A/42/PV.43 General Assembly

14.  REPORT OF THE IN'.l'ERNATIONAL ATONIC ENERGY AGENCY (a) NOirE BY THE SECRETARY-GENoC:Wl.L 'l'RANSMI TT I llj(;; 'rHJi: REPOR'I' at' 'fHE AG~NCY (A/42/458 and Corr.l) (b) DRAF'!' RESOLUTION (A/42/L.6) Mr. PAWLAK (Poland): Allow me first ot all to express the deep appreciation of my delegation to the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mr. Hans Blix, for his lucid introduction of the report of the Agency for the year 1986 (A/42/458) and his highly informative and inspiring presentation of major developments related to the Agency' s activities this year. The thirtieth anniversary of the autonomous existence of the Agency coincided with an event of the utmost importance for itself and for the international community. We do hope that the Washington agreement in pr inciple to conclude a treaty on the elimination of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles, reached last September between the Soviet Union and the United States, is the beginning - but how important a beginning - of a new stage in the history of nuclear energy. Poland has not been indifferent to the many efforts that the international community has undertaken so far to eliminate the ultimate danger for the human race: the military uses of nuclear energy. Having experienced the horrors of war, it has always endeavoured to ensure the total elimination of this scourge from human life. Two weeks ago, the Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Marian Orzechowski, reminaed us that 3U years ago - coincidentally, just after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had been created - Minister Adam Rapacki had put forward his plan to eliminate nuclear weapons from Central Europe and to create, instead, a denuclearized zone. At the time, the proposal was not acceptea by all to whom it had been addressed. But the idea did spread throughout the world. Denuclearized zones have been created in various regions. Others are being envisaged, as is testified to by the agenda of this session. May I add that this spring the President of the Council of ~tate of Poland, wojciech Jaruzelski, put forward a new 10itiative aimed at ensuring for Central Europe, and at the same time the whole continent, a peaceful future free from any danger, and particularly from the nuclear danger. Details of this ini~iative, aimed at decreasing armaments and enhancing confidence, are contained in document A/42/4l3. Poland is also convinced that the verification experience acquired by IAEA could be useful in connection with disarmament agreements. The year 1986, which we are now revlewlng, also showed how dangerous even for peaceful purposes nuclear eneryy can be if it escapes human control. But, at the same time, we witnessed the importance of the role of the rlgency and the eificiency it demonstrated in dealing with unexpected challenges. It became an equally effective forum for international co-operation following toe Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident. Poland notes with satisfaction that the two international nuclear safety Conventions, on, respectively, the early notification of nuclear accidents and emergency assistance, have come into force and are being signed by a growing number of States. At the same time, we hold the view that since the regime created by the two Conventions refers only to the civil law of each State and, as such, cannot be regarded as legal instruments governing international liability, a convention on such liability by States should be agreed upon soon. He believe that the active involvement of IAEA in the solution of the question of liability for nuclear damage would constitute yet another important step in guaranteeing nuclear safety. Let me mention, too, that the United Nations Conference on tne Promotion of International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear ~nergy, held in ~eneva this year, also confirmed the important role that IAE& is playing - and, what is more, still has to play - in the field of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. At the same time, IAEA is playing an unquestionably leading role in the system of the non-proliferation of nuclear arms. I take this opportunity to reiterate Poland's position on the necessity of the universalization of adherence to tne Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and of the perfection of the IAEA safeguards system, in the interest of all States. On page 12 of its annual report for 1986 (A/4~/458, annex), the Agency reflects the concern of the United Nations over the growing nuclear capabilities of those States that are not willing to oe parties to the NP~. Poland fully shares those concerns and is convinced of the absolute need to place the nuclear activities of those States under Agency safeguards. In his message to the IAEA General Conference last September, the Prime Minister of Poland, Zbigniew Messner, sald that (Mr. Pawlak, Poland) "throughout the 30 years of its functioning the International Atomic Energy Agency has greatly furthered the expansion of international co-operation in the domain of peaceful uses of the energy of the atom, thus making an important contribution to the cause of the strengthening of the foundations of international security and the peaceful development of mankind". Poland is one of those countries that have only recently started to build their nuclear energy system. In doing so, we have not been guided solely by economic calculations: we have taken into cons~deration tne fact that the nuclear power plants represent a lesser threat to the population and the natural environment than those relying on fossil fuels. Another important fact is that there is no reasonable alternative to nuclear energy. The report of the Agency notes that "The total installed nuclear-power-generating capacity in the world increased by about 8.9 per cent during 1986" and that the "Nuclear power plants accounted for more than 15 per cent of the world's electricity generation in 1986". (A/42/458, annex, p. 7) That clearly proves that the world tendency to rely on nuclear generated power plants is steadily growing. We also support the highly commendable constant efforts by IABA to ~rnprove the effectiveness of the safeguards system through the development of new approaches making it possible to keep up with tecnnological developments 1n fuel-cycle facilities. Recognizing the important role of IA~A, 801and has traditionally been involved d despl"te lOts economic difficulties, seeks to fulfil in the Agency's activity, an , its obligations. We are also ready to intensity our involvement in those (Mr. Pawlak, Poland) training courses, seminars, and so forth; secondly, increasing our participation in IAEA's regional and interregional field projects; thirdly, increasing the number of Polish experts engaged in solving the most urgent problerns of developing countries; fourthly, arranging more training under IAEA fellowShips; ana, fifthly, sharing with the developing countries our experience in the organization of, and technical equipment for, the measurement of the dose of contamination of the environment, materials and goods, inclUding food products. In conclusion, may I assure you, Mr. president, ana through you the Director General of the Agency, Mr. Hans Blix, that, as in the past, Poland will spare no efforts to contribute to the very etfectlve work of IA~a ior a better ana safer world. (Mr. Pawlak, Poland) Mr. JONCK (Denmark): Speaking on behalf of the European Community and its member States, I should liKe first of all to thank the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for his annual report on the work of the Agency during 1986. We wish to reaffirm our full support for the objectives of the IAEA: to encourage and facilitate international co-operation in the use of nuclear energy for peace, health and prosperity throughout tne world and to prevent nuclear proliferation. We should like to express our appreciation of the work which nas Deen done in order to promote the safe use of nuclear energy in some areas of special interest to the Community members. First, we repeat our support tor the activities of the IAEA in the technical assistance programme. We are among the major contributors to the Agency's Technical Assistance ana Co-operation ~und, and it is our policy to maintain this position despite domestic budgetary problems. Further, we appreciate that the Agency is making a valuable contribution in nuclear research activities in the laboratories in Seibersdorf, Triest and Monaco - activities in which scientists from both developed and developing countries participate actively. We are convinced that this work is in the long term interest of all Member States and deserves their full support and encoura~ement. Of significance to us all is the application of nuclear techniques in medicine and agriculture. The work in this area is ot special importance aLso for those Member States for which the nuclear-power option is still a distant possibility. We should also like to stress our continuous support for and interest in the Agency's activities as regards waste management. It is of importance for the promotion of nuclear energy tnat this co,aj,)lex problem IJe solved in a satisfactory way. This work should not be confined to safe storage but should also comprise Having stressed the Agency's work in promoting nuclear energy, it is important at the same time to underline tne complementary issue, namely, the veriflcation of its peaceful use. We learned with satisfaction from the annual report that the Agency has concluded that in 1986 also all nuclear material under Agency safeguards remained in peaceful nuclear activities. The safeguards system is an essential part of non-proliferation golicy, which the European Community and its member States strongly support. Four non-nuclear-weapon States became party to the non-prol iferation 'l'reaty in 1986. We highly appreciate, furthermore, that negotiations with China to place some of its civilian nuclear installations unaer Agency safeguards will soon be tlnalized. When, as a result of these negotiations, an agreement enters into force there will be safeguards agreements in force with aLl five nuclear-weapon States. The European Community and its member States consider it of great importance that safeguards should be applied as widely as possible in furtherance of the policy of non-proliferation. Thus we repeat our appeal to those non-nuclear-weapon States having nuclear facilities which are not under IA~A standards to place those facilities under safeguards. It goes without saying that 1986, with ltS .. ragic event of the Chernobyl accident, became one of the most important and work-loaded years in the Agency's 3D-year history. As can be seen from the 1986 annual report, many actlvitles within the area of nuclear safety and radiation protection have been greatly influenced by the Chernobyl accl'dent. 'l'h ' " h 'h ~se actlv1tles ave clearly snown t e important role of the Agency. Tne Chernobyl event Clearly illustrated tnat nuclear accidents can have trans-boundary effects. Thus we shOUld like to emphasize the importance of the strengthening of international co-operation at both the bilateral level and the mUltilateral level with regard to nuclear satety, radiological and physical protection and environmental compatibility. We appreciate and support the activities of the Agency in the area of nuclear safety. Nuclear energy cannot develop without rigorous safety measures which must be kept under regular review. The Agency has witnessed major progress in the field of international co-operation on nuclear safety since the Chernobyl accident. In particular, the special session of the General Conference in September last year was an important milestone in the Agency's work on safety issues. During this session the foundation was laid for expanded co-operation in some key areas of nuclear safety. The adoption and early entry into force of the two Conventions on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency in particular constitute an important step towards improved international co-operation in the area of safety. It is indeed remarkable that it has been possible within a very short time to agree on two such important international Conventions. The speed with which the negotiations were completed was proof of the commitment of the Agency and member States to improve existing arrangements on nuclear safety. Tne two Conventions have already been signed or ratified by a large number of Member States. It is, however, important that the Agency's work in this area, a year and a half after Chernobyl, maintain its lnomentum. There are still important areas where international co-operation can and should be strengthened. First of all, I am thinking of world-wide accepted safety principles and safety standards. We strong~y support the work of the Agency for the updating of the tive Codes of Practice under the Agency's programme on nuclear safety standards of nuclear power (Mr. Jonck, Denmar k) In this context we also appreciate the work which has been carr ied out by the International Nuclear Safety Advisory Group (INSAG) in the last year. The recommendations formulated by the Group in its repor t on the past-acc iden t review meeting on the Chernobyl accident could play an important role 1n the field of nuclear safety. Nuclear safety is first of all the responsibility of the owner 8tate. It is our hope that the updated NUSS safety standards can help us to obtain and preserve a high international level of nuclear safety and that ;'lember States will incorporate them into their own national safety standards. We should liKe to express our support tor tne Agency IS uperational i:>afety Review Teams (OSART). Those missions are a good example of what the Agency can do in order to secure a high international safety level and a reassurance that strict standards are being applied. We should also like to express our appreciation for the efforts within the Agency and other forums to improve the liability regime for nuclear damage. While member States have expressed their appreciation for the effectiveness of the lAEA and underlined the importance of its tasks, major problems threaten the smooth work of the Agency. First, the lAEA has until now received only part of its assessed contributions due to be paid at the beginning of the year. This has left the Agency in a difficult financial situation. If this situation continues, the approved programme for 1988 must be reduced. In our opinion, it is important that the financial rules of the Agency be accepted as international obligations which we all have to live up to. If not, the lAEA will not be able to fulfil in a satisfactory way the important tasks to which I have referred in this statement. Secondly, it is also of great concern to the European Community and its member States that the Agency is made to deal with political issues that come under the responsibility of other forums. This jeopardizes the role of the Agency as an effective instrument for the promotion of co-operation in the field of peaceful application of nuclear energy. Finally, I should like to state that it is the firm wish of the European Community and its member States that the close co-operation which exists between them and the Agency in all peaceful nuclear activity fields should continue to develop successfully. Mr. TlMERBAEV (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (interpretation from Russian): The report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for 1986 is an important document which clearly reflects the scope of utilization of atomic energy on our planet, and the extensive and important work conducted by this universal institution for international co-operation. The Soviet delegation has d ' d the re'~ort and commends the Agency's activities and the person closely stu le ~, contribution made to them by its Director General, Mr. Ham, Blix. Over the 30 years of its existence the lAEA has rightly grown into one of most authoritative lnternational organizations and a recognized centre for co-ordinating and harmonizing States efforts in the sphere of the peaceful Uses atomic energy. 'L'he Agency's activities clearly ShOW the advctntages of developil science and technology for constructive purposes as an alternative to their military uses, and clearly indicat.e the only reasonable way of utilizing the ate I should like to emphasize, in particular, that lAEA I S role and place in international affairs are deterlllined by its universality, whlle we Vlew its multiform activities from the standpoint of internationalizing the world community's efforts in all area9 of worla affairs. Our country will soon be observing a significant date - the sevent.ieth anniversary of the Great October Socialist ~evolut.ion. lo'or ooviet foreign polic~ the years following the October Revolution were years of tireless ana purposefuL work for peace, universal security ana disarmament. '1'ooay, thlS task 18 becoming ever more imperative and urgent. The Soviet Union - aware of the reality of the nuclear threat, and having thoroughly analysed the trends in the develotlment of contemporary international relations - on 15 January 1986 proposed as the only reasonable a;Lterntive a programme of ensurin~ universal peace and secur J.ty througl disarmament. The Soviet peace inititives based on this progt:alMle have made it Possible to ensure - b f e ore our very eyes - such progres$ in diHdrlllament which quite recently seemed inconceivable. This is surely vivi '1 d a Y prove by the Soviet-UniteCi States agreement in principle to eliminate entirely two classes of nuclear misslles. Its implementation will result in the destructl'on of many hundreds Ot nuclear warheads and could become a point of departure for new important steps towards the final elimination of the nuclear threat and, ultimately, towaras a nuclear-free and non-violent world. There have also been some signs of movement in the sphere of banning nuclear tests; the USSH and the United ::,tates have reacned ayreement to begin, beore I December of this year, fUll-scale, stage-by-stage talks on this matter in a single forum. For the first time in hlstory, the idea of nuclear disarmament is close to incipient implementation. The programme of complete elimination of nuclear weapons before the end ot this century is a concrete manifestation of this new political thinking and an integral part of the idea of a comprehensive system of international peace ana security proposed by the socialist countries. It is difficult to predict now the course events will take, but it would be appropriate to express the nope that the first results achieved on the road to nuclear disarmament will trigger a sort of peaceful "chain reaction" which will have as its outcome the comfJlete break-up of the military atolR. AS a recognized international body for co-ordinating ~tates efforts in the peaceful uses of atomic energy, the Agency cannot, naturally, remain aloof from the mainstream of world affairs. The Agency plays a notable role in preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The ~oviet Union has consistently favoured all-round strengthening of the non-proliferation Treaty and of the international non-proliferation regime based on it. The 17-year oi~tory of toe ~reaty has demonstrated its efficiency and effectiveness: not a single new nuclear State has appeared in the world within this period and at the same time more and IRore countries are acceding to the Treaty. with 136 States parties, the Treaty is the most important international agreement in the sphere of arms-race limitation in terms of the number of its signatories. We can state with satisfaction that in 1986, as heretofore, the Agency's secretariat registered no violations that could indicate that nuclear material and facilities under the Agency's safeguards had been switched to the manufacture of nuclear wea~ons or nuclear explosive devices, or to other military purposes. At the same time, the overall situation in the sphere of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons has become noticeably cOhlplicated by growing negative trends fraught with the danger of eroding or even undermining the international regime of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. In view of the present situation in the world, we should like the Agency to concentrate its efforts, in terms of safeguards, above all, where th~ greatest threat exists of nuclear materials being switched to the manufacture of nuclear weapons. The Soviet Union would like to see more effective lAEA control in nuclear threshold States, particularly those which have not yet acceded to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. That is why we strongly favour involving the greatest possible number of countries in IAEA's activities and spreading its work to all the regions of the world. And that is why we shall continue, as in the past, to render the Agency every assistance in fulfilling its function of ensuring the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and developing its safeguards system. In short, the Soviet Union favours the greatest possible enhancement of the Agency's international authority by further consolidating the principles of multilateralism and expanding the base of the organization. The Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident caused great damage to our country. That accident, like accidents at nuclear power plants in other countries, made necessary a critical analysis of measures to ensure the safety of nuclear energy production and demonstrated that close co-operation among States is becoming an imperative of contemporary international relations. The Soviet Union has vigorously supported the Agency's work in this area. Yesterday the Director General of the Agency, Mr. Hans Blix, in his very thorough statement reporting to us on the work of the Agency for the period under review, gave details of the Agency's programme for the safe development of nuclear energy. We should like to emphasize once again that the Soviet Union fully supports the measures being taken by the Agency in this area. We note with great satisfaction the entry into force of such important instruments as the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency, as well as the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, in whose preparation the Soviet Union played a most active part. As a follow-up to the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident, the Soviet Union has already concluded an appropriate agreement with Finland and is now conducting talks on this matter with a number of other countries. Moreover, in recognition of the Agency's special role in connection with international efforts to ensure the safety of nuclear energy production, we decided to invite the Agency's experts on the safety of nuclear plants to come to the Soviet Union in 1988 and visit one of our nuclear power plants. In this context, it is appropriate to emphasize that we totally share the statement in the Secretary-General's note (A/42/Sl2) entitled "Some perspectives on the work of the United Nations in the 1990s", to the effect th t th t' f' 'th f t f 1 a e ques lon 0 lmprovlng e sa e y 0 nuc ear energy production, including radioactive waste management, requires further discussion on a mUltilateral basis, since it is of the greatest importance to present and future generations and transcends the national borders of individual countries. (Mr. Timerbaev, USSR) As regards the Agency's future activities, the Soviet Union believes that the time has come to design within the framework of the Agency a new generation of reactor systems incorporating the latest methods of ensuring safety, to work out a reliable system of measures to prevent attacks against nuclear facilities and an appropriate international convention on the sUbject, to take steps to prevent nuclear terrorism and to draw up international legal norms to determine liability for nuclear damage. The soviet Union has always given priority attention to the important activities of the IAEA in connection with the technical assistance to and co-operation with its member States. We are satisfied to note the Agency's increasing efforts to transfer experience, knowledge, technology and equipment for the peaceful uses of atomic ene~gy for the benefit of the further social and economic development of countries recipients of technical assistance. The Soviet Union's position of principle regarding the all-round strengthening of the Agency's role as a truly multilateral centre for interaction of the interests of all countries is also reflected in the constant growth of our voluntary contributions to the Technical Assistance and Co-operation Fund. We transfer to the Fund on a regular basis the full amount of our share of the voluntary contributions•. In 1988 our voluntary contribution, in national currency, will amount to $3,834,000. In addition, the soviet Union has allocated 2 million roubles for the period 1986 to 1988 to render supplementary assistance to Agency member States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. (Mr. Timerbaev, USSR) This voluntary contribution is made in the form of supplies of soviet equipment, materials, instruments and installations ana the training, at various courses in the USSR, of specialists from developing countries members of the Agency. We regard as well founoed the Director-General's concern over the Agency's financial situation, which has grown worse because of the incomplete implementation by certain States of their financial obligations. The Ag~ncy is facing the real possibility of a substantial deficit, which cannot but hamper its activities, including Agency functions that are important to all its member titates, such as ensuring control and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. We are firmly convinced that it is inadmissible to use financial levers to exert pressure on IAEA. The USSR has always been and will continue to be in favour of providing financial resources necessary for the Agency's activit~es, at maintaining in the Agency the business-like atmosphere indispensable to the effective carrying out of important tasks facing the Agency, and of scrupulous compliance witn all the provisions ot that international organization's Statute. The 30-year history of IA~A is a 9000 example at multilateral fruitful interaction in practically strengthening universal security and creating an atmosphere of trust and mutual understanding among States. Today tne figency is the only international control mechanism in the sphere of nuclear arms limitation. The Agency's unique experience Could, in our opinion, become a prototy~e for those political, legal and control principles which could guide international relations, under United Nations auspices, towards a nuclear-free and non-violent world. Mr. MEISZTER (Hungary): We have studied with great interest the annual report of the International Atomic t:nergy Agency for 1986, as my country attacnes i t ' d h s a hIgh opinion of its activities in particular importance to ts opera lon an a ~ (Mr. Timerbaev, U~SR) general and of its work last year in particular. The annual report is substantive and positive 1n tone. Last year we stated, and I am now glad to repeat, that the Agency was successfully performing its three main functions, namely: to promote the peaceful uses of atomic energy; to devise and continuously improve ways and means of ensuring the safety of nuclear activities; and to enhance the non-proliferation regime by active aflplication of safeguards arrange/llents. We are of the view that the majority of the Agency's member States, including Hungary, benefit from the results of its work both materially and intellectualLy. Barely five years ago there was no nuclear power station operating in my country, whereas last August the fourth and last block of the station at Paks was connected to the power grid. Thereby we have completed the construction of the first 1760-megawatt capacity phase of our first nuclear power plant. That accounts for one third of our total electric-energy production. However, we have no intention of stopping there. We have approved plans for putting into operation, within 1U years from now, two additional Soviet-made reactors each having a IOOO-megawatt capacity. The Agency is largely involved in the implelnentat10n by Hungary of such an intensive atomic-energy programme. During the past three decades our scientists and engineers have attended Agency courses, have gained international experience, have acquired new knowledge and have learned new methods under fellowship programmes and during scientific stUdy tours. We have received a wealth of valuable and indispensable advice from Agency experts. The year 1986 posed a crucial test for the Agency's and member States' will to co-operate, and the test has been successfully passed. When the nuclear power plant disaster at Chernobyl occurred in Apr11 at last year, the Agency was qUick to initiate operative action. The community of its member States, relying on its highly competent apparatus, worKed out a well-considered programme of action and proceeded to implement it without delay. That was clear proof of a deep sense of responsibility on the part of the Governments of member States in the application of nuclear energy. Within a short period of time, unusual in the history of diplomacy, two important multilateral conventions were negotiated, one on early notification of nuclear accidents and the other on emergency assistance in the event of SUCh accidents. Hungary was among the first to sign both conventions; it ratified them shortly afterwards and, as is well known, has since put them into force. It was also very important that at the special session of the General Conference of the Agency in September 19116 the overwhelming majority of member States declared tnat in the decades to come mankind could not do without the energy derived from nuclear fission and went on record as favourIng tne continuance of the programmes tor nuclear power generation. The special session reached an agreement on issues of fundamental importance, which paragraph 11 of the Agency's report sums up briefly, and I quote it with endorsement, in these terms: "that nuclear power will continue to be an important source of energy for social and economic development; that each country is responsible for securing the highest level of safety in its nuclear energy activities; that there is scope for further international co-operation in nuclear safety; and that the Agency has the central role to play in encouraging and facilitating such co-operation." (A/42/458 and Corr.l, annex, para. 11) As I have noted, Hungary has clearly stated its Case for the expansion at: nuclear energy production. We naturally regard it as a standing task of high importance to increase the safety of nuclear energy utilization, and we have (Mr. Meis2ter, Hungary) launched a medium-term national research and development programme to make the opera tion of our existing reactors safer. We support the programme proposed by the Soviet Union for securing safety in the development of nuclear energy activities, and we recommend it to the attention of all interested countries. A major role 1n the implementation of that programme is reserved for the World Health Organization, the World Meteorological Organization, the United Nations ~nvironment ~rogramme, the United Nations itself and its other agencies concerned. (Mr. Meiszter, Hungary) We participate in the Agency's international programmes for strengthening the safety of nuclear installations, adapt the recommended nuclear safety standards to our national conditions, also take part in the incident reporting system, nave invited an Operational Safety Review Team mission in 1988, and have signed and ratified the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, which has become part of our legal system. We attach great importance to the protection of highly concentrated fissionable material from unlawful appropriation. It is necessary and timely to elaborate agreenlents on liability for damage, including that of states. We deem it useful to conclude bilateral agreements to supplement multilateral conventions relating to nuclear energy safety, a field in which we have already taken certain steps. Likewise we support the elaboration of an appropriate international convention on the prevention of attacKs against nuclear installations, including acts of terrorism. We are also naturally involved in other lines of Agency activity. We highly appreciate the Agency's technical assistance progr~nme, to which we contribute what is expected of us and at times even more. Hungary unswervingly supports the non-proliferation Treaty and is glad to note the accession thereto of four more States in 1986. We noticed with pleasure the statement of the Spanish delegation at the 13th plenary meeting of the General Assembly, during which Bpain's imminent accession to the non-proliferation Treaty was announced. We support the Agency's safeguards system and comply fUlly with our obligations under the safeguards agreement. We take satisfaction from the fact that the Agency's report for 1986 refers to no case in which Agency inspectors found that nuclear material, installations and equipment destined for peaceful purposes were diverted to uses other than peaceful uses. Furthermore, we welcome (Mr. Meiszter, Hungary) the fact that the People's Republic of China, a nuclear Power, is conducting negotiations with the Agency about placing some of its installations under safeguards control. If we carefully examine the probable consequences o~ the impending nuclear disarmament accord, as well as Soviet concepts about the creation of a secure world, which were enunciated at the highest level when the present session of the General Assembly started its work, we can be certain that in the near future the Agency will have to address still greater tasks and probaly ones of a new type. We intend to lend support to any positive proposal and to continue taking an active part in the Agency's work. Our ap~reciation of the Agency, which is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary, and our willingness to participate in its activities were also emphasized by the Hungarian Prime l'<linister' s message of congratulation to this year's General Conference of the Agency. Without intending to darken this oth~rwise bright overall picture, I should also mention in this forum that the Agency is perhaps experiencing its gravest ever financial crisis, which may bring into question the very possibility of the Agency's maintaining the present level of its activites, let alone increasing and improving its work. Hungary, conscious of the Agency's utmost importance in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, insistently calls upon countries in arrears with their contributions not to put at stake the continuous operation of the Agency and not to put off fulfilment of their financial obligations. The General Assembly has before it a araft resolution which is co-sponsored by Hungary. The statement introducing and Justifying it has been made, so I shall not elaborate on it. I wish merely to express our hope that the draft resolution (Mr. Meiszter, Hungary) will be adopted by consensus and will contribute effectively to the continuation of co-operation among the Agency' 5 meml:>er 1:Itates and to the further successful work of its Director General and his highly qualified staff. Lvir. HUCKE (German Democratic Repul:>lic): The delegation ot toe GerMan Democratic Republic followed, with great attention and interest, the excellent presentation of the Director General of tne International /-I.tomic Energy Agency (IAEA) , Mr. Blix, when he submitted the Agency' s annual report for 1986. As can be seen from that document, the IAEA also rendered an iml,>ortant contribution last year to promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to strengthening the regime of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. In its thirty-year-old history, the lAE8 has developed into a generally recognized centre for the joint solution of the political, scientific ana technological questions of the peacefUl and safe use of nuclear energy and for supporting developing countries. The submission of a comprehensive national report by the German Democratic Republic to the Conference on the use of nuclear energy in the German Democratic Republic for its economic and social development was an expression of the great s~gniticance attached by the German Democratic Republic to international co-operation and exchange of experience in the field of the peaceful use of nuclear energy. In the view of the German Democratic Republic, the broad exchange of views carr ied out at the Conference on toe promot ion of international co-operation for the peaceful use of nuclear energy was useful. It contributed to a better understanding of various positions. Thirty years of IAEA activities have confirmed that the taSK of ensuring the peaceful use of nuclear energy is inseparably linked with the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. Ttlerefore, the German Democratic Republic JOl.ntly with its (Mr. Meiszter, rlungary) allies and all forces of common sense and realism stands for ridding the world of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction by the year 2000. We regara the agreement in principle to conclude an accord on the elimination of land-based intermediate-rdnge and shorter-range missiles of the Soviet Union and the United States as a first step towards the implementation of that objective. The realization of such an agreement would indeed be a start on genuine nuclear disarmament. It would be a contribution to creating a comprehensive system of international peace and security. Agreements on further disarmament steps such as the 50-per-cent reduction of offensive strategic weapons of the USSR and the United States while strictly observing the anti-ballistic missile Treaty (ABM), or the complete and general prohibition of nuclear-weapon tests, could improve conditions for the peaceful use of the atom and of other high technologies, incluQlng assistance for developing countries in that fielQ. This would at the same tinle strengthen the ~reaty on tne Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The Agency's activities in 1986, as in previous years, were focused on the strengthening of the regime of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, tne safeguarding of the peaceful use of nuclear energy and the enhancing of the effectiveness of IAEA safeguards. More countries, among them important States such as Spain, have acceded to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. ~he ~erman Democratic Republic has repeatedly stated that it attaches great importance to the universality of the Treaty. (Mr. rlucke, lierman lJemocratic Republic) The accession of all States to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons would serve the interests of the international community and of even better international co-operation. The strengthening of the regime of the non-proliferatiion of nuclear weapons is directly connected with the function of the IAEA safeguards system. We are satisfied to note that in its annual report for 1986 the International Atomic Energy Agency was able to state, as in previous years: "the Secretariat ••• did not detect any anomaly which would indicate the diversion of ••• safeguarded nuclear material ••• , facilitie~, equipment for the manufacture of any nuclear weapon, or for any other military purpose, or for the manufacture of any ••• nuclear explosive device ••• " (A/42/45tl and Corr.l, annex, para. 391) Aware that the application of safeguards plays a key role in ensuring the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, the German Democratic Republic will, with effect from 1988, allocate 300,000 mar~s annually to the financing of IA~A activities in the field of safeguards in the German Democratic Republic. Through that national support programme the German uemocratic Republic wishes to make its contribution to enhancing the effectiveness of the Agency's safeguards system. One of the important ways of further enhancing the effectiveness of that system would be by carrying out comprehensive inspections in those countries that have not acceded to the non-proliferation Treaty. The nuclear potential possessed by South Africa and the ambitions of the apartheid regime emanating from that potential constitute a growing threat to peace and security on the African continent and beyond. Like the great majority of IAEA member States, my country is in favour of concrete steps being taken against the nuclear ambitions of South Africa and comprehensive IAEA safeguards being applied in that country. It is precisely those States that collaborate with South ~frica in the nuclear field that must bring their influence to bear so that South Africa accedes to the non-proliferation Treaty and places all its nuclear activities under IAEA safeguards. It is in this sense that JOy delegation understands the resolution on the nuclear capabilities of South Africa which was adopted at the recent lAEA General Conference. If South Africa does not fulfil the promise that it made in connection with the last lAEA General Conference, the international community should take· appropriate measures. The Agency's report illustrates the great efforts of the lAEA and ~ts member States further to increase nuclear safety. The past year especially has been characterized by quite a number of international activities to ensure the safe production of nuclear energy. The Conventions on early notification and assistance in the case of a nuclear accident came into force, and the programme for nuclear safety was confirmed by IAEA and they will undoubtedly play a great role, and not only for the future work of the Agency. They are of far-reaching significance also for developing intergovernmental relations. Thus, the German Democratic Republic has, in accordance with article 9 of the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident, concluded bilateral agreements on the exchange of information in the field of radiation protection with Denmark, Norway and the Federal Republic of Germany. However, the safety of the nuclear energy economy and its prospects dO not depend on technological and organizational measures alone. The intentional destruction of nuclear power plants or other nuclear installations could lead to the emission of radioactive substances which would have severe consequences for the population in the country concerned and beyond its borders. Therefore, a reliable system of measures should be established to avert any attacks against nuclear facilities and to prevent all manifestations of nuclear terrorism. My delegation appreciates the fact that the General Conference has authorizea the Director General to support, upon request, the efforts of the Geneva Conference on Disarmament in working out an international agreement on the pronibition of armed attacks against nuclear facillties. Great importance must also be attacheo to the physical protection of nuclear installations and material. We noted with satisfaction the coming into force of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclwar Material. It is now imperative to increase the number of States acceding to that significant agreement. The German Democratic Republic ~lakes its contribution to the oest of its ability to the implementation of the Agency's technical assistance programme, the scope of which has increased. Apart from providing equipment and material, my country continues to focus on the training of scientists from developing countries, on delegating experts to those countries and on organizing study tours and training courses, and providing scholarships. So far 12 training courses and 10 study tours have been carried out in the German Democratic Republic. Also, for 19~8 the German Democratic Republic has pledged its contribution to the financing of the technical assistance programme. Finally, let me assure the Assembly thac the German Democratic Repuolic will in the future also activ~ly support the International Atomic Energy Agency in carrying out its important tasks ana trying to achieve its challenginy objectives. Mr. HAIDER (Pakistan): The General Assembly is again considering a report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IA~A), whicn over the past three decades has proved its worth and effectiveness as the embodiment of the world community's efforts to utilize atomic energy for promoting the welfare and technology for peaceful purposes. increasing rate, with pollution gradually enaangering the envlronment, nuclear energy has been increasingly recognized as a viable ana competitive alternative. In this context the International Atomic Energy Agency nas a crucial role to play·· in reinforcing efforts geared to socio-economic development. My country is proud of its long-standing collaboration witn the IAEA. We attach particular importance to this relationship because, as in the case of many other developing countries, Pakistan has benefited from the fruits uf c~operation with the Agency. It was with the Agency's assistance that Pakistan formulated, keeping in view the paucity of its non-renewable sources of energy, its long-term programme for nuclear power generation. We are grateful to the Agency for its expertise, support and advice. I should like to avail myself of this opportunity to convey uur appreclation . to Mr. Hans Blix, the Director General of the International Atomic Eneryy Agency, for his wise guidance and dedicated stewardship of the Agency, which 1n the coming years will have an increasingly important role to play in the application of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. We commena his efforts and assure him of our full support. It' ht' lS . ear enlng to note that the lAEA has continued ltS effurts \:0 help reinforceinf~astructuresfor the planning, implementation and oper ation of nuclear power projects in developing t . coun rles through lnterregional ana national training courses, technical co-operation projects, advisory missions and guidebOoks. The Agency's activities aimed at 't" , - aSS1S lng developlng countries to assess the role tor nuclear power within their national energy plans can and do provide relevant and During 1986 the total installed nuclear power generating capacity in the world increased by about ~.9 per cent, reaching 273.7 gigawatts by tne end of the year. Nuclear power plants accounted for more than 15 per cent of the world's electricity generation in lY86, when 397 nuclear power plants were in operation. Although fears were expressed after the tragic incident at Chernobyl, no other power reactor was shutdown. From the way global nuclear power generation capacity is expanding it can be safety concluded that the Agency should expand further its programme for providing assistance for the developlnent of nuclear power. The IAEA's role in the field of fOod and agriculture and nuclear techniques in the domain of medicine and in the sphere of physical sciences is to be cOlillnended. It constitutes an invaluable input of assistance for the developing countries. It is therefore a matter of great satisfaction for us that the technical assistance programme has received the necessary attention in the activities of the Agency. However there is no room for complacency as regards tne non-payment of the pledgea shares for the Technical Assistance and Co-operation Funa, which it is hoped will receive due consideration. Pakistan has always attached importance to the Agency's existing safeguards system, which has demonstrated its reliability and effectiveness in detecting any diversion of nuclear materials to non-peaceful purposes. We have noted from the Director General's report that no anomaly was detected in the safeguards implementation report during 1986 which could indicate a diversion of nuclear material or misuse of other material and equipment under safeguards. As the Director General has conclUded, "nuclear material under Agency safeguards in 198b remained in peaceful nuclear activities or was otherwise accounted for". (A/42/458 and corr.l, annex, para. 39l) Over the years there has been a growing imbalance between the funds allocated to technical assistance and the safeguard activities of the Agency. While we have supported the Agency's safeguard activities, it must be recognized that it has limitations in this field. It carries out safeguards inspections, in accordance with the terms of the agreements it implements, of nuclear installations plants and facilities. It is not equipped or competent to aea.i with tasks beyond tnat responsibility. It is our hope that the Agency will, in accordance wlth its charter and mandate, assign first priority to the promotion of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. This is all the more imperative given the resistance of some States to the acquisition of technology by developing countries for the advancement of their peaceful nuclear energy programmes. The failure of the International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy has served to highlight the need for the Agency to reinforce ~ts activities for the promotion of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The explosion last year at Unit 4 of the Chernobyl reactor drew attention to nuclear safety. Pakistan has supported efforts in this field. But we would caution against any conclusion that concern for nuclear safety snould inhibit greater co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology. The Chernobyl tragedy, on the contrary, only points to the need to have a more rational, equitable and non-discriminatory regime covering the various aspects of international co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Pakistan has endeavoured to promote an international agreement prohibiting attacks against all nuclear facilities. Such an agreement could further reinforce measures for nuclear safety. A few years ago the international community, recognizing the need for peaceful nuclear co-operation, enunciated certain principles through the instrument of the General Assembly. These principles are contained in Assembly resolution 32/5U, which was adopted unanimously. It categorically affirmed that "All States have the right, in accordance with the principles of sovereign equalit~ to develop their programmes for the peaceful uses of nUClear technology for economic and social development, in conformity with their priorities, interests and needs". (resolution 32/50, para. l(b)) The resolution also categorically stated that "All States, without discrimination, should have access to and should be free to acquire nuclear technology, equipment and mater ials for the peaceful use of nuclear energy". (resolution 32/50, para. l(c») It is our hope that all States will adhere to those principles, in order to reverse the negative trends in peaceful nuclear co-operation and provide fillip to building the nuclear energy capacity crucial to the development of developing countries. Pakistan is in a position to join in the aaoption by consensus of the draft resolution on the report of IAEA. Mr. ZAPOTOCKY (Czechoslovakia) (interpretation from Russian): Recently we commemorated the thirtieth anniversary of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), one of the most important internat~onal Government organizations within the united Nations system. In connection with that anniversary, the President of Czechoslovakia, Mr. Gustav Husak, sent the Agency the following message of congratulations: "The 30 years of creative work by the Agency have shown that the use of atomic energy solely for peacefu·l purposes has helped to develop broad international co-operation and to maintain peace. It is the only sensible, realistic alternative in our nuclear outer space age. Recognizing this, the Czecnoslovak Socialist Republic has consistently been in favour of prevent~ng the threat of nuclear war, halting the arms race and adopting concrete measures of disarmament - primar ily nuclear disarmament. The financial, material, scientific, human and other resources released as a result of nuclear disarmament could be used tor the social and economic development of States, including assistance to the developing countries. "For the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, and for a number of other countries, atomic energy is an irreplaceable resource for future development. In keeping with our nuclear energy programme, we snaIl continue in the future to develop all-round international co-operation with IAEA. "In this connection, Czechoslovakia highly commends the existing safeguards system, which is a yenerally recognized instrument for exercisiny international control of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and for promoting the strengthening of the Non-Eroliferation Treaty. We attach great importance also to the establiShment of a system for the safe development of nuclear energy. By making voluntary contributions to the Technical Assistance Fund, Czechoslovakia intends, in the future as well, to help the developing countries. We intend also to participate actively in the implementation of other useful Agency programmes." Czechoslovakia, as one of the original members of the Agency, regards this anniversary as an opportunity not merely to assess the work done, but also - and this is the main point - to think about prospects for its future work. A good basis for this could be provided by the report on the work of the Agency and the statement made by its Director General, i"ir • .tians l::llix. This report is before us at a time when the world is witnessing promising signs of progress in an area of decisive importance for the nuclear safety of the world - that is, the gradual elimination of nuclear weapons. Most delegations here, inclUding that of Czechoslovakia, have expressed support for that process. We view the significant role of IAEA in the broader context of the international situation as a positive model for the work of the Agency, which, in many respects, coincides with the positions and efforts of the group of socialist countries to establish a universal system of international ~eace and security. A component of that system is the safe use of nuclear energy in all areas of the economy, in full conformity with the need to protect the environment. (Mr. ~apotocky, Czechoslovakia) We cannot fail to be aware of the importance of the lAEA in the political sphere, where it is the generally recognized international guarantor for the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, a regulator of nuclear ex~orts and a co-ordinator of international co-operation in the area of the physical protection of nuclear material and installations. Czechoslovakia has given unfailing support to the idea of non-proliferation and the gradual elimination of nuclear weapons. We view the establishment of 'nuclear-free zones as a way to promote the elimination of the nuclear threat. That was one aspect we took into account when, together with the German Democratic Republic, we proposed to the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany that a nuclear-free zone be established in Central Europe. Czechoslovakia attaches great importance to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and to the lAEA safeguards system. From the point of view of the number of parties to it, that Treaty is the most representative legal instrument in the area of arms control. Therefore, we welcomed the news that the People's Republic of China and the lAEA had reached agreement in principle to place part of China's civilian nuclear installations under the Agency's safeguards system. We are highly interested in further increasing the effectiveness of the lAEA safeguards systems as an important way to deepen trust among States in the area of scientific, technological and trade co-operation in the nuclear field. There is no doubt that this absolutely irreplaceable international system of controlling the compliance with and the strengthening of the non-proliferation regime of nuclear weapons should be able in the future to exercise verification over obligations entered into. The significance of the system will doubtless grow, and it can provide an example for other areas of arms control too. (MX. Zapotocky, Czechoslovakia) We commend the Agency's work in this area noted in the annual report. In this connection, we deem it necessary to express concern at the nuclear activities of South Africa and Israel, inter alia, and demand that the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and the Agency be consistently implemented. The report of the IAEA submitted to the forty-second session of the General Assembly fully reflects the successful work it has done, particularly its extrenlely complex and difficult work over the most recent period. Urgent tasks have been performed relating to the special session of the IAEA General Conference on questions of strengthening nuclear safety, which took place in September 1986. It is encouraging that the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency have entered into force and that further States have acceded to them. Both were drawn up and adopted in the IAEA, and they convincingly attest to the international community's concern and that of individual States in entering into joint action further to improve the safety conditions for using nuclear energy. We view as very positive the co-operation, in the spirit of these Conventions, that is being developed among States on a bilateral basis. It is on the basis of that kind of treaty regime that co-operation between my country and Austria is being developed. We believe that it would be useful for the Agency in the future to inform us periodically about concrete direct application of both Conventions in resolving tasks connected with the work of the Agency. We believe that the adoption of the proposal to establish a system of global control for radiation safety using outer space communications, which was made by the Soviet Union at the Geneva Conference on Disarmament in August this year, would help even further. to deepen international co-operation. Such a system of constant (Mr. Zapotocky, Czechoslovakia) analysing the consequences of accidents at nuclear facilitiesJ and it would also enhance effectiveness in applying these Conventions. Furthermore, it would become another way of monitoring compliance with the nuclear-weapon-test ban, which Czechoslovakia believes to be a priority step towards nuclear disarmament. We also support taking further steps to provide an overall solution to questions of nuclear safety in the matter of nuclear energy, including instruments against nuclear piracy. We welcomed the Convention on Physical Protection of 'Nuclear Materials, which entered into force at the beginning of this year. Strict compliance with that Convention is a necessary prerequisite. It involves the elaboration and adoption of measures to guarantee protection of peaceful nuclear installations from military and piratical attacks. We believe that the Agency's effort to provide for greater stringency in the matter of liability for damage done by the exploitation of nuclear installations at the international level is a serious initiative. The report of the Agency also attests to the growth of technical co-operation with the developing countries in the promotion of development of nuclear energy. Our participation in this connection is on the basis of a percentage contribution. In addition, w~ provide short-term and long-term fellowships in our colleges in the field of nuclear physics. We shall continue to do so in the future and try to find further effective ways to help the developing countries as far as we can. We are convinced that speedy scientific and technological development is properly echoed in the Agency's plans for its future work, which will doubtless be no less successful than it has been over the past 30 years. We believe that in a historically short period of time all the nuclear work being done throughout tne world will be fully under lAEA control; in other words, it will be carried out exclusively for peacefUl purposes. (Mr. zapotocky, Czechoslovakia) In conclusion, I should like to commend the results of the work done by the Agency during this period and express gratituae to tne Director General, Mr. Hans Blix, for his outstanding personal contribution, his constructive approach in resolving problems and his tireless efforts in finding possible solutions to outstanding problems. The secretariat of the lAEA should also be commended. It has performed its tasks responsibly in this difficult and complicated periOd. Czechoslovakia is prepared actively to promote the work of the IAEA in future. The delegation of Czechoslovakia therefore supports draft resolution A/42/L.6, which endorses and supports the work of the Agency. (Mr. Zapotocky, Czechoslovakia) Mr. SVOBODA (Canada): This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In his congratulatory message to the Director General, Mr. Blix, Canada's Secretary of State for External Affairs, Mr. Joe Clark, noted that, since its inception, the IAEA has been the primary focus of international efforts in the promotion of nuclear co-operation. Its safeguards have been instrumental in strengthening the international non-proliferation regime, providing the confidence required for nuclear commerce. The Agency's technical co-operation programmes have provided an increasing number of countries, both developed ana developing, with the benefits of nuclear energy technology in health, agricUlture and numerous other areas of application. My delegation takes this opportunity to reaffirm Canada's strong support for the Agency and its various programmes which promote the development of nuclear energy for the benefit of mankind. The Canadian delegation commends the IAEA secretariat for the current annual report which is well written, cogent and fully reflects the exceptional manner in which the Agency handled not only its normal heavy work programme but also its response to the recent extraordinary challenges in nuclear safety to which several representatives have today made reference. My delegation was particUlarly pleased to note in the report that the secretariat did not detect any anomaly which would indicate that a significant amount of safeguarded material had been diverted. I turn now to the recently concluded General Conference. to comment on several developments. Foremost among our concerns is the increasing focus on non-technical issues in what is and must remain primarily a technical body. The Agency's invaluable work, which is recognized and appreciated by all, could be seriously jeopardized and the orderly development of nuclear commerce could be threatened by the continued My delegation wishes discussion of matters which are, in our view, extraneous to the Agency's mandate and which have been pursued in other forums. We were thankful that last-minute compromises were found at the Agency's Conference which averted serious consequences indeed. The possibility of a significant financial crisis loomed large over this year's Conference. The Director General reported to the September meeting of the Board of Governors that a surprising number of member States had not, as of the end of September, paid their contributions for 1987. Fortunately, a recent promise of a major contribution should help avoid a serious cash shortfall next month. Canada pays its bills on time and strongly urges all other member States to pay their annual contributions as early as their fiscal calendars and practices allow, to prevent such uncertainty in the future. Permit me also to comment on resolution GC(XXXI)8ll:l on the sharing of information relating to nuclear safety, adopted by the General Conference. I wish to affirm that Canada, in addition to its support for the appropriate transfer of information relating to nuclear safe-ty under Agency programmes, which it fUlly endorses and participates in, is equally forthcoming when it comes to the bilateral sharing of nuclear safety information. Wherever a formal policy framework for nuclear co-operation is in place, that is, within a comprehensive nuclear co-operation agreement, it is Canadian practice to provide relevant safety information for the whole life of the CANDU reactor it has supplied. In Canada's view, the sharing of information relating to nuclear safety cannot be dissociated from nuclear co-o~eration as a whole and consequently must be fUlly consistent with the shared rights and obligations established between suppliers and recipients. As with technology, the right of access to nuclear safety information must be matched by the acceptance of a number of obligations associated with the (Mr. Svoboda, Canada) Although I have expressed some reservations about developments at the recent Conference, my delegation approves the lAEA annual report and is pleased to join in the consensus in support of the draft resolution before us. Mr. KOSTOV (Bulgaria): The delegation of the People's Republic of Bulgaria has studied closely the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and is pleased to note of the active work of the Agency in tne area of the use of the atom for peaceful purposes. The important responsibilities of the Agency were lucidly highlighted in toe introductory statement of its Director General, Mr. Hans Blix, and I should like to commend the IAEA secretariat, and in particular of Mr. Blix, for their role in carrying out the Agency's tasks and working towards its goals in the period under review. This year the international community, including representatives of science and technology in the People's Republic of Bulgaria, celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of the Agency. As one of the founders of lAEA, my country is of the view that this anniversary is an important international event and an occasion for a review of the Agency's activities. It also underlines the fact that nuclear energy can contribute to the progress and prosperity of mankind only on the basis of co-operation if it is used and for peaceful purposes. For 30 years the Agency has performed a great deal of work, often in difficult circumstances, which for us is a matter of satisfaction and a source of confidence and optimism so far as the future of the Agency is concerned. In that 30-year period the lAEA has become a universally acknowledged world centre dealing with scientific and technological problems in connection with the application of atomic energy for peaceful purposes ana rendering technical assistance to· developing countries. Today, we can confidently say that the Agency has successfully passed the test in both the political and the technical field. The 30-year record of lAEA is also compelling testimony that all countries, irrespective of their socio-economic systems, can and must contribute to strengthening international security. The unique combination of research and control functions performed by the Agency and its contribution to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons are of particular importance in maintaining peace and building confidence among States. Last year was especially significant in the history of the Agency. The issue of nuclear safety revived the interest of the international community in the activities of lAEA. The international Conventions on early notification of nuclear accidents and emergency assistance in the event of such accidents, the promptness of whose adoption and entry into force is unprecedented, along with the entry into force of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, laid the legal foundation for an international regime regulating the safety of atomic energy. My country has signed and is scrupulously observing those Conventions. At the same time, we believe that there is a need for the preparation of a new international instrument regarding the responsibility of States in the event of nuclear accidents and measures against nuclear terrorism. (Mr. Kostov, Bulgaria) Concerted efforts to strengthen international co-operation in the field of nuclear safety will be fruitless unless the threat of nuclear war looming over mankind is removed. The cessation of the arms race, in particular the nuclear-arms race, the prohibition of nuclear-weapon tests and the gradual el imination of nuclear weapons by the end of the century, as proposed by Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev on 15 January 1986, offer the only road for the survival for mankind, with the promise of co-operation, progress and economic development. The idea of a world free of nuclear arms is not a utopian dream. It has real dimensions and is the only sensible alternative to nuclear deterrence. In our view, there is no area of arms limitation in which genuine and mutually accepted agreements could not be achieved. The latest example of this is the agreement in principle between the Soviet Union and the united states to eliminate medium-range and shorter-range missiles. We welcome the decision to do away with those two classes of nuclear weapons, as well as the agreement to begin full-scale negotiations on the issues of nuclear-weapon testing. As a generally recognized international organ to co-ordinate the efforts of States in the application of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, the Agency cannot remain aloof from the major trends in international affairs. The active participation ofIAEA in non-proliferation efforts is one of the major aspects of the struggle to eliminate the nuclear threat, strengthen international peace and security and curb the arms race. We are pleased to note that neither in lY86 nor at ahy earlier time have any violations been identified which would indicate the transfer for military purposes of nuclear material or facilities under IAEA safeguards. At the same time, we consider that new efforts should be made to strengthen the safeguards system, particularly by new States, in particular States with advanced nuclear technology, (Mr. Kostov, Bulgaria) joining the system. In this connection, decisive measures should be undertaken to implement the resolutions concerning the nuclear potential of Israel and South Africa adopted by the thirty-first session of the General Conference of IAEA. The efforts to strengthen the non-proliferation regime should continue. My country devotes particular attention to the work of the Agency in the field of safeguards. We note with satisfaction the successes in this field, but we also deem it necessary to continue the efforts to strengthen their efficiency and effectiveness by Ineans of the use of better technical equipment, the more effective use of existing technologies and the maximum utilization of IAEA inspectors. In 1986-1987 the question of the financial state of the Agency became a matter of some urgency. Quite a few member States have not paid their contributions for a number of years. Some of the largest contributors have not paid their .dues for the last period. We hope that the pledges of those countries to meet their quotas as soon as possible will facilitate the completion of basic projects, particularly in the area of technical assistance to developing countries. My country has accepted the assessed voluntary contributions for 1988 and urges all other Member States to do likewise. Without universal support, the Agency will not be able either to advance its work or to achieve its objectives and purposes. AS is generally known, the People's Republic of Bulgaria has been successful in developing its nuclear energy programme for peaceful purposes at a speedy and stable rate. Last year nuclear energy accounted for 30 per cent of the electricity production in my country. New nuclear electricity generating facilities have been built and are about to begin production. Bulgaria has participated actively in the IAEA nuclear safety programmes. A number of measures have been undertaken to ensure the safety of existing nuclear reactors and personnel training. These measures will continue, giving priority to (Mr. Kostov, Bulgaria) safety issues in the development of nuclear energy. In 1986 the lAEA safeguards on the operation of our nuclear facilities con'tinued t<;> function most successfully. We note with satisfaction that the objectives of IAEA safeguards in my country have been fUlly achieved. Along with the development of nuclear energy production, my country attaches major importance to the applications of nuclear energy in the economy, medicine, science and other fields. These efforts have received tne active support of the Agency. The People's Republic of BUlgaria participates to the best of its abilities in the IAEA technical assistance progralrunes. My country has provided, through the Agency, a number of expert services in this field. Nuclear energy specialists from a number of countries have received their training in the scientific and production centres of Bulgaria. We are ready to expand our assistance and co-operation in this area, taking due account of the interests of all countries. In conclusion, I should like to wish the secretariat of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and particularly its Director General, Mr. Hans Blix, every Success in their noble work for the benefit of all mankind. Ms. RASI (Finland): The delegation of Finland wishes to commend the International Atomic Energy Agency (IA~A) and its Director General, Mr. Hans Blix, for the Agency's competent and reassuring performance during a year marked by the aftermath of the nuclear accident in Chernobyland the heavy load of work imposed on the IAEA by that event. The excellent way in which the Agency has discharged its task in the service of the international community has been widely recognized and appreciated. I wish once again to renew my Government's assurance of full support for the IAEA and Mr. Blix in this year that witnesses the thirtieth anniversary of the foundation of the lAEA. (Hr. Kostov, Bulgaria) Nuclear safety and non-proliferation are the two pillars on which the acceptability of nuclear energy and, in particular, nuclear power is based. But we have seen an erosion take place in the perceptions of the strength of those pillars. This necessitates a period of profound reflection on the future of nuclear power. The position in which we find ourselves today is a demonstration of the widespread uncertainty concerning the future role of nuclear energy among possible other options. The recent report of the World Commission on Environment and Development - the Brundtland report - is illustrative of this situation. The pause for reflection that I have mentioned must be utilized to seek answers to some fundamental questions concerning the acceptability of nuclear energy. We have at all levels to gain better understanding of safety matters. This also includes the safety of nuclear-waste management and the physical protection of nuclear plants and materials. (MS. Rasi, Finland) At the same time, we must strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of ~uclear Weapons has greatly helped to alleviate oft-heard misgivings that it would not be possible to keep nuclear weapons and nuclear power apart. Every new accession to the Non-Proliferation Treaty is, therefore, welcome, as it enhances the strength of the non-proliferation regime. Let me here especially mention the recent decision of the Government of Spain to accede to the Treaty. On the other hand, more than 40 of the more than 130 non-nuclear-weapon States parties to the Non-proliferation Treaty have not yet fulfilled their obligation under that Treaty to conclude a safeguards agreement with IAEA. My Government notes with satisfaction that the Conventions on early notification and on assistance in the case of nuclear accidents, agreed on last year, have now entered into force. Likewise, my Government welcomes the information that the People's Republic of China has decided to place some of its nuclear installations under IAEA safeguards. When this agreement becomes operative the five nuclear-weapon States will have sUbjected all or some of their peaceful nuclear activities to IAEA safeguards control. The acceptability of nuclear energy is a global issue. If nuclear energy is not able to regain a satisfactory level of acceptability in the industrialized countries, it is difficult to see how it can ever become part of the answer to the energy needs of developing countries. My Government wants to see IAEA continue to exercise all its functions, and we wish to see it well equipped to carry out its various tasks. Unfortunately, the financial situation of the Agency has been deteriorating. My Government sees a potential threat here to the level of IAEA's performance, for instance, in the orderly development of the nuclear sectors in developed and developing countries alike were the credibility of safeguards allowed to suffer. Therefore I wish to appeal to all member States to honour their financial commitments to IABA so as to allow it to pursue its important work at such a level that it will continue to satisfy the needs of the non-proliferation regime, other activities quite apart. IAEA is first and foremost a technical agency. Of late, issues of a political nature have found their way into the agenda of IAEA. We saw them occupy considerable time at the last General Conference. My Government continues to believe in the fundamental soundess of the distribution of work that has evolved within the United Nations system as a whole and in the overriding interest of avoiding duplication within the United Nations system, which offers adequate forums for political debate outside the specialized agencies. Mr.OKELY (Australia): Throughout the past 43 years we have had to face and to deal with the challenge of the atom. That challenge has been formidable and twofold. We have had to learn to control the atom in its peaceful guise and to contain it in its threatening aspect. Neither challenge has been easy~ both have required forethought, creativity and initiative. Only three years after the first graphic manifestation of the explosive power of the atom, far-reaching proposals were made in the Baruch Plan for an organization "to which should be entrusted all phases of the development and use of nuclear energy" • Those proposals were the first proposals of substance to be made before the General Assembly of the United Nations. Seven years later, in 1953, at the United Nations, the President of the United States, Dwight Eisenhower, proposed the establishment of "an international atomic energy agency" which would "devise methods whereby ••• fissionable material would be allocated to serve (Ms. Rasi, Finland) Last month in Vienna member States of the International Atomic Energy Agency celebrated the Agency's thirtieth birthday - a most significant event. It is a matter of record that the statute establishing the Agency was opened for signature in October 1956 and entered into force nine months later, on 29 July 1957. Australia was there from the start - through conception and gestation. We were one of the eight, later 12, countries that were cl06ely involved in the drafting of the statute of the Agency. Since that time, those crucial formative days, we and others have worked to ensure that the Agency would mature into one of the really strong institutions of the United Nations family. Collectively, we have asked it to encourage the contribution of atomic energy to international peace, health and prosperity. But we have also asked it to verify, through the application of international safeguards, that nuclear facilities and material are used exclusively for peaceful purposes. These were difficult tasks. How, then, has the Agency matched up to them? Before making such an assessment it is necessary to interpose the effect that the entry into force in 1970 of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons has had. This milestone in international non-proliferation efforts led to the development by the Agency of its system of safeguards. The Treaty is as important now as on the day it was signed 17 years ago. The 136 signatories are soon to become 137 with the welcome addition of Spain. But there are others we would like to see sign, others whose nuclear activities leave us with feelings of doubt and concern. The dilemma that these non-parties to the Treaty, these so-called threshold nuclear states, present may be one of the most difficult problems the world community has to face as this century draws to a close. (Mr. Okely, Australia) IAEA has indeed proved equal to the second of the tasks set for it by the international community. It has consistently provided the assurance required of it that nuclear materials under its safeguards have not been diverted to military or explosive use. We certainly believe this to be true. It is a vitally important assurance to all members of the international community, whether or not they are Agency members or signatories to the Treaty. The fact is that we are all beneficiaries of the Agency's safeguards system. Without it, it is not hard to imagine where the world would be today. The Agency' 5 record of co-operation in encouraging the peaceful use of nuclear energy under strict safeguards stands alone. The Agency cannot, however, do the job alone. The transfer and sharing of ·technology and expertise will continue to depend on the willingness of its member States to snare in and to contr ibute to various programmes. Australia certainly plays its part and will continue to do so. Australia is a major uranium exporter. We also had the ability to develop a nuclear weapon. We chose instead to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty, to eschew the nuclear option, to reject the path of false security through the possession of the bomb. It is now universally recognized that security cannot be maintained on the basis of nuclear weapons and, indeed, that nuclear war must never be fought. In the past year we have remodelled our legislative basis for nuclear activities. A Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Act has been introduced giving effect to our obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Treaty of Rarotonga and establishing strict controls over the possession and transfer of nuclear materials. We have recently established the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation - replacing the former Atomic Energy Commission - which will concentrate on the practical applications of nuclear technology that are relevant to Australia's social and economic development. The legislation establishing the new organization quite specifically precludes research and development into the design or production of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. It can be seen, therefore, that we are serious in our approach to non-proliferation. For us it is the future - a future for Which we will continue to fight, because the alternative is not one we wish to countenance. To return to the Agency, Chernobyl was a devastating reminder that the atom, uncontrolled, is threatening. The results of a nuclear explosion or a radiological accident can be equally catastrophic. The response of the Agency in co-ordinating the negotiation of the two new Conventions on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency at last year's special session of the General Conference has won deserved acclaim. Australia has signed them both and our Minister for Forelgn Affairs and Trade, Bill Hayden, ratified them in Vienna last month. We have now also ratified the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. The purpose of this agenda item is to consider the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency to the General Assembly. l'he Agency's report for 1986, which Mr. Blix introduced yesterday, clearly shows that the Agency has carried out the important functions with which we have entrusted it. We have before us a draft resolution, which constitutes the Assembly's action on the lAEA report for 1986. It is our hope that the draft resolution will be adopted by consensus. Finally, I once again wish to pay particular tribute to Mr. Hlix and to his staff, whose reputation for professional excellence, skill and dedication stand wi thout question. Their task is a difficult one, particularly when attempts are made to introduce into the work of the Agency matters of a purely political nature that rightfully belong elsewhere. The Agency, fortunately, is not facing a mid-life crisis; it is a well-directed, well-motivated, healthy adult body dedicated to its task. But it carries a heavy burden of responsibility, and there are no signs that this burden will lighten in the foreseeable future. Like many of its member States, it too will have to learn to do as much, if not more, with fewer resources. Hard decisions on priorities cannot be avoided. There are some bumps and curves in the To those who seek to divert the Agency from its professional course, we say, think twice. It does not serve our common interests as members of the Agency to permit extraneous political issues to disrupt its activities. The IAEA's statute is clear and it is only by our respecting that statute that the Agency will be able to continue to make its crucial contribution. We must now look to the future. We must ensure that the body we have created remains healthy and continues to fulfil the tasks we have set for it. We must give it the tools and the space in which to work. We must expect of it no more than we expect of ourselves, and no less. Above all, we must continue to have confidence in its technical capacity and professionalism ~ qualities that on present and past indications we have no reason to doubt. Mr. FISCHER (Austria): At the outset, let me thank the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mr. Bans Blix, for his thought-provoking introduction of the report covering the Agency's activities during the past year, and for the very kind words he addressed to my country as host of the lAEA since its establishment 30 years ago. We are proud to have the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna and reiterate our firm support for Mr. Blix personally as well as for the Agency. The year 1986 was certainly a crucial year in the history of the Agency, since the first major accident in a nuclear power plant, with far-reaching radiological consequences, occurred during the period under review. The Agency reacted promptly with a number of important initiatives, such as the adoption of the expanded nuclear safety programme and the elaboration of the new multilateral Conventions on early warning and on assistance in the case of a nuclear accident. Since last year the risks connected with the operation of nuclear power plants have been a major topic of discussion and consideration in most countries, both at the level of governmental decision-making and by a broad pUblic. In Austria a negative decision with regard to nuclear power production had already been taken many years ago. The reasons for this decision were, in our view, once more confirmed. On the one hand, our conclusion is valid at national level; on the other, it is the basis for our views on the general role of nuclear power in present and future world energy affairs. Austria is convinced that the dominant issue in this context loust be nuclear safety. Our position on this issue goes beyond a mere reflection of existing public fears. Our genuine concern is based on experience and reasoning. Any rise in nuclear power potential is bound to increase the possibility of further accidents, with the risk of large-scale radioactive releases. A potential cause of such accidents is the failure of eauipment in spite of ever-higher safety standards; causes could originate in the sphere of operator responsihility, and these could be external causes such as damage by attack. world energy development largely based on nuclear power woula also enhance the possibility anft, indeed, the likelihood of nuclear accidents. We therefore believe that it is essential to find alternatives to such a scenario and to overcome the still largely accepted opinion that such alternatives do not exist. If a commensurate share of the material and intellectual effort which at present goes into the further development of nuclear-power technology went into the development of alternatives to fossil fuels and to nuclear-fission power, such alternatives would be found and could be developed for future applications. I should like to emphasize that the view on nuclear power held in Austria is not at variance with our continuing co-operation with and support for the International Atomic Rnergy Agency (IAEA). In the world of today, in which nuclear power is being used for energy production, the role and activities of the Agency with regard to nuclear safety, non-proliferation and safeguards are of overriding importance. Therefore, the optimal functioning of the Agency on a sound financial hasis must be of primary concern to all member states. Austria gives its fullest support to all activities undertaken by the Agency in the field of nuclear safety. In our view these activities shoUld even go beyond what has at present been included in the Agency's expanded nuclear safety programme. Internationally hinding safety standards for nuclear-power installations as well as their mandatory control through the Agency should be adopted. This should be the central element of any expanded nuclear safety programme of the Agency. We also believe that an international convention on State liability with regard to damages caused by accidents in nuclear-power installations should be elaborated, preferably within the framework of the Agency. Such a convention should serve as an important incentive for Governments to promote nuclear safety on the national level. Austria is aware that this concept of an international convention on state liahility does not, at present, find unanimous support among the member States of the Agency. A civil law approach, limited to individual claims for damage resulting directly from accidental releases of radioactivity is preferred by some member States. This approach certainly has its merits. However, it is not sufficient with regard to large-scale accidents causing damages not only to a great number of individuals hut also to the environment as such. Only the establishment of State liability would be adequate to this type of situation. Past experience supports this view. Austria acknowledges the achievements of the Agency in the field of nuclear safety. At the same time we recognize that a vast potential for expanded activities in this field does not exist. The issue of nuclear safety has its place in international relations. In our opinion the legitimate concerns of countries with regard to the possible trans-boundary consequences of nuclear-po~er technology should be recognized. These concerns should be taken into consideration on a regional level and, in particUlar, in the framework of relations between neighbouring countries. In this context, bilateral agreements between neighbouring States. institutionalizing mechanisms on consultation and information are of major significance. Austria has concluded such agreements with Czechoslovakia and, more recently, with Hungary. We appreciate that auite a few agreements of this type already exist or are being negotiated. (Mr. Fischer, Austria) Apart from its activities in the field of nuclear power, nuclear safety and non-proliferation safeguards, the Agency also has important responsibilities in the non-power areaS of nuclear co-operation. Most developing countries are drawing benefits from their membership in the Agency by participating in programmes in the non-power areas, such as the use of radiation and isotope techniques in agriculture, medicine, biology, industry and hydrology. In keeping with its position with regard to nuclear power, Austria attaches particular importance to the Agency's programmes in the non-power areas of nuclear c~operation. We are convinced that both developed and developing countries can greatly benefit from these programmes. In concluding, I wish to reiterate my country's support of the International Atomic Agency and to express once again our c~nfidence in the Director General and his highly skilled technical and scientific staff. lllr. GUERRA SERNA (Colombia) (interpretation from Spanish): Colombia's purpose in speaking in this general debate on the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is to support the commendable work being done by that Agency and to comment on an issue of importance in Colombia's foreign policy. At a time when the world is enveloped in a black storm clouds which threaten to plunge it into an irreversible nuclear winter, the work of the Agency is invaluable in preserving international peace and harmony and in fostering the development of multilateral co-operation itself. The Agency's work in promoting the peaceful application of the release of the atom is its most significant contribution to the United Nations system. This vital task takes the form of concerted research work, the appropriate transfer of technology and the timely exchange of information. Eaually important is its active commitment to the establishment of systematic nuclear safety measures. In this respect Colombia believes that no effort should be spared in order to hring about universal standardization of safeguards. It will be possible to speak of a reliahle system only when the monitoring powers of the IAEA are strengthened so that absolutely all nuclear facilities, whether military or civilian, are under its monitoring and vigilance in situ. (Mr. Guerra Serna, Colombia) We believe that the Agency should have a control, ~erification and monitoring system which is wholly binding on all national, regional and world authorities in the field of radiological protection to prevent or neutralize the increasingly frequent accidents. From this standpoint, we believe that every State Member of the United Nations should accede as promptly as possible to the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency. On the eve of the third millennium, scarcely more than 10 years from the twenty-first century, the staggering speed of technological and scientific advances taking place in outer space, in the oceans and in nuclear fission energy are generating certain benefits which should be shared by all mankind as part of the collective sacred right to develo~nent. Colombia, a developing, non-aligned country, wishes to see the IAEA equipped with the instruments and budgets that it needs to increase its co-operation programmes a hundredfold. In this way the third world would be in a position to benefit from the peaceful use of nuclear energy, regardless of level of development, scientific capacity or econom~c power. For this reason we ~iew with satisfaction the Agency's commitment to upgrading the infrastructure of States members for the planning, execution and management of nuclear energy projects by means of training courses, technical co-operation programmes and advisory missions. The fact that the 397 nuclear power plants currently on line throughout the world are prod~cing 15 per cent of the world's total output of electricity is convincing proof of the importance of the peaceful uses of the atom. Our growing awareness of the wealth of possibilities opening for our countries in this field should prompt us to establish a collective decisiun-making super-power here in the Uni ted Na tions capable of org an iz ing flex ible, gen erous and las ting international co-operation, free from merely commercial interests or purely political motives. We must not forget that the ultimate goal of science and technology should be the quality of life and collective well-being. Therefore the united Nations should spare no effort to st,rengthen the International Atomic Energy Agency as the instrument best fi tted to monitor and ver ify nuclear disarmament. Respect for and campI iance wi th the Agency are the only sure proof of a true des ire for disarmament and a genuine love of peace. We are among the countries eager to see the Agency playing a leading part in the monitoring of disarmament not only in the area of the banning of nuclear tests but also wi th regard to the creation of nuclear-weapon-free zones throughout our war Id. Today we wish to repeat our appeal to the nuclear Power s ro stop carrying ou t tests, particularly those that pose hazards to precious ecosystems, such as the ecosystem of the South Pacific. From this forum we urge all countries, but especially the nuclear threshold Sta tes, to become full parties to the den ucl ear iz a tion agr eemen ts • Man can continue to be the centre of humanist civilization only if the {Xl tential of the a tom is no long er used for des truct ive purposes bu t is channelled wholly into promoting peace, health and well-being for all our peoples. Mr. OKUN (United States of America): I wish to join those who have commended the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on his excellent report and to congratulate him and his staff on the occasion of the Agency's thirtieth anniversary, which was celebrated earlier this year. For nearly three decades the General Assembly has had the opportunity to review on an annual basis the important work which the Agency has undertaken in accordance with its mandate established by the united Nations in 1957. As part of that process many States have commended the 1AEA for its excellent work in the areas of safeguards and nuclear safety and for its effectiveness in prorooting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy throughout the globe. The consistency with which the General Assembly has expressed its support for the 1AEA bears witness. to the fact that the Agency plays a unique and valuable role in support of the overall goals and principles of the Uni ted Na tions, as well as the specific needs of its member s. Specifically, the Agency has played a role of primary importance in promoting global peace and security through the maintenance of an effective system of safeguards. IAEA safeguards continue to serve as a necessary foundation for international co-operation in a full range of peaceful nuclear technologies, inclUding power production, medical applications, agriculture and industry. Despite the fact that the demand for safeguards coverage has grown in recent years as more nuclear facilities have become operational, and despite the budget stringencies being experienced by the Agency and the rest of the United Nations system, the Agency has not allowed effectiveness in its safeguard syst.em to suffeq rather it has sought to use scarce resources with greater efficiency. Last year our discussion of the Agency·s annual report focused upon the IAEA's extraordinary efforts in responding to the Chernobyl nuclear accident. There was an overwhelming consensus that the 1AEA had responded quickly and effectively to the urgent needs and concerns of the international community engendered by that tragic event. Now, a year and a half after the Chernobyl accident, well after public attention has moved to other issues, the IAEA is continuing to address the longer-term consequences of that event, in an effort to improve operational safety (Mr. Ok un, Un i ted Sta tes) In this connection two important legal instruments, both negotiated under the auspices of the IAEA, have come into effect within the past year: first, the Conven tion on Notification and, secondly, the Conven tion on Emergency Assistance in the case of a nuclear accident. In addition, the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material has entered into force. The Agency IS work in facilitating the rapid negotiation of the recent safety Conventions has been exceptional, as has the more prolonged process of concluding work on the physical protection Convention. Whether in safeguards, safety, research or technical assistance, the accomplishments of the Agency are numerous and invaluable. I am certain that each IAEA member represented in this Hall could provide a litany of the benefits which his country has derived from its participation in the Agency, beyond those broader interests in peace and security which we all share. As we look towards the future, however, it is critical that we seek, with resolve, to preserve the serious technical character of the IAEA and work to prevent the encroachment of eKtraneous political issues into the Agency's deliberations. CMr. Ok un, Un i ted Sta t.es) Th ff other Cl.' rcumstances, can prove e e ects of politicization, as demonstrated in devastating to the continued viability of a technical organization. We for our part share the hope of many States that, in the interests of the Agency, the tendency to perpetuate pol!tical debates in IAEA will he brought to a decisive end. In conclusion, I should like to underscore my Government's strong support for IAEA ' 1 ely with other members , together with our commitment to continue workl.ng c os of the Agency to promote its many programmes, which ar.e so vital to us alL Mr. BATIOUK (Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Repuhlic) (interpretation from Russian): As one of the or iginal members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Ukrainian soviet Socialist Republic has consistently supported and taken an active part in the multifaceted work done by the Agency. This year the international community, far and wide, has been commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of IAEA, which has become an authoritative, universal centre for international co-operation in the peaceful uses of atomic energy. Its work has played an important part in ensur ing the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and the strengthening of the regime for the safe development of nuclear energy. The Agency's successes are the concrete result of co-operation among all countries, and primarily the major nuclear Powers. They also serve as a clear example that, if mutual interests are taken into account, complex problems relating to the use of nuclear power can be solved, thereby ensuring universal progress. Thanks to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NP'I'), IAEA has achieved a lofty status in international affairs. By implementing practical control over the peaceful uses of nuclear materials, the Agency has, in essence, been shouldering much of the world community's responsibility for ensuring that the process of producing and using atomic energy is not turned hy non-nuclear countries into a process of acquiring nuclear weapons. (Mr. Okun, United States) We can only support the idea expressed earlier in this discussion by the representative of CzechoslovaKia that the system of control being carried out by IAEA is truly irreplaceable. The universal strengthening of the regime for the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons has been and remains the Agency's primary task. The successful functioning of lAEA control in regard to non-proliferation is convincing proof of the feasibility of guaranteeing a non-nuclear future for the Earth, and, concretely, of bringing about this nuclear-free world by the year 2000 - as envisaged in the Soviet programme dated 15 January 1986. On the other hand, progress in nuclear disarmament, which must be viewed in the light of the recent agreements between the United States and the Soviet Union, will inevitably, we are firmly convinced, go hand in hand with success in developing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes ana will lead to expanded international co-operation and the strengthening of the Agency's role. The Ukrainian SSR actively supports the work and the programme of the Agency and commends its efforts in giving technical assistance to developing countries. We are in favour of the further development and perfecting of the forms ana methods of such assistance. Each year, in addition to our contribution to the regular bUdget of the Agency, the Ukrainian SSR allocates a large voluntary contribution to the Agency's Technical Assistance Fund. In 198B this contribution, in national currency, will amount to $482,000. Given the complex financ~al situation of the Agency, mentioned yesterday by the Director General, Mr. Blix, the Ukrainian SSR is allocating its contribution to lAEA's regular budget at an earlier date than it has done before.* (Mr. Batiouk, Ukrainian SaR) The scientific and research institutes of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR are participating in research contracts under the Agency's programmes. The Ukrainian SSR takes an active part in the international exchange of scientific and technical information on nuclear science and technology. context of its programmes of technical assistance to developing countries, each year the Ukrainian SSR holds training courses and seminars for specialists of such countries. Over the past 10 years, some 800 specialists from about 6U countries have taken part in such events. Recently, we organi?ed in Kiev, under the aegis of IAEA and the World Health Organization, an international course on the medical applications of nuclear energy. Radiologists from about 30 countries took part in that course. Broader international co-operation in the field of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy can be promoted by the establishment of an international regime for the safe development of such energy. The Ukrainian SSR once again calls on all countries to involve themselves actively in the programmes for the establishment of an international regime for the safe development of nuclear energy. Implementation of such a programme would enable us to avoid mistakes and accidents, which can have such dire conseauenceS for the health and lives of peoples. Last year's accident at Chernohyl heightened the awareness by world public opinion of the problem of the safety of nuclear energy. It should he noted that the Agency was auick to reflect this event in its work. This prohlem is becoming increasingly urgent because of the further huild-up of energy production to meet the needs of present and future generations. Nuclear power plant accidents and leaks of radioactive material alert us to the extremely dangerous conseauences of the possible deliberate destruction of nuclear installations. Our country is in favour of working out a system of (Mr. Batiouk, Ukrainian SSR) In the t t I measures to prevent attacks on nuclear f~cilities. Under such a system, all States would undertake the appropriate obligations. A reliahle system of measures should be worked out, too, to prevent nuclear terrorism, in any of its manifestations. Ensuring the safe, peaceful Use of atomic energy and freeing our planet from nuclear weapons reauire broad-based international co-operation and the combined efforts of all States - pr imarily the nuclear States - and support by all countries of the appropriate work done by IAEA in this sphere. In 1986, through the collective efforts of all countries, it was possible to draft in a short period of time the international Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and the international Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency. Those Conventions have been signed by a large number of states and have entered into force. They are examples of the effective, collective solution of pressing problems. My country intends in the future as well to promote actively the Agency's work for the strengthening of peace and security and the futher development of international co-operation in the peaceful uses of atomic energy. (Mr. Batiouk, Ukrainian SSR) Mr. At KITAL (Iraq) (interpretation from Arabic): It is with great pleasure that I address the General Assembly for the first time this year. I am also pleased at the outset to convey to Mr. Peter Florin our sincere congratulations on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly and to wish him and the Vice-Presidents every success. May I extend our thanks and appreciation to the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the valuable information in his statement of yesterday, in which he ex~lained and complemented the contents of the annual report of the Agency for 1986. That report has special significance, as this is the year of the thirtieth anniversary of the Agency. I wish to sieze this opportunity to laud the Agency and its secretariat, under Mr. Hans Blix, whose experience, far-sightedness and excellent leadership have had the greatest positive effect in enabling the Agency to perform its tasks. On this occasion, may I also commend the Agency's activities under Mr. Siegfried Eklund. As Director General of the Agency for over 20 years, he managed its affairs with outstanding efficiency and chalked up a number of major and significant achievements. The IAEA has the right to pride itself on its achievements in encouraging and expanding the peaceful application of atomic energy and verifying that nuclear materials under the safeguards regime are not diverted to military use. Nuclear energy is now in extensive use all over the world in medicine, agriculture, industry, food preservation and other beneficial applications. Today, over 370 nuclear reactors are functional and, collectively, generate approximately 270 gigawatts of electrical power. That progress in the peaceful application of atomic energy has been accompanied by a parallel progress in the improvement of the procedures of nuclear safety and security, and the protection of man and his environment from the hazards of ionized rad~ation. However, this period of the Agency's history has been marred by some fru~trations and setbacks wbich arose from maJor nuclear accidents, such as ~hree Mile Island and Chernobyl. Another major setback and one of the most serious challenges which faced the Agency, its credibility and its safeguards system ana violated the uncontested right of peoples to the peaceful use of nuclear energy was the armed Israeli aggression against the Iraqi nuclear installation, a facility operated by Iraq under the Agency's safeguards system. The Agency has been able to score certain successes in dealing with the effects of some of those setbacks. However, it has not been so successful in dealing with some other cases. The Cnernobyl accident clearly demonstrated the Agency's outstanding ability to play a vital, significant and efficacious role in dealing with emergencies. Its efficiency in that respect has not been less th~n the efficiency it has always shown in dealing with its normal duties. The annual report sets out the activities of the Agency in this field in paragraphs 152 through 198. It gives us pleasure to commend from this rostrum those major and fruitful efforts which have led to the adoption of effectiv~ measures to limit the negative impact of the Chernobyl accident and re-establisb confidence in nuclear power as an important source of ener~y that is needed by tne world and, especially, by tbe developing countries. At this juncture, we wish to welcome the Agency's efforts in the implementation of two highly significant international Conventions, namely, the Convention on the Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency. Iraq is signatory to both Conventions. We strongly believe in the peaceful use of nuclear energy under maximum conditions of nuclear safety and security. However, our full appreciation of all those measures does not cancel the fact that, in our view, they will fall short of achieving their purposes unless the following is taken into consideration: , First, an armed aggression against nuclear installations constitutes, in one of its aspects, an issue that is closely linked with nuclear safety. Therefore, measures of nuclear safety will remain incomplete unless an international accord can be reached on the prevention of armed aggression against nuclear installations. We would like to reiterate, at thlS point, that tne I~A has an important role to play in this respect. The Agency has admirably proved its ability to formulate two internationa~ Conventions in the course of two tihort months in the aftermath of the Chernobyl accident, it must therefore be quite capable of formulating an international convention which prohibits aggression against nuclear installations. Secondly, nuclear safety is not an end Qer se. Hather, it is an integral part of the technology of the peaceful application of atomic energy. Therefore, raising the safety standards may not mean much to us or to other developing countries unless it is accompanied by measures which facilitate the transfer of nuclear technology and make possible the exchange of information between the supplier and the beneficiary. In this respect, we believe that the Agency has not been able to take the appropriate decision. There are other situations also where the measures adopted by the Agency have not risen to the necessary level set out by its Statute. We refer, in particular, to the question of the armed aggression against the nuclear installations of which I spoke earlier and the increased military nuclear capabilities of the regimes of South Africa and Israel, which represent a grave threat to peace and security and which directly threaten technical and scientific progress in Arab and African states. The political interests of some States have played a very major part in preventing the decision-maklng apparatus of the Agency from adopting ttle necessary deterrent measures which could halt nuclear proliferation in Africa and the Middle East, and prevent those two regimes from causing a nuclear disaster. (Mr. Al Kital, Ir aq) In this respect, my delegation would like to refer to paragraphs 39 to 43 of the annual report of the Agency dealing with Israel and South Africa. Those paragraphs are part of a general reference to resolutions of the General Assembly which are relevant to the work of the Agency. It is noticeable here that these paragraphs do not contain any reference to any measures taken by the Agency on this issue. In his statement, the Director General spoke of the situation concerning ~outh Africa, but said nothing on Israel's continued rejection of all the resolutions that have called upon it to place its nuclear installations under international control, including those of the General Conference of the Agency, the last of which was resolution GC (XXXI)/RES/470, adopted in September. Iraq, like other developing countries, enthusiastically supports the Agency and co-operates with it, because of the ilnportant role it plays in fostering the peaceful uses of atomic energy and its many other activities, which are of great value. Therefore, my delegation would like to give its full support to the call of the Director. General to the member States - especially those developing countries not suffering acute economic problems - to make their budget contributions to the Agency on time. Finally, my delegation calls for the adoption of draft resolut10n A/42/L.6 by consensus. Mr. NIKULIN (Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic) (interpretation from Russian): This year the international public, and thus the public of my country, has commemorated the thirtieth anniversary of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), whose fruitful work has been broadly recognized throughout the world. Over the last 30 years the IAEA has made great progress in discharging its charter functions. Throughout this period the Agency has played a key role in international co-operation in the peaceful uses of atomic energy and has effectively helped to increase the safety of peoples by carrying out con trol functions under the non-proliferation Treaty. The Agency has become a gener ally recognized cen tre for in ternational co-operation in the field of science and technology, and has demonstrated the advantages of the peaceful, creative potential of nuclear energy, as opposed to its military uses, and has become a major scientific and political authority in this area. Through its work, the Agency has convincingly shown that the international communi ty has appropr ia te, effective and rei iable machinery for co-ordinating action in the field of the peaceful, safe uses of atomic energy. The present stage of developnent of nuclear energy urgently requires expanding and deepening international co-operation among states in all areas of the peaceful uses of atomic energy, primarily in the vitally important sphere of nuclear and radiation safety. The 1986 IAEA repor t reflects the successful performance of its tasks and important areas of the Agency's work, such as safeguards, nuclear energy and technical co-opera tion in the system of nuclear information. Particular endorsement and all-round support is deserved by the expanded nuclear and radiation security programme, which seeks to increase international co-operation in improving the safety of nuclear energy. The programme fully covers all the most pressing aspects of the problem, from working out sophistica ted systems and technologies to taking installations out. of operation. (Mr. Nikulin, Byelorussian SSR) This same purpose could be served by the international system of global control OVer radia tion safety and the use of satellite oommun ications. Accidents at nuclear electric stations in various countries, inter alia Chernobyl, have quite clearly raised the question of the need for close international co-operation to increase the safety of nuclear energy. We fully support the appropriate work being done by the Agency in this regard. The Byelorussian SSR welcomes the entry into force of the Conventions on the early notification of a nuclear accident and on assistance in the case of a nuclear accident or radiological emergency, to which we are parties. In viewing the problem as a whole, I should also like to take note of logic and appropriateness of international co-operation under the aegis of the IAEA in developing safer, new generation energy reactors on the basis of contemporary world experience and know-how. It is high time to set up a safe, reliable system of measures to prevent attacks on nuclear facilities and to work out an appropriate international convention on the subject. Appropriate measures should be taken .to prevent nuclear terrorism and to provide international laws to regulate liability for nuclear damage. It- is quite clear that the safety of nuclear energy has a direct relationship to the ecological safety of mankind as a whole, and the very real threat of an ecological catastrophe that we face. Ecological safety is a componen t par t of the system of comprehensive security, which is becoming increasingly real throughout the United Nations system. This point was convincingly made by the Heads of state and representatives of a number of countries in discussing the problem of the environment. Naturally, the Agency cannot disregard processes occurring in the world that will v i tally affect the fu ture of the whole of mank ind, and it is (Mr. Nikulin, Byelorussian SSR) attain speedy agreement on the sUbject of a treaty on the universal banning of nuclear-weapon tests, to which the United Nations has attached great importance for many years. We would stress the extreme importance for the safety of the peoples of the world of the non-proliferation Treaty and the work of the IAEA with regard to its implementation, and would note that the Agency has created an effective system of control which guarantees the necessary reliability, speed and scope in the matter of inspection and information. We can note with satisfaction that, as is stated in the IAEA report, in 1986, as earlier, the Agency's secretariat did not discover any violations indicating the diversion of safeguarded nuclear mater1als and installations for the production of nuclear weapons or for other military purposes, or for the creation of nuclear explosive devices. We favour increasing tne effectiveness of the lAEA's control over threshold States, particularly those that have not yet acceded to the non-proliferation Treaty. We would draw attention to the need also to apply safeguards when providing types of technological assistance, which we are convinced would not lower its effectiveness. My country has always attached great importance to a vital area of the lAEA's work: technical assistance and co-operation with member countries of the Agency. We note with satisfaction the constant ~rowtn of the work done by the Agency with regard to the transfer of experience, know-how, technology and equipment for the peaceful uses of atomic energy and for enhancement of the social and ecological development of countries receiving technical assistance. (Mr. N1Kulin, Byelorussian SSR) My country's position of principle on co-operation with developing countries is reflected in the constan t increase in our voluntary contr ibutions to the Agency's Fund for Technical Assistance and Co-operation. We support all aspects of t,he IAEA's work and actively participate in its most important programmes. The future programme for the peaceful uses of atomic energy, endorsed by our Republic, and our achievements in this area, make it possible for us actively to participate in international co-operation in this important area. (Mr. Nikulin, Byelorussian SSR) We deem it necessary to establish proper conditions for the effective discharge by the Agency of the tasks before it. In this connection, we consiaer it inadmissible to exert any financial pressure over the Agency. In conclusion, I should like to state that the Byelorussian SSR advocates all-round enhancement of the international authority of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the expansion of its multifaceted activities and ltS active participation in developing co-operation for the peaceful uses of atomic energy. Mr. TEWARI (India): I should like to congratulate the President on his election to the highest office of the General Assembly. We are confident that under his guidance and stewardship the proceedings of the General Assembly will run smoothly and in a spirit of consensus. We also congratulate the members of his team on their election. We have before us the annual report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the year 1986. According to the report, the total installed power generating capacity in the world increased by about ij.9 per cent during 19ij6, reaching 273.76 gigawatts by the end of the year. Nuclear power plants accounted for more than 15 per cent of the world's electriclty generation in 19d6, at tne end of which there were 397 nuclear power plants in operation, representing an accumulated operating experience of more tnan 4,200 reactors years. AS indicated in the report, the most important event in 1986 in the nuclear power field was the Chernobyl accident. We are happy to note that the Agency, as well as various countries of the world, rose to the occasion and contributed their best to the containment of the fall-out. The Agency's report notes that, thOUgh the accident produced an expected immediate upsurge in pUblic and political opposition to nuclear power in many countries, it did not cause the cancellation of (Mr. Nikulin, Byelorussian tiSR) We wish to take this opportunity to express our appreciation of the efforts of the IAEA and its Director General for the role they nave played in the develo~ment of peaceful uses of nuclear energy. We trust that the Agency will continue to come up with new ideas and improved technology for the chea~er and safer exploitation of nuclear energy for power production. We note that efforts in developing radiation protection guidelines and helping member states to apply them continued during tne year 1986. The Agency also continued to provide a forum for the exchange of scientific information. It is gratifying that the Conference s~onsored by the Agency in Vienna in early 1986 stressed the need for the introduction of foolproof safety standards. We note that efforts to strengthen the infrastructure of developing member States for the planning, implementation and operation of nuclear power projects continued through interregional and national training courses, technical co-operation projects, advisory missions and guide books. India has made steady and significant progress in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. We have a programme to produce 10,000 megawatts of electricity by the end of the century from our nuclear J:.>ower plants. We have long recognized the many practical applications for peaceful uses of nuclear energy. We are using isotopes for radiation in medicine, industry and agriculture. We are in the process of expanding the application of isotopes to other. fields as well, such as public hygiene and the preservation of fooastuffs. We should like to impress upon the Agency the need for applied trained manpower available in the third world countries in enhancing international co-operation for research, development and training related to nuclear science and technology rather than drawing personnel prej?onderantly from a few donor countries. We are aware of the benefits of regional co-operative agreement for research, development and training and [laVe been contributing to this in a (Mr. Tewari, India) On the question of nuclear safeguards, we maintain that this should be universal and all nuclear facilities, including nuclear weapon facilities, should be brought under its scope. We maintain that agreement, in terms of the statute of the Agency, should accrUe from sovereign volition. The basic guidelines for this purpose should be twofold: commitment of non-nuclear-weapon States to use the atom only for peaceful purposes and co~nitment of nuclear-weapon States to dismantle their nuclear arsenals and rid the world of the threat of nuclear holocaust. India will continue to extend its co-operation to the IA.b:A in the furtnering of the objectives of the Agency. We support draft resolution A/42/L.6 now before the General Assembly. The PRBSIDEN'l': We have heard the last speaker in tne debate on this item. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/42/L.6. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/42/L.6? Draft resolution A/42/L.6 was adopted (resolution 42/6) •