A/37/PV.71 General Assembly

I have pleasure in welcoming the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mr. Hans Blix, to the General As- sembly, and I invite him to present the report of the Agency for the year. 1981. 2. Mr. BLIX (Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency): It is an honour for me to present the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] on its workl and to inform the General Assembly about the main developments in IAEA this year. The Agency has a very specific mandate, namely, to "seek to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity through- out the world" and to "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". 3. The Agency is thus active in several fields of central concern to the Assembly and to Governments everywhere. Nuclear power adds to the world's energy resources. Applications of nuclear science in the field. of medicine help to improve health and to prore\;L life, and applications in the fields of agri- culture and hydrology increase and protect food supply and improve the use ofwater resources. The Agency's safeguards system operates to provide confidence that nuclear ~ctivities and material submitted to the system are not used to produce weapons or other explosive devices. 4. Before I comment upon the manner in which the Agency is fulfilling these tasks I am bound to note that lately IAEA has been much in the news, not for its substantive work in these areas but for the controversy which arose at its General Conference regarding the credentials of the delegation of Israel and the sub- sequent action by the United States to curtail its presence in IAEA and to suspend payment of con- tributions, pending a reassessment of its participation in the organization. This issue remains in the fore- front of members' interest. There is no doubt that resumed participation by the United States in IAEA is vitally important for its well-functioning. 5. The issue of examinat:Qn of credentials raises questions of international constitutional law and procedure by no means limited to IAEA and by no means limited to current events. The emergence in the United Nations of consensus answers to such NEW YORK questions would obviously be of great benefit to the whole United Nations system. They would save technically nriented organizations from controversy in this field and thus enable them to focus on matters in which they can be ofmaximum liS~ to their members. 6. While the purposeofthe examination ofcredentials is to ensure that States are properly represented, the political principle of universality of membership is based on the premise that certain objectives can best or even only be achieved through the co-operation of all States. When Governments take the step of setting up a world-wide international organization, it is because they see the need for certain functions and activities·which cannot be undertaken on an in- dividual or regional basis, but only through the par- ticipation of Gov~rnmentsall over the world. 7. IAEA was created to fulfil functions that require a universal approach. It W2S realized that nuclear energy and science could contribute greatly to satisfying the n~eds of the world population and that this requires an organized fram~work which seeks to ensure that the transfer of nuclear technology and trade in nuclear materials do not simultaneously contribute to the further spread of nuclear weapons. This is still the common view, and the Agency's central task is to help respond to it on a universal basis. 8. Creating assurance about the non-proliferation ofnuclear weapons among States requires international verification of the peaceful use of nuclear instal- lations, namely, safeguards. Such safeguards art; normally made a pre-condition of international trade in nuclear materials and installations, a trade which is needed to facilitate the use of nuclear energy. 9. It is not only thiS overall task of IAEA-to promote nuclear energy on a universal basis and to do so under effective safeguards-that requires a world- wide approach. Nuclear energy, to be acceptable to people and to play its important role in an energy- hungry world, must be safe in operation, and the spent fuel must be safely taken care of. Safety is not only a national interest or- even a regional one, but a universal one. To respond to this interest and to develop minimum standards of safety, a universal approach is needed. Safety failures anywhere in the world will affect nuclear power everywhere. Success in these respects everywhere will permit nuclear power to play a vital role in filling a substantial part of the world's energy needs. 10. The year 1982 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of IAEA. The creation of the Agency was proposed in the Assembly on 8 December 1953 by the then Presi- dent of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower. Three years later, again in the Assembly Hall, the Conference on the Statute of the International Atomic subs:ant~al contribution to meeting the world's power plants have been cancelled since 1972, and energy needs. At the same time, it is a contribution there have been virtually no new orders since 1974. to more harmonious relations between States, for it Even so, about one third of the nuclear power plants relieves some of the pressure on the limited oil re- in operation or under construction throughout the sources of the world. It diversifies the eneligy re- world are in the United' States, and a very lm-ge part sources of the States and decreases their dependence of nuclear research takes place in the United States. on imports, thereby increasing their energy securitv. In Japan, in France and in Spain, and in some other European countries, nuclear power capacity continues 13. The experience with nuclear power was tf.le sub- to expand. In 1981, 38 per cent of France's electricity ject of a major IAEA conference last September, already came from nuclear reactors. Some smaller which permitted member States to pool and review countries have also reached very high figures: Swit- their current knowledge. Tshould like to mention some zerland, 28 per cent; Belgium, 25 per cent; Sweden, of the major conclusiQ!ls of that large conference. 35 per cent; Finland, 36 per cent; and Bulgaria, 25 per First, as I stressed a moment ago, the quantity of cent. Most ofthe socialist countries of Eastern Europe energy generated by nuclear pOWf.:r is already very and the Soviet Union are vigorously building new substantial. By 1985, nuclear power will provide nuclear power plants and are planning a rapid expan- the equivalent of over 400 million tons of oil, or sion of nuclear electricity. approximately the oil production of Saudi Arabia in 1979. Secmldly, nuclear power plants have proved 16. In a great many of the developing countries, to be very safe in operation during the total 2,800 reac- the current electricity demands and grids are too tor-years we can examine. Furthermore, it is be- limited to employ the relatively large-sized nuclear combg increasingly understood that nuclear power reactors currently built, and the infrastructure and does much less damage to man's environment than skilled manpower to operate and maintain them are fossil fuels iike coal and oil. Nuclear power does often lacking. Only 9 developing countries are now not produce acid rain; it does not release carbon operating or constructing nuclear power plants or have dioxide which might, in time, bring about major announced that they intend to do so. climatic change; it does not leao:'e mountains of ash; 17. In Brazil and Mexico, there are delays in the and it does nN emit hf:avy metal deposits. Nuclear programmes, and the same is true of the programmes energy can ~nly harm the environment if there is a in India and Pakistan. Yugoslavia has completed its serious accident, whUe, with other sources of energy, ,first plant and is selecting the site for a second. Cuba environment:-l damage is a normal and practically d h inevitable concomitant. Ind~ed. some of the world's ,an t e Philippines are each building a nuclear power most serious environm~ntal problems are linked to plant, and Egypt has announced an ambitious large these sources ofenergy, not to-nuclear power. THrdly, programme but has not yet placed any orders. In the nuclear power has shown itself not only to be safe ~:::~l~C of Korea, nuclear power also continues to but also to be a reliable way of generating electricity. The proportion of time in which the average, nuclear 18. This is not the place to analyse in detail the rea- power plant is ava~~able to produce electricity, that is sons why nuclear power is encountering difficulties in to say, is not shm: down for maintenance, refuelling several countries, industrial or developing. They differ or other reasons, has turned out to be about the same somewhat from country to country. In many of them, ~o take place in Seattle, in the United States, in May next year. The conference should also provide an opportunity to show how present waste disposal technology meets the public's concern about the matter. 23. IAEA must strive to be relevant to each one of its 112 member States. For many ofthem, both nuclear power and non-proliferation are somewhat distant issues. Their support for and interest in the Agency's work are mainly centred on IAEA involvement in problems which they regard as vital, namely,. food, health and water. 24. Let me therefore turn to the IAEA programme for the transfer of technology to developing coun- tries. The largest portion of the programme, about 50 pei· cent, is financed from the Agency's Technical Assistance Fund, to which voluntary contributions are pledged annually on the basis of indicative targets. For 1981, the target was $13.5 million. Next year, itwill be $19 million and, by 1986, it will rise to $30 million. This means that, during the period from 1980 to 1986, the targets are expected to increase by 18 per cent a year. The 1986 target represents a threefold increase over the 1980 figure. As late as 1974, an amount of only about$3 million was raised for the IAEA voluntary fund and comparable amoun~s had been so raised for several years previously. 25. Member States have also been able to benefit from UNDP and other extrabudgetary funds for technical assistance. As a result, in 1981 the total resources at the disposal of IAEA for technical co- operation projects amounted to some $30 million. These resources have enabled the Agency and member States to turn to larger, long-term projects which play a more significant role in their economic development. A reduction in UNDP resources would also have negative effects on the Agency's technical assistance. 26. What is the content of the IAEA co-operation programmes? A cet;.tain proportion-between 15 and 20 per cent-goes to projects intended to help devel- oping member States that have introduced or are contemplating introducing nuclear power for electricity generation. During the last four years, IAEA has provided seve~al Governments in developing countries with advice on how to assess their future energy needs and the possible use of nuclear power to cover such needs. Advice has also been given on what they should do to build up th.;: required infrastructure and to train the manpower required for nuclear power programmes. Further, the analytical tools which IAEA has developed for assessing the desirabie balance of energy programmes have. been used by the World Bank and other financing institutions, and the IAEA energy data bank provides substantial support for this work. 32. The matter has sometimes been seen as a North- South issue. In reality, it is broader. The question of assurance of supplies has also been a bone of conten- tion between industrially advanced countries. The lriEA Committee on Assun:.nces ot' Supply [CAS]: i~ trying to build a biridge between the different view- points. 33. This problem was one of the main reasons why, in 1977, some non-aligned countries proposed that the United Nations, in co-operaHon with IAEA, should h()!~ a conference for the promotion of international co ·operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, 40. While it is important to improve and refine the present safeguards system. it is also essential that the limitations of this system be understood. Unrealistic perceptions and ~xpectations partly explain the criticisms of lA-EA safeguards that have appeared. The international community sh0uld not ascribe to IAEA safeguards powers which they are inherently in- capable of exercising. They cannot tell us anything about the future policies of States nor can they physi- cally prevent any action by a State, but they can give assurance with a high degree of confidence that no diversion of nuclear m?*-:--' .di is taking place, give early warning i: such divers;· .1 might be taKing place and trigger intematiofial action. 41. They are a unique insti~ution. For the first time in history, sovereign States have agref~d that an inter- national organization may carry out systematio; inspec- tion ~ - important sensitive installations in their ter- ritories. In their relations with each other in the field of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, most nations have thus demonstrated the importance of creating and maintaining this confidence. They have shown a desire to set fears at rest, which gives us some hope for the future. -t.2. The safeguards system is still capable of growth. In the first place, it is available for application- whether in the context ofnuclear-free zones or regard- less of such zon~s-to States which have not yet accepted safeguards over all their nuclear activities.

On behalf of Italy and Venezut~la, which serve as Vice-Chairmen of the Board of Governors of IAEA, and on behalf of my own country, which is the current Chairman of that Board, I have the honour to introduce draft reso- lution A/37/L.29 on the report of lAEA for the year 1981. 47. A moment ago, we had the pleasant opportunity to listen to the statement of the Director General ofthe Agency, Mr. Hans Blix. We should like to thank him for presenting the Agency's report -in so com- prehensive and elucidating a mannei, drawing our attention to the most important issues and programmes concerning the further development of IAEA activi- ties in the important field of the peaceful uses of nuclearenergy. We wish him much success in his work. 49. In operaltive paragraph 1, the Assembly takes note of the report submitted by the Agency. Para- graph 2 is devoted to substantive questions of the Agency'-s activities. In it, the Assembly u:;-ges all States to strive for effeci.: if{; and harmonious ,interna- tional co-operation in carrying out the work of th~ Agency and to implement strictly the mandate of its .statute. These activities by States are to be directed to promoting the use of nuclear energy and the applica- tion of nuclear science and technology for peaceful purposes, to the ~ontinuedprovision oftechnical assis- tance and co-operation to developing countries, and to improving the effectiveness of the Agency's safe- guards system. As usual, in the last operative para- graph, the Assembly requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Director General of IAEA the records ofthe current session of the. General Assembly relating to the Agency's activities. 50. On behalf of the sponsors, I should like to express the conviction that the draft resolution pro- vides a constructive and carefully balanced basis for the continued positive develop~ent of the work of the ',Agency in all major directions of its activities, re- ,flt;cting the views of the overwhelming majority of States Members of the United Nations, and we hope that it will be adopted by consensus. 51. This year we are commemorating the twenty- fifth anniversary of the founding of the InternatiomU Atomic Energy Agency-an organization which, .Iwithin the United Nations system, occupies the central place in the field of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. That position of importance is due this organization, since it is the only one which deals exclusively with questions pertaining to the develop- ment of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy-one of the most progressive sources of energy in general- ent~rgy, which is being considered at the current ses- sion of the Assembly [see Af37f242, annex]. We are convinced that implementation of the measures proposed for the protection of pe~ceful nuclear instal- lations against any kind of attack and the freezing of the production and d,eployment of all types of nuclear weapons, including their carriers, by all nuclear States, as well as halting the production of fissionable materials for military purposes, would give an impor- tant impetus to the peaceful development of nuclear energy and reduce the danger of the misuse of nuclear energy against the interests of humanity, and thus also reduce the threat of a nuclear war. 59. The Israeli act of aggression against the nuclear research facility in Iraq in 1981 clearly points to the need to adopt measures designed to prevent similar acts in the future and further underlines the impor- tance of the task of securing the safe and peaceful development of nuclear energy as a matter of the utmost urgency. 60. IAEA activities in the field of technical assis- tance to, and co-operation with, the developing coun- tries deserve great attention. Czechoslovakia con- tributes actively to the development and improvement of IAEA activities in that field and constantly devotes considerable attention to this question. This is attested to by the fact that Czechoslovakia agreed to the adoption of the so-called indicative data for computing the volume of voluntary contributions to the Technical Assistance Fund. For 1983, Czechoslovakia will make a contribution in its national currency of almost 2 million Czechoslovak koruny. Apart from the voluntary contribution, th\;: Czechoslovak Govern- ment will provide scholarships for specialists from developing countries for university-level and post- graduate studies. It also hosts, on a regular basis, specialized events organized by the Agency. It is our position that technical assistance should be provided in the first place to the economically least developed Member States and, in the interest of strengthening the nuclear weapons non-proliferation regime, also to those countries which have acceded to the Non- Proliferation Tre~ty and have thus placed their nuclear activities under IAEA safeguards. 61. The Agency assists Member countries in their efforts to secure sufficient amounts of energy and in the related questions ofthe reliability of nuclear power plants, nuclear safety and environmental protection. Czechoslovakia contributes to the development of IAEA programmes in the field of nuclear safety, which it is able to do thanks to the dynamic develop- . ment ofits own nuclear energy generation. Systematic attention is also given to these questions i~ Czecho- slovakia's relations with neighbo~lring countries. Negotiations have been completed, for instance, on questions of nuclear power plants located in the vidnity of the Czechoslovak-Austrian border. These talks resulted in a draft agreement between Czecho- slovakia and Austria, which is to be signed in the near future.

On behalfofthe 10 States members of the European Community, I should like to thank the Director General of IAEA for his interesting and informative annual report on the Agency's work in 1981. I should also like to express my appreciation of the comments that Jhe Director General has made on the developments in the Agency during 1982. We were particularly pleased. to hear his remarks on the need for an atmosphere of co-operation in the Agency. IAEA has a 10l1g record of concentrating cn the real issues within its mandate and avoiding confrontation over extraneous political topics. This is what has made it an effective organization. - -.. --. - ... --- ---.... - . 67. However, attempts in recent years to withhold acceptance of the credentials of member States for reasons which are not in accordance with the statute and the rules of procedure have, in the opinion of the 68. Turning to the annual report for 1981, I should like first of all to express the full sl!pport of the 10 member States (jf the European Community for the IAEA objectives of enlarging the conbibction of nuclear energy to peace, health and prosperity through- out the world and of reducing the risk of proliferation. It is noted in the annual report that in 1981 the share of nuclear power in the world's total electricity pro- duction rose to 9 per cent and is expected to reach 20 per cent by the end of the decade. This gives us· reason to expect that IAEA will have an increasing' role to play as an international mechanism for inter- action between Governments. This will be. the case particularly for the three main concerns of the public in connection with the use of nuclear power; these concerns, as pointed out in the Agency's annual report, are the safety of nuclear reactors, the disposal of radioactive waste and the risk ofnuclear proliferation. 69. The Ten are confident that the growing involve- ment of IAEA in the field of nuclear safety will prove most useful, and we are convinced that new initia- tives in this field, such as the decision to issue an annual review of nuclear safety, may make important contributions to improved safety. Of no less impor- tance will be efforts to find satisfactory and con- vincing solutions to the problems connected with the management and disposal of radioactive waste. The Agency can and should play a leading role in pooling and publishing information on new technical solutions in this field. 70. During the last decade, the IAEA safeguards system has developed rapidly and has become a corner- stone in international nuclear co-operation by verifying compliance with commitments made and, on a wider scale, by creating confidence on a global basis between countries. It may be taken as a sign of a greater pul?lic awareness of the role of the safeguards system that it ~as made the subject of morp detailed comments last year. A~ the same time, however, events occurred that represented an attack on the safeguards system~ 71. The Ten would like to reaffirm their confidence in the IAEA safeguards system and their support for the acceptance by all Member States of IAEA safe- guards on all their peaceful nuclear activities. We recognize the' need for continuously improving safe- guards efficiency and the desirability of a geographical extension of the safeguards inspection coverage. 83. On tl!e o~casio~ of the twe~ty-fIfth anniversary of the establishment of IAEA, the Prime Minister of Israel~ Mr. Menachem Begin, expressed Israel's great appreciation of the excellent performance of IAEA in the many complex responsibilities entrusted to it. In his message of 6 September 1982 on behalf of the Government of Israel, the Prime Minister expressed his confidence that IAEA would continue to s¥~~uard and promote the principles~ objectives and ideas envisaged by its founders. This is indeed an expression of Israel's support for the Agency and its statutory functions. 84. Israel strongly believes that IAEA should be allowed to maintain the unique position it has devel- oped from its inception within the family of inter- ~~tlonal_organization~. ~AEA shoul~. be allowed to discharge ·its duties loyally and effectively within the limits ofthe mandate defined for it by the internationai community. However, an indispensable condition for its effectiveness and moral authority is that this im- portant agency should avoid politicization and remain 91. I would like to emphasize, however, that any improvement in the area ofsupplies must not take place at the expense of international security and has to be accompanied by measures to strengthen the IAEA safeguards system. Over the past year, we have witnessed an intensive and, at times, heated discus- sion on the Agency's safeguard activities. We believe that a sober and realistic assessment of the overall record confirms the reliability of the control system. We have full confidence in the Agency's capacity to adjust it to the growing demands of the future. Since this requires assembling the best experts available ~md enhancing the efficiency of the inspectorate, Austria has supported the restructuring of the safeguards department, ev~n though this involves additional expenditures. ~ 92. I should like to turn now to the issue of nuclear safety, another important element in the Agency's mandate. It has become more and more apparent in recent years that the future ofnuclear power as a major energy source depends largely on the ability to deal satisfactorily with the safety issues of nuclear power plants and on the development of adequate arrange- ments for the disposal of nuclear waste. Since solu- tions to these problems can only be found through international co-operation, my delegation attaches great importance to the relevant programmes ofIAEA. 93. We note with satisfaction that the programme for nuclear safety standards has been further improved and that new safety guides have been issued. Austria greatly values its participation in the technical review of these safety standards, not least because it provides an opportunity for Austrian experts to keep up with the latest scientific and technical developments in this field. 94~ Waste management is without doubt one of the most crucial issues for the future development of nuclear power. Experts tell us that the pr9blem is solved from a technological point of view, but that the construction of the necessary facilities is not yet economically feasible, mainly because ofthe relatively small amount of waste thus far produced. However, it is also true that the lack of such facilities contributes to public resistance to the use of nuclear power, which in turn creates delays in nuclear energy pro- grammes. In this situation, Austria feels that we should consider whether establishing a demonstration facility for the disposal of nuclear waste might not be a way to break this vicious circle. To allay fears that the facility might become the waste dump for the entire world, it might be necessary to limit its use exclusively to the storage of waste from the national nuclear programme of the country in which the facility would be sited. International co-operation in that regard could include financial and technical aid for the establishmentefsuch a facility in return for sharing the data and expertise resulting from its operation. 95. Since 1979, Austria has been acting upon an initiative to facilitate co-operation between neigh- bouring countries concerning the question of nuclear 98. Egypt's interest in the activities oflAEA and in its important and effective role in assuring and developing the peaceful applications of nuclear energy began with the Agency's establishment in 1957. That interest has steadily increased because of Egypt's need to develop its own nuclear programme and to construct nuclear reactors for peaceful purposes to assist in its develop- ment. Such reactors are expected to have a total capacity of 8,000 megawatts by the year 2000. In that regard, Egypt concluded bilateral agreements with the United States, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom during the years 1981 and 1982. 99. Egypt attaches great importance to the significant contribution and assistance that can be provided by IAEA in numerous fields related to this programme; in the areas of technological and technical training, the ensuring of nudear safety and the selection of appropriate sites for reactors. We hope to increase the use of nuclear energy for electricity generation, as this has proved to be cost-effective, hence the growing importance of the use by developing coun- tries of nuclear energy in generating the electricity that is so necessary for the processes of develop- ment. This was also referred to by the Director General of the Agency in his statement. 100. In speaking about the role of IAEA in technical co-operation and assistance, I should like to commend in particular its role in the eradication of the Mediter- ranean fruit fly in Europe, under the project bearing that name, the costs ofwhich have mounted to $25 mil- lion. Egypt was particularly pleased to rec~ive the 101. Egypt, within the framework ofthe Group of77, in Vienna, has always sought to reaffirm the impor- tance of technical assistance for developing countries. In line with this, we believe that support should be given to the programme of technical co-operation and assistance in accordance with its importance, espe- cially for the developing countries. We welcome the increase in contributions to the Technical Assistance Fund, but, according to the annual report of the Agency, the contributions failed to reach the target for 1981. In addition to the insufficiency of assistance sources, whether in kind or through UNDP, and in view of the fact that no real progress in this regard is expected in the near future, any real increase in the Agency's resources for funding the technical co- operation activities is largely dependent on increases in the resources of the Technical Assistance Fund. We hope therefore that voluntary contributions to that Fund will be increased so as to enable the Agency to undertake the activities in this area, which is of such vital importance to developing States. In this regard, I should like to express our appreciation of the efforts ·exerted by the Director General of the Agency to mobilize additional sources of finance for programmes of technical assistance to the developing countries, and our support for his view that technical assistance should cover wider fields and larger-scale projects. 102. Egypt does not oppose the reorganization of the Agency's safeguards system, as proposed by the Director General, but we feel that this should not be done at the expense of the programmes of technical assistance-provided by the Agency. In this connec- tion, we believe that the zero-growth or near-zero- growth budget policy must not be applied to the technical assistance provided by the Agency or to its other development activities. As a developing coun- try, Egypt believes that this is a just and fair demand, since technical assistance was one of the main reasons for the establishment of the Agency. The technical assistance programme began ~odestly in 1957; it has developed with the passage of time, but still has a long way to go. This fact is acknowledged by all the organs of the Agency, in particular by the Board of Governors, and was recently reaffirmed in the relevant resolutions of the twenty-sixth regular session of the General Conference. The developing countries have always felt that attention should be focused on the fact that the technical assistance p~ovided by the Agency is insufficient, unpredictable and uncertain because the sources of funding are not assured. This, in fact, was the main reason for the insistence that the resolutions of the General Conference should provide for the funding of technical assistance from 106. The development of nuclear energy and its use for peacefulpurposes are adversely affected by the escalation of the nuclear arms race and the use of nuclear energy for military purposes, with all the danger that eptails for the whole of mankind. The nuclear arms race arouses public concern aboutthe use of nuclear energy even for peaceful purp9ses. There- fore, if the peaceful application of nuclear energy and peaceful nuclear activities are to have any credibility, the arms race, in particular the nuclear arms race, must be stopped. 107. We share the concern of the Director General of the Agency about the possible increase in the number of States possessing the technical ability to develop nuclear weapons a~d explosive devices, which could lead to further nuclear proliferation. We agree with him that we may now be' at a crossroads as regards proliferation or non-proliferation of nuclear 112. I consider that the significance of IAEA is not truly reflected by the number of its members, becJuse nearly one third of the States Members of the United Nations have not yet acceded to that organization. I do not consider it my task to seek the underlying causes ofthis situation, but I am all the more pleased to welcome Namibia to membership in IAEA. 113. I have just referred to the threat of a nuclear world war. Those in the leading circles of impe- rialism, with the intention of achieving military supenority, have set out to draw~ up and implement programmes for an unprecedented nuclear arms build- up. My Government resolutely condemns such plans, which waste huge material and intellectual resources and increase the danger of a nuclear war. 114. My Government attaches special importance to preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. 120. My delegation considers that the Agency is making good use of its renources. The voluntary con- tributions of member States grow from year to year, which could be considered ~n achievement in our world, faced as it is with economic difficulties. There is no doubt that a world-wide economic expansion and the elimination of discrimination in international eco- h.Jmic co-operation, including an end to the present policies of embargo and boycott, would provide a more stable basis for regular and considerable in- creases in the Technical Assistance Fund than would measures seeking to replace voluntary contributions by some sort of diktat. 'Fhe commitment to support technical assistance activities cannot be viewed in isolation from actual economic possibilities. No sover- eign Government with a sense of responsibility for its people can afford to take that course. 121. As in previous years, I should like to take this opportunity to reaffirm that the Hungarian Govern- ment extends its full support to the activitJes of IAEA. Nuclear energy will be playing an increasing role in the energy supply of Hungary. In compliance with obligations undertaken in international agreements, it will be used exclusively for peaceful purposes. It must serve the interest:) of the society as a whole and its use will be allowed only with primary and maximum attention to the security of human life and human environment, as provided for in the Hungarian Nuclear Energy Act. In order to ensure regard for these pur- poses, my country accordingly participates in co- operation in nuclear science and technology ;;'lj~thin the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, aSi,I!ell as in international co-operation within the framf:'work of IAEA. 122. In conclusion, I should like to express to the Director General of IAEA, Mr. Blix, and his staff the appreciaton of the Hungarian People's Republic for the excellent work done in the last year also. My dele- gation hopes that the Agency will continue to be a relia- ble instrument for developing international co-opera- tion in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and will further strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime. In connection with the difficulties the Agency is facing, I should like to express my delegation's hope that they will be solved soon, in the interests of all. 123. Finally, the Hungnrian delegation lends its full support to the draft resolution submitted by Czecho- slovakia, Italy and Venezuela [A/37/L.29] and in- troduced by the representative of Czechoslovakia.

The annual report of IAEA for 1981 is a document of great interest and high importance. It touches upon problems vit~1 to the contemporary world-those connected with the use 125. In the present international situation, charac- terized by the all-pervading and growing menace of nuclear war, we tend to attach the greatest impor- tance to those activities of IAEA which concern the implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and the safeguards system in particular. It is certainly gratifying to note the in- creased number ofnuclear installations-98 per cent- outside those in the nuclear-weapon States, that are now covered by this system, including in countries that signed new safeguards agreements with the Agency last year. Of special significance is the move of the Soviet Union to place its peaceful nuclear installations under Agency safeguards. 126. But the lAEA report alsQ indicates that, in some non-nuclear-weapon States which are not parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, safeguards do not cover certain facilities, whether in operation or under construction, with a capability of making weapons- grade material. The well-established danger of the proliferation of nuclear weapons is not, therefore, prevented and; in order to eliminate it, it is necessary to strengthen the Agency's safeguards system and make; it more effective. This point was again stressed by Mr. Blix in his enlightening statement at the beginning of this meeting. 127. Apart from the obviously necessary constant improvement in safeguards techniques, this requires, first of an, universal application of full-scope safe- guards~ as oHfy this can give assurance that all nuclear activities in a country are of a peaceful nature. 128. While speaking of <:!ifficulties in instituting a meaningful IAEA universal safeguards system that would help effect~vely to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, we art) compelled to point to a State whose acts and policies have openly threatened the regime of non-proliferation and international co-operation in the peaceful use ofnuclear energy, the very functioning of IAEA. Only two days ago, the General Assembly again had to condemn Israel' in connection with its armed attack on Iraqi nuclear installations and its sub- sequent policy, and to demand that it withdraw forth- with its threat to repeat such an attack against nuclear facilities. The sharp reaction of the twenty- fifth and twenty-sixth sessbns of the General Con- ferences of IAEA against Israel in this' connection is fully understandable. 129. As seen from its annual report, the Agency successfully continued in 1931 its statutory activities in the application of nuclear techniques for peaceful purposes and technical co-operation, including assist- ance to developing countries. These latter activities grew noticeably, making use of increased resources, 130. While I have referred only briefly to but a few aspects of the work of IAEA, Poland continues to support the whole range of its activities, as depicted in the report, and, above all, its crucial role in pre- venting, through the safeguards system, the prolifera- tion of nuclear weapons and in promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy. 131. Since these tasks are duly reflected in the three- Power draft resolution introduced this morning by the NOTES I International Atomic Energy Agen~y, The Annual Report for /98/ (Austria, July 1982); transmitted to the members ofthe Generai Assembly by a note of the Secretary-General (AJ37/382 and Corr.l). 3 A/S-12/AC.l/I0 and Corr.l, annex. 4 See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions ofthe General Conference, Twenty-sixth Regular Session.