A/39/PV.59 General Assembly

Atomic energy pre- sents possibly the greatest challenge humankind has ever faced. The peaceful use of atomic energy has within it the capacity to solve many ofthe fundamen- tal problems faced ~y humankind. I am speaki~g. of its capacity to provIde the decent standard of IIvmg so dearly sou~t by all people. Atomic energy can provide electncity, heat and light. It can serve as the means of propulsion of great ships and of communi- cation satellites. Its applications extend to a~ricul­ ture, to medicine. Indeed, as we all know, it IS, for example, the source of the ordinary X-rays which have become a daily part of modem medicine. 2. But atomic energy also has within it the potential for great and terrible destruction. I am speaking of nuclear weapons, the number of which in existence today has become so great that nuclear disarmament and an end to all nuclear testing form perhaps the mo&t urgent subject on today's agenda. 3. Thirty-one years ago in this great Assembly Hall the then President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower, delivered his Uatoms for peace" speech. That speech and the proposals it contained consti- tuted ::l great leap-indeed, it was a quantum leap- towards meeting and acce\lting the great challenge of atomic energy. 4. Three years later, following detailed negotiations, the statute of IAEA was brought to life. That statute itself reflects the two sides of atomic energy. The pledge made in it is to promote the peaceful uses of atomic energy and to ensure that there is never any diversion of peaceful nuclear activities or materials to any military purpose. 5. The view of the Australian Government is that the statute of lAEA and the Agency itself, the body established by the statute, are among the great achievements of the atomic age. Australia took part in the Conference on the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency and was a founding member of the Agency. From the beginning' it has been a member of the Board of Governors of the Agency. So, let there be no doubt, Australia is a strong supporter of the Agency and is deeply committed to the principles enshrined in its statute. 6. Today we are considering once again the IAEA annual report1 to the General Assembly. That report NEW YORK shows that during the past year the Agency has fulfilled the enormously important functions with which it is entrusted. 7. We have before us draft resolution A/39/L.lS, which constitutes the Assembly's action on the IAEA report. Australia is a co-sponsor of that draft resolu- tion, and we hope and believe that it will be adopted by consensus. 8. In discussing the work of the Agency on this occasion, I believe it is essential to refer to the r~le it plays in support of the Treaty on the Non-ProlIfera- tion of Nuclear Weapons [resolution 2373 (XXII), annex]. In 1985 the Treaty will be reviewed for the third time. 9. The Non-Proliferation Treaty is vital in several respects. First, no other arms control treaty has been adhered to by a larger number ofcountries. I want to emphasize that in Australia's view the Non-Prolifera- tion Treaty is first and foremost a nuclear arms control treaty. Secondly, the Treaty has had a record of effectiveness unmatched by any comparable trea- ty. Thirdly, it has provided directly for the security of this world, for the security of all Member States, whether signatories or non-signatories of the Treaty. 10. I would ask representatives to consider what this world would look like without the Non-Prolifera- tion Treaty. Who could say that their security would be greater or more assured in its absence? I think the answer is clear. The objective of restraining nuclear proliferation is central to the security ofall ofus, and the Treaty has met that objective and it will and must continue to do so. 11. There is a very special way in which the Non- Proliferation Treaty is unique, and that is through its establishment ofa system of international inspection designed to verify compliance with Treaty undertak- ings. That system is the most effective in existence and should serve as a model for other arms control agreements which may require verification. This is the link between lAEA and the Treaty, because it is the Agency's safeguards system which performs the required service of verification of the Treaty. 12. I beHeve we should all be very grateful to lAEA for providing this vital safeguards system and for doing so with great effectiveness. 13. When we come to review the Treaty next year- at the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weap- ons, to be held in Geneva in 1985-Austraba believes we should start from the point ofreaffirming its indispensable function in providing for the main- tenance of the peace and security of this world. We believe too that the role played by the Agency safeguards system should be fully recognized and endorsed. ~he challet}ge of atomIC ~nergy. That challenge IS felt on the Non-Proliferation ofNuclear Weapons, it is of In Austraha as ~trongly, Ifnot perhal?s more strongly, particular importance that there be an intensification than anywhere In the world. A.ustralIa po~sesse~ over of the efforts of all peace-loving States genuinely 30 per ce!1t of known d~POSItS of.uranIUm In the interested in strengthening the safeguards system to w.orld. ThI.s has fostered m AustralIa deep commu- persuade an increasing number of States to accede to nlty conSCIOusness, awareness among ordInary peo- thi" international instrument and contribute to its pIe of the challenge ~f the responsibility of nuclear universalization. The People's Republic of Bulgaria energy. Many Aust~alIans have thought that perhaps views the Non-Proliferation Treaty as an instrument the b~st ~ctIOn theIr country cOl;lld ta~e ~y way of which has demonstrated its viability and has served contnbutmg to the .non-pro!Ifer~tIonobjectIve would the interests ofboth the nuclear-weapon and the non- be to leave AustralIan uramum I~ !he gr~)Und. Th~re nuclear-weapon States. We are convinced that the has been a gn~at .deb~te abo~t thIS Issue In Au~tralIa. Treaty will continue in the future to make its The clear ~ajonty VIew \yhICh has e~erged In that contribution to building stability and confidence in debate and m the Austrahan commumty as a whole international relations and will serve as a basis for has been that we should mine and export some ofour promoting the application by non-nuclear States of uranium for peaceful purposes. But it is our policy nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. and commitment that no Australian uranium will . ever be used in nuclear weapons. Our membership in 21. To~ay, whet} the ~se of nucl~ar en~rgy IS lAEA and our active work under the Non-Prolifera- acceleratmg and mternatIonal trade In fiSSIOnable tion Treaty and the safeguards system are vital to the materials an~ equipment is expanding,. the issues fulfilment of that commitment. connected WIth the further strengthenmg o~ ~he . . Agency's safeguards system have assumed overndmg 1.6. In conclusIOn, ~ want to convey t~e appreCIa- importance in the context ofmeasures to enhance the tIon and congrat~latIons of.the AustralIan Govern- effectiveness of nuclear non-proliferation. This ment t~ Mr. Bhx,. the DIrector General of the unique and generally acknowledged internationcl I~ternatI~nal AtomIC Energy Agen~y,. and .through monitoring activity has lived up to expectations. The hI~ to hIS st~ff. :They have do~e theIr job WIth great number of inspections, which already cover 50 skIll and dedIcatIon, and. by domg so they have done countries, has been steadily growing. The effective- us all a very great serVIce. ness ofinspections has improved, as has the certainty 17. Mr. SREBREV (Bulgaria): The delegation ofthe that fissionable material under the safeguards system People's Republic of Bulgaria followed with great is being used for peaceful purposes. inte'fest and attention the introductory statement of , . the Director General of the International Atomic 22. TJie Government or. the People.s Repl.!bhc of Energy Agency, Mr. Hans Blix, and was pleased to Bulg~na has al~ays p~ovIded and WIll contI!1ue !o note the considerable work done by the Agency last prOVIde e~tenslve ass~sta!1ce a~d. ~o-operatIon m year. The Agency's report for 1983 reflects compre- strengthemng the momtonng actIyltIes o~ the Agen- hensively and in detail the multi-faceted activities of cy. yYe have op~ne~ our nl;lclear mstalla.tIOns to the that international organization, which has been an testIng. of monItonng devIc~s and ~qUlpment and important factor !n fostering world peace, security have gIven appro,:al to all mspectoIs prop?sed by and co-operation. lAEA, thus enhancmg the effectIveness oftheIr work. 18. The role of lAEA as a multilateral centre for 23. My country attaches particular attention to the harmonizing the efforts of Member States in promot- physical ~rotection of n:uclear f~cilities and fissiona- ing the application of nuclear energy for peaceful ~le matenals. In complIance WIth the rec~mmenda- purposes and as a significant factor in strengthening tIons of the IAEA ~eneral Confere~ce at ItS twenty- the system of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons sevent~ regular ~essIon, the ~oun9Il of State of the has assumed primary importance. The arms race, ~eople s Repubh~ of BulgaI?a ratIfied the Conv~n- including the nuclear-arms race, has acquired un- hon on the PhYSIcal ProtectIon of Nuclear Matenal precedented proportions because of specific actions on 3 March 1984. of tho~e in imp~ri~list c~r~les in the ~est a.iJ!le~ at 24. The IAEA programme of technical assistance !1psettmg the eXIstmg mIlItary-strategIc equIlIbrIUm and co-operation was successfully implemented in m the world. 1983. As evidenced by the annual report, in the 19. This complicated and tense situation in the period 1980 to 1983 the technical assistance pro- world has had a negative effect on the development gramme doubled in value at current prices. All this of harmonious and advantageous international co- demonstrates the adequacy and reliability of the operation in promoting the use of nuclear energy for policy of financing_::c::i:I~ssistance_~a_:olun~_ beddon~ in clo.sel.co-operat~on w~thh.thehSovfiietUnion k n.eigh~ou~ing re.gions and to world peace. Such a an otL'\er socla 1st countrIes, WIt In t e ramewor sItuatIOn IS detrImental to the objectives and princi- of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance. pIes of IAEA and jeopardizes the non-proliferation 41. Moreover, the IAEA safeguards system shows regime and international security. We vigorously that, given the political will of States, agreements on demand that those States subject all their nuclear arms limitation and disarmament can be effectively facilities to IAEA safeguards. verified. We highly appreciate the experience gained 48. The German Democratic Republic highly ap- by IAEA in this area, and we advocate dr~wing on it preciates what IAEA has achieved in promoting for the benefit of other spheres of arms limitation international co-operation in the peaceful uses of and disarmament. nuclear energy. We welcome the trends and priorities 42. The Convention on the Physical Protection of outlined in the Agency's programme for the period Nuclear Material is an important instrument for 1985-1986. preventing the misuse of nuclear material. The 49. As can be seen from the Agency's report, no German Democratic Republic, which was among the year has been more successful so far, in terms of the first States to ratify the Convention, supports the call amount of technical assistance provided by the on all States that have not yet done so to accede to Agency, than 1983. While in 1982 some 500 projects that important international accord. were implemented, the number was over 700 in 43. The German Democratic Republic is in favour 1983. At present some 800 projects are being carried of co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear out. energy, if such co-operation is in full harmony with 50. The growth in actual assistance delivered may the basic objectives and principles of the United be illustrated by comparing the first six months of Nations and IAEA. My country strongly supports the 1983 and the same period in 1984, between which entire range of political, legal, organizational and there was an increase of 35 per cent in expert administrative measures taken to promote interna- assignment, 24 per cent in dollars spent for equip- tional co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear ment and 13 per cent in the number of fellows in the ~nergy and at the salne time to prevent the further field. spread of nuclear weapons, which would jeopardize 51. The principle ofvoluntary payments in national international stability and further increase the risk of currency to fund technical assistance has proved nuclear war. Therefore, my country most resolutely successful for many years. We hold the view that the calls for serious and productive negotiations on experience which the Agency has gained in this nuclear disarmament, as repeatedly proposed by the respect should definitely be generalized, thereby socialist countries. helping other organizations of the United System to 44. The Third Review Conference of the Parties to make available funds which have not been used so the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear far. Weapons, one ofthe major instruments in the area of 52. As a member ')f the Board of Governors, the arms limitation and disarmament, is scheduled to German Democratic Republic will assist the IAEA take place in 1985. The German Democratic Repub- secretariat in every way in its efforts to enhance lic attaches the maximum importance to the Treaty. further the effectiveness of technical assistance. We continue to regard it not as the final aim but as 53. My country has kept increasing its voluntary ~epeat it, for the role of the Agency, its activities and 80. Mr. QIAN Jiadong (China) (interpretation from Its sa.feguards system, as well as the fut.ure use~ of Chinese): I listened with great interest to the state- atomIC ener~y for pea~eful purposes and InternatIon- me~t made by Mr. Hans Blix, Director General of al co-operatIOn thereIn. the International Atomic Energy Agency, in connec- 72. Our intention in IAEA all along has been to tion with the Agency's report for the year 1983. We seek ways and means to make Israel comply with the are gratified to note that in the 27 years since its resolutions of the Agency. Political issues, however, inception the Agency has done a lot of useful work to have been raised by other delegations, particularly ensure the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in the those which contend that IAEA should not concern interest of mankind. I should like to express our itself with the Israeli attack or its consequences as congratulations and thanks to Mr. Blix. It is our hope IAEA is not the body competent to deal with such an that the Agency will continue its efforts in this issue. Then statements were made by certain delega- respect and achieve yet greater successes. tions threatening to leave .t~e Agency-th~eats which 81. As of this year, China has become a full were based on purely polItIcal.consld~ratIons-even member of IAEA and a member of its Board of when the m~tters beIng consld~rt:d !n the Agency Governors. Recently, a Chinese delegation attended were unqu~stl~n~bly not only wltJun.ltS competence for the first time a regular session of the General but also WIthIn Its statutory oblIgatIOns. Conference of the Agency, its twenty-eighth, and 73. The position of those delegations which oppose stated China's principled position on major items on the consideration of the item in IAEA becomes even the agenda. We are glad to have the opportunity to more untenable. when. the same. delegation~ also work with other member States of the Agency to oppose the conSIderatIOn of the Item here In the discuss the question of the peaceful uses of nuclear General Assembly, telling us that no purpose would energy. I would like to take this opportunity to be served by its further consideration. express once again, on behalf of the Chinese Govern- 74. This attitude can only confirm the tendency to ment, our thanks to all States which support China's diminish the role of the United Nations and to tell legitimate rights in the Agency. the .world that there is not much that the United 82. With the development of modern science and NatIOns can do about such an unprecedented attack technology and the increase in the demand for energy upon a safeguarded nuc~ear reactor, that no h~lp is to reSOUUfces, the peaceful use of nuclear energy has b.e expected .frof!l resortmg to the competent Intema- come under increasingly greater attention. Nuclear bonal o!gamzatIOns.and that each country should be energy is a very promising energy resource. However, left to ItS own deVIces. the development of nuclear power is imbalanced at 75. As the Director General pointed out the special present. According to the 1983 annual report of the case of Israel and South Africa within the Agency, it Agency, of the more than 300 nuclear power plants is all the more surprising that the report before us operating in the world, only about a dozen are The meeting rose at 11.55 a.m. NOTES lInternational Atomic Energy Agency, The Annual Report for 1983, Austria, July 1984 (GC{XXVIII713 and Add. 1 & 2»; submitted to members of the General Assembly by a note by the Secretary-General (A/39/458 and Add.l). 2Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America (United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068). 3See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions ofthe General Conft"?nce, twenty-eighth regular session. 4Ibid., twenty-seventh regular session.