States not yet parties to the Treaty should undertake, when receiving equipment and nuclear material from States parties to the Treaty and assistance in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, not to apply the supplied material, equipment or technol- ogy for the production of any nuclear explosive devices. The extension of IAEA safeguards to all peaceful nuclear activities of non-nuclear-weapon States not parties to the Treaty would be a significant contribution to strengthening the regime of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. This position of my delegation is fully in accordance with the Final Declaration of the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. 128. In this connexion, my delegation strongly opposes the delivery of nuclear equipment by certain Western States to the racist regime in Pretoria. Such action immensely heightens the danger to peace and security in southern Africa, and it is with full justification that United Nations resolutions have repeatedly called upon those States finally to meet the Organization's demands. Declarations cl intent and lip service are of little usehere. 129. Measures taken by IAEA to increase responsibility in ensuring the integrity of nuclear material during its use, storage and transport have our full support. The Agency should continue its efforts to protect nuclear material against theft, forcible seizure and sabotage. In our view it 130. The IAEA report also refers to the problem of multinational regional nuclear fuel-cycle centres. The German Democratic Republic supports the establishment of such centres. It is guided in this by the consideration that this method would contribute to increasing the efficiency of nuclearpower programmes, localize radioactive wastes of nuclear industries and ensure the application of effective IAEA safeguards. 131. As far as the question of peaceful nuclear explosions is concerned-on which Mr. Eklund also commented-the Agency did fruitful work last year in accordance with the recommendations set out in the Final Declaration of the Review Conference. The Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Nuclear Explosions for Peaceful Purposes, established by the Board of Governors, of which the German Democratic Republic is a member, has started to study the political, technical and economic questions, as well as the safety and legal aspects of peaceful nuclear explosions, and has submitted preliminary material. Ofgreatimportance for the work of lA-EA in this field is the signing of the Treaty on Underground Nuclear Explosions for Peaceful Purposes between the USSR and the United States of America in May of this year. That Treaty is another link in the chainof measures aimed at achieving the general and complete cessation of nuclear-weapon tests and the termination of the nuclear arms race; it creates favourable conditions for the carrying out of peaceful nuclear explosions in non- nuclear-weapon States and will thus be conducive to the relevant activities of IAEA. 132. The future activities mentioned in the IAEA annual report for 1975 have our approval. The Agency's new programme for the period 1977-1982 takes account of the political, scientific and technological developments in the world; it promotes both traditional lines of activity and those tasks that are related to the large-scale use of nuclear power as a source of energy. 133. As indicated in the annual report, many countries attach great importance to the generation of electricity from nuclear energy. In the German Democratic Republic, for instance, the share of powerproduced in nuclearpower stations in the over-all growth of electric energy generation is to rise from 17 per cent in the period 1971-1975 to 27 per cent in the period 1976-1980. The extremely fruitful co-operation with the USSR and the other socialist States, especially within the framework of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, has a positive impact on this. 134. In addition to the tasks that J have mentioned in connexion with the non-proliferation Treaty, the German Democratic Republic expressly favours the Agency's com- prehensive programme for the elaboration of safeguard standards and research work on the disposal of radioactive wastes. Special mention should also be made of its results regarding scientific and technological information. The successful work of the information system, which benefits all Member States,should be pursued vigorously. 136. Finally, let me emphasize once again that the German Democratic Republic will also in the future make an active contribution to promoting international co- operation in IAEA, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the statute of IAEA and the provisions of the non-proliferation Treaty. In this connexion, I want to express my delegvtion's support for draft resolution A/31/L.16, which was intro- duced yesterday by the delegation of India.

At the outset, allow me to express my delegation's sincere appreciation to the Director-General of IAEA, Mr. Sigvard Eklund, of his introduction of the Agency's report for the calendar year 1975 and his most interesting and comprehensive statement concerning all recent major developments in the field of nuclear energy. Once again Mr. Eklund has succeeded in giving the Assembly a clear and objective picture of developments in his field of activity. 138. The Agency's report which is before us, as well as Mr. Eklund's statement, provides ample proof of the Agency's untiring efforts in its 20 years' existence to achieve its central objectives, which are chiefly to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world and at the same time to ensure, as far as the Agency is concerned, that assistance provided in the field of nuclearenergy isnot used in such a way as to further military purposes. 139. Today, scientific and technological advances in the nuclear field have reached the point where widespread use of nuclear power in all its ramifications has become a day-to-day reality. The continuing endeavours of the IAEA to help Member States with their nuclear power pro- grammes and to provide the required technical assistance, without losing sight of the paramount necessity of ensuring the safe use of this new technology and thus minimizing its environmental impacts,have a large part in its development. 140. But we must not overlook the dual nature of nuclear energy. My country has always attached great significance to the non-proliferation Treaty, and in particular has pleaded for universal adherence to that Treaty which, in spite of its many imperfections, remains the most promi- nent legal instrument for stopping the further proliferation of nuclear arms. We therefore view with some satisfaction the increase in the number of States which have signed or ratified the Treaty, and we hope that those States which have not yet done so will be encouraged to do so in the near future. We are also pleased to note that the numberof safeguard agreements concluded with the Agency has risen in the last year. 142. In this connexion, and especially with regard to the export controls provided for in the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Austrian authorities have noted with satisfaction the favourable development towards an international improvement in our over-all security philosophy. Having participated in the earlier discussions which led to the establishment of a trigger list on a broad international basis, and having fully accepted the obligations under this agreement, my country has observed with interest the London talks on this topic, although we are aware that the fact tha t export conditions exceed earlier agreements will perhaps create new legal questions and that more thorough examination of this and other questions may be needed. Austria supports in principle all efforts aiming at the unification of the international safeguard systems and especially the demand for whole fuel cycle safeguards. Perhaps a more open and democratic discussion of these questions will facilitate the efforts of supplier countries to convince consumers that they are indeed acting in the common interest of all those concerned by the danger of the proliferation of nuclear weapons. 143. Let me stress once again the importance my country attaches to the efforts of IAEA in further developing and expanding the safeguards system, including control and inspection activities. We specifically welcome the setting up of a Standing Acvisory Group on safeguards implemen- tation, whose main task is to give advice on the various technical aspects of the Agency's safeguards. I am pleased to report in this context that the construction of the Safeguards Analytical Laboratory in Siebersdorf, near Vienna, was completed at the end of 1975 and that scientific work in the laboratory started early this year. By building that laboratory Austria, as the host country of the Agency, has gladly made another contribution to helping the work of the Agency in one of its vital spheres of activity. 144. I should also like to refer briefly to the question of the physical protection of nuclear materials against theft, forcible seizure or sabotage. Here again we found the relative recommendations published by the Agency last year to be very helpful. The provisions on this subject have been comprehensively examined by the Austrian authorities concerned. On the basis of these considerations, it was possible recently to complete draft legislation on the subject. 145. Mutual exchange of opinion and experience between experts seems to be of vital importance in the domain of nuclear energy. Austria therefore welcomed the opportu- nity to take part in previous conferences on the peaceful 146. Another topic of major interest to which I should like to refer briefly is the safety standard programme, under which the Agency is preparing a comprehensive set of safety codes and guides covering all aspects of building and operating nuclear power plants. Small countries in partic- ular might find it difficult to develop national criteria systems for safety questions on their own. Therefore we welcome the establishment and publication of safety guides within this programme, which should allow standardization on an international basic, 147. As a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Austria is of course interested in the discussions concerning the implementation of article V of that Treaty, which provides that potential benefits from any peaceful application of nuclear explosions shall be made available to non-nuclear-weapon States parties to the Treaty. Accordingly we welcome the fact that.the Agency, following recommendations of the 1975 Review Confer- ence, has established an Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Nuclear Explosions for Peaceful Purposes, with the task of examining the aspects of nuclear explosions for peaceful purposes and advising the Board of Governors on the factors involved in the establishment and operation of an international service for peaceful nuclear explosions, as well as on the structure and content of the necessary agreemen ts under article V of the non-proliferation Treaty. In this connexion, we welcome the fact that draft resolution A/31/L.16, which is before us, contains a reference to this question, although we regret to say that we should have preferred to find a reference to peaceful nuclear explosions in the operative part. of the draft resolution, as was the case iast year. 148. Today the question of the advisability of the con- struction of new nuclear power plants and of the related security aspects constitutes in many countries a most controversial subject of public debate. Austria, together with a number of other countries, has paid special attention to this issue. Adequate and objective information for all those who take an interest in this matter-not only those who are involved in the direct decision-making but a much larger circle of people-seems to be of paramount impor- tance. Thus the Austrian Government has recently started a comprehensive information campaign on the pros and cons of nuclear energy. During this campaign, in which many members of the Government, including the Federal Chan- cellor, will participate and which will go on for several months, the critics of nuclear. energy will be given ample opportunity to articulate their doubts and identify open questions, while at the same time scientists supporting the use of nuclear energy will be able to convey to the public on an equal footing as much detailed information as possible. This campaign and the expertise offered by 149. In this connexion, the question of mutual assistance in the case of radiation accidents has been raised repeat- . edly. We welcome the Agency's work undertaken hitherto in this field, and I avail myself of this opportunity to encourage the Agency to continue its efforts to the effect ~ that multilateral agreements should be concluded between neighbouring countries. • 150. In view of the constantly growing energy needs of [he world, my country also attaches particular importance to a further strengthening of international co-operation in the field of energy research and development. Already at the sixth special session of the Assembly, the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria stated that: "By the nature of its tasks, the fInternational Atomic Energy] Agency is well equipped either to co-ordinate or to implement the wide-ranging technical and scientific projects in the field of energy research and also to make the pertinent economic analyses. One of the significant advantages offered by the Agency is the fact that developing, as well as industrialized, countries have already successfully co-operated within its framework't.s 151. Following the recommendation of the General As- sembly at its seventh special session to provide more effective assistance to developing countries in the field of energyfresolution 3362 (S- VII), sect. Ill, para. 2}, a study is now being prepared by the Secretary-General on the possibility of establishing, within the framework of the United Nations system, an international energy institute. My Government has closely followed the work done so far in this respect in the Secretariat and elsewhere, and we are looking forward with keen interest to the submission of the Secretary-General's report. We feel that if such an institute should indeed be created it must have close links with lAEAin particular. 152. In this context, may I also draw the Assembly's, attention to Economic and Social Council resolution 2031 (LXI) on research and development in non-conven- tional sources of energy. As a first follow-up to that resolution, which was originally sponsored by my Govern- ment together with other interested Governments, a meeting of the Working Group on Energy of the Advisory Committee on the Application of Science and Technology to Development was recently held at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Laxenburg, near Vienna. The meeting was primarily concerned with iden- tifying gaps in the present activities of energy research and development within and outside the United Nations system, a matter on which a report will be submitted by the Secretary-General in 1978. 153. We hope and expect that this work will provide us with a clearer insight into the ongoing activities of the 154. Once again I should like to reaffirm my country's willingness to assist the Agency in the discharge of its major responsibilities. My Government will therefore not only contribute to the 1977. budget according to the rate of assessment but has also pledged-subject to parliamentary approval-a voluntary contribution to the general fund for 1977 amounting to $US 34,800 and will again make available funds for type 11 ;.:~~owships, which, again pro- vided that parliamentary approv..! is granted, will amount to 170,000 Austrian schillings. 155. In conclusion, and following a tradition established in previous years, I should like to present a brief report on the progress made in connexion with the construction, at the expense of the Austrian Government and the city of Vienna, of the future permanent headquarters of the Agency. The various buildings of the Donaupark Centre- that is to say, the office towers, the international confer- ence centre, the two towers for common services with printing, storage and computer facilities, the commissary, the restaurant and so forth-will be ready for use exactly according to schedule, that is, between the summer of 1978 and March 1979. Operations at the headquarters can consequently be expected to start fully during the second half of 1978 and the spring of 1979. My country is proud to be able to offer then to IAEA a permanent headquarters which should meet the highest standards as far as working conditions and modern technical equipment are concerned. 156. The international conference centre in the Donau- park complex will also be available by March 1979 and will accommodate most of the regular meetings and confer- ences. However, it was not planned for major meetingssuch as the Agency's'General Conference. Therefore, an integral part of the project has always been the subsequent construction of a larger conference centre that will be big enough for all major world conferences and, consequently, also for the General Conference of the Agency. I am glad to report that the Austrian Government has recently officially confirmed, by 2 decision of its Council of Ministers, its intention to begin as soon as possible on the construction of that conference centre, for which planning has already started. 157. The construction programme outlined with regard to the Donaupark complex will, of course, be accompanied by all necessary improvements in the infrastructure, including the reconstruction of the old Reichsbruecke and the construction of an additional bridge across the Danube right in front of the new international centre. Together with a new subway line, at present under construction, those two bridges will offer more than adequate and fast transportation facilities between the Donaupark Centre and the heart of the city. Besides the new shopping centre "Donaupark", which has already been completed, a build- ing for an international kindergarten has likewise been offered by the city. Plans to establish an international school are ready to be carried out if needed and requested by the international community. Up to now there have 158. By giving these examples I should like to illustrate the fact that Austria does indeed undertake, and will continue to undertake, all measures necessary for it to live up to its obligations as the host country of the Agency and other international organizations. Please rest assured that Austria will also do everything possible in the future, as it has done in the past, to offer the living and working conditions that an international community and organi- zation and their staff expect from a host country.