A/66/PV.46 General Assembly

Since 11 March, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been working on the very serious accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan. I will therefore begin by reflecting on that accident and its aftermath, before talking about other aspects of our work. As the Assembly knows, the accident at Fukushima Daiichi was caused by an earthquake and a tsunami of unprecedented severity, which struck eastern Japan on 11 March. The IAEA has been doing everything it can to help Japan bring the situation at the site under control and to mitigate the consequences of the accident. The Japanese authorities and the operator have been working steadily to stabilize the reactors and are now confident that the so-called cold shutdown will be achieved by the end of the year. The IAEA will continue to assist Japan as it tackles the challenging work of decontamination and remediation in the affected areas. In September, our 151 member States endorsed a 12-point IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety. Key elements of the Action Plan include an agreement that all countries with nuclear power programmes will promptly undertake what have become known as “stress tests” of their nuclear power plants. The framework for expert peer reviews by the IAEA of operational safety at nuclear power plants is being strengthened. The effectiveness of national and international emergency preparedness and response arrangements, IAEA safety standards and relevant international conventions will also be reviewed. The Action Plan represents a significant step forward. It is vital that it be fully implemented in all countries with nuclear power and that the right lessons be learned from the Fukushima Daiichi accident. I would like to express my gratitude to Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon for having convened a high- level meeting on nuclear safety and security in September and bringing United Nations system organizations together to collaborate on this issue. Nuclear safety is the responsibility of individual countries, but the IAEA — the only international organization with expertise in all aspects of nuclear energy — will play the leading role in shaping a safer nuclear future throughout the world. Despite the accident, the IAEA’s latest projection is that the number of operating nuclear reactors in the world will continue to increase steadily in the coming decades, although less rapidly than was anticipated before the accident. Most of the growth will occur in countries that already have operating nuclear power plants, such as China and India. Many developing countries still plan to introduce nuclear power in the coming years. The factors contributing to encouraging interest in nuclear power have not changed. These factors include increasing global demand for energy, concerns about climate change, volatile fossil fuel prices and the security of energy supplies. Nuclear security remains an extremely important issue for all States. In September, we marked the tenth anniversary of the 11 September 2011 terrorist attacks in the United States. In the wake of those attacks, the Agency significantly expanded its nuclear security programme to help countries protect nuclear and other radioactive material and associated facilities against malicious acts. The number of States participating in our Illicit Trafficking Database programme continues to grow; it now stands at 113. In the year to June 2011, 172 incidents were reported to the Database. Fourteen involved activities such as unauthorized possession and/or attempts to sell or smuggle nuclear material or radioactive sources. Another 32 incidents involved the theft or loss of nuclear or other radioactive material. Incidents of this nature demonstrate that security weaknesses continue to exist and must be addressed. I look forward to attending the second Nuclear Security Summit, to be hosted by the Republic of Korea in March. I note once again that progress towards the entry into force of the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material remains slow, six years after its adoption. Adherence to the Amendment can significantly reduce the risk of nuclear material falling into the wrong hands. I encourage the parties to the Convention to work towards accelerating the entry into force of the Amendment. In the area of nuclear applications, one major success story deserves special attention — the worldwide eradication of the deadly cattle disease rinderpest. Rinderpest is, in fact, the first animal disease ever to be eliminated, which is a momentous achievement and of enormous economic benefit to many developing countries. The net benefit to Africa alone is estimated at more than $1 billion per year. Together with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Organisation for Animal Health, the African Union and other partners, the IAEA played an important part in eliminating this disease. Our role included making available affordable diagnostic techniques and training veterinary staff. The same technologies used to eliminate rinderpest are now being successfully applied to diagnose and control other transboundary animal diseases. In Mongolia, for example, the Agency assisted in the successful control of a devastating outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease that threatened the entire livestock population of about 50 million animals. The Agency has paid special attention this year to nuclear techniques related to water. That was the subject of our annual scientific forum in September, which was attended by leading scientists and Government officials. Nearly 1 billion people lack access to adequate drinking water. The Agency can help countries to undertake comprehensive assessments of water resources by making available unique information provided through the techniques of isotope hydrology. I will say more on this subject in a moment. In September, we celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the IAEA Environment Laboratories in Monaco. The Laboratories have made an outstanding contribution to protecting our oceans and seas by developing advanced analytical methods and reference materials for assessing marine radioactivity and pollution. The IAEA technical cooperation programme provides essential support to Member States in every region. Through the programme, Member States address national development priorities in fields where nuclear techniques offer advantages over other approaches or can usefully supplement them. New resources for the technical cooperation programme as a whole rose to $127.7 million in 2010, from $112.2 million in 2009. Nuclear safety was the largest area of activity overall, followed by human health, food and agriculture. In September, the General Assembly held a High- Level Meeting on non-communicable diseases. IAEA human health projects and technical cooperation projects on water management and identification of pollution sources help countries to address non-communicable diseases, including cancer, diabetes and water-borne illnesses. In the field of water, I would like to mention a very promising technical cooperation project in El Salvador, where the Agency has helped to establish a permanent monitoring system to provide early warnings of harmful algal blooms. If undetected, they can enter the food chain and cause serious, sometimes fatal, illness. El Salvador’s fishing communities are benefiting directly from nuclear technologies that provide faster and more accurate warnings of algal blooms, and make it possible to close selected fishing grounds during danger periods. In Kenya, a drip irrigation project, supported by the IAEA, has helped the Maasai people to grow more crops for both animal and human consumption. In addition to conserving precious water resources, the project has made it possible for more parents to afford schooling for their children. Turning to nuclear verification, I am pleased to note that 112 countries have brought into force additional protocols to their safeguards agreements with the IAEA. That is very encouraging. The additional protocol is an essential tool for the Agency to be able to provide credible assurance not only that declared nuclear material is not being diverted from peaceful uses, but also that there are no undeclared nuclear materials and activities in a country. I strongly hope that the remaining States will conclude additional protocols as soon as possible. I also ask the 14 non-nuclear-weapon States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons without safeguards agreements in force to implement them without delay. I have continued to report regularly to our Board of Governors on the implementation of Agency safeguards in a number of countries. IAEA reports on the implementation of safeguards in Iran have been sent to the Security Council since 2006. In my recent reports, I stated that Iran is not providing the necessary cooperation to enable the Agency to conclude that all nuclear materials in Iran are used for peaceful activities. I urge Iran to take steps towards the full implementation of all relevant obligations in order to establish international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear programme. In the case of Syria, the Agency recently came to the conclusion that it is very likely that a building destroyed at the Dair Alzour site in 2007 was a nuclear reactor that should have been declared to the Agency. In June, the IAEA Board of Governors found Syria to be in non-compliance with its safeguards obligations. It reported that non-compliance to the Security Council and the General Assembly. The nuclear programme of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea remains a matter of serious concern. As may be known, the Agency has not been able to implement any safeguards measures in that country since April 2009. Last year’s reports about the construction of a new uranium enrichment facility and a light-water reactor in that country are deeply troubling. I continue to urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to fully implement all relevant resolutions of the IAEA General Conference and the Security Council. Our efforts to improve the analytical capability and security of the Agency’s safeguards laboratories have made excellent progress. The new extension to the Clean Laboratory for Safeguards, near Vienna, was completed on time and slightly under budget, and has been operational for several months. It greatly improves the Agency’s ability to independently analyse environmental samples for safeguards. In September 2000, the IAEA General Conference tasked the Director General with making arrangements to convene a forum, at which participants from the Middle East and other interested parties could learn from the experience of nuclear-weapon-free zones already established in other regions. My consultations with member States showed that conditions are now favourable for the holding of such a forum. I have therefore decided to convene the forum in Vienna on 21 and 22 November. It will consider the relevance to the Middle East of the experience of Africa, the South Pacific, South-East Asia, Central Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean in establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones. I hope that it will be a successful meeting.

I thank Mr. Amano for his briefing. I now give the floor to the representative of Italy to introduce draft resolution A/66/L.6.

First of all, I wish to thank Director General Amano for his report on the activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2010 (see A/66/95) and to express my deep appreciation for his skilful leadership of the Agency. I also pay tribute to the efforts of the Agency and its staff after the tragic disaster that struck Japan this past March, proving once again the centrality and fundamental importance of their work. Let me take this opportunity to renew my solidarity with the Japanese people for the suffering caused by the most devastating tsunami, as well as my admiration for their resilience. I take the floor today to introduce, under agenda item 86, draft resolution A/66/L.6, entitled “Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency”, because Italy was elected Chair of the Agency’s Board of Governors for the 2011-2012 period. Indeed, it is a great honour for my country. We look forward to working together with the States members of the Agency, the Director General and his staff in the coming months to further strengthen its fulfilment of its mandate. Italy is firmly convinced that safety, security and nuclear safeguards are essential to ensuring the peaceful use of nuclear energy to protect the health of the population and the integrity of the environment. We advocate a strong international nuclear regime to guarantee that commitments and obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) are verified through the strict and independent monitoring of the Agency. We will continue our traditional commitment to the full range of its activities, bearing in mind the responsibilities incumbent upon the Chair of the Board of Governors. The Fukushima Daiichi disaster has dramatically underlined the need to strengthen international cooperation on nuclear safety. We all know that the effects of a severe nuclear accident do not stop at national borders. Therefore, the ongoing improvement of nuclear safety must be a common goal for us all. There is a growing consensus worldwide towards the adoption of concrete measures to that end without further delay, and the Agency has a leading role to play in that endeavour. We are therefore pleased with the General Conference’s recent adoption of the Action Plan on Nuclear Safety. We are ready to consider new measures to strengthen the international nuclear safety regime, and call for universal adherence to all the international conventions adopted under the auspices of the Agency that are crucial to the international safety regime. Reducing the risk of access to and malicious use of nuclear material by non-State actors is a shared goal of the international community. Italy is fully committed to the success of the process of strengthening national measures and international cooperation on nuclear security along the lines agreed to in the Washington, D.C., communiqué and plan of work. We strongly support an enhanced role for the Agency and its nuclear security programme, and we are particularly interested in strengthening national capacities through advanced training and the development of a nuclear security culture. One concrete initiative in this area is the first course of the International School on Nuclear Security, inaugurated in April under the auspices of the Italian Government and in collaboration with the Agency and the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) at its premises in Trieste. As a result of the positive evaluation of this first course, Italy intends to develop the school further and offer it on a regular basis, in cooperation with the Agency and the ICTP and with the support of other donors. Strengthening the international safeguards regime remains one of the shared goals of the Agency’s member States. Italy upholds the Agency’s role in verifying the full compliance of States with their non-proliferation obligations in accordance with the comprehensive safeguards agreement. That is why we hope to see the additional protocol universally adopted, which would significantly increase the Agency’s ability to verify through the agreement the peaceful use of all nuclear material held by States. To achieve a world without weapons of mass destruction, every country must shoulder this collective responsibility and do its utmost to advance our non-proliferation and disarmament agenda. We strongly believe that the goals set at the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the NPT are achievable, and we continue to support the efforts of the Secretary- General and the three NPT depositary States to convene an international conference in 2012 on the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems in the Middle East. The peaceful use of nuclear energy is still one of the Agency’s main goals. We believe that the development of safe technology is extremely important to the improvement of nuclear applications worldwide, as is addressing global challenges and promoting the relevant Millennium Development Goal through the adoption of carefully designed technical cooperation programmes. We are committed to fostering the Agency’s activities in developing nuclear applications aimed at achieving medical and scientific advances in the areas of human health, food and agriculture, water resources and the protection of the environment. Despite the present international financial situation, support for the Technical Cooperation Fund and the activities under it to be promoted by the Agency remains of key importance. In Italy’s capacity as Chair of the Agency’s Board of Governors, allow me to introduce, under agenda item 86, the draft resolution “Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency”, contained in document A/66/L.6, on behalf of Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, the Russian Federation, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United Republic of Tanzania, the United States of America, Uruguay and Zambia, as well as on behalf of Italy. As in previous years, the consensus text, the result of consultations in Vienna, notes with appreciation the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency; takes note of the resolutions adopted at the fifty-fifth regular session of the IAEA General Conference held from 19 to 23 September; reaffirms the General Assembly’s strong support for the Agency’s indispensable role in encouraging and assisting the development and practical application of atomic energy for peaceful uses, in technology transfer to developing countries and in nuclear safety, verification and security; and appeals to Member States to continue to support the Agency’s activities. The draft resolution is also open to further sponsorship, of course, and it is the hope of the sponsors that it will be adopted by consensus.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU) and its member States. We are pleased to support draft resolution A/66/L.6 on the report (see A/66/95) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which again reaffirms the indispensable role of the Agency with regard to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and in assisting the development and practical application of atomic energy for peaceful uses, as well as in technology transfer to developing countries and in nuclear safety, verification and security. This year has been overshadowed by the tragic consequences of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on 11 March, which led to the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The accident at Fukushima has changed the landscape of nuclear safety worldwide, and presents a strong challenge to the IAEA and the wider international community. The EU has sought to play its part in meeting this challenge. The EU-Japan summit of 28 May signalled enhanced EU-Japanese cooperation in promoting the highest standards of nuclear safety worldwide, working in particular through the IAEA and the Group of Eight and Group of 20 processes. The Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety organized by the IAEA in June, in which the EU took an active part, began the process of ensuring that we, the international community, draw lessons from this accident and work to implement them in order to ensure the implementation of the highest standards of nuclear safety globally. The EU welcomes the declaration that emerged from the June meeting, followed by the IAEA’s Action Plan on Nuclear Safety. We appreciate the Secretary-General’s high-level meeting on nuclear safety, which took place in the margins of the General Assembly on 22 September. International cooperation is crucial to promoting the global nuclear safety framework. In the light of the Fukushima accident, the EU is undertaking, as a matter of priority, a review of the safety of all EU nuclear power plants on the basis of a comprehensive and transparent risk and safety assessment, or stress tests. Neighbouring and other countries have been invited to participate in these tests with the involvement of the IAEA and other relevant international organizations. In parallel with the stress tests, the EU will conduct a review of the existing European legal and regulatory framework for the safety of nuclear installations, to be completed by the end of this year. In 2009, the EU adopted a nuclear safety directive, giving binding legal force in all 27 EU member States to the main nuclear safety standards. A similar directive was adopted this July on the responsible and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste. The EU remains committed to effective multilateral action against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. We therefore welcomed the consensus reached at the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The action plan agreed on, as well as the agreement on a process for the implementation of the 1995 resolution on the Middle East, including a conference to be convened in 2012, demonstrated our common resolve not only to uphold but also to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime. The EU organized a seminar in Brussels on 6 and 7 July to contribute to the process for the 2012 conference. The seminar allowed for inclusive participation and for an open and constructive exchange of views on the creation of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. We now look forward to the IAEA forum to be convened by the IAEA Director General, which will take place on 21 and 22 November in Vienna. This spirit of cooperation on the road to the 2012 conference is laudable, and we should all work to maintain it. The 2010 NPT Review Conference reaffirmed the role of the IAEA in verifying and assuring compliance by States with their safeguards obligations, with a view to preventing the diversion of nuclear material from peaceful uses. The EU remains deeply concerned by the protracted and serious challenges to the non-proliferation regime posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Syrian Arab Republic, as reported by the Director General of the IAEA. The EU reaffirms its understanding of the role of the Security Council, as the final arbiter of international peace and security, in taking appropriate action in the event of non-compliance with NPT obligations, including safeguards agreements. The Agency’s system of safeguards is a fundamental component of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and plays an indispensable role in the implementation of the NPT. In that respect, the EU would like to express its strongest regret that, during the fifty-fifth session of the IAEA General Conference, no resolution was adopted on strengthening the effectiveness and improving the efficiency of the safeguards system and application of the Model Additional Protocol. This was the first session in which the resolution on strengthening safeguards was not adopted by the IAEA’s General Conference. The EU calls on the Agency and the member States to work together to ensure that the important issue of safeguards is properly addressed at the fifty-sixth regular session of the General Conference of the IAEA. The EU reiterates its view that the measures contained in the Model Additional Protocol form an integral part of the IAEA safeguards system, and that comprehensive safeguards agreements, together with additional protocols, constitute the current IAEA verification standard. The EU calls for the universalization of those two essential instruments of the IAEA safeguards system without delay. The EU is of the view that countries considering or planning to include nuclear power in their energy strategies should closely cooperate with the IAEA so as to ensure that the most stringent legal, operational, safety, security and non-proliferation conditions are met. The EU remains firmly convinced of the benefits of multilateral approaches to the nuclear fuel cycle. In line with the NPT conclusions on this matter, the EU welcomes the steps taken to establish an IAEA low-enriched uranium bank and reaffirms the EU’s commitment to providing financial support for the endeavour. The financing could comprise up to €20 million from the Instrument for Stability, plus an additional contribution of up to €5 million via a European Union Common Foreign and Security Policy decision. We face a new era of threats from non-State actors, particularly terrorists who seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction and related technology and materials, one of the potentially most destructive risks to global security. In the light of the ongoing threats, the EU is actively supporting the implementation of Security Council resolutions 1540 (2004) and 1887 (2009), as well as a number of other international initiatives. Following the successful Nuclear Security Summit on 13 April 2010 in Washington, D.C., the EU looks forward to the follow-up summit in Seoul in March 2012, dedicated to reinforcing the commitments towards improving nuclear security worldwide. The EU supports the important role played by the IAEA in advancing the objectives of the Nuclear Security Summit. The EU supports IAEA activities in the areas of nuclear security in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. The European Union is one of the main contributors to the IAEA’s Nuclear Security Fund through its own contributions and through the contributions of individual EU member States, with a level of funding of around €30 million by the end of 2010. In that respect, the EU welcomes the fact that, in the IAEA’s regular budget, there is an increased proportion for the funding of nuclear security activities in the 2012-2013 programme and budget. Effective physical protection is of the utmost importance to prevent nuclear material from falling into the hands of terrorists or its accidental misuse, and to protect nuclear facilities against unauthorized use and malicious acts. The EU therefore urges all States that have not yet done so to become party to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its Amendment. The EU has also been a strong supporter of the IAEA technical cooperation programme. We value its role in the responsible development of peaceful applications of nuclear technology in the areas of human health, food and agriculture, water resources, the environment and nuclear energy, stressing nuclear and radiation safety in participating member States. The EU greatly values the contribution of technical cooperation programme projects to the Millennium Development Goals. The European Union uses several of its financial instruments to support both the IAEA and cooperation with third countries in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and technology, with a total amount of at least €150 million per year. Part of this funding is implemented in third countries through the IAEA’s Technical Cooperation Fund, to which the EU and its member States are the first contributor.

My delegation would like to thank Mr. Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for introducing the Agency’s report (see A/66/95) and providing an update on developments since the report was submitted to the General Assembly for its consideration. At the outset, the Mongolian Government would like to express once again its deep condolences and sincere sympathy to the people of Japan and its Government for the tragic loss of human life and suffering as a result of the 11 March earthquake and tsunami. The tragic event was a grave reminder of the need to close the existing safety gaps and continuously increase the safety and security of nuclear facilities around the world. The IAEA, the only international organization with the relevant expertise, must lead the international effort to strengthen global nuclear safety and security. As rightly highlighted in its report, in the weeks immediately after the Fukushima accident the IAEA served as an international focal point in assisting the plant operator and the Japanese authorities in overcoming the disastrous consequences of the accident. It also played an important role in providing authenticated information on the situation at and around Fukushima. It should also be pointed out that many member States, as well as the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, the World Health Organization and other relevant international organizations worked closely together during the critical weeks, demonstrating the effectiveness of the United Nations one-house approach to addressing common challenges and needs. My delegation commends the Agency for convening, in June, the Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety, which adopted a declaration aimed at further strengthening nuclear safety, emergency preparedness and protection from radiation of people and the environment throughout the world. Based on the declaration, the IAEA General Conference adopted an Action Plan on Nuclear Safety that envisions 12 main actions focusing on safety assessment, IAEA peer reviews, emergency preparedness and response, capacity-building, communication and information dissemination, as well as research and development. Mongolia believes that vigorous implementation of the Action Plan would contribute tangibly to strengthening the nuclear safety regime. We also believe that the convening, as proposed by the Government of Japan, of an international conference to consider the lessons of Fukushima would also be practically useful in improving emergency preparedness and relief. The post-Fukushima experience has clearly demonstrated the need to strengthen the international liability regime to enable sufficient compensation for the damage caused to people and the environment as a result of such accidents. It is an established fact that nuclear safety and security are a common concern for countries all over the world. These days, they are especially important for countries like Mongolia, as it embarks on uranium exploitation and considers adding nuclear power to its energy mix. Mongolia is well aware that uranium exploitation entails great responsibility, including ensuring the physical security of nuclear material at all stages of the nuclear fuel cycle. It will therefore look to the Agency and its international partners for advice and assistance in the proper exploitation of its uranium reserves. We are now considering conducting a pre-feasibility study with the Agency on whether nuclear power should be included in our energy mix. As part of its initial measures, the Mongolian Government is also working to accede to the Convention on Nuclear Safety and the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. Mongolia further commends the IAEA’s central role in promoting non-proliferation through safeguards and verification, and in promoting the transfer of nuclear knowledge, science and technology to its members. Judging by the IAEA projects in my country, I can say with confidence that the Agency makes a formidable contribution to global development efforts by providing the relevant skills, training and equipment. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the IAEA for its crucial assistance to developing countries, including my own country, Mongolia. Last year, Mongolia was designated the eighth Model Demonstration Site (PMDS) country under the IAEA Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT). As a PMDS, Mongolia is working to develop the required radiotherapy capacity to ensure effective early detection and treatment of cancer. The radiotherapy services will soon be broadened by the installation of a linear particle accelerator in our capital, Ulaanbaatar. In the framework of its cooperation with PACT, the Government of Mongolia has formulated a general action plan for cancer prevention and control for 2011 to 2021 and has adopted a strategic plan for radiotherapy development for the same period. The implementation of these policies will allow us to address the growing scourge of cancer more effectively and at the same time to share our experience as a PMDS country with others. Other priority areas of our cooperation with the Agency include agriculture, food security and overall capacity-building. Being an agricultural country, Mongolia attaches great importance to increasing its agricultural production, especially meat production. Mongolia therefore places special focus on its cooperation with the Agency in the sustainable production and supply of vaccines and diagnostic kits to counter transboundary animal diseases. As a landlocked country with a dry climate, Mongolia welcomed the focus of this year’s Scientific Forum on water and the prospects of its better uses with nuclear technologies, which was held during the IAEA General Conference. This year Mongolia has submitted eight project proposals for the new biennial project cycle 2012-2013, in accordance with its priority needs and the Agency’s mandate. It gives me great pleasure to note that our commitment to strong cooperation with the Agency can be seen from the fact that the IAEA projects in Mongolia have the highest implementation rate in the Asia-Pacific region this year. As in previous years, my delegation is pleased to be a sponsor of the draft resolution on the report of the IAEA, as contained in document A/66/L.6.

We would like to express our appreciation for the annual report (see A/66/95) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and for the efforts of the Agency and its Director General. Pakistan recently concluded its term as Chair of the IAEA Board of Governors for 2010-2011, and our chairmanship underscored the international community’s confidence in Pakistan’s contributions to and role in matters within the Agency’s ambit. In the 54 years since its establishment, the IAEA has emerged as a successful organization in promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy, contributing to peace and security and advancing socio-economic development. The Agency’s role has become even more important in an increasingly complex and challenging international environment. The fast- growing global energy demands, shortages of fossil fuel reserves and diverse environmental challenges, along with safety and security concerns, are likely to engage the IAEA for the foreseeable future. In discharging these functions, it will be important for the Agency to be seen as an impartial, efficient and professional body — not just a nuclear watchdog. We agree with the Agency’s post-Fukushima assessment that nuclear energy will remain a preferable viable, safe and sustainable alternative power source. The events at the Fukushima nuclear plants brought into focus the justifiable public anxiety over the nuclear safety regime. We fully support the IAEA’s role in leading the global efforts to evaluate and institutionalize the lessons-learned process from the Fukushima event. The Agency’s efforts, including the convening of a ministerial conference on nuclear safety and the adoption of a Nuclear Safety Action Plan, have been both timely and useful. The high-level meeting on nuclear safety and security, held by the Secretary- General here in New York in September, also served to catalyse international attention to the important issues of nuclear safety. The Action Plan prepared by the IAEA and its member States provides an important foundation for strengthening the nuclear safety framework worldwide. The high-level meeting rightly reaffirmed the support of its participants for the Agency’s leadership role in the lessons-learned process and in enabling its member States to implement those lessons nationally. In evolving a strengthened nuclear safety regime, it is essential to take into account the varied nature of countries’ needs and circumstances. The course- correction proposals and modalities should be based on technical and objective assessments. The effective implementation of the IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety will depend in large measure on, inter alia, the degree of international assistance and cooperation given to developing countries. We fully endorse the views of the Non-Aligned Movement on this vital aspect, and we look forward to working with member States in carrying forward an agreed nuclear safety agenda. For our part, we have already begun a comprehensive safety review of existing power plants in areas such as site studies, safety systems, emergency power systems, off-site emergency preparedness, and so forth. Such safety appraisals will also be applicable to our future nuclear power plants. We will examine the outcome of this review and make modifications as necessary. The IAEA and Pakistan’s Atomic Energy Commission were launched five decades ago, almost at the same time. The two organizations have grown together and have a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship, which has been of immense value to Pakistan. We have benefited from the expertise made available in the form of expert missions, operational safety review teams, assessment of safety significant events team missions, and the Agency’s Technical Cooperation Programme. We attach the highest importance to the IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme and would like to stress the need for enhanced and assured resource allocation for technical cooperation activities, technology transfer and training facilities for developing countries, inter alia through greater involvement of developing countries in the programme’s design and implementation. Pakistan has long been a strong advocate of utilizing nuclear technology for peace, progress and prosperity for all. The revival of the economy and the socio-economic development of our people is the foremost priority of the Government of Pakistan. Safe and sustainable nuclear energy is essential to advancing our development agenda. The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission is actively engaged in the application of nuclear technology for the socio-economic uplift of the country, which includes such areas as cancer diagnosis and treatment, agriculture, food preservation, water management and industry. But our most important task remains harnessing nuclear energy for the generation of electrical power. At present, the share of nuclear power in Pakistan’s electricity mix is rather modest. We wish to enhance the current level of 750 megawatts (MW) nuclear-power-generation capacity to 8,800 MW by the year 2030. This is a challenging but an equally important development imperative that we are determined to pursue. Early this year, the unanimous approval by the IAEA Board of the C3 and C4 power plants safeguards agreement reflected the international community’s recognition of Pakistan’s expertise in the safe and secure operation of nuclear power plants. The conclusion of this safeguards agreement relating to the two power plants, each of which has a 340-MW power- generation capacity, is an important milestone towards our energy security strategy. The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission is currently operating 14 nuclear medicine and oncology hospitals across the country, while four such hospitals are under construction. These are still not enough for our very large population, and we intend to continue to expand our capabilities in the public sector to cater to the poor and the deserving. We produce most of the radiopharmaceuticals required domestically and, having recently installed a facility for the production of molybdenum-99, are now in a position to export it. Our agriculture and biotechnology centres are also making valuable contributions to the agriculture and livestock sectors of the country. In addition, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission has developed a very sound infrastructure for addressing various problems related to water- resource management using isotope techniques. We are taking part in the IAEA programme involving the inter-calibration of standards and are also providing expert and analytical services in this field to IAEA member States in the region. We have a network of in-house educational and training institutions that encompass all major facets of nuclear science and technology. Besides meeting the needs of our own programmes, these institutes are ready to welcome participants from other IAEA member States. We appreciate the assistance that the IAEA has provided through expert services, equipment and human resource development in helping us to establish and improve all these facilities. This is an area in which IAEA is obligated to foster growth in other countries as well, and, with our experience, we can also help. Nuclear security has emerged as an important area requiring adequate attention and response. While we support the international focus on and efforts to advance the objectives of nuclear security, we share the IAEA view that responsibility for nuclear security rests entirely with each State. At the international level, the IAEA has the leading and central role in evolving guidelines, recommendations, codes and guidance documents in the area of nuclear security. Given its mandate, technical competence and wide membership, the IAEA is a unique platform for its member States to consider proposals for reviewing and strengthening the international framework on nuclear security. In recent years, a number of initiatives and activities have sprung up globally to promote the nuclear security agenda, often with overlapping work. We fully share the concerns of the IAEA over the continuing duplication of nuclear-security-related activities. We wish to reaffirm that the IAEA has the unique role, authority, competency and legitimacy to lead and coordinate policy, operational activities and assistance provision in the field of nuclear security. Similarly, it would be counterproductive, both financially and politically, to duplicate nuclear- security-related activities, particularly in the design and development of parallel guidelines, recommendations, standards and guidance documents in various areas related to nuclear security. Given the distinct nature, character and implementation structures of the IAEA for nuclear safety and nuclear security, we would advise against the pursuit of a single series of standards in the areas of nuclear safety and security. These two areas have divergent philosophies, causes, legal instruments and operational requirements, although the two may share a degree of common risks. Pakistan has taken several legislative, organizational and administrative steps to augment the safety and security of our nuclear installations, facilities, materials and regulatory framework. Our Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) has completed 10 years of its professional work as an effective overseer. The Authority has grown rapidly in the last decade, establishing itself as a strong, independent and credible overseer. The PNRA has augmented its regulatory infrastructure and expanded the scope of its regulatory processes. It has also achieved important milestones, that is, from the regulatory oversight of nuclear materials and equipment to the management of radioactive sources. In doing so, the PNRA has followed international standards and practices while maintaining very close links with the IAEA, as both a recipient and a giver. The professional approach with which the PNRA has executed the nuclear security action plan in Pakistan has won it wide appreciation among its global peers. It is now implementing the second phase of the plan, in collaboration with the IAEA. In addition, we have participated for several years now in the IAEA Illicit Trafficking Database. The global non-proliferation architecture has witnessed major transformations in recent years. We have seen trends and policies that have dealt major blows to the non-proliferation regime. Policies and practices based on commercial and political considerations have eroded the sanctity of the long- standing norms and legal instruments that underpin the non-proliferation regime. Pakistan believes in an equitable, non-discriminatory and criteria-based approach to advancing the universally shared goals of non-proliferation and the promotion of peaceful uses of nuclear energy. We also hope that considerations of nuclear safety and nuclear security would facilitate, not hinder, the pursuit of peaceful uses of nuclear energy for advancing the development agenda and offsetting environmental degradation.

My delegation thanks the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for his statement, which provided additional information on the main developments in the activities of the Agency for 2010. We also commend the IAEA for its 2010 report (see A/66/95), which underscores the central role of the Agency in promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. India participated in the high-level meeting on nuclear safety and security called for by the Secretary-General, held in New York on 22 September. We are considering worldwide nuclear-related developments in 2010 against the backdrop of the series of serious accidents that occurred in March 2011 at several installations at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plants in Japan following a devastating earthquake and the resulting tsunami. The Fukushima nuclear incident attracted worldwide attention and has raised concerns about nuclear safety in the face of natural calamities of a particularly large magnitude. We are convinced that the world nuclear community will rise to the occasion and take all necessary measures to assuage the concerns of the public at large about the safety of nuclear power plants. It is imperative that Member States join hands to strengthen the IAEA, which has a leading role in channelling global efforts on nuclear safety. India supports the IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety, endorsed by the General Conference on 22 September. The role of nuclear power as a clean source of energy that is essential to meet growing energy needs and to address concerns about climate change must not be undermined. Nuclear safety should be seen not as a static but as a continuously evolving process. The Agency must play an important role, in coordination with all relevant stakeholders, to further strengthen it. At this juncture, it is imperative for the Agency to take all the necessary measures to allay the apprehensions of the public and Member States about the safety of nuclear power plants, taking into account current advances in design and technology. We encourage the Agency to continue supporting all activities related to the promotion of nuclear power. India views nuclear energy as an essential element of its national energy basket. We are committed to taking forward our three-stage nuclear programme based on a closed fuel cycle. We envisage a major expansion of nuclear energy in the coming decades, reaching 20,000 megawatts (MW) by 2020 and projected to grow to 60,000 MW by 2030. Our nuclear safety track record has been impeccable in over 345 reactor-years of operation, but we recognize the importance of continuous improvement and innovation in our nuclear safety standards and practices covering the entire range of activities — siting, design, construction, operation and up-grading. The Government of India has repeatedly underscored that the safety of our nuclear plants is a matter of the highest priority. The Government has undertaken a number of measures. They include the introduction of a bill in Parliament to change the functional status of India’s Atomic Energy Regulatory Board to a de jure independent nuclear regulatory authority. Six safety review committees have looked into various aspects of nuclear safety and, while detailed reviews are being evaluated, certain enhanced safety measures are already being implemented. India will invite the IAEA operational safety review teams to assist in Indian safety reviews and audits. All reactors, whether indigenous or imported, will without exception meet the enhanced safety standards. Safety evaluation reports and follow-up measures are being put in the public domain so as to enhance transparency and boost public confidence. There is increased focus on emergency preparedness and response to possible nuclear accidents that are beyond design-basis accidents. India’s National Disaster Management Authority has drawn up a document, entitled “Management of Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies”, which provides a holistic and integrated approach to disaster management, covering all its components — prevention, mitigation, preparedness, compliance with regulatory requirements, capacity development, response, relief, recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction. India’s nuclear programme is oriented towards maximizing the energy potential of available uranium resources and the utilization of the large thorium reserve. We believe that available global uranium resources cannot sustain the projected expansion of nuclear power without adopting the closed fuel-cycle approach. We encourage the Agency to further engage itself in the thorium fuel cycle. We welcome the inclusion of activities related to nuclear reactor technology development. My delegation fully supports the activities of the Agency undertaken to stimulate innovation in nuclear power through technical working groups for different reactor technologies, for small- and medium-sized reactors, and for non-electric applications. The coordinated research projects organized by the Agency provide an excellent forum for increasing understanding and the further development of technology. We welcome the release in 2010 of an updated version of its Advanced Reactor Information System, containing comprehensive information on all advanced reactor designs and concepts. India has been associated with the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles since its inception. We have contributed significantly to its progress and believe that the programme has great potential to make nuclear energy accessible in a safe and sustainable manner, particularly to new entrants embarking on that path. India attaches great importance to the Agency’s work in the fields of nuclear science. We contribute to those activities through participation in the technical meetings and coordinated research projects, and we also support the Agency’s programme in nuclear fusion. India makes a contribution to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) programme by providing special hardware items and specialized expertise. In 2010, the construction of a laboratory building for ITER-India was nearly completed. My delegation is of the view that the Agency’s work programme and achievements in the area of nuclear applications are of significance and special value in meeting the needs of developing countries. Activities in the spheres of food and agriculture, human health and nutrition and water resources, among others, are notable in that connection. Experts from India regularly participate in all those programmes and provide support to the Agency. The Bhabhatron telecobalt unit donated by the Government of India to Vietnam through the IAEA Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy was successfully commissioned in 2010. The installation of another Bhabhatron unit in Sri Lanka, donated through a similar arrangement, is currently in progress. Indian experts are providing full support to Sri Lanka in the construction, installation and commissioning of the facility and in training the technical staff. Our delegation commends the Agency for its activities related to nuclear knowledge management and capacity-building in member States. In that context, we are pleased to note the designation of St. John’s Research Institute, in Bengaluru, as the first IAEA Collaborating Centre for Nutrition. India supports the work of the IAEA. That is why we have sponsored draft resolution A/66/L.6, on the Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Cuba welcomes and supports the important role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The application of nuclear techniques contributes to mitigating soil deterioration, desertification, warming of the atmosphere and other natural phenomena that affect the production of food and the life of humankind on Earth. We attach high priority to cooperation among developing countries. In that regard, Cuba has actively participated throughout the 26 years since the establishment of the Regional Cooperative Agreement for the Promotion of Nuclear Science and Technology in Latin America and the Caribbean (ARCAL). Within that context, the countries of our region and the secretariat of the IAEA have achieved significant results, in particular in bringing about the strategic partnership set up between ARCAL and the Agency. Furthermore, our participation in the Ibero-American Forum of Radiological and Nuclear Regulatory Agencies (FORO) has contributed to the goal of maintaining a high level of radiological, nuclear and physical security in the member countries and, by extension, throughout the entire Ibero-American region. The Forum is an association comprising the regulatory agencies of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Peru, Spain and Uruguay, and has worked hard in key new areas of radiological and nuclear security. It has shared knowledge and information among the regulatory bodies through the Ibero-American network, whose intrinsic value we hope to promote. Cuba is pleased that, under its presidency next year, we will celebrate FORO’s fifteenth anniversary. The technical cooperation pillar of the IAEA should be strengthened and should unconditionally receive the resources that it needs, in accordance with its priority status. Our commitment to technical cooperation is strong, as the following examples, among others, demonstrate. By 2010, we had implemented 77 per cent of a technical cooperation project, maintaining the high level of implementation that Cuba has historically shown. However, that was slightly lower than in other years, owing to the effects of the blockade that the United States Government maintains against our people. Seven foreigners have received grants for scientific visits. We undertook more than 50 expert missions, of which nine were for technical meetings, 23 for regional projects and 18 within the framework of ARCAL. We took part in 20 ARCAL projects, meeting 100 per cent of the commitments made by Cuba under that programme. The first four meetings of ARCAL were held in Cuba as a lead country for such projects. Within the context of ARCAL, we organized 20 courses and workshops, eight cooperation meetings and 18 expert missions, and took part in ordinary and extraordinary meetings of its technical and political bodies. Moreover, we participated in six regional projects on radiation protection. Our country also participated extensively in joint research projects. In 2010, Cuban researchers were included in 15 research contracts under those programmes. Cuba has met its financial commitments to the IAEA Technical Cooperation Fund, including by contributing 100 per cent of expenses for national participation. While underscoring the important role of the IAEA and its links with the United Nations system, in particular the disarmament machinery, we take this opportunity to reiterate that our joint efforts must continue in order to uphold nuclear disarmament as the highest priority, given the grave threat that the mere existence of more than 22,000 nuclear warheads and the military doctrines and strategies that perpetuate their possession and use poses to international peace and security and the survival of humankind. The economic, trade and financial blockade imposed by the Government of the United States of America against Cuba for more than 50 years also affects the activities of the IAEA in our country and contravenes the Agency’s statute. Since December 2010, the blockade has caused my country economic losses of more than $975 billion, at the current value of that currency. Owing to the blockade, the IAEA has had difficulties in obtaining specialized equipment for projects in Cuba, since American companies, or those that work with capital from that country, cannot sell such equipment for use in Cuba without possible sanctions. In addition, our citizens face difficulties in participating in training organized in the United States. The blockade also affects the implementation of projects on fighting cancer, which is one of the IAEA’s priorities. While denouncing once again the unjust and criminal blockade, condemned in this very Hall only a few days ago by the overwhelming majority of United Nations Members (see A/66/PV.41), Cuba nevertheless acknowledges the ongoing efforts of the secretariat of the IAEA to seek alternatives and solutions to that reality. We recognize the efforts of the IAEA to strengthen radiation security, transportation, radioactive waste management and emergency preparedness in countries as a guarantor of safe use of radioactive sources. Cuba devotes significant human resources and materials to nuclear safety. It invests in those areas in Latin America and the Caribbean, including by organizing regional activities and contributing to radiation protection experts and services. As a member of the Ibero-American Forum of Radiological and Nuclear Regulatory Agencies, Cuba takes an active part in medical projects. The serious nuclear accident that took place in Japan as a result of the huge earthquake and tsunami in that country showed that there is still much to learn in the nuclear safety area. We should step up our efforts towards greater security in the face of natural disasters. Cuba attaches special importance to what was agreed in the declaration of the Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety, held in June, and the Action Plan on Nuclear Safety adopted at the fifty-fifth General Conference. We reaffirm the need to strengthen the international nuclear regime, for which we place the primary responsibility on nuclear-weapon States, and urge that the IAEA be granted the central role in promoting and coordinating international efforts and cooperation, so as to strengthen global nuclear security. Cuba is one of the small group of countries certified by the IAEA as being in strict compliance with its safeguards commitments. That confirms that we are a country that has no undeclared nuclear materials or activities. We attach great importance to the sensitive issue of safeguards and to the impartial and professional action of the IAEA secretariat in the activities that it promotes in that area. We have repeatedly criticized the manipulation and politicization of the IAEA for political purposes, as well as the double standards that are unfortunately common in its analyses. As activities in that area are the exclusive province of the IAEA, we reiterate our rejection of any of its decisions in which the Security Council has been involved. We reaffirm that verification activities must, first and foremost, respect the sovereignty and national interests of member States. We urge the IAEA secretariat to continue working to create a climate of impartiality, trust, understanding and transparency, based on objectivity and truth, which will help to resolve specific cases involving compliance with safeguards agreements being considered by the Board of Governors and the IAEA General Conference. In that regard, we underline the need to respect the inalienable right of all States to the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. We confirm our support for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and for a solution negotiated by all parties involved. We also reiterate our support for the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East. To achieve that goal, Israel must immediately and unconditionally accede to the NPT and submit its nuclear installations to the comprehensive safeguards regime of the IAEA. We are pleased that Finland has been chosen as facilitator and host Government for next year’s conference on the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, which we hope will produce concrete proposals for achieving that goal. I would like to conclude by stressing that we all share a responsibility to bequeath a safer world to future generations. That is why nuclear disarmament cannot continue to be a goal that is constantly postponed and subjected to conditions. Cuba will stand firm in the struggle for a better world that is free of nuclear weapons.

The Chinese delegation welcomes the report of Mr. Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on the work of the Agency. Over the past year, the Agency carried out a great deal of work in accordance with its statutory mandate. In the aftermath of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident last March, the Agency has played an important role in communicating accident information to member States and in assisting Japan with accident response. In June, the Agency convened the Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety, which resulted in the adoption of a ministerial declaration and the consolidation of international consensus on nuclear safety. The Agency developed a comprehensive Action Plan on Nuclear Safety, which sets out concrete nuclear safety recommendations. China believes that the Agency’s efforts are of great importance in improving international nuclear safety and emergency response performance, promoting relevant international cooperation and safeguarding the safe and sustainable development of global nuclear energy. At the same time, through its Technical Cooperation Programme, the IAEA has provided guidance to member States for the development of nuclear power projects and promoted the application of nuclear technology in a range of areas, such as human health, medical services, food and agriculture, and environmental protection. The Agency has actively assisted member States in strengthening their nuclear security and safety capabilities and provided technical support concerning the safe operation of nuclear power plants. The IAEA has made continuous efforts to promote the universality of the comprehensive safeguards agreements and the additional protocol, and has earnestly performed its safeguards function. China is glad to see that the work of the Agency in those areas has been widely recognized and supported by member States. Today, nuclear energy is playing an irreplaceable role in safeguarding nuclear security, promoting economic development and combating climate change. In its nuclear energy development activities, China always adheres to the principle of safety first. China has established a fairly comprehensive legal framework and system of standards on nuclear safety and security, put in place an independent and effective supervisory and regulatory framework, set up a comprehensive emergency response mechanism and maintained a good safety record in general. In order to enhance nuclear safety, China has always supported and actively participated in relevant international and regional exchanges and cooperation, and has also introduced and applied advanced nuclear power technologies. China also attaches great importance to nuclear security capacity-building, and supports and actively participates in relevant international cooperation initiatives. China ratified the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. Currently, China is working with interested countries to establish a centre of excellence for nuclear security in China. China supports the Agency’s central role in nuclear security and has decided to contribute $200,000 to its Nuclear Security Fund in order to enhance the nuclear security capability of the Asia- Pacific region. At the same time, China strictly fulfils its safeguards obligations and actively supports the Agency’s efforts to improve its verification capabilities and to promote the effectiveness and the universality of the international safeguards regime. China supports the Agency’s efforts to pursue its Technical Cooperation Programme and to promote the development of nuclear power and the application of nuclear technology. China is ready to its utmost to provide, through the Agency, assistance to other countries by sharing its accumulated experience in developing its own nuclear energy. The IAEA has been shouldering important responsibilities in promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and preventing nuclear weapons proliferation. In facing the new nuclear safety and security situation after the Fukushima nuclear accident, the Agency should further strengthen its leading role in enhancing nuclear safety and promoting relevant international cooperation. It is China’s hope that the Agency will give priority to the following aspects. First, the Agency should take further stock of the experiences and lessons of the Fukushima nuclear accident, help member States to enhance nuclear safety and emergency response capabilities, and promote the implementation of the IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety, with a view to restoring public confidence in nuclear energy. Secondly, it should increase technical assistance to developing countries, improve the national nuclear infrastructure of newcomer countries and promote the safe, secure and sustainable development of nuclear energy. Thirdly, it should strengthen the nuclear safeguards regime and effectively prevent nuclear weapons proliferation. Fourthly, it should maintain an objective and impartial stand on sensitive and hot-button nuclear issues and play a constructive role in appropriately resolving those issues with diplomatic efforts.

The United States looks forward to the adoption of the draft resolution (A/66/L.6) of the General Assembly on the report (see A/66/95) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The United States co-sponsored the draft resolution as an expression of its strong support for the Agency and its critical role in accelerating and enlarging the contributions of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world. As Secretary Clinton noted during her remarks to the high-level meeting on nuclear safety and security, convened by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: “This year the International Atomic Energy Agency has, again, proven itself to be an indispensable forum for monitoring and supporting the peaceful nuclear activity of countries.” As an example of our enduring and wide-ranging support for the Agency, the United States has made significant extrabudgetary contributions to Agency programmes related to nuclear safeguards, nuclear safety, nuclear security and technical cooperation. In addition, President Obama’s IAEA Peaceful Uses Initiative, announced by Secretary Clinton at the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, aims to highlight and strengthen the Agency’s role in increasing access to the benefits of peaceful nuclear technologies, including in the areas of human health, food security, water resources management and nuclear power. The United States pledged $50 million in extrabudgetary funding to the Peaceful Uses Initiative over five years, and we urge other Member States to join in this endeavour and to match that amount. The United States would also like to express its sincere appreciation to Director General Amano for his leadership and for his report to the General Assembly. We look forward to continuing to work with the Director General, the Agency secretariat and all member States to advance the important work of the IAEA in the years ahead. The United States remains committed to ensuring that the Agency has the resources and authorities it needs to address the numerous and growing challenges in confronts.

The date of 26 April 2011 marked a quarter of a century since the day when the catastrophe at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant dispelled the illusions of today’s world about the complete safety of the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Considering this event through a quarter of a century’s history, it is obvious that a responsible and holistic approach to the atom for peace is the only precondition for a safe world in the future. My country’s strategy to address the lingering after-effects of the Chernobyl catastrophe is aimed at fostering the region’s long-term development and providing people with the support they need to lead safe and healthy lives. In commemoration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Chernobyl catastrophe, the President and the Government of Ukraine organized two important international events in Kyiv in 2011: the Kyiv Summit for the Safe and Innovative Use of Nuclear Energy, and an international scientific conference on the theme “Twenty-five years after the Chernobyl accident — safety for the future”. We believe that one of the outcomes of the Kyiv Summit was the unanimous recognition by its participants of the need to secure an adequate level of nuclear safety as the key priority throughout each and every stage of nuclear energy production. We would like to express our appreciation for the participation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its Director General in both the Kyiv Summit and the scientific conference, as well as for the support the Agency continues to provide to Ukraine for mitigation of the consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in 1986 triggered not only the revision of international nuclear safety standards, but the creation of numerous international instruments to ensure both the highest level of nuclear waste and radiation safety worldwide and the relevant system of emergency preparedness and response. In 2011 those instruments were put into test. This year was difficult for the Agency because of the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. We believe that given its unique capabilities and expertise, the Agency has a leading role to play in any nuclear-related accident or emergency and that its on-site involvement is vital in addressing situations like the one at Fukushima. Based on the lessons already learned from the accident, we in Ukraine have conducted a targeted reassessment of the safety of all our nuclear power units in operation. We have introduced measures to reinforce the independent position of the national nuclear regulatory authority and, as the top priority, launched a comprehensive review of the national nuclear regulatory framework. We have also joined the European Union stress tests and the relevant peer review process. We welcome the outcome of the Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety held in June in Vienna. We expected the IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety requested by the Ministerial Conference to be more ambitious in terms of peer review missions and transparency. But even as a common denominator of the current positions of States, we do note some important steps in the Plan that may strengthen peer review services and mechanisms in future. We consider those elements to have particular practical value. While responsibility for nuclear safety rests with each member State, we believe that the IAEA Safety Fundamentals and Safety Requirements should constitute the minimum obligatory basis for States that have active civil nuclear programmes with working nuclear power plants and research reactors. It is clear that the existing international treaty basis concerning reaction to nuclear disasters requires improvement. We have before us some new proposals by States to improve those instruments, as well as the Nuclear Safety Convention. We believe that they are worthy of our further consideration. Developments in Japan have resulted in widespread concern about the safety of nuclear power plants worldwide and have led to deliberations and concerns about the feasibility of nuclear energy as a source of power generation. It is clear that there are many lessons to be learned from the Fukushima accident. In that connection, we welcome the announcement by the Government of Japan of plans to hold in 2012, in cooperation with the IAEA, an international conference on nuclear safety, based on the findings of the investigation of the nuclear power accidents. We strongly support the Agency’s activities aimed at improving nuclear, radiation, transport and waste safety worldwide. Ukraine reaffirms its view that the responsibility for nuclear security rests with each individual State. All States have the responsibility to establish appropriate systems and take necessary measures to prevent, detect and respond to malicious acts involving nuclear material. Ukraine supports the implementation of the IAEA Nuclear Security Plan for 2010-2013. We acknowledge the progress achieved by the Agency in improving control over radioactive sources. In 2010 Ukraine announced its decision to get rid of all stocks of highly enriched uranium by the time of the next Nuclear Security Summit, while our partners will provide necessary technical and financial assistance to support this effort. In that connection, we note with concern that six years after the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material was adopted by consensus, only 49 of the 145 parties to the Convention have adhered to the Amendment. Adherence to the international legal instruments relevant to nuclear security continues to increase, but at a slow pace. Ukraine calls upon all States that have not yet done so to adhere to the Amendment as soon as possible and to act in accordance with the objective and purpose of the Amendment pending its entry into force. Ukraine highly values the IAEA role in nuclear security competence development. We pay considerable attention to the issue at the national level. With the graduation of another 14 nuclear security engineers from the Sevastopol National University of Nuclear Energy and Technology we have reached an important milestone. We commend the Agency for its invaluable support to us in developing training and education facilities for nuclear security purposes at the Sevastopol National University, which became the Agency’s earliest partner in establishing nuclear security education. We confirm our willingness to contribute to the implementation of the IAEA nuclear security education programmes. Ukraine also appreciates the considerable work done by the Agency in strengthening nuclear security measures in connection with major public events, particularly the support that is being consistently provided to Ukraine and Poland in preparation for the 2012 Union of European Football Associations European Football Championship. Ukraine reaffirms the Agency’s role in verifying and ensuring compliance by States with their safeguards obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The Agency’s system of safeguards is a fundamental component of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. The measures contained in the additional protocol form an integral part of this system. The comprehensive safeguards agreement, together with the additional protocol, constitutes the current best verification standard. We note the increased number of countries that have brought into force the additional protocol to their comprehensive safeguards agreement. Universal adherence by States to both instruments would strengthen the non-proliferation regime and contribute to further enhancing security worldwide. Since January 2006, Ukraine has had a Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol in force. Over the past few years, we have worked hard, together with the IAEA, to receive its broader conclusion on the implementation of our safeguards obligations. The IAEA safeguards implementation report for 2010 acknowledged our efforts. In 2010, Ukraine received, for the first time, the IAEA broader conclusion. We continue to work with the Agency to establish the conditions necessary for the application of IAEA integrated safeguards in Ukraine. We recognize the importance of supporting research on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, especially safety, waste management, radiation protection, the safety and efficiency aspects of advanced technology, and the importance of enhancing international cooperation in those fields. Maintaining competence and know-how across the nuclear sector is fundamental to these activities. We view positively the increased amount of research being carried out by the IAEA concerning innovative reactor technologies and fuel cycles. Ukraine offers the relevant expert services to the IAEA, free of charge, in the context of the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles. Ukraine will continue to cooperate actively with the IAEA in the development and implementation of regional programmes addressing the issues of the non-power use of nuclear technologies, namely, medical applications, dosimetry and mitigation of the consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe. Ukraine has always been a strong supporter of the IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme, which constitutes an important statutory function of the Agency. Ukraine considers the implementation of the IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme as the cornerstone of international cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. I wish to commend the work done by the IAEA in planning and implementing such programmes and activities, which reflect the needs of different countries and different regions. Addressing the global challenges of hunger, disease, poverty and water-resource management, as well as the creation of a cleaner and safer environment, is of particular significance to developing countries. Ukraine values the efforts of the Agency in those areas. Regional and national technical cooperation projects have contributed to the safety and effectiveness of the peaceful use of nuclear energy in Ukraine. We have demonstrated the tangible and sustainable results of our cooperation, particularly regarding safety improvements at our nuclear power plants. We also appreciate the results already achieved in improving the quality and effectiveness of nuclear medicine, radiotherapy and medical physics. I would like to mention in particular the modern equipment and training for nuclear oncology and radiotherapy that has been provided to us. Human health will remain one of the priorities of our technical cooperation programme in the future. Ukraine considers it important for technical cooperation management and project implementation to become more efficient and effective, for the benefit of all Member States. It is important to ensure fair access to technical cooperation funds and the predictable funding of such programmes. Beneficiary countries are key actors in achieving a successful outcome in their respective technical cooperation projects. The key to effectiveness is to meet the real needs of the Member States. In order to maximize the socio-economic impact of the programmes, it is crucial that the IAEA further develop partnerships with other organizations where appropriate. In conclusion, we would like to join other delegations in welcoming the IAEA report (see A/66/95) to the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session and express our deep appreciation for the work of the IAEA Director General and the Agency.

The Singapore delegation would like to thank the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mr. Yukiya Amano, and his secretariat for the IAEA’s comprehensive annual report (see A/66/95). As the global focal point for nuclear cooperation, the IAEA continues to play a crucial role in promoting the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology. Its mission of safety and security, safeguards and verification, and science and technology constitute a comprehensive regime, each pillar of which is equally essential. Singapore strongly supports the IAEA’s important work and is pleased to sponsor the draft resolution (A/66/L.6) on the report of the IAEA. Nuclear safety came into the spotlight this year with the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, in March. The Fukushima accident demonstrated the grave dangers posed by low-probability, high-impact accidents that are difficult to predict and guard against. We must therefore work together to further strengthen the global nuclear safety framework and the global emergency preparedness and response mechanisms for nuclear emergencies. Singapore believes that the IAEA should drive that process. We thank the Director General for convening the high-level Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety in Vienna in June 2011, to learn from the experiences of the Fukushima accident. The Conference and the adoption of the 12-point action plan at the IAEA General Conference in September was a first step forward towards a comprehensive review of the global nuclear safety framework. The process is a continuing one. Unfortunately, some continue to insist that the current global nuclear safety infrastructure is fine as it currently stands and that all that is required is better adherence to and implementation of current practices. My delegation urges all parties to keep an open mind in engaging in an honest and open review of the global nuclear safety framework, and to accord the highest consideration to ensuring the safety of nuclear installations. Although the primary responsibility for nuclear safety rests with individual States, we must not forget that any accident would have a far-reaching and potentially devastating transboundary impact. If we were to do less, the potential grave consequences would be unforgivable, as we would have had a chance to do better but did not because of narrow interests. Nuclear non-proliferation remains a core aspect of the IAEA’s mission. Singapore firmly believes that all States have the right to develop and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. At the same time, the IAEA has the vital task of ensuring that nuclear material and technology meant for peaceful purposes are not diverted for non-civilian uses that could threaten regional and international peace and stability. The IAEA’s safeguards and verification regimes provide credible assurance that declared nuclear material and facilities are for peaceful uses. It is therefore both in the interests and the responsibility of all States to comply with these regimes. In that connection, Singapore strongly urges all States that have not done so to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the IAEA’s comprehensive safeguards agreement and additional protocol. Those States that have done so should fully implement those agreements. As the number of nuclear power reactors is likely to increase by at least 90, and up to 350, by the year 2030, it is crucial that countries enforce and step up their individual measures to ensure security against theft of nuclear material for illicit purposes and malicious attacks against nuclear facilities. A peaceful and secure world free of nuclear weapons is one that we all aspire to. The IAEA has a unique and important mission to fulfil in the promotion of peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology and in ensuring that they benefit as many citizens of the world as possible. Some important areas that come to mind include the fields of cancer treatment, food security and water management. This is all the more pertinent given that the world population is continuing to grow and the competition for resources is increasingly tighter. As a member of the IAEA Board of Governors, Singapore would like to reiterate our continued support for the Agency’s vital role and tasks. Singapore’s cooperation with the IAEA focuses on the applications of nuclear technology in areas such as industry, health and radiation protection. Over the past decade, we have hosted 22 scientific visits, 83 fellowship attachments and 24 regional training events with the IAEA. The most recent event was the regional seminar on the Agency’s safeguards system for South-East Asian States with significant nuclear activities, held in March this year. In our remaining year on the Board, we will continue to exert our utmost efforts for the advancement of the IAEA’s mission.

Australia is pleased to have the opportunity to commend Director General Mr. Yukiya Amano for his briefing on the achievements of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the challenges it will face over the coming years. We are honoured to be a member of the IAEA Board of Governors and take very seriously the responsibility that entails. Australia attaches great importance to the central role played by the IAEA in improving the safety and security of nuclear activities, enlarging the humanitarian contribution of nuclear technology and verifying States’ non-proliferation commitments. This year, the twenty-fifth anniversary year of the Chernobyl accident, we saw the devastating natural disasters in Japan and the subsequent accident at the Fukushima nuclear plant. Our thoughts continue to be with Japan and its people. We welcome Director General Amano’s actions and initiatives regarding nuclear safety in the wake of Fukushima. We are pleased to have been able to participate in the IAEA Ministerial Conference in June and to have contributed to the efforts to improve nuclear safety and to address public confidence, as reflected in the ministerial declaration and subsequently in the Action Plan on Nuclear Safety adopted by the IAEA General Conference. The Action Plan is a strong and practical demonstration of the priority we all attach to achieving the highest possible standards with regard to nuclear safety. We encourage States to be proactive in undertaking the actions outlined in the Plan and any additional actions that are relevant to their own circumstances. Australia continues to work closely with the Agency and our regional neighbours with regard to nuclear safety and security. Australia is committed to best international practice in regard to safeguards, safety and the security of nuclear material. Signifying this commitment, Australia, in collaboration with the IAEA, has established an informal Vienna-based contact group for existing and prospective uranium mining companies, with the easy-to-remember acronym “FoRUM” — Friends of Responsible Uranium Mining — as a means of exchanging views and experiences with regard to best-practice mining of uranium. Safety measures are not the only elements required to properly protect people and the environment. Australia is also a strong supporter of the Agency’s nuclear security programme and its role in international nuclear security initiatives and activities. The IAEA safeguards system is one of the central pillars of the nuclear non-proliferation regime. To be completely effective, the system must have universal coverage. We continue to call upon all of the States party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) that have yet to fulfil their obligations under the Treaty to conclude comprehensive safeguards agreements as well as additional protocols, and to do so without delay. Australia has long emphasized the importance of the universalization of the NPT. We encourage those States that have not yet signed and ratified the Treaty to do so as soon as possible. States must comply with their safeguards obligations. IAEA safeguards obligations are not voluntary. It is therefore a matter of continuing regret and deep concern that certain States continue to be in breach of their safeguards obligations. We call upon those countries to engage with the Agency to resolve all issues, demonstrate conclusively the peaceful intent of their nuclear programme and comply fully with all of their international obligations. Australia commends the Agency for its continuing efforts to resolve those issues. Australia continues to work closely with the Agency and our regional neighbours on the peaceful applications of nuclear energy. Australia shares its skilled scientific research base with other Member States and facilitates the use and exchange of equipment and personnel in fields relevant to the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology. We are pleased to maintain our strong support for and contribution to the Agency’s technical cooperation programme. I am pleased to recall that in the spirit of the IAEA Peaceful Uses Initiative, Australia contributed A$100,000 to the IAEA for the marine benchmark study on the possible impact of the Fukushima radioactive releases in the Asia-Pacific region. Australia worked closely with our regional neighbours to formulate the project and acknowledges the role of the IAEA in achieving its prompt initiation, with the first meeting hosted in Sydney in late August. The Agency plays a vital role in enhancing States’ capabilities to prevent, diagnose and treat health problems through the use of nuclear techniques. We should never lose sight of such humanitarian benefits, which the IAEA is uniquely able to provide worldwide. Australia works closely with the Agency in those areas and is pleased to coordinate with it in providing clinical education in radiation medical physics to countries in South-East Asia. The external environment in which the Agency operates is highly fluid, and the Agency must maintain the capacity to respond quickly and effectively to external developments, whether related to nuclear safety, physical protection, nuclear proliferation or sustainable development. Australia will continue to provide technical, financial and political support for Director General Amano’s efforts to strengthen the Agency’s contribution to the promotion of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and to the cause of international peace and security. Australia is pleased to sponsor and support the draft resolution on the report of the IAEA (A/66/L.6).

At the outset, the Philippines would like to welcome the newest member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Lao People’s Democratic Republic — a fellow member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The Philippines welcomes the report of His Excellency Mr. Yukiya Amano, Director General of the IAEA, and recognizes the importance of the Agency. At the same time, the Philippines reaffirms its strong support for the crucial role of the IAEA in assisting its member States in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, the transfer of technology to developing countries and facilitating nuclear knowledge sharing, as well as in nuclear safety, verification and security. The events of the past year presented significant challenges to the work of the IAEA. The Fukushima nuclear accident shook the international community’s perceptions of nuclear power, including the safety of existing power plants and proposed new facilities. More important, it compelled a number of countries, including the Philippines, to rethink their respective national positions on nuclear power. However, as oil prices have continued to soar and concerns over climate change persist, the interest in nuclear power remains, and countries continue to turn to the IAEA for assistance in the development or expansion of their nuclear power programmes. The IAEA is uniquely placed to respond to the requests of its member States for assistance in the development of a safety infrastructure for nuclear power programmes, while also promoting international cooperation in nuclear safety. The Philippines believes that the IAEA should continue to provide assistance to countries, such as ours, that are still considering the inclusion of nuclear power in their energy mix, particularly in the development of a regulatory framework, capacity building and the management of radioactive waste. In that regard, the Philippines supports the IAEA’s central role in the area of nuclear safety and welcomes the adoption of the Action Plan on Nuclear Safety, which will serve as a building block for the development of more targeted measures for enhancing nuclear safety worldwide. Through its cooperation with the IAEA, the Philippines has been developing the necessary human resources and physical infrastructure in order to use nuclear technologies to help meet the challenges that many of us face today. On human health, the Philippines’ standing request to be part of the Agency’s Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT) was finally approved for implementation this year. An integrated review in connection with PACT, also known as an imPACT mission, was undertaken in the Philippines in March and enabled our health authorities to assess the National Cancer Action Plan and identify areas for improvement. The Philippines will also be part of a network of regional training centres on cancer control and radiotherapy, which will enable it to enhance the capacities of its health professionals working in the area of cancer control and treatment, particularly those in the provinces. On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, the Philippines has introduced resolutions on PACT, on the staffing of the Agency’s secretariat and on women in the secretariat. In the field of nuclear medicine, the Philippines has established a radioisotope laboratory with the assistance of the Agency. We expect that this facility will lower the costs of nuclear medicine procedures in my country. In the area of the environment, we welcome the Director General’s focus this year on the Agency’s work on issues related to water. As a pilot country for the IAEA Water Availability Enhancement Project, the Philippines is developing sustainable and socially responsible water resources management plans. In April, the Philippines hosted a national workshop, which produced a report analysing the country’s capacity to conduct comprehensive water resource assessments and developed a road map to address gaps in hydrological data and information. Furthermore, in 2010, the Philippines was redesignated as an IAEA Collaborating Centre on the application of nuclear techniques in the study of harmful algal blooms. The IAEA has continued to play an important role in helping countries to achieve the Millennium Development Goals through its Technical Cooperation Programme and its various activities in the area of nuclear applications. We acknowledge the significant contribution of projects supported by the Agency’s Technical Cooperation Programme, especially in the areas of health and nutrition, environmental resource management and agricultural and industrial productivity. Concerns persist about nuclear terrorism and the illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials. The Philippines reaffirms the importance of strengthening the Agency’s activities in response to those threats. For its part, the Philippines is committed to strengthening the security of the nuclear and radioactive materials that are used for peaceful purposes and to preventing the illicit trafficking of such materials. That commitment is embodied in our National Nuclear Security Plan, which was finalized in cooperation with the IAEA. The symbolic commissioning ceremony of the Megaports Initiative facilities at the port of Manila this year marked a milestone in our bilateral cooperation with the United States on nuclear security. Through the Global Threat Reduction Initiative, the Philippines also works closely with Australia, the United States and our fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members in securing radioactive sources in the region. Another major challenge that continues to confront us is the increasing risk of nuclear proliferation. The Philippines reaffirms the importance of strengthening the Agency’s nuclear verification capabilities and building confidence in the peaceful nature of all nuclear activities. The conclusion of comprehensive safeguards agreements and additional protocols will go a long way in efforts to reduce the risk of nuclear proliferation. The Philippines shares the vision of a world free of nuclear weapons and strongly supports the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones as a means of contributing to international peace and security. In our own region, ASEAN established the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. We welcome the progress in the discussions held in recent months with the nuclear-weapon States on their possible accession to the Treaty of Bangkok. We also welcome the decision of the Director General to convene a forum to discuss the experiences of the five existing nuclear-weapon-free zones, which could be of possible relevance to the creation of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East. The Philippines is committed to contributing to the success of the forum, which we believe will serve as an important confidence-building measure that will contribute to the realization of the 2012 conference on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction, as provided for in the Final Document of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT/CONF.2010/50 (Vol. I)). The IAEA has been successful in charting its way forward. Progress will not be easy, as political realities and financial constraints alike pose difficult hurdles for the Agency to overcome. The Philippines believes, however, that now is the time for IAEA member States to set aside all differences and to stand united in order to advance our common objectives.

I am pleased to participate in this annual meeting, which affords the Assembly an opportunity to consider the vitally important activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). However, I must draw the IAEA secretariat’s attention to the difficulties experienced by my delegation in being granted timely access to the report (see A/66/95) of the Director General. My delegation strongly regrets that situation and hopes that corrective measures will be taken in that regard. Among the most pressing concerns of States, the dilemma posed by nuclear technology is one of the most widely shared and is undoubtedly one of the most difficult to address. Indeed, while the many applications of nuclear energy, including in the areas of health, agriculture and electricity generation, made it seem undeniably useful to many countries, its use has also created certain safety and security risks. In truth, the difficulties in managing nuclear risk are steadily increasing as a result of growing environmental hazards, as evidenced by the unfortunate nuclear accident that occurred in March in Fukushima, Japan. The accident finally convinced us of the need to improve nuclear safety and security measures by better adapting them to meet new challenges. That realization undoubtedly inspired the IAEA Board of Governors to adopt an Action Plan on Nuclear Safety to improve the global nuclear safety framework. My delegation welcomes that valuable initiative and the high-level meeting on nuclear safety and security, held on 22 September and convened by the Secretary- General. As it did on that occasion, Senegal reiterates the urgency of reviewing the rules and principles governing the application and monitoring of nuclear safety and security standards, so as to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the framework of appropriate procedures. Drawing on our past experience, we must take all necessary measures to bolster nuclear safety and security, as well as to better prepare for emergencies and protect people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation and radiation risks. That is the only way that we will be able to restore confidence in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The pursuit of the peaceful use of atomic energy should strictly take into account the need to protect human and environmental health. Senegal highly values its scientific and technical cooperation with the IAEA, in particular in the areas of health and nutrition. That long history of cooperation has been enriched by many programmes, some of which I am pleased to mention: the application of the sterile insect technique, which has ensured that Senegalese research entities have come to serve as benchmarks in this field; our research programme on nutritional development for women has also been successful; and finally, the acquisition of a gamma camera, which is considered a major step forward in medical science. Armed with that experience, we are in a good position to testify to the fact that the IAEA has also contributed to our country’s advances in the areas of society and health. For that reason, we must always keep in mind that positive accomplishments in the laudable and difficult matters before the Agency, especially relating to verification, cooperation and the provision of assistance, call for our unwavering support. My delegation is also convinced that the IAEA will remain an institution worthy of our efforts, which must be strengthened and appropriately resourced in order to implement its mandate.

Switzerland would like to focus its remarks on what, in our view, was the key issue before the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in recent months, namely, the nuclear accident at Fukushima. As that event demonstrated, such disasters have transboundary and multidimensional consequences, and should therefore be managed with a global approach. Switzerland therefore welcomes the adoption at the fifty-fifth session of the General Conference of the IAEA in September of the Action Plan on Nuclear Safety. Switzerland believes that, by its very nature, the IAEA must assume the leading role in coordinating the international efforts to strengthen nuclear safety. Switzerland was actively involved in the negotiation process of the Action Plan and, like a number of States, has expressed regrets about the relatively modest ambitions contained in the final document as adopted. However, we consider the Action Plan as a first step in a process that should lead to less voluntary commitments from member States in the field of nuclear safety. Switzerland therefore welcomes the speedy establishment by the IAEA Director General of a Nuclear Safety Action Team to coordinate the implementation of the Action Plan. Similarly, we welcome the commitment made by the IAEA Director General to inform member States on progress made in implementing the Action Plan. Switzerland also encourages all IAEA member States to fulfil their obligations related to the implementation of the Action Plan at the national level. Switzerland will remain fully committed in this area, with a view to creating a nuclear safety regime so that we can assure our societies that the development of civilian nuclear energy will not act as a sword of Damocles constantly hanging over their heads.

Let me begin by thanking the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mr. Yukiya Amano, for presenting the annual report (see A/66/95) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in March was triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake and its resulting tsunamis. The accident caused grave damage to Japan and its people. Japan is now moving forward to overcome that tragic event. I would like to take this opportunity once again to extend our deepest appreciation to all of the Member States, the IAEA and all other organizations that have rendered their support, for their assistance and solidarity. I would also like to express our appreciation for the leadership demonstrated by Director General Amano and the continuous efforts made by the IAEA since the accident. Those efforts include supporting the provision of information about the accident; dispatching a number of teams, experts and international missions to the area; and adopting the Action Plan on Nuclear Safety. Thanks to that invaluable support, the situation at the plant is moving steadily towards restoration. We are planning to move up the existing target date and will endeavour to achieve cold shutdown by the end of the year. In that regard, Japan will continue to work closely with partners around the world, and in particular with the IAEA, to make the most of all available international expertise. For instance, Japan will host a high-level conference with the IAEA in 2012. Through that initiative, we intend to share with the international community the results of our comprehensive review on nuclear power plants and the future direction of nuclear safety measures. The IAEA has also played an instrumental role in ensuring the success of the United Nations high-level meeting on nuclear safety and security. Both Prime Minister Noda and Foreign Minister Gemba participated in the meeting and expressed Japan’s resolve not only to overcome its own challenges but also to share with the international community lessons learned from the accident at Fukushima. The conference demonstrated the central and indispensable role of the IAEA in consolidating international efforts to enhance nuclear safety throughout the international community. The IAEA is the only international organization with expertise in all aspects of nuclear energy, and not only in the areas of nuclear safety and security. We must not relax our efforts to support such roles on the part of the IAEA. On 21 September, Japan convened here in New York the third ministerial meeting of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative, a group consisting of 10 non-nuclear-weapon States. At the meeting, the ministers issued a joint statement expressing members’ strong support for steps to further advance the implementation of the action plan agreed at the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Japan will continue to lead international efforts towards a world without nuclear weapons. The North Korean nuclear issue constitutes a threat to peace and security in East Asia and to the international community as a whole and poses a serious challenge to the regime established by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The North Korean uranium enrichment programme is a clear violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions and the joint statement of the fourth round of the Six-Party Talks. It is important for the international community to continue to strongly urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons and related programmes, as stipulated in the relevant Security Council resolutions. In that regard, Japan welcomes the comprehensive report on the North Korean nuclear issue that the IAEA Director General submitted to the Board of Governors at its September meeting. With regard to the Iranian nuclear issue, it is indispensable for the Islamic Republic of Iran to take action to alleviate all suspicions and win the confidence of the international community. While Japan notes that the Islamic Republic of Iran invited the IAEA to visit its facilities in August, we remain seriously concerned that it continues to engage in uranium enrichment activities. In that regard, Japan supports the efforts of the Director General to conduct discussions with Iran, as well as the dedicated activities of the Agency to resolve the Iran nuclear issue. Japan will continue to act in concert with the international community to find a peaceful and diplomatic settlement of this issue. Japan highly appreciates the efforts made by Director General Amano towards the holding of the forum on the exchange of experiences of possible relevance to the creation of a nuclear-weapons-free zone in the Middle East scheduled for November, which I expect will contribute significantly to the convening of a conference in 2012 on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of all weapons of mass destruction. Showing support for the non-proliferation efforts of other member States and of the IAEA continues to be a priority for Japan. Japan has hosted the Asian Senior-level Talks on Non-Proliferation and has provided cooperation for IAEA activities designed to promote the entry into force of additional protocols. On 31 May, Japan also co-organized with Poland and Turkey a seminar in New York to discuss the effective implementation of the Security Council resolutions on non-proliferation. We believe that it is imperative that States Members of the United Nations continue to be engaged in this matter. Japan therefore plans to organize a second such meeting in New York next December. The IAEA’s continuing efforts to utilize nuclear technologies to develop solutions for global issues, such as water shortages and lack of access to cancer therapies in developing countries, are highly appreciated by member States. In that connection, Japan welcomes the IAEA initiative to raise awareness within the wider United Nations community through the briefing it organized in New York in September immediately preceding the Science Forum held in Vienna. To ensure a safer nuclear future, the training of nuclear experts to underpin such a vision is essential. To that end, Japan established a nuclear human resource development network last November. Through such efforts, Japan will cooperate with the IAEA to nurture capable experts. Despite the tragic events that befell Japan this March, I am convinced that, through the resilience of our people and assisted by the generous support of our partners in the international community, including the IAEA, we will overcome the challenge those events have presented. I am equally confident that we will find a path towards a safer nuclear future, benefiting from the lessons learned in this instance and the accumulated wisdom of the world in this field.

Kazakhstan wishes to congratulate Mr. Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for his comprehensive report (see A/66/95), and in that connection, we are pleased to sponsor draft resolution A/66/L.6. As a member of the Agency, Kazakhstan is proud of its record of collaboration with the IAEA and will continue to strengthen that productive partnership. President Nursultan Nazarbayev, speaking at the high-level meeting on nuclear safety and security convened by the Secretary-General on 22 September 2011, aptly summarized the IAEA’s responsibility by saying that it must protect humankind from nuclear weapons, counter potential nuclear terrorism, ensure the safety of nuclear power and advance human betterment through peaceful purposes. He also said that it was important, in order to achieve those ends, to bring international legal norms into line with the reality of the existence of de facto nuclear-weapon States. At the same time, the greatest risks are associated with States that are involved in the black market in nuclear technologies, hence the importance of credible compliance by States parties with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). We have to improve global mechanisms for managing processes in the development of nuclear power and the safety of nuclear facilities. President Nazarbayev also proposed conducting regular stress tests of nuclear plants and protections systems and developing rapid rescue responses under the auspices of the IAEA. My country is a major producer of uranium ore and has the fuel fabrication capability to further expand the peaceful uses of nuclear energy within the framework of IAEA safeguards. Kazakhstan collaborates with the Russian Federation to make its uranium available for enrichment at the National Nuclear Centre in Angarsk, Siberia, for use as nuclear fuel in power reactors, and on developing the Kurchatov Nuclear Technology Park under IAEA surveillance. My delegation supports the IAEA initiative to develop a new non-political and non-discriminatory framework for utilizing nuclear energy based on multilateral approaches to the nuclear fuel cycle and available to all member States complying with safeguards. In that way, no State should have to surrender its rights under the NPT. Kazakhstan has officially confirmed to the Agency its offer to host an IAEA nuclear fuel bank for countries unable to acquire nuclear fuel supplies in the market. As soon as the exact site in my country has been determined, steps will be taken to establish the bank. In addition, our national atomic energy company, Kazatomprom, is in the process of creating a vertically integrated establishment with a complete nuclear fuel cycle in compliance with IAEA standards. The Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, the Treaty for which was signed in Semipalatinsk, is an additional contribution to our region, and Kazakhstan strictly and transparently abides by the IAEA safeguards agreement and additional protocol in order to reduce the risk of nuclear terrorism and smuggling of nuclear weapons and radioactive materials. As current Chair of the Ministerial Council of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and in its national capacity, Kazakhstan supports the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East as a solution that supports peace in the region. Working together with the facilitator, we commend the work of the IAEA on the 2012 conference on this issue. We are implementing in a consistent manner the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism and Security Council resolution 1540 (2004), in order to strengthen measures aimed at combating illegal trafficking in nuclear and other materials. In September, with the support of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, we hosted a Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) training workshop for 30 experts from the Central Asian region, funded by the Governments of Norway and the United States of America. As a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the Zangger Committee, Kazakhstan maintains the strictest control over its equipment and installations that enrich uranium and reprocess spent nuclear fuel. In view of the growing importance of nuclear energy, Kazakhstan has entered into an agreement with the IAEA on technical cooperation for 2010-2015 to develop nuclear energy for nuclear education, medicine and agriculture, research reactor safety, nuclear technology, radioisotope and radiation applications for collective global human security. An issue of concern to us is that Kazakhstan, though a key and responsible member of the IAEA, is being denied the opportunity to participate in the work of elective bodies because of the rules of procedure currently in place. Kazakhstan fully supports the early entry into force of the amendments to article VI of the IAEA Statute, and we are confident that a solution will be found. I would like to state that Kazakhstan contributes regularly to the IAEA budget, as well as to the Technical Cooperation Fund. To conclude, we extend our full support to the Director General in every area of the Agency’s mandate to address global issues of nuclear technology.

The Russian delegation would like to express its appreciation to the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mr. Yukiya Amano, for his presentation of the report of the Agency (see A/66/95). Russia greatly values the IAEA’s work in improving and strengthening the global non-proliferation regime, and in ensuring wide and safe uses of nuclear energy. The Agency contributes significantly to solving problems in the areas of reliable energy supplies, combating global climate change and promoting health and well-being around the world. It is also important that the IAEA continue to increase its efforts to broaden international cooperation in the area of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. With regard to the IAEA’s activities, we should not omit to note the unique nature of its verification mechanism, which enables extremely effective monitoring of States’ compliance with their non-proliferation obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). We believe it is important that the Agency continue to expand its oversight capabilities, including through acceptance of its safeguards agreements and their additional protocols, as the generally recognized standards of verification of Governments’ compliance with their nuclear non- proliferation obligations. Russia is an active participant as a financial donor in projects aimed at strengthening the IAEA’s safeguards system, including by providing funding for implementing national programmes of scientific and technical support for the Agency’s safety activities. We wholeheartedly support the IAEA’s efforts in the area of technical cooperation and the provision of appropriate assistance to developing countries. One such example of international cooperation that was conducted successfully under the Agency’s auspices was the completion of an international IAEA project on innovative reactors and the nuclear fuel cycle, which Russia initiated. We are supporting the efforts of the IAEA secretariat in financing the project’s budget, and we call on all countries taking part in the project to help provide direct financing for it as shareholders. The Russian Federation made the decision to provide long- term funding for the project for the period 2008 to 2012 in the amount of Rub 23 million annually. With regard to the large-scale development of nuclear energy, the Russian Federation is prioritizing the following efforts: developing a new architecture for peaceful nuclear cooperation based on multilateral approaches to the nuclear fuel cycle, guaranteeing the provision of services related to the nuclear fuel cycle, and finding solutions for issues relating to spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. Based on those priorities, Russia has launched an initiative for the development of a global nuclear energy infrastructure and the establishment of international centres for the provision of nuclear-fuel-cycle services. We note with satisfaction that this initiative has proved to be needed, and has genuinely contributed to resolving issues in providing unhindered access to the benefits of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy for all States parties to the NPT while complying in good faith with their non-proliferation obligations. In practice it gives States the ability to take advantage of nuclear energy and meet their needs for nuclear fuel without incurring high costs or the security risks relating to the proliferation of components of the nuclear fuel cycle. In connection with that initiative we have, jointly with Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Armenia, established in Russia an international centre for enriched uranium, in which all States are invited to participate in developing nuclear power in compliance with their non-proliferation obligations. Another important step in creating a global nuclear energy infrastructure has been the creation in Russia of guaranteed reserves of low-enriched uranium under IAEA administration. It is already fully operational and can be used by States members of the Agency complying with their non-proliferation obligations. We firmly believe that it is essential that we learn the lessons of the situation resulting from the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi 1 nuclear power plant in order to prevent its being repeated in the future. A thorough and professional analysis of the reasons and evolution of the accident and its results should be conducted under the auspices of the IAEA in its central role as the sole international organization possessing the necessary experience and authority. We welcome the results of the sessions of the IAEA’s June ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety concerning the power plant accident in Japan, and the participants’ joint declaration affirming the necessity of improving the international legal framework, as well as technological and organizational aspects of nuclear safety. The declaration echoes the proposals of the President of the Russian Federation concerning the elimination of discrepancies in the relevant international legal documents, such as addenda to the Convention on Nuclear Safety and the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident. Furthermore, Russia has also introduced proposals for improving the IAEA’s safety standards. We believe that our initiatives will receive broad support and will be carried out. With regard to regional non-proliferation challenges, we commend the IAEA’s practical contribution to the multilateral search for ways of solving them. We will provide appropriate support to the Agency in its efforts to implement the relevant safeguards agreements in Iran and Syria and make use of its expertise in order to establish a reliably functioning nuclear non-proliferation regime. Russia sees no alternative to political and diplomatic solutions to the situation concerning the nuclear programmes in Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. In conclusion, I would like to affirm our support for the draft resolution on the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (A/66/L.6). As a sponsor, Russia fully agrees with the importance of the Agency’s work and is convinced that the Agency will continue to work towards the strengthening of international security and solving the problems of a reliable energy source.

Belarus attaches great importance to the activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as the leading international body working in the nuclear area, and welcomes the report of the Director General of the Agency, Mr. Yukiya Amano. As a founding member State of the Agency, Belarus feels that it has a vested interest in the IAEA’s active work in fostering the peaceful and safe use of nuclear energy and does all that it can to contribute to attaining those aims. We consider that the IAEA’s Technical Cooperation Programme is an important tool for the Agency in achieving those aims. In accordance with the structure of Belarus’s programme for 2008-2013, the basic priorities of our country’s technical cooperation, conducted jointly with the IAEA, are the development of a national nuclear energy infrastructure, the use of nuclear technologies in health care and the restoration of areas afflicted as a result of the Chernobyl atomic power plant accident. In 2008, the Republic of Belarus made the decision to launch a national nuclear power programme. The preparations for building an atomic power station are being implemented in close coordination with the Agency. Belarus will soon embark on the practical phase of construction of the power station. In realizing this complicated project, Belarus will continue to comply firmly and rigorously with its international nuclear obligations and to abide by international security norms and standards. In order to complete the nuclear power plant project, we in Belarus are developing the necessary infrastructure, preparing legal framework and actively training personnel. That work is being carried out in a thorough and transparent manner by drawing on the expertise of the IAEA, as well as on that of other States with broad experience in the sphere of nuclear energy. The Technical Assistance Programme of the IAEA is also playing an important role in this process. The twenty-fifth anniversary of the Chernobyl accident and the recent tragic events following the powerful earthquake in Japan underscore the urgency of strengthening the regimes for nuclear and radiological safety. For Belarus, nuclear safety is not a theoretical concept. We consider the matter of nuclear safety an undisputed priority. That approach is written into our national laws and built into our current practice. Together with the IAEA, Belarus is working to ensure nuclear safety. As an example of that cooperation, we are beginning to implement an integrated plan that provides for physical nuclear safety in the Republic of Belarus. The implementation of that plan would be an exemplary contribution on the part of Belarus towards developing an international regime for physical nuclear safety. However, we do not plan to stop there in our cooperation activities aimed at ensuring nuclear safety. Today, we face the challenge of re-establishing trust in nuclear energy, which without a doubt requires solutions that will enable us to raise the quality of nuclear safety to a higher level. That aim can be achieved only if we work closely with IAEA member States and other organizations and partners through effective coordination of our efforts in a sustained spirit of transparency and cooperation. We are convinced that IAEA should continue to play a leadership role in the process of reforming its international nuclear safety regime and reaction mechanisms to deal with abnormal nuclear situations.