A/34/PV.52 General Assembly

The draft resolution recom- mended by the Fourth Committee is in paragraph 12 of its report (A/34/638) and is entitled "Question of the New Hebrides". May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to adopt that draft resolution?

In paragraph 8 of the resolution just adopted, the General Assembly requests the Secretary-General, after consultation with the Chair- man of the Fourth Committee, to appoint a mission to observe the forthcoming elections in the Territory and to report thereon. 6. Pursuant to that provision, it is my understanding that consultations are being held with respect to the composition of that mission, and that an announcement will be made in due course.

I now invite the Director General of IAEA, Mr. Sigvard Eklund, to present the report of the Agency for the year 1978.'

It is my privilege to present to the thirty-fourth session of the General Assembly the annual report of IAEA. As noted, the report for 1978, which is before the Assembly, was approved by the Board of Governors of the Agency, but has not yet been I International Atomic Energy Agency, The Annual Report for 1978 (Austria, August 1979); transmitted to the members of the General Assembly by a note of the Secretary-General (A/34/497). 9. As the report points out, we still face the paradox that new orders for nuclear power plants continue to decline. It is now recognized that the only significant choices we have, until at least the end of this century, for the production of electric power are coal and nuclear energy, and in some places, hydropower. Of course, we have to use all other alternative energy sources available and capable of development, but it should be recognized that by the end of the century these sources can make only a marginal contribution. The shrinking world reserves and the rising cost of petroleum will eventually eliminate it as a source of energy except for propulsion purposes and uses by the petrochemical industry. Con- servation measures in the more affluent countries and higher priority for alternative energy technologies may only retard the growth of the demand for electricity. In 1978, for instance, world electricity consumption grew by 6 per cent compared with an increase of 4 per cent for the total consumption of primary energy. 10. If we are to avoid blackouts, if we are to keep our factories going and our homes warm and lighted in the late 1980s and 1990s, it is imperative that Governments consider realistic energy policies. Unfortunately a paral- ysis has overtaken the energy programmes of many of the leading industrial countries. 11. The reason for this, in many cases, is that the public has been badly misled and, indeed, frightened by some groups and individuals who have turned against modern industrial society as a whole. These groups and individuals have made a career of exaggerating the risks to which we are inevitably exposed by any industrial or human activity and, even more dangerously, have of- fered the illusion that there are so-called soft paths and easy ways out of the energy crisis. Public apprehensions have been translated into an almost impenetrable tangle of legislative and juridical processes—interventions, demonstrations and court actions—so that, in some countries, it now takes up to 16 years before a decision to construct a nuclear power plant can be translated into the production of electricity. 12. I should not like to give the Assembly the impres- sion that this is the case everywhere. In some countries the lead time for the construction of a nuclear power plant is as short as six to eight years. At least one Western industrial country, a few developing countries and the socialist countries are proceeding at full speed with the development of nuclear power. The member countries of the Council for Mutual Economic Assis- tance have recently raised their targets substantially and now expect to have 150,000 megawatts of nuclear power on line by 1995. 13. As 1 have said before, the problems facing the nuclear industry cannot be a matter of indifference to the developing world. The less nuclear power the in- dustrial countries generate, the more oil they will con- sume, the higher the price will go, and the less oil will be available to the developing world, the same is true of coal. Moreover, a healthy nuclear industry in the in- dustrial countries is an indispensable basis for the ex- 15. What about the safety record of the nuclear ir dustry? Well, it may be said that, even following the ac cident that occurred in March 1979 in the United State at the Three Mile Island nuclear power station, the trut remains that after 20 years of nuclear power generatio there has not been a single radiation-induced death or single radiation-induced injury at any civilian nuclea power plant. The introduction to the Agency's report before the Assembly giyes some interesting statistic about the estimated risks for the world's populatio from various sources of radiation. I also draw your al tention to the publication that the Agency has jus released entitled Radiation—A Fact of Life^. 16. Let me note that, on the basis of the 1977 report o the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effect of Atomic Radiation," it has been calculated that th radiation emitted by all nuclear power plants noi operating throughout the world may cause about 6 deaths from cancer each year. This compares with 6,70 cancer deaths resulting from the medical uses of X-ray and radiation and with 35,000 cancer deaths fror natural radiation out of an estimated total of 50 millio cancer deaths each year from all causes. These figure speak for themselves. 17. As yet there are no comparable authoritativ figures regarding the effects on health and life resultin from producing electricity from coal, oil or new an renewable sources. None of these energy sources ha received anything like the same degree of scientifi scrutiny as has been given to nuclear power. 18. I may be asked why I am presenting these detail before the General Assembly of the United Nations. It; because the representatives assembled here constitui not only the world's most eminent political council bi directly represent the Governments of all nations, o whose decisions our collective future most assured! depends. The Secretary-General, Mr. Waldheim, in h annual report on the work of the Organization [A/34/, sect. V] and in other pronouncements, has spoken ( the significance of the energy problem and I fully shai his concerns. Energy problems manifest themselves i many aspects which at present are being dealt with by number of organizations. There is scope for close c( operation and collaboration. I should note that in Viei na there is already a certain concentration of sue organizations and I would hasten to assure th 2 See International Atomic Energy Agency, The Annual Report) 1978, GC(XXIII)/610, paras. 13 and 14. 20. If there is a danger to mankind, it does not lie in the peaceful use of nuclear energy to generate electric power. It lies in nuclear armaments and in the risks of proliferation; it could lie in the political tensions which may follow the failure to develop nuclear power and other energy resources as replacements for declining petroleum resources. 21. I turn now to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons [resolution 2373 (XXII), annex] and the risks of further proliferation of nuclear weapons. Although encouraging progress has been made, there are still warning signals. 22. Progress may be measured by the fact that during the past year Sri Lanka, the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen and Indonesia have acceded to the Treaty and by the fact that Bangladesh and Turkey have informed the Agency that they too will shortly become parties to the Treaty. 23. The number of parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty now stands at 110. This figure includes 77 developing countries as well as all but one of the main industrial non-nuclear-weapon States. It also includes three nuclear-weapon States. 24. While many of the parties still have to conclude the requisite safeguards agreements with the Agency, 64 have already done so and the remainder do not at pres- ent operate any nuclear facilities. 25. Progress is also being made with the denucleariza- tion of Latin America, and we are encouraged by the decision of Argentina to ratify the TIateloIco Treaty.' Latin America is, therefore, well on the way to becom- ing the first region of the world in which all nuclear ac- tivities, except those that are specifically peaceful, are forbidden by international law, and where this prohibi- tion will be verified by IAEA safeguards. It would be a major contribution to international security if other regions were to follow the Latin American example. 26. I am also pleased to report that considerable pro- gress has been made in reaching agreement with the European Communities on detailed arrangements for implementing safeguards in the Common Market coun- tries. ' Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America. United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068, p. 326. 28. The application of safeguards on an international scale is not without some difficulties. The increasing cost of safeguards, the continuing refusal of some States to accept inspectors of certain nationalities and the necessity continually to improve safeguarding in- strumentation could be mentioned as examples. How- ever, I should like to emphasize that these difficulties, of which we are fully aware, have not resulted in any im- pairment of our safeguarding activities. 29. More serious is another development referred to in the annual report. Last year, I informed this Assembly* that there were three non-nuclear-weapon States —all three in areas of political tension —that were operating without safeguards nuclear plants capable of producing materials for nuclear explosives, namely plutonium or highly-enriched uranium. There have recently been dis- quieting reports that a fourth country is building a plant that will produce enriched uranium without safeguards. The Board of Governors has pointed out that if this were to happen, it would reverse a trend towards bring- ing all civilian nuclear activities throughout the world under IAEA safeguards. Such a backward step might easily lead the world into a new spiral of the nuclear arms race with all that that implies in waste of resources and valuable manpower, not to mention the danger to world peace. 30. All four countries have declined to ratify the Non- Proliferation Treaty or to accept comprehensive safeguards. It seems to have become a truism that where the Non-Proliferation Treaty and IAEA safeguards end, the danger of proliferation begins. 31. I have referred to the accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear power station, and I should like to note that the Agency is following the consequences of that event. Shortly after the accident, the Agency convened an international group of experts to advise it on addi- tional steps to strengthen its own nuclear safety pro- grammes. 32. As a result of that meeting and proposals by member States, the Board of Governors approved a 33. Despite its outstanding record, the nuclear in- dustry, like any other industrial endeavour, cannot be expected to maintain a zero-level accident rate. I fear we must also expect, however, that some of the informa- tion media will use even the most minor incident to alarm the public by exaggerating out of all proportion the risks that are actually involved. 34. There are a few other developments in the Agency's programme which 1 should like to mention briefly. Assistance to developing countries and safeguards remain the two pillars of the Agency's work. Most of the activities as regards technical assistance consist of perhaps unspectacular but useful projects, such as the endeavour to stop the spread of the Mediter- ranean fruit fly, which has established itself in Guatemala and is threatening to invade Mexico, where it could cause great losses. 35. Work is going on in 60 projects in more than 40 countries to improve crop yields, to produce new crop varieties, to produce more and better proteins and to combat animal diseases and insect pests. A good exam- ple is the Regional Co-operative Agreement in Asia which is now in its seventh year. 36. Two individual projects which have been com- pleted and which 1 should like to mention are: the publication this year of a guide-book on manpower for nuclear power programmes,' and the 1979 edition of the joint IAEA and Nuclear Energy Agency survey* of the world's uranium resources, production and demand. 37. A new international project of vast potential is represented by a series of workshops to study the possibility of constructing an international fusion reac- tor of the Tokamak type in close collaboration with, or even under the auspices of, IAEA. This project, refer- red to as the International Tokamak Reactor or IN- TOR, was initiated by the Soviet Union for the purpose of bringing together efforts in developing a new source of energy—nuclear fusion. The findings of the work- shops are being evaluated by a joint committee representing Japan, the Soviet Union, the United States and the Commission of the European Communities, all major potential contributors to the project. 38. The International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Evaluation, which was launched by the United States in 1977, will ' Manpower Requirements and Development for Nuclear Power Programmes, (Vienna, IAEA, 1980), publication STI/PUB/523. 8 World Uranium Potential: An International Evaluation, A Joint Report by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, December 1978). 39. Finally, I take pleasure in informing this Asseml that negotiations on the Convention on the Physii Protection of Nuclear Materials were recently concli ed, on 26 October. The Convention will be open 1 signature on 3 March 1980 here at United Natio Headquarters and at the headquarters of IAEA in Vie na. 40. With regard to administrative questions, 1 a pleased to report to the Assembly that the Board Governors has authorized me to accept the statute oft Joint Inspection Unit and has approved the statute the International Civil Service Commission. It is al my pleasant duty to remind the Assembly that the i auguration of the Vienna International Centre toi place on 23 August this year and that the Agency h just completed the transfer from its temporary hea quarters to its permanent home on the Danube. Vien has thus become, in all respects, one of the three maj capital cities of the United Nations system. 41. I cannot conclude these remarks without mentio ing the very pleasant news that Professor Abdus Sale of Pakistan, the Director of the International Centre f Theoretical Physics in Trieste, which is operated 1 IAEA and UNESCO, was this year awarded the Nol prize in physics. This is a recognition of a devoted inte national civil servant who at the same time is an outstan ing scientist. 42. I should now like to end my statement by or again paying a tribute to the unstinting hospital which the Government and the people of Austria a the city of Vienna have shown since 1957 to IAEA.

On behalf of the Gene Assembly, I should like to thank Mr. Eklund for his troduction of the report of the International Ator Energy Agency. 44. 1 now call on the representative of Saudi Arabia introduce draft resolution A/34/L.8.

This is the second consecutive year which my delegation has had the pleasure to submit the General Assembly the draft resolution on the rep^ of IAEA, since Saudi Arabia is Chairman of the Ag( cy's Board of Governors. The draft resoluti [A/34/L.8] contains eight preambular paragraphs a eight operative paragraphs. 46. The first preambular paragraph refers to report of IAEA to the General Assembly for the y 1978. 47. The second preambular paragraph takes note the statement we have just heard from the Direc General of IAEA which provides additional infort tion on developments in the Agency's activities dur 1979. 19. Reference is also made to the excellent safety record of nuclear power generation and to the need to pay continuing attention to the question of nuclear safe- ly. Finally, the preamble takes notice of the special needs of the developing countries for technical assis- tance by IAEA in order to benefit effectively from the :ontribution of nuclear energy to their economic ievelopment. 50. In the operative part of the draft resolution, paragraph ~ 1 takes note of the report of IAEA. Paragraph 2 notes with satisfaction the continuing ef- forts of the Agency to strengthen further its activities in the field of technical assistance to developing countries and urges all States to increase their voluntary contribu- tions to IAEA. Paragraph 3 commends IAEA for its continuing efforts to ensure the safe and secure use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. In paragraph 4, the General Assembly notes with appreciation the special measures taken by the Agency to expand its pro- grammes in nuclear safety, particularly aimed at helping Member States to develop their nuclear regulatory framework, to acquire adequate cadres of trained per- sonnel and to deal effectively with any emergency that may occur. In paragraph 5, the General Assembly urges all Member States to support the endeavours of the Agency, pursuant to its statute, in furthering the peaceful uses of nuclear power, improving the effec- tiveness of safeguards and promoting nuclear safety. Paragraph 6 is divided into two parts. In subparagraph {a) the General Assembly notes with satisfaction the Agency's continuing work in keeping under review the world's uranium resources, production capacity and de- mand, the progress made in elaborating a convention on physical protection of nuclear materials, the expansion of the Agency's International Nuclear Information System, the launching of the International Tokamak Reactor workshop and the assistance given by the Agen- cy to Member States in assessing the role that nuclear power can play in their energy development. In sub- paragraph (b) the General Assembly also notes with satisfaction: "The progress made by the International Atomic Energy Agency towards the establishment of a system of international plutonium storage and the ac- tion it has taken in regard to the international mange- ment of spent fuel". In operative paragraph 7, the General Assembly notes: ". . . that the recommendation contained in paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 33/3 of 2 November 1978 will be considered at the twenty- third regular session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency and ex- presses the hope that the matter will be brought to an early conclusion". 51. The Director General of IAEA has informed us in the statement he just made that the negotiations on the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials were successfully concluded on 26 October 1979 and that the Convention will be opened for signature on 3 March 1980 at United Nations Head- quarters in New York and at the headquarters of the Agency at Vienna. This is indeed a significant achieve- ment of IAEA and an important development which should be reflected in our draft resolution on the report of the Agency. 52. Accordingly, I propose the addition of a new operative paragraph 3, to read as follows: "3. Notes with appreciation that the negotiations on the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials were concluded successfully at Vienna on 26 October 1979 with the signing of the Final Act and that the Convention will be opened for signature on 3 March 1980 at United Nations Head- quarters in New York and at the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency at Vienna." 53. Consequently, the following words appearing in the third and fourth lines of subparagraph (a) of operative paragraph 6 should be deleted: "the progress made in elaborating a convention on physical protection of nuclear materials". Further, the present operative paragraphs 3 to 8 should be renumbered accordingly. 54. I hope that, as last year, we shall be able to adopt the draft resolution, as amended, unanimously and without the need for a vote.

It is a long-standing tradition in the General Assembly to consider the ac- tivities of IAEA on the basis of substantive reports, the discussion of which is facilitated by the introductory statements of Mr. Sigvard Eklund, Director General of the Agency, which provide stimulus for reflection and initiative. 56. The Hungarian delegation feels that the report of IAEA, although it has not yet been approved by the General Conference, is a true reflection of the respon- sible work done by the Board of Governors, the Direc- tor General and the Secretariat. The report shows that the past year was an active one with a useful record of productive work to the Agency's credit. This is another proof of the indispensable and valuable role which the IAEA has been playing for many years in promoting the peaceful uses of atomic energy as well as in maintaining and strengthening the regime of non-proliferation. 57. Several chapters of the report are devoted to the wide variety of increasingly important activities aimed 58. The discovery of the nature and properties of the atom and the utilization of its power have by now come to contribute to satisfying the material and intellectual needs of man to such a degree, that the lack of such a contribution would be seriously felt and would make future development inconceivable. The benefits derived from the use of nuclear power are not always quan- tifiable; yet it is no exaggeration to say that the positive economic effect of the application of the techniques of nuclear science can be expressed in terms of hundreds of millions of dollars, as is clearly shown by several ex- amples in the report. 59. The section of the report dealing with nuclear power and reactors' contains an account of a contradic- tory situation. Many countries show a declining interest in a greater use of nuclear power, partly for economic reasons and the high capital costs and partly because of some controversy concerning the competitiveness of nuclear power plants, whose safety is also questioned by many. Concern about the risks of further proliferation of nuclear weapons is an added factor retarding the faster growth of nuclear power generation in some countries. 60. In this connexion, my delegation agrees with the conclusion that the energy needs of the world cannot be met without nuclear power even today, while the future holds still fewer alternatives on which mankind can rely. As regards nuclear safety, we derive satisfaction from the statement in the report, reiterated in the introduc- tory statement by Mr. Eklund today, that "there had been twenty years of nuclear power generation without a single radiation-induced death or a serious radiation- induced injury at any nuclear power plant".'" There is no doubt that part of the credit for the favourable record must go to a series of safety recommendations, codes of practice and safety guides elaborated and published by the IAEA. 61. It follows from this that we attach great impor- tance to any proposal and support any initiative for the convening of an international conference on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. We think that a con- ference similar to that held in Salzburg under the auspices of the Agency" would provide the most ap- propriate forum for the discussion of relevant matters. 62. We are following with interest the developments in controlled fusion research and consider that the Agency is engaging in useful and timely activity in the field of international co-operation. 63. In favouring further, progress in peaceful nuclear activities, we do not forget even for a moment that such facilities must be operated under strict Agency safe- guards. The Agency has a pivotal role to play in ensur- ing that the widening scope of peaceful nuclear activities will not lead to the emergence of more nuclear-weapon States and that the safeguarded fissionable material will ' See International Atomic Energy Agency, The Annual Report for 1978, GC(XXIII)/610, paras. 46-72. lo/Wrf., para. 13. " International Conference on Nuclear Power and its Fuel Cycle, held at Salzburg from 2 to 13 May 1977. 64. The Agency's activity has been among the factors contributing to the strengthening of the non-proli- feration regime and to the further increase in the number of parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. However, it is also stated in the report that "The number of non-nuclear-weapon States that were operating unsafeguarded facilities capable of making nuclear weapons material remained unchang- ed . . . "'2 and that "the number of States in which unsafeguarded nuclear facilities are in operation may increase rather than decline in the years ahead."'^ 65. I believe that the United Nations should also do everything possible to ensure that this pessimistic prediction, which nevertheless reflects a real danger, will not prove to be true. It is in the vital interest of mankind to strengthen the universal character of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. In this context, we attach ex- ceptional importance to the second Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the outcome of which would, in our view, be greatly enhanced by the ratification of Salt II and by substantive progress in the preparation of a com- prehensive nuclear test-ban. The same effect would be produced by the conclusion of an international conven- tion on the strengthening of guarantees of the security of non-nuclear States. The Geneva Committee on Disar- mament could also speed up its relevant negotiations on the basis of the draft submitted by the sociaUst countries and by Pakistan. 66. My Government continues to support the Agency's technical assistance programme and values highly the existing co-operation between the Agency and the competent Hungarian organs. Through deliveries of equipment and the release of specialists, Hungary, too, contributes its share to the implementation of projects in developing countries under the Agency's technical assistance programme. From time to time, we also receive technical assistance which serves to promote both the satisfaction of our needs and the training of specialists from developing countries. Every year Hungary organizes several training courses and scien- tific symposia on the uses of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. 67. Finally, 1 should like to express the appreciation of the Hungarian delegation to the Director General, the Board of Governors and the secretariat of IAEA for the preparation of the Agency's annual report for 1978, which the June 1979 meeting of the Board of Governors had an outstanding role in putting into final shape. 68. We are convinced that the 34-member Board of Governors will be able to maintain its effective direction of the Agency's activities and to ensure the representa- tion of the different characteristics and interests of the various groups of States and geographical regions. We 12 See International Atomic Energy Agency, The Annual Report for 1978, GC(XXIII)/610, para. 9.

I call now on the representative of Yugoslavia to introduce draft resolution A/34/L.10.

The Yugoslav delegation has studied carefully the annual report of IAEA for 1978, which was circulated with a note by the Secretary-General dated 24 September 1979, as well as the report of the Secretary-General [A/34/197] dated 17 October 1979. As important events have occurred in the period which is not covered by the Agency's report, the statement made by the Director General of the Agency, Mr. Eklund, has provided us with additional informa- tion on the Agency's activities in the course of the cur- rent year. I wish to thank Mr. Eklund for his valuable statement and to emphasize that Yugoslavia highly ap- preciates his efforts and his contribution in directing the activities of the Agency. Yugoslavia will continue to co- operate actively, as in the past, with the Agency and to lend all possible assistance to Mr. Eklund and his associates. 72. The present year is developing amid signs of mark- ed contradictions between growing energy needs on the one hand, and tendencies towards and demands for the curtailment of the construction of nuclear plants on the other. This contradiction is further intensified by awareness of the fact that oil reserves are shrinking, in- evitably resulting in an increase in the value of oil, and that coal and nuclear sources of energy have emerged as the only tangible substitutes for oil. The majority of competent international and national institutions see a way out of the energy crisis in an accelerated develop- ment of nuclear sources of electric power. However, this inevitable course, especially for countries which lack oil or sufficient quantities of oil, is obstructed at this time by three serious factors: first, the problem of the safety of nuclear plants and their danger to human life and health, which were dramatized by the accident which oc- curred at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in the United States; secondly, the continued monopolistic ap- proach by producers and exporters of nuclear equip- ment and the imposition of discriminatory conditions on importing countries which are compelled to build nuclear plants in order to speed up their economic development; and thirdly, the increased danger of the proliferation of nuclear weapons as a logical conse- quence of the failure of the leading nuclear-weapon States to observe the appropriate provisions of the Non- Proliferation Treaty. 73. The report of the Agency, Mr. Ekiund's statement and the most recent developments indicate that the prob- lem of increasing the degree of safety in using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes has met with extremely divergent reactions in various parts of the world. In the developed West there is growing opposition to the con- struction of nuclear plants; orders for nuclear equip- 74. We learn from the Agency's report that such pro- grammes have been expanded in the Soviet Union and other Eastern European countries as well. This further justifies the efforts of the Agency to elaborate safety standards as obligatory components of projects for nuclear plants which will be built in the territories of States members of the Agency in the future. 75. Yugoslavia supports the Agency's programme of protection against radiation and shares its view that the member States and their national institutions should be in the forefront of activities aimed at providing protec- tion and safety against radiation. This is one more reason for the Agency to expand its programme of training of personnel in the developing countries, in respect of all aspects of peaceful uses of nuclear energy, including the programme of protection against the ef- fects of radiation. This is all the more important as in the year 2000 the share of nuclear energy in the total production of electric power will amount to 25 per cent, or even more. 76. At present, 28 countries cover their needs in fuel for nuclear plants from their own production of uranium. The number will continue to grow, provided the Agency and the international community as a whole augment their assistance to developing countries with regard to prospecting for and processing uranium ore. Today the majority of developing countries have already elaborated programmes for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Therefore, the Agency has correctly placed the accent on the training of personnel capable of executing national nuclear programmes in their own countries. This will allow for a rapid growth of uranium resources and will widen the scope of research programmes. 77. The Agency's programme of activities, oriented towards development, also provides for the possibility of generating electricity through thermonuclear fusion, known as the INTOR project—the International Tokamak Reactor. We were pleased to learn from a New York Times report of 20 October 1979 that Soviet scientists had achieved considerable progress in con- structing and demonstrating the work of a plant for pro- ducing electric power by fusion reaction. In the light of the fact that uranium used as a source of energy in the process of fission is a non-renewable source of energy, the results achieved with regard to the production of electric energy through fusion of heavy hydrogen from sea water constitute a really encouraging development. 78. We are also confident that the efforts exerted by the International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Evaluation, with which the Agency co-operates actively, will contribute to the clarification and harmonization of many techni- cal problems with respect to the utilization and develop- ment of nuclear energy and technology, particularly in the solution of many questions concerning spent fuel and radioactive waste and effluents produced at various stages of the nuclear fuel cycle, in the dismantling of old nuclear plants and other problems regarding the safe use of nuclear power sources for peaceful purposes. 79. As shown by the report of the Agency and the statement by Mr. Eklund, technical assistance to 80. Yugoslavia is party to the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Therefore, we note with satisfaction that in the period covered by the report the number of countries acceding to the Treaty increas- ed from 103 to 106 —and according to Mr. Ekiund's statement the number is now 110 —and that there was a marked increase in nuclear materials placed under IAEA safeguards. It is encouraging that the IAEA's secretariat has not detected any discrepancies that would indicate a diversion of significant amounts of safeguarded nuclear material to the manufacture of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices. Although such a development is a positive one, we should never- theless point to the shortcomings that make the over-all safeguards programme designed to prevent the pro- hferation of nuclear weapons deficient. 81. First, the leading nuclear-weapon States continue to develop their non-military programmes outside the framework of the Agency's safeguards, assuming there- by direct responsibility for a possible spread of the same practice to other countries—that is, the practice of developing and using nuclear installations outside the IAEA's safeguards programme. 82. Secondly, the expansion of nuclear technology is being limited and monopolized through the imposition of additional obligations determined selectively and without mutual consent, although the need for an urgent expansion of nuclear technology, particularly in the developing countries, has become the indispensable prerequisite for the accelerated social and economic development of those countries. 83. Thirdly, almost one third of the Member States refuse to accede to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, not because they intend to manufacture that kind of weapons but because they feel that the Treaty, owing to its discriminatory character, cannot represent an agreed framework for the international community in the solution of these questions. 84. The non-aligned and other developing countries are devoting ever-growing attention to the question of the development and transfer of nuclear technology for peaceful uses, as one of the key elements in the develop- ment of every country. At the initiative of a group of non-aligned countries, the United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus resolution 32/50, which lays down important principles for the develop- ment of co-operation in the field of the development and transfer of nuclear technology for the peaceful use of nuclear energy for economic and social development. Proceeding from those principles, the Sixth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, which was held at Havana from 3 to 9 Sep- tember 1979, confirmed once again the inalienable right of all States to apply nuclear energy towards their development and expressed regret at the existing pressures on and threats to developing countries, aimed at preventing them from developing their nuclear pro- 86. The Heads of State or Government of Non- Aligned Countries urged that, to replace such relations, an international conference on the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes be convened pursuant to the prin- ciples and objectives of consensus resolution 32/50 aeiopted by the General Assembly qf the United Nations [ibid., para. 233]. 87. My Government has submitted to the Secretary- General of the United Nations a detailed reply concern- ing several concrete proposals on the substance of such a conference. In the reply of the Government of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia,'" it is stated that the conference on the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes should deal with the following ques- tions. 88. First, economic and poHtical aspects of the development of nuclear energy in the world; conditions and possibilities of co-operation in this field; global, regional and national projections of development; possibiUties, conditions and problems of financing; the availability of and the need for raw materials. 89. Secondly, problems of obtaining nuclear technol- ogy — including problems of transfer and industrial co- operation—and, in that sense, possibilities, conditions and problems of association of countries for the im- plementation of programmes of nuclear technology, with special emphasis on the introduction of nuclear technology into the economic development of the developing countries. 90. Thirdly, questions involving the expansion of the exploitation of nuclear raw materials and their use and, in particular, the lending of assistance for prospecting for nuclear raw materials in the developing countries; elaboration and creation of conditions for the free and safe transfer of nuclear fuel; possibilities of association of countries in the field of securing of fuel, the fuel cy- cle, and so forth. 91. Fourthly, problems of possible misuse of nuclear energy—from the viewpoint of the strengthening of general collective security as well as consideration of the international obligations of countries using nuclear energy. 92. Fifthly, legal aspects of the development and use of nuclear energy: legal provisions regulating the safety of nuclear installations; national and international systems of legal regulation and system of safeguards. 93. Sixthly, regulation of the protection of the human I" See document A/33/332. 95. Eighthly, a precise definition of the role of inter- national organizations, especially the role of IAEA in the transfer of technology and implementation of safeguards, of UNIDO in promoting technical assistance and of UNEP in solving problems of the human environment; activities of other international and regional agencies concerned with the promotion of co-operation in the development and application of nuclear technology. 96. Ninthly, the evaluation and use of the contribu- tions to the development of nuclear technology made by international conferences, such as the International Conference on Nuclear Power and its Fuel Cycle held at Salzburg, the Conference on the Transfer of Nuclear Technology, held at Persepolis, the International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Evaluation held at Washington, the United Nations Conference on Technical Co-operation among Developing Countries held at Buenos Aires, the United Nations Conference on Science and Technology for Development held at Vienna, a conference on new and renewable sources of energy to be held in 1981, the second Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to be held in August 1980, and others. 97. A group of countries has sponsored and submitted draft resolution A/34/L.10, which I have the honour of introducing. The draft resolution is based, on the whole, on the decisions of the General Assembly em- bodied in resolution 33/4, in which the idea of conven- ing an international conference was endorsed by consen- sus. 98. In proposing that the conference should be held in the first half of 1982 at the latest, we have been guided by several important and closely connected considera- tions. In the first place, we bore in mind the fact that there already exists a political consensus regarding the need to hold such a conference. The holding of the con- ference would crown the numerous efforts exerted by the international community in its search for solutions to complex problems imposed by the very development and apphcation of technology for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. 99; In this connexion, we have in mind the fact that the second Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-ProHferation of Nuclear Weapons will be held in August 1980. Among other matters, this Conference will also consider the problems of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. 100. It is hardly necessary to mention that the framework of this Treaty, as proved by actual developments, is narrower than that offered by the pro- posed conference and that, therefore, regardless of the possible contribution to be made by the Review Con- ference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, we must search for 101. Each of these conferences, we hope, will con- tribute towards the clarification of the problems to be dealt with by the conference proposed by our group of countries. Thus, we can consider that all these gather- ings will be, to a certain extent, preparatory phases or complementary actions of the international community, the results of which will converge at the proposed con- ference. Consequently, we do not see any contradiction between the conference and the aforementioned gather- ings. 102. Besides, we have had in mind yet another very important element, namely, the problems of the use of nuclear energy and of the transfer of nuclear technology which were discussed at the tenth special session of the General Assembly, devoted to disarmament, within the context of the regime of non-proliferaton of nuclear weapons [see resolution S-10/2]. That special session saw the adoption of political stands and the assumption of obligations concerning the need to search for a new international consensus with regard to problems which are closely linked to the use of nuclear energy in general. We believe that the holding of this conference on the eve of the second special session of the General Assembly to be devoted to disarmament would also be of the utmost importance to efforts in the field of disarmament. 103. This conference should meet the obvious need of the international community to find, on the basis of equality, a way to promote the unhampered develop- ment of nuclear technology, to overcome the present system of monopoly, to eliminate restrictive practices and to estabUsh a generally acceptable and genuinely democratic system of control over the use of nuclear technology. 104. The sponsors of the draft resolution hold that IAEA has an important role to play in the preparations for and realization of the said conference. We expect that IAEA, as part of the United Nations system, will make its full contribution to this undertaking. 105. In the name of the group of sponsors, I invite representatives to support the text of draft resolution A/34/L.10 and to adopt it by consensus at the time you deem to be appropriate, Mr. President, in the course of the thirty-fourth session of the General Assembly.

The delegation of the German Democratic Republic has taken note with great attention of the report of the Director General of IAEA. It reflects the Agency's important role and responsibility as the com- petent organization within the United Nations system for promoting and ensuring the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The questions dealt with are of paramount in- terest to all States. We fully agree with the central 107. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is an important positive factor in the efforts to carry on the process of detente and in the struggle to maintain peace and achieve disarmament. What would be the chances of finding lasting political solutions to burning conflicts if States embarked on poUcies of ag- gression were to equip themselves with nuclear weap- ons? What about the resolution of issues related to col- onialism, racism and apartheid if minority regimes were able to commit their flagrant violations of principles of the Charter and decisions of the United Nations behind the shield of nuclear weapons? The recent reports on the possible explosion of a nuclear device by South Africa prove how topical such questions are. Therefore, to achieve universality for the Non-Proliferation Treaty is in the interests of all peoples. While not being a substitute of any kind for nuclear disarmament meas- ures, this Treaty has been, and continues to be, a necessary prerequisite for nuclear disarmament. The recently signed Treaty on the Limitation of Strategic Of- fensive Arms" —resulting from the second round of the strategic arms limitation talks, known as SALT II —is the most significant measure yet towards curbing the nuclear arms race. At the same time, it corresponds with the provisions of article VI of the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons [resolution 2373 (XXII), annex]. The early ratification of the Treaty resulting from SALT II would create further oppor- tunities for nuclear disarmament. 108. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the other States of the socialist community have made con- stant and wide-ranging efforts to keep the detente pro- cess going and to blaze the trail to disarmament. 109. This is evidenced by the decisions taken by the States parties to the Warsaw Treaty in November 1978"' and May 1979", which contain far-reaching and realistic proposals for ending the arms race, particularly in the nuclear field. True to this policy, the German Democratic Republic supports the new Soviet initiative for nuclear disarmament, military _^ detente and confidence-building in Europe that was launched at Berlin by the General Secretary of the Central Commit- tee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Presi- dent of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, Leonid 1. Brezhnev, on 6 October last, during the ceremony marking the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the German Democratic Republic. 110. The German Dernocratic Republic stands for negotiations between five nuclear-weapon States and several non-nuclear-weapon States on the cessation of 15 Treaty between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, signed at Vienna on 18 June 1979. " Ibid., Thirty-fourth Year. Supplement for April, May and Jurre 1979, document S/13344. 111. The realization of these and other proposals would be an essential contribution to strengthening the regime of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and im- proving conditions for an exclusive use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. 112. The delegation of the German Democratic Republic wishes to commend IAEA, in particular for its safeguards activities. The Director General and the in- spectors deserve recognition for their extensive work in this field. We were pleased to note the report's conclu- sion that no material under safeguards was diverted from the peaceful nuclear activities for which it was in- tended. 113. Further efforts are needed, however, to enhance the effectiveness of safeguards. To achieve this requires technological and methodological improvements and the appropriate utilization of all available means with the Agency's control system. In particular, it requires the political willingness of States to do their share in in- creasing the realiability of safeguards, since thereby trust and confidence among States would be enhanced and international security strengthened. 114. Once again, we emphasize the need for the earliest possible conclusion of the remaining ar- rangements subsidiary to the safeguards agreement in force between the Agency and the European Atomic Energy Community [EURA TOM],'" a field in which, as mentioned, considerable progress has been made. 115. We cannot leave unvoiced the concern with which we noted the report's reference to the fact that the number of non-nuclear-weapon States operating nuclear facilities without safeguards has not declined and that, to the contrary, it is increasing. The position of the German Democratic Republic on this question is as follows: the German Democratic Republic recognizes the right of States to the peaceful use of nuclear energy; it exercises this right itself. However, this right must be implemented in such a manner as to rule out the emergence of any further nuclear-weapon States. That is why we favour opening all nuclear faciUties of non- nuclear-weapon States to inspection by IAEA. This would in no way affect the peaceful use of nuclear energy or related developments in science and tech- nology. On the contrary, all peaceful nuclear activities would gain a sure foundation. 116. As a non-nuclear-weapon State that has placed all its nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards, the Ger- man Democratic Republic affirms once again that the safeguards applied by the Agency neither interfere with the normal operation of the facilities inspected nor im- pede the development of peaceful uses of nuclear energy. '8 Safeguards agreement of 5 April 1973 (INFCIRC/193). 118. The report of IAEA shows how the Agency discusses all the political, scientific and technical prob- lems concerning the peaceful use of nuclear energy and how it assists States with both advice and action. 119. The Agency merits high recognition for its efforts in the field of peaceful nuclear energy safety. The pro- gress made in preparing internationally agreed safety recommendations for the operation of nuclear power plants is of primary significance. 120. The German Democratic Republic has always devoted special attention to protective arrangements against the possible harmful effects of the use of nuclear energy. In the course of the past 10 years, an industrially operated depository has been set up for low-level and medium-level radioactive wastes. 121. We appreciate the efforts of the Agency that led to the successful conclusion at Vienna on 26 October 1979 of the negotiations on the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials. This is in keeping with the decisions adopted by the first Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons." We express the hope that as many States as possible will become parties to this Convention. 122. My country attaches great importance to the Agency's technical assistance programmes. It was grati- fying to note that the total volume of technical assistance provided by the Agency has risen by 44 per cent over 1977. For its part, the German Democratic Republic submitted proposals designed to broaden the spectrum of practical measures undertaken under such programmes and, specifically, to pass on experience gathered in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. 123. Special mention should be made of the dissemi- nation of scientific information for promoting the use of nuclear energy. For this purpose, the Agency organized a large number of scientific conferences and meetings and further developed the International Nuclear Information System. It would be logical, therefore, that the proposed international conference for the promotion of international co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy should be convened within the framework of IAEA and that the Agency be requested to prepare for and organize this conference. 124. The German Democratic Republic's interest in matters concerning the peaceful use of nuclear energy can readily be explained by its extensive nuclear energy programme, which is being further expanded, in close co-operation with the USSR and the other States mem- bers of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance. As has been previously mentioned, the Council has adopted several decisions in this regard, calling, inter alia, for co-operative arrangements in the manufacture of nuclear power plant equipment. Such arrangements " Held at Geneva from 5 to 30 May 1975. See document A/C. 1/1068, annex I. 125. The implementation of this programme, as well as of all the other projects designed to use nuclear energy for the benefit of peoples, imperatively demands an improved international climate. In this quest, the cessation of the nuclear-arms race and the strengthening of the regime of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons play a particularly important role. The great signi- ficance of IAEA lies in the fact that its activities prove the conclusion that turning the great strides of science and technology to the benefit of mankind and prevent- ing their abuse are challenges of our time that can be met successfully.

We have all heard Mr. Ekiund's comprehensive introduction of the report of IAEA for the calendar year 1978 as well as his most in- formative updating of this report with regard to this year's major developments in the field of nuclear energy and the relevant activities of the Agency. As in the past, the Austrian delegation wishes to express to the Director General its sincere appreciation of this most important contribution to our debate. 127. My delegation was particularly interested to hear Mr. Ekiund's clear and, indeed, stimulating presenta- tion of the current position concerning the peaceful uses of nuclear energy as seen today by IAEA. 128. As in previous years, 1 should like to take the op- portunity to reaffirm that the Austrian Government ex- tends its full support to the Agency's activities. My Government, furthermore, wishes to place on record its continued interest in seeing those activities maintained and further developed. 129. In our opinion, a fair and equitable balance should exist between such important functions of the Agency as discharging its non-proliferation respon- sibilities and promoting technical assistance to develop- ing countries. 130. We note that the Agency has proceeded further with its endeavours to help member States, upon their request, in the implementation of their nuclear pro- grammes and to provide the required assistance in these fields without losing sight of the paramount necessity of ensuring the safe use of this technology and of preven- ting its diversion to hostile purposes. 131. The Agency has also continued its most valuable development-oriented work in assisting member States in the application of isotope and nuclear techniques in food and agriculture, medicine, industry and scientific research. Today, nuclear techniques are being used routinely all around the world to improve crops, to determine ground-water resources in arid regions and to sterilize medical supplies; and they are also being used in medical diagnostic procedures. This fact has to be at- tributed to a very large degree to the untiring efforts of the Agency and its staff to make these techniques universally accessible. 132. If we look at the Agency's continuing efforts to intensify its activities in the field of technical assistance to developing countries, we can be encouraged by the fact that the total resources made available for 1978 133. A close look at the breakdown of the activities in- volved reveals improved efficiency in the administration of programmes as well as the qualitative importance of the projects carried out. 134. I should now like to turn to another main element in IAEA's fulfilment of its mandate, namely, its efforts in the field of non-proliferation.In a recent statement on disarmament questions that I made in the First Commit- tee.^o I dealt at some length with the complex issues of nuclear proliferation. Thus at this stage I should like on- ly to recall that my country has always attached great significance to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and in par- ticular has pleaded for universal adherence to that Trea- ty which, in spite of its imperfections, of which we are perfectly aware and which we do not try to minimize, re- mains the foremost legal instrument for stopping pro- liferation of nuclear armaments. We have therefore learned with satisfaction that the Agency has concluded several important new safeguards agreements. 135. We welcome the Agency's assistance during the past years in the field of improvement of safeguards procedures, and we acknowledge its continued efforts to develop and expand the international safeguards system. 136. We appreciate, indeed, the assistance given by the Agency in connexion with the International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Evaluation. The studies undertaken by the latter are most valuable and also contribute to a much better and broader understanding and clarification of the various aspects of proliferation. This corresponds with Austria's support for ongoing efforts to develop in- ternational consensus and co-operation in the field of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, including the prevention of proliferation of nuclear weapons. It is also with these considerations in mind that Austria is ac- tively taking part in the International Nuclear Fuel Cy- cle Evaluation. 137. Furthermore, the efforts and activities of the Agency in the field of nuclear safety programmes must be emphasized. We notice on this occasion with satisfac- tion the extension of the pertinent activities within the framework of the recently adopted supplementary nuclear power safety programme. In this connexion, we welcome the decision of the Agency to convene at Stockholm an international conference on current nuclear power plant safety issues. 138. Austria is also looking forward to the second ma- jor conference on nuclear power and its fuel cycle, to be held in 1981 or 1982, which no doubt will —on the basis of the most interesting proceedings of the 1977 Salzburg Conference —provide another very useful and timely opportunity for a thorough discussion of all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle. In its resolutions 32/50 and 33/4, the General Assembly invited all States to consider the 139. In conclusion, let me reaffirm my country's con- tinuing willingness to assist the Agency in the discharge of its heavy responsibilities. 140. In this connexion, I am very glad to report to this Assembly that, with the ceremonial inauguration of the Vienna International Centre which took place in August of this year, the Agency has found its new permanent headquarters and will also have adequate conference facilities at its disposal. In fact, the Agency has just completed its move to the Centre and I am confident that the new premises will offer working conditions of the highest standard for the staff of the United Nations, thus further increasing the already extraordinary effi- ciency of the Agency. 141. I should not hke to close my remarks without ex- pressing once more our appreciation of the excellent co- operation and asssistance the Austrian Government has again received from the Director General and all the members of the Agency's secretariat in the course of the past year. Finally, let me thank Mr. Eklund for the kind words which he addressed to my Government and to Austria, as the host country of the Agency.

The Soviet delegation has studied the IAEA report and has listened to the statement of the Director General of the Agency. We note with satisfaction that both the contents of the Agency's report and the statement made by Mr. Eklund testify to the great volume of work done in 1978 by the Agency. 143. The Soviet delegation highly commends the Agency on the important role played in strengthening the regime of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and ensuring effective international control over the peaceful use of nuclear energy and nuclear technology as well as in developing co-operation among States in the nuclear energy field. Since the time of its founda- tion, the Agency has demonstrated its abihty to be an important instrument in fighting for the maintenance of peace and the strengthening of international co- operation. In this respect, a great personal service has been rendered by the Director General of the Agency, Mr. Eklund. 144. One of the most important tasks facing the Agen- cy, in accordance with its statute and resulting from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, is to strengthen the regime of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. The importance of that task can be ex- plained in particular by the fact that genuinely suc- cessful and fruitful co-operation in the field of atomic energy, in the interests of all countries, can be ensured only on condition that the international community has 146. As is noted in the report presented for our ex- amination, IAEA did not detect " . . . any discrepancy which would indicate the diversion of a significant amount of safeguarded nuclear material for the manufacture of any nuclear weapon, or to further any other military purpose, or for the manufacture of any other nuclear explosive device."21 147. That is an important conclusion, which once again demonstrates how vital the Treaty is and how vital is the system of non-proliferation which is its very foun- dation. 148. We also note that the Agency's safeguards system encompasses practically all the nuclear activities of the non-nuclear countries which are parties to the Treaty, and which have concluded control agreements under the Treaty with IAEA. As practice shows, the fact that some States do not have control agreements with IAEA under the Treaty, in no way, promotes the development of co-operation with such countries in the field of atomic energy. 149. Our delegation fully shares the satisfaction ex- pressed by Mr. Eklund and other previous speakers regarding the successful conclusion of talks on the Con- vention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Mater- ials. We consider that the speedy implementation of that Convention will be an important factor in strengthening the regime of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. Bearing all that in mind, our delegation is ready to sup- port the proposals submitted by Hungary and Saudi- Arabia in draft resolution A/34/L.8. 150. In discussing the Agency's report at this session on the eve of the tenth year that the Treaty has been in operation and looking ahead, we should hke to stress in particular that, as in the past, the most urgent and im- portant task continues to be the strengthening of the non-proliferation regime. As was pointed out in Mr. Ekiund's statement, the Agency is concerned about reports that more and more countries have installations for the production of enriched uranium which are not subject to the Agency's control [see para. 29 above]. IAEA has more than once heard danger signals coming from various regions about this. Attention has been drawn to the danger of nuclear weapons getting into the hands of States situated in regions of tension and con- flicts. In this context, particular notice has been taken of plans for producing nuclear weapons in the Republic of South Africa and Israel. 151. This situation is naturally alarming, since the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and in particular their 2' See International Atomic Energy Agency, The Annual Report for 1978, GC(XXIII)/6I0, para. 6. 152. It is our profound conviction that only by the adherence to the Non-ProHferation Treaty by all States, without exception, can reliable barriers be erected in the path of nuclear-weapon proliferation. Only in this way can we remove the threat of the emergence of nuclear confrontation in those regions which are now free of it, establish conditions for the harmonious development of nuclear energy and bring about full-scale co-operation in that important field. 153. The forthcoming second Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Prohferation of Nuclear Weapons, to be held in 1980, will constitute an important milestone in the strengthening of the non- proliferation regime. 154. As was shown by the experience of the first Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Prohferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Agency played an extremely useful role in its preparation and holding. We are sure that IAEA will make a construc- tive contribution on this occasion also to the prepara- tion of the second Conference, by submitting reports on its activities under articles III, IV and V of the Treaty. We consider that the Agency possesses all the necessary attributes for increasing the effectiveness of the Non- Proliferation Treaty, increasing the number of parties to it and strengthening the Treaty's safeguards system. 155. As Members know, the second Review Confer- ence will have to examine a whole range of questions concerning the implementation of the Treaty, including the duty of States to conduct negotiations on effective measures to halt the nuclear arms race in a spirit of good will. I should like to remark, in this connexion, that in its undeviating adherence to the letter and the spirit of the Treaty, the Soviet Union is doing everything in its power to reverse the nuclear arms race. 156. The proposals that we have made in this respect are well known, especially the proposal to cease produc- tion of nuclear weapons of all kinds and gradually reduce stockpiles until they have been 1(X) per cent eliminated. The Soviet Union and other sociaUst coun- tries propose that we immediately embark on construc- tive talks on this matter, since the sooner this happens the greater will be the benefit for the cause of peace. 157. We consider that among the effective measures requiring speedy adoption in the field of halting the nuclear arms race is the conclusion of a treaty banning all nuclear-weapon testing and the implementation of the proposal regarding the non-stationing of nuclear weapons where there are no such weapons at present. 158. We feel that the conclusion of an international convention on the strengthening of the security of non- nuclear States would eliminate one of the factors which is impeding accession to the Treaty by a number of States and would thus strengthen the non-proliferation regime itself, which is based on the Treaty. 160. At the present time, when the world is facing a dearth of fossil fuels, interest in and a desire for the ac- quisition and speedy development of peaceful nuclear technologies are being felt in a large number of coun- tries, both developed and developing. 161. As was quite rightly pointed out in the Agency's report, we can speed up measures to save energy in the world. One can make larger capital investments in alter- native technologies. But it is not hkely that in two or three decades those measures will have a tangible effect on the satisfaction of the world's electrical power needs. As a resuh, nuclear energy continues to be one of the most important sources of electrical power. Of course, the Agency's role and meaning in that regard will steadi- ly grow. 162. The Soviet Union has achieved substantial results in the use of atomic energy for constructive purposes and is actively participating in international co-opera- tion in this field and sharing its achievements with coun- tries which are interested, both through the Agency and on a bilateral basis, by transferring expertise and tech- nical assistance, enriching nuclear fuel, and so on. 163. We lay great stress on giving technical assistance through the Agency. The Soviet Union, upon the re- quest of the Agency secretariat, delivers to States members of IAEA equipment, instruments and materi- als, and assists them in training qualified experts by organizing courses and scientific conferences in the Soviet Union. Our country constantly increases its voluntary contribution to the technical assistance fund of the Agency so that, in 1979, that contribution was 750,000 roubles for assistance first and foremost to the developing countries that are parties to the Non- Proliferation Treaty. 164. To our mind, the secretariat of the Agency should, through the technical assistance fund, more ac- tively promote the development of the peaceful uses of atomic energy in countries that are parties to the Non- Proliferation Treaty. That would be in line with the pro- vision, which was widely supported at the first Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Pro- liferation of Nuclear Weapons, held at Gefleva in 1975, to the effect that non-nuclear developing countries par- ties to the Treaty should enjoy priority rights as far as receiving technical assistance was concerned. 165. The Soviet Union analyses and evaluates all pro- posals relating to any and all measures on an interna- tional scale from the point of view of the maximal use of the Agency's facilities in the field of co-operation in the peaceful use of atomic energy. In other words, we believe that questions of co-operation in the field of atomic energy, which are extremely important for both developed and developing countries, should be examin- ed within the framework of IAEA. We adopt that ap- proach when we hold conferences, meetings and sym- posia on enhancing international co-operation in the field of the peaceful uses of atomic energy. 166. We have studied attentively the proposals which are elontained in General Assembly resolutions 32/50 167. At the present time, as you know, we are con- sidering the question of wielening the scope of problems which will be discussed at that conference so as to in- clude measures to enhance international co-operation in the peaceful use of atomic energy, particularly in the developing countries. In that respect, we see no need to convene a special conference on these matters, especial- ly a conference where questions of the peaceful uses of atomic energy would be artifically divorced from the technical and economic aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle and from the task of strengthening the non-prolifera- tion regime. We are convinced that this could neither promote the development of nuclear energy in the developing countries nor strengthen the regime of non- proliferation of nuclear weapons. 168. The Soviet Union highly commends the Agency's activities in bringing about scientific and technological co-operation in the fields of the peaceful uses of atomic energy, the exchange of information, including the holding of international scientific conferences and the granting of technical assistance to interested countries. 169. Our country widely uses atomic energy for con- structive purposes and is prepared to continue to share its experience and scientific and technological know- how in that field, on behalf of further progress. 170. In conclusion, 1 should like once more to em- phasize that the Agency as a whole is working suc- cessfully for peace and security, for the strengthening of the non-proliferation regime and for the development of international co-operation in the field of the peaceful use of atomic energy. In that respect, I should like to wish the Agency further success in carrying out its lofty mission.

I should like first of all to express my delegation's sincere gratitude to the Direc- tor General, Mr. Eklund, for his continued outstanding leadership of IAEA and for his lucid statement in- troducing the annual report of the Agency. 172. We are discussing the report of the Agency at a time when, on the one hand, it is becoming indispen- sable and, indeed, more urgent than ever to make all possible efforts to strengthen the regime of non- proliferation of nuclear weapons; and, on the other hand, the development of nuclear power for peaceful purposes, especially as an indispensable source of energy, is assuming growing significance for all coun- tries. 173. Poland believes that it is not only possible but im- perative to pursue vigorously the achievement of both those goals which, in our opinion, are not contradictory but rather fully complementary. The dynamic develop- ment of international co-operation in the peaceful uses of atomic energy, and the possibilities of wider access to 174. We therefore attach primary importance to those activities of IAEA that aim to raise a workable barrier against the further spread of nuclear arms. We are gratified to learn from the Agency's report that its safeguards activities expanded substantially in 1978, thus promoting the objective of non-proliferation. We also highly appreciate the Agency's contribution to the work of the preparatory committee for the second Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. We note with satisfaction an increase in the number of accessions by States to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and we hope that this process will continue with a view to achieving full universalization of the Treaty which, in our opinion, constitutes the best instrument for preventing the fur- ther proliferation of nuclear weapons. On the other hand, we are deeply concerned that several countries which possess a considerable peaceful nuclear potential remain outside the Treaty and that disquieting reports continue to the effect that some of those States are plan- ning to develop their own nuclear weapons. Should such plans be put into practice, they would have an extremely grave impact on international peace and security. 175. My delegation is particularly alarmed at the latest reports about a possible nuclear explosion conducted by South Africa. The acquisition of nuclear arms by the racist regime of Pretoria would bring incalculable con- sequences for peace and stability both in Africa and in the world at large. Prompt and effective action is therefore necessary to prevent a nuclear build-up in that country. That is why we fully support the initiative taken in this regard by the delegation of Nigeria [47th meeting, para. 16], and we see the need for the Security Council to ensure that South Africa does not acquire nuclear weapons. My delegation also demands that all States which have so far not yet done so immediately stop every form of nuclear collaboration with South Africa. 176. We cannot but express our disappointment at learning from the IAEA report that the number of non- nuclear-weapon States which are operating nuclear facilities without safeguards has not declined. We are also concerned with the further delay in the full prac- tical application of IAEA safeguards in the non- nuclear-weapon States of EURATOM. 177. As is well known, Poland, along with the other socialist countries, has for long been deeply involved in efforts aimed at the consolidation of the regime of non- proliferation of nuclear weapons. While commending the significant role played by the Agency in this field, we see the necessity of further increasing the scope and ef- fectiveness of IAEA safeguards. At the same time, it is indispensable actively to promote all other endeavors designed to strengthen the regime of non-proliferation. This applies in particular to such important initiatives of the USSR in the political field as the proposal for the conclusion of an international convention on the strengthening of guarantees of security of non-nuclear- weapon States or the proposal on non-deployment of nuclear weapons on territories of States where there are no such weapons at present. 178. Poland highly appreciates the important role played by IAEA in promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy and, in particular, in rendering technical assistance to developing countries. As we learn from the report, the volume of such assistance in 1978 rose by 44 179. We have a positive view of IAEA activities in other spheres, such as nuclear safety and environmental protection, food and agricultural, medicine, research, training and exchange of scientific information in various fields. 180. We are looking forward to a successful completion early next year of the International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Evaluation, which is being carried out with the assistance and support of IAEA. We believe that the Agency should be the main body responsible for the implementation of any recommendations and conclu- sions that may be adopted upon the completion of that evaluation. 181. Finally, in the opinion of my delegation, ques- tions concerning possible further measures to promote international co-operation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, to which my country attaches great importance, could be most usefully discussed in the framework of the International Conference on Nuclear Power and Its Fuel Cycle, which is to be held in 1981 under the auspices of IAEA. 182. In conclusion, I should like to express my delega- tion's full support of draft resolution A/34/L.8, so ably introduced by the respresentative of Saudi Arabia.

In June this year, the Heads of State or Government of seven developed coun- tries met at Tokyo22 to discuss problems of common in- terest. Much of the time was devoted to the energy issue, which was virtually the main topic of the summit meeting. During those talks, a consensus was reached among the participants to the effect that nuclear energy was, and would be for some time to come, the only dependable substitute for petroleum as a source of energy. In the declaration made public after the meeting, the participants recognized the need to expand alternative sources of energy. The declaration went on to say that without the expansion of nuclear power generating capacity in the coming decades, economic growth and higher employment will be hard to achieve. 184. This common recognition among those countries is all the more serious in relation to the energy condi- tions of Japan, a highly industrialized country with scarce resources. Needless to say, the issue of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy has become a matter of vital concern to the world as a whole. 185. The International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Evaluation, started in October 1977 to examine the modalities of a nuclear fuel cycle that would render the peaceful use of nuclear energy compatible with the need to prevent fur- ther nuclear proliferation, is now in the process of win- ding up its work, with a voluminous report to come out next February. The second Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which will deal in depth with both nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, is to be held in August 1980. During the deliberations of the Evaluation, many countries have reiterated the necessity of grappling fully with the prob- lem of the energy needs of the developing countries. 186. The question of international co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy has thus now entered a critical phase, and I should like to stress that, in the light of the achievements of IAEA, which need no elabora- tion, we have great expectations of the important role to be played by the Agency in this regard. 188. The accident at the nuclear power plant at Three Mile Island in the United States last March was a renew- ed warning to the world regarding the problem of nu- clear safety. We were impressed by the speedy dispatch of an IAEA survey mission on that occasion and the convening by IAEA of a meeting of experts, which specified certain measures to which priority should be given to ensure nuclear safety in the future. IAEA has long been undertaking the compilation of detailed codes of practice and safety guides under its Nuclear Safety Standards programme, among other activities on the question of nuclear safety. Incidentally, the Tokyo Economic Summit declaration also emphasized the key role which IAEA can play in the field of international co-operation to promote nuclear safety. 189. With regard to the other central issue in the nuclear field, the prevention of further proliferation, I have already referred to the International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Evaluation, the results of which, as relating to non-proliferation, will have considerable effect throughout the world on how countries will be develop- ing nuclear energy in the future. We cannot overlook IAEA's co-operation with the work of the Evaluation and the leading role that IAEA is expected to play in such matters as international plutonium storage and in- ternational spent fuel management, both activities that have already been started as part of the international co- operation anticipated in various fields in the post- Evaluation phase to begin after February of next year. 190. Japan's position on the strengthening of the non- proliferation regime was explained, both in detail and from a broader perspective in the speech that 1 made before the First (Committee on 19 October,2^ and 1 shall not repeat myself. But 1 should like to say that IAEA now faces a number of problems with respect to the im- plementation of its safeguards system and there are many elements to be improved upon in this regard. My country intends to continue its co-operation for the solution of such problems. 191. It is significant that the text of a draft convention on the physical protection of nuclear materials was finally adopted last week, after negotiations extending over the last two years. This accomplishment is gratify- ing to my country, which participated in the talks from the outset and took an active part in formulating the draft convention. We appreciate the efforts of the other participating countries and of IAEA, which provided valuable secretarial services during the negotiations. 192. The volume of technical assistance provided by IAEA to developing countries has been steadily increas- ing. The target figure for»the voluntary contributions which will be spent for this purpose has now exceeded SIO million in the Agency's budget for 1980. Japan has always contributed its portion of the target figures and has made additional contributions in various forms. 193. This year, having noted the importance of ex- pediting further the Agency's activities in Asia and the Pacific, under the umbrella of the Regional Co- operative Agreement for Research, Development and 194. With respect to draft resolution A/34/L.10, which calls for the convening of an international con- ference for the promotion of international co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, my delegation ex- presses its full sympathy with the stated objectives and the purpose of such a conference. But we should also take into account the fact that the results of the Interna- tional Nuclear Fuel Cycle Evaluation will be known to us next spring, that the second Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Prohferation of Nuclear Weapons will be held next summer, and that IAEA is planning an international conference on nuclear power and its fuel cycle for 1981. These con- ferences have the same purpose as the one proposed in the draft resolution. We therefore consider it necessary, first of all, at least to await the results of these coming conferences; and, from that point of view, my delega- tion would feel happier if the mention of specific dates could be avoided in the draft resolution which we have before us. Secondly, we should remember and reaffirm the role of IAEA, which was established as the sole global forum in the field of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

The annual con- sideration of the report of IAEA traditionally centres on two major fields in which the Agency performs in- valuable functions in the solution of international ques- tions relating to the peaceful uses of atomic energy. One of these has to do with the implementation and the strengthening of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and the improvement of the Agency's safeguards sys- tem; the other involves the ever-growing volume of tasks connected with the actual uses of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, prominent among which are the questions of ensuring nuclear safety and of providing technical assistance with due regard to the needs of the developing countries. 196. The Czechoslovak delegation has thoroughly ac- quainted itself with the report submitted by IAEA and has listened attentively to the inspiring statement by the Agency's Director General, Mr. Sigvard Eklund. We should like to express our grateful appreciation for the extensive constructive activities performed by the Agen- cy and its bodies in these major areas of its work. 197. We welcome the active efforts of IAEA aimed at support for the continuing development of nuclear energy; in our view, they deserve full recognition. In that context, we should also like to express appreciation for the significant contribution made by the Director General of the Agency, Mr. Sigvard Eklund. We were 198. There is no doubt but that nuclear energy, as is confirmed in draft resolution A/34/L.8, remains the main realistic alternative to fossil fuel in meeting the growing energy needs in the broadest international framework during the coming decades. Czechoslovakia is among the countries which, in view of their limited raw material resources, are intensively developing their nuclear energy programmes. It is therefore sincerely in- terested in the overcoming of certain problems that have recently appeared in connexion with the prospects for the further development of nuclear energy. That is why we fully support the concrete programmes and measures undertaken by the Agency to that end. 199. The continued positive development of the peace- ful uses of nuclear energy on an international scale re- quires, categorically, the consistent implementation of the agreed international measures aimed at eliminating the danger of the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the constant improvement of their effectiveness. Czechoslovakia regards IAEA as the key body in this respect and it extends to that body its all-round support. 200. It must be appreciated that there was been both a quantitative and a qualitative improvement in the Agen- cy's safeguards system and that, after many years of comphcated talks, safeguards agreements have been concluded with the EURATOM member countries. It will still, however, be necessary for the Agency to achieve a considerably higher degree of consistency in the practical application of these safeguards agreements and to ensure the continuous effective operation of the safeguards system on the required scale. In view of the sharply growing volume of work that is particularly ap- parent in this field, we also fully support the efforts by the Agency to strengthen its Department of Safeguards and to staff it with an adequate number of qualified specialists. 201. An important stimulus to the increased effec- tiveness of the Agency's safeguards activities was, in our view, provided by the joint Soviet-United States com- munique of 18 June 1979, issued on the occasion of the signing in Vienna of SALT 11 Treaty, in which the two parties expressed their consistent support for the further strengthening of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and, in that context, emphasized the importance of us- ing the comprehensive international safeguards provid- ed by IAEA and expressed their intention to continue to strive for the strengthening of these safeguards. 202. However, despite those positive steps, the danger of the proliferation of nuclear weapons has not yet been completely eliminated, as is demonstrated by the dangerous nuclear policies of South Africa and Israel and by the recent alarming events connected with those policies. Moreover, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which is the most important inter- national instrument for the elimination of that danger, is still very far from having acquired the needed univer- sality-even though we note with satisfaction that the number of parties to the Treaty has increased. We therefore attach great importance to the successful com- pletion of the preparations for the second Review Con- ference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non- 203. Czechoslovakia fully supports the active work by IAEA in the field of ensuring the safety of nuclear energy generation. We believe that this activity, which in recent times has recorded a marked positive increase, especially on the practical level, constitutes a fundamen- tal prerequisite for the continued development of nucle- ar energy as a whole. A number of concrete measures, successfully implemented by the Agency in this field, in- dicate that the safeguarding of reliable safety of nuclear energy is a problem the solution of which is quite feasi- ble. That is why it can be classified neither as an obstacle to the continued development of nuclear energy nor as a reason for measures that would cause complica- tions for some States in the implementation of their energy programmes that are subject to IAEA safeguards. On that basis, Czechoslovakia is fully par- ticipating in the Agency's work in the field of nuclear safety and is prepared to contribute to effective measures designed to eliminate any critical situation that might arise. 204. In the same spirit we also support, in accordance with our possibilities, a number of the Agency's pro- grammes and projects in the field of research, as well as in the field of technical operations mentioned in operative paragraph 6 of draft resolution A/34/L.8. We furthermore appreciate the useful contribution of the Agency to the International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Evalua- tion, in which Czechoslovakia is participating and which is to be completed next year. 205. An undeniable qualitative and quantitative im- provement has occurred in recent years in the field of technical assistance provided by the Agency to member States, with a special view to the needs of the developing countries, which is also confirmed by the data submit- ted. This notwithstanding, it is apparent that some unused reserves still exist in the Agency's work in this field. At the forthcoming twenty-third IAEA General Conference, the Czechoslovak delegation will submit its positions and constructive proposals aimed at the fur- ther improvement of the current situation. In this con- text, I should like to mention that Czechoslovakia has always held the view that technical assistance should be granted, as a matter of priority, to the economically weakest member States, and especially those that are parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and have con- cluded appropriate safeguards agreements with the Agency. 206. In the coming year, Czechoslovakia will make a voluntary contribution to the technical assistance fund in the amount of 300,000 Czechoslovak crowns, will submit offers to organize specialized projects and will grant five long-term and four one-year scholarships to specialists from developing countries. 207. Czechoslovakia resolutely supports the Agency's efforts directed, in keeping with its statute, towards the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in the interest of 208. In conclusion, I should like to note that the Czechoslovak delegation finds that draft resolution A/34/L.8 is a positive text and supports its adoption.

I should hke to inform the Assembly that in connexion with resolution 34/10, adopted at this very meeting, the Secretary-General has informed me that, after consuhations with the Chair- man of the Fourth Committee, he has appointed the following States as members of the United Nations mis- sion to observe the elections in the New Hebrides: Australia, Fiji, the Ivory Coast and the United Republic of Cameroon.