A/68/PV.43 General Assembly

The Assembly will now take action on draft decision A/68/L.9, entitled “General debate of the sixty-ninth regular session of the General Assembly”. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt it?

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 7.

I invite Mr. Yukia Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy *1354795* 13-54795 (E) Agency, to introduce the report of the Agency for the year 2012.

Access to modern science and technology is essential for achieving all of the Millennium Development Goals. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) gives high priority to assisting developing countries in using nuclear technology in areas, including health, food and agriculture, and water management. By making nuclear technology available through our technical cooperation programme, the IAEA makes a unique and lasting contribution to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Globally, health and nutrition make up the largest proportion of IAEA spending on technical cooperation. We have been working with other United Nations specialized agencies, such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, in order to achieve more effective programme implementation. The Agency pays particular attention to training skilled professionals in the use of nuclear technology. We are also making increasing use of cost-effective e-learning tools. Cancer is reaching epidemic proportions in developing countries, but many countries lack the resources to deal with it. In fact, several dozen African nations have absolutely no radiotherapy facilities. Cancers that are increasingly treatable in developed countries are all too often fatal in developing countries. The IAEA, together with the World Health Organization, is playing its part by helping to make radiotherapy, medical physics, nuclear medicine and imaging services available to developing countries. Our Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy has been recognized by Member States as a flagship IAEA programme. But our efforts are just a drop in a vast ocean of human suffering. The world needs to mobilize its resources against cancer in a systematic way. The crisis must be addressed with a multipronged international effort to build awareness, develop diagnosis and treatment centres and train medical professionals. Tsetse flies infest vast areas of Africa. They transmit a parasitic disease that devastates livestock herds and spreads sleeping sickness among human beings. The IAEA is working closely with the African Union to help create tsetse-free zones, using the sterile-insect technique and other methods. The sterile-insect technique is essentially a form of contraception for tsetse flies. Male flies, which are mass-produced in special facilities, are sterilized using radiation. The sterile males are then released into affected areas, where they mate with wild females. The females do not produce offspring. The technique can eventually eradicate entire populations of tsetse flies, as happened in Zanzibar in 1999. In recent years, significant progress has been made in suppressing tsetse flies in Ethiopia and Senegal by using the sterile-insect technique and conventional methods. Together with 13 countries in the Sahel region of Africa, the IAEA is working to alleviate severe water shortages that have caused a humanitarian crisis. Underground aquifers that store fresh water span national borders in the region. The IAEA helps countries to measure and monitor such shared fresh water supplies using nuclear isotopic techniques. That provides the data to enable policymakers to develop a strategic plan for managing those vital resources. Responding to concerns among member States about climate change, the new Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre started work this year at the IAEA Environmental Laboratories in Monaco. That enhances our efforts to promote a comprehensive approach to the study, monitoring and protection of marine, coastal and terrestrial ecosystems. The annual IAEA Scientific Forum in September was entitled “The Blue Planet: Nuclear Applications for a Sustainable Marine Environment”. I informed the General Assembly a year ago about my plans to modernize the eight IAEA nuclear applications laboratories near Vienna (see A/67/152/ Add.1). They do essential work in assisting with the transfer of nuclear science and technology to developing countries in areas such as human and animal health, food security and safety, agriculture and environmental monitoring. My proposal has received strong support from member States, and we hope to complete the modernization in 2017. That will be a priority for the Agency over the next four years. Nuclear safety and security also remain a matter of high priority for the IAEA. The Agency has continued to assist Japan in dealing with the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi accident. The recent leak of contaminated water was a clear reminder of the continuing impact of the accident. The IAEA has recommended that Japan establish an effective plan and mechanisms for the long-term management of contaminated water. The announcement by the Japanese Government of a basic policy for addressing that issue was an important step forward. An IAEA team will carry out a follow-up mission to Japan later this year. Steady progress has been made on the implementation of the IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety, which was agreed by our General Conference in 2011. The Agency has continued the series of post- Fukushima international expert meetings, with sessions on issues including decommissioning and remediation after a nuclear accident, and human and organizational factors in nuclear safety. Member States have recognized the central role of the IAEA in promoting international cooperation in nuclear safety. A comprehensive IAEA report on the Fukushima Daiichi accident will be finalized in 2014. In June, a ministerial conference on nuclear power in the twenty-first century took place in Saint Petersburg, Russia. One of the key messages was that for many countries nuclear power will play an important role in achieving energy security and sustainable development goals. The IAEA has a unique role in assisting Governments, operators and regulators to understand their international obligations and national responsibilities concerning nuclear power, as well as in adopting international standards and best practices. The IAEA’s activities in nuclear security continue to develop, in response to the wishes of member States. The IAEA provides a broad range of services to help ensure that nuclear and other radioactive material, as well as nuclear facilities, are properly protected. In July, we hosted an international conference on nuclear security to review past achievements and current approaches and to identify priorities for the future. That was the first such conference at the ministerial level, open to all IAEA member States, and one of the largest conferences ever held by the Agency. Ministers adopted a declaration with a firm commitment to strengthening nuclear security. They also affirmed the IAEA’s central role in strengthening the global nuclear security framework. Over the coming years, we will build on the success of that conference with the aim of ensuring that all member States share a common understanding of the threat of nuclear terrorism and the measures needed to address it. I continue to encourage countries to address an important area of unfinished business in nuclear security, namely, the ratification of the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. The Amendment would expand coverage of the Convention to include the protection of nuclear material in domestic use, storage and transport, and the protection of nuclear facilities against sabotage. Eight years after its adoption, the Amendment has still not entered into force. I call upon all States to adhere to the Amendment, and I hope that it will enter into force in the near future. Turning now to nuclear verification, I can inform the General Assembly that IAEA safeguards agreements are now in force with 181 States. However, 12 non-nuclear-weapon States have yet to meet their obligation under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to conclude a comprehensive safeguards agreement with the Agency. For those States, we cannot draw any safeguards conclusions. I urge all such States to conclude comprehensive safeguards agreements as soon as possible. I am pleased to report that the number of States with additional protocols to their safeguards agreements in force continues to rise. It now stands at 121. That is very encouraging because the additional protocol is an essential tool for the Agency to be able to provide credible assurance that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in a country. The IAEA has been working for several years to improve the operational effectiveness of our safeguards laboratories. The new Nuclear Material Laboratory building was completed a few months ago, on schedule and within budget. The lab should be operational within 18 months, giving the Agency a modern capability for the analysis of nuclear samples. I continue to report to the IAEA Board of Governors on safeguards implementation in three countries in particular: the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Syrian Arab Republic. The Agency continues to verify the non-diversion of nuclear material declared by Iran under its Safeguards Agreement. However, we are unable to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities. The Agency cannot, therefore, conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities. Last week, a productive meeting addressing past and present issues related to Iran’s nuclear programme took place in Vienna. Iran presented a new proposal on practical measures as a constructive contribution to strengthening cooperation and dialogue with a view to the future resolution of all outstanding issues. Following the substantive discussions, it was decided that a meeting would be held on 11 November in Tehran in order to take that cooperation forward. I remain seriously concerned about the nuclear programme of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s statements concerning a third nuclear test and its intention to restart its nuclear facilities at Yongbyon, together with its previous statements about uranium enrichment activities and the construction of a light water reactor, are deeply regrettable. Such actions are clear violations of relevant Security Council resolutions. The Agency has not been able to implement any verification measures in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea since April 2009. I call upon the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to fully comply with its obligations under relevant Security Council resolutions and with the NPT, and to cooperate promptly and fully with the Agency. In the case of Syria, the Assembly will recall that, in May 2011, I reported that it was very likely that a building destroyed at the Dair Alzour site was a nuclear reactor that should have been declared to the Agency. The Agency has not received any new information that would affect that assessment. I again urge Syria to cooperate fully with the Agency in connection with unresolved issues related to the Dair Alzour site and other locations. On 8 December, 60 years will have elapsed since President Eisenhower gave his historic Atoms for Peace speech to the General Assembly (see A/PV.470). He called for the establishment of an international atomic energy agency to put nuclear material to use to serve the peaceful pursuits of humankind. Four years later, in 1957, the IAEA began work in Vienna. Since then, the Agency has worked hard to bring the benefits of peaceful nuclear technology to all parts of the globe and to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. The world has changed enormously in that time. But the Atoms for Peace mission has lost none of its relevance. The Agency has successfully adapted to changing times and the evolving needs of member States. When I took office in December 2009, I pledged to pursue the multiple objectives of the Agency in a balanced manner. My goal has been to ensure that the IAEA is an effective, well-managed technical organization with high ethical standards that delivers concrete results and makes a real difference to our member States. That will remain my objective during my second term as Director General. I look forward to continuing to work fruitfully with our member States and our partner organizations within the United Nations family, in the interest of the people of the whole world.

I thank the Director General for his introduction of the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (see A/68/324). I now give the floor to the representative of Viet Nam to introduce draft resolution A/68/L.10.

First of all, I would like to thank Mr. Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for presenting for the report of the IAEA for the calendar year 2012 (see A/68/324), which sets forth the achievements of the IAEA and the challenges it will face in the coming years. The report also illustrates the vital role of the Agency in the development and transfer of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and its contributions to strengthening the global nuclear safety framework and the guarantees of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. In 2012, the IAEA’s activities were strengthened in the two areas of nuclear technology and nuclear applications. The IAEA continues to play an important role in providing technical assistance to member States wishing to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. So far, more than 125 member States have benefited from IAEA programmes for the analysis and planning of their national energy systems. Through those programmes, the member States can meet their national development priorities in areas where nuclear technologies offer advantages over other approaches. It is widely accepted that the development and implementation of safe nuclear technologies are effective tools for the international community to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to promote sustainable development in the post-2015 period. (spoke in English) Nuclear safety and security is yet another important pillar of the IAEA mandate. The IAEA intensified efforts related to further plans and guidelines in that area, including the implementation of the Action Plan on Nuclear Safety and the development of the Nuclear Security Fundamentals that provide member States with technical blueprints for their own national frameworks for nuclear safety and security. The Agency also followed up with the concretization of such guidelines, including through useful outreach activities in regional and national settings. As a unique international organization with niche expertise in all aspects of nuclear technologies, we are confident that the IAEA will continue to play a leading role in shaping a safer nuclear future for the world. In fulfilling Viet Nam’s responsibility as Chair of the Board of Governors of the IAEA, I am pleased today to introduce, under item 88 of the agenda of the General Assembly, the draft resolution entitled “Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency” (A/68/L.10), on behalf of the 72 sponsors listed in the document before us, including my own country, Viet Nam. The few updates to last year’s text are of a technical nature relating to the dates and the list of the relevant resolutions and decisions adopted by the General Conference at its fifty-seventh regular session, from 16 to 20 September 2013. The draft resolution welcomes the reappointment of Mr. Yukiya Amano as Director General of the Agency until 30 November 2017, for which I would like to warmly congratulate him. Similar to last year, the text takes notes with appreciation the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency. It also takes note of the resolutions adopted by the General Conference of the Agency, reaffirms the strong support of the General Assembly for the Agency’s indispensable role in encouraging and assisting the development and practical application of atomic energy for peaceful uses, technology transfer to developing countries and nuclear safety, verification and security. It also contains appeals to Member States to continue to support the activities of the Agency. The language of the draft resolution was arrived at by consensus after the consultations held in Vienna and New York on 9 and 18 October, respectively. I would like to express our sincere appreciation to Member States for their constructive engagement during the informal consultations. I hereby submit this text to the General Assembly for its consideration. I sincerely hope that, as was the case last year, the draft resolution will be adopted by consensus. It is also still open for further sponsors.

On behalf of my delegation, I thank the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for presenting the Agency’s annual report for the year 2012 (see A/68/324). The increasing global demand for energy, concerns about climate change, volatile fossil fuel prices and the security of energy supplies remain essential factors for any country in deciding on an energy mix. Nuclear power remains an important option, not only for countries with existing nuclear programmes, but also for developing countries with growing energy requirements. Since last year, two important meetings relating to nuclear energy have been held: the Fukushima Ministerial Conference, in Japan from 15 to 17 December 2012, and the IAEA International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21st Century, in the Russian Federation from 27 to 29 June 2013. Both of those meetings underscored the role that nuclear energy continues to play in the energy mix of various countries and in their efforts to achieve energy security and sustainable development goals in the twenty-first century for their respective populations. We note that Agency projections indicate significant growth in the use of nuclear energy worldwide, reaching between 17 and 94 per cent by 2030. The Fukushima accident elicited a global response pushing for the strengthening of nuclear safety, with member States reassessing the safety of existing nuclear power plants. While the results of those reassessments will be further refined as necessary in the light of new information that might emerge in the future, we note with satisfaction that the global nuclear community made noteworthy progress in strengthening nuclear safety in 2012. An overwhelming majority of member States with operational nuclear power plants have undertaken and essentially completed comprehensive safety reassessments, and many have introduced additional safety measures, including the mitigation of station blackouts and the construction of higher protective walls. It is a matter of satisfaction that safety performance indicator data on the 437 operating nuclear power plants showed that the operational safety level has remained high. India is committed to implementing the highest standards for the safety of Indian nuclear power plants and the associated fuel cycle facilities. India will continue to participate and assist the IAEA secretariat in its endeavours to enhance nuclear safety through the cluster of measures formulated in the IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety. We feel that the IAEA should take all necessary measures to allay misapprehensions among the public and member States about the safety of nuclear power plants, taking into account the advances in relevant design and technology areas. In that connection, we wish to acknowledge the visit of the IAEA Director General to India in March 2013, where he appreciated the safety upgrades implemented in the Tarapur 1 and 2 reactors. We would also like to encourage the IAEA to make concerted efforts to ensure the free flow of the latest information, technology and equipment pertaining to nuclear safety among the member States. The nuclear power programme in India is oriented towards maximizing the energy potential of available uranium resources and the utilization of its large thorium reserve. We believe that available global uranium resources cannot sustain the projected expansion of nuclear power in the coming decades without adopting a closed fuel cycle approach and, subsequently, a thorium fuel cycle. With its excellent physical and nuclear properties, thorium is widely and rightly viewed as the fuel of the future. India continues to carry forward intense development of technologies based on thorium fuel cycles for demonstration in its advanced heavy water reactor programme. Thorium-based fuel cycles and technologies present opportunities for enhanced passive safety features, the utilization of the larger natural resources of thorium and inherent proliferation resistance. International collaboration under the IAEA would help provide a much wider resource base for future nuclear technology development in that direction. India is committed to harnessing the benefits of nuclear energy for electricity production, while according the highest priority to nuclear safety and security. India will need to rapidly raise energy production to meet its growing energy requirements in order to achieve its development goals. The energy resources at our disposal make it imperative for us to consider all energy options. At present, there are 21 nuclear power plant units in operation in India. The construction of four 700-megawatt pressurized heavy water reactor units is in progress at the Kakrapar and Rawatbhata sites. India has set up two Voda Voda Energo reactor- based nuclear power plants, each of 1,000 megawatts, at Kudankutam in Tamil Nadu, with the cooperation of the Russian Federation. India is also setting up a 500-megawatt prototype fast breeder reactor at Kalpakkam. The Agency performed its first Operational Safety Review Team mission to India for the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station, units 3 and 4, in November 2012. The mission was performed using the revised scope and modules updated with the lessons learned from the Fukushima nuclear accident. The mission recognized the strong safety culture present at the nuclear power plant and many good practices. A follow-up mission has been invited, which will take place in early 2014. The preparation and planning for inviting IAEA’s Integrated Regulatory Review Service to undertake a peer review of our regulatory system is also in progress, and India will approach the Agency with a request to undertake that mission. India has been associated with the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles since its inception and has contributed to its progress. We also fully support the other activities of the IAEA undertaken to stimulate innovation in nuclear power through technical working groups for different reactor technologies, small and medium-sized reactors and for non-electric applications. Nuclear energy has a crucial role to play in India’s achievement of its sustainable economic growth objectives. At the same time, India is extensively engaged in the development of nuclear technologies in diverse fields extending beyond nuclear power. They include isotope applications for improved crop varieties, crop protection and post-harvest technologies; radio- isotope applications for diagnostic and therapeutic uses in health care; and technologies for safe drinking water and industry, among other things. India attaches great importance to the IAEA’s work in the field of nuclear science. We contribute to those activities through our participation in technical meetings and coordinated research projects, as well as by supporting the IAEA’s programme on nuclear fusion. The Agency’s programme and achievements in the area of nuclear applications in food and agriculture, human health and nutrition, water resource management, the protection of the environment and industry make a valuable contribution to meeting the needs of the developing countries. India greatly appreciates the IAEA’s efforts in cancer management, particularly the Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy. We will continue to support Agency activities in those areas, including by offering the services of experts and training research fellows in reputable institutions around the country. There is widespread recognition that the threat of nuclear terrorism is one of the pressing challenges facing the international community. Responsible national action and effective international cooperation are therefore required for strengthening nuclear security in order to prevent vulnerable nuclear material from falling into the hands of non-State actors. India has consistently supported the IAEA’s important role in facilitating national efforts to strengthen nuclear security and foster effective international cooperation. At the Nuclear Security Summit held in Seoul in April 2012, India reaffirmed its commitment to supporting IAEA activities in the area of nuclear security and announced a contribution of $1 million to the IAEA’s Nuclear Security Fund. We have fulfilled our commitment. A collaboration arrangement has been signed with the secretariat and is being implemented. India is a member of the Director General’s Advisory Group on Nuclear Security and of the Nuclear Security Guidance Committee, and contributes to developing the related documents. India commends the Director General for organizing the International Conference on Nuclear Security: Enhancing Global Efforts, our delegation to which was led by our Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister. Universal adherence to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials and the early entry into force of its 2005 Amendment would go a long way to strengthening global efforts in the area of nuclear security. With these comments, we take note of the IAEA’s annual report for 2012. India supports the work of the IAEA and is a sponsor of draft resolution A/68/L.10.

My delegation is pleased to see you presiding over this important meeting, Madam. We are confident that it will yield a fruitful outcome under your leadership. My delegation would like to express its sincere thanks to the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for preparing the Agency’s comprehensive report for 2012 (see A/68/324) and for his statement, which included additional information on the principal developments in the Agency’s activities during 2013. We would also like to take this opportunity to extend our warmest congratulations to Ambassador Yukiya Amano on his recent election as Director General for 2013 to 2017. We are confident that under his skilled and able leadership, the Agency will contribute to promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and technology. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Ambassador Amano and to strengthening the established cooperation between Indonesia and the Agency, and we offer our best wishes and hopes for his success. The IAEA has an important role to play in assisting and promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology, especially in the developing regions of the world. Nuclear technology is a valuable tool for addressing many aspects of Indonesia’s national development programmes, particularly in the areas of health, food and agriculture, water resource management, environmental protection and industry. To mention a few such uses, Indonesia has been applying radiation-induced mutation and other nuclear and isotopic techniques in order to increase crop quality and productivity, thus helping to ensure food security and improve people’s livelihoods. We are also enhancing the application of irradiation technologies in sanitary and phytosanitary measures for agricultural products. We remain confident about the usefulness of nuclear technologies and the synergies fostered by international cooperation in the nuclear field, for which the IAEA’s work is very important. Indonesia commends the Agency’s various activities applying nuclear technology in the areas of food security and agriculture, disease prevention and control, water resources and environmental management, and radioisotope and radiation technology. Our country’s increasing demand for energy is inevitable, due to our growing industrial sector. In that regard, Indonesia is resolved to harness nuclear power as part of a policy on a national energy mix, aimed at securing our energy supply, and intends to introduce nuclear power plants for that purpose. We commend the progress made in Agency activities on nuclear energy development, and welcome the assistance provided to Member States interested in launching and expanding nuclear power programmes. We are especially grateful to the IAEA for providing Indonesia with technical assistance in infrastructure development in this area, an important step in the process of introducing nuclear power plants. We remain of the view that the IAEA’s Department of Technical Cooperation plays an indispensable role as the Agency’s main vehicle for delivering on its mandate to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear technology, especially in the developing world. We believe we should all continue our support for the IAEA’s technical cooperation resources. Ensuring that nuclear science and technology are used exclusively for peaceful purposes is a statutory function of the IAEA. We appreciate its activities in verifying that States are fully complying with their non-proliferation obligations, and in confirming that nuclear materials are used for peaceful purposes. We are convinced that the Agency’s safeguards have contributed to strengthening collective security and have helped to create an environment conducive to nuclear cooperation. Concerning the Agency’s functions in the area of nuclear safety, Indonesia welcomes its work on establishing safety standards. We recognize its central role in promoting international cooperation, coordinating international efforts to strengthen global nuclear safety, and providing expertise and advice in that field. We welcome the progress in implementing the IAEA’s Action Plan on Nuclear Safety. While primary responsibility for nuclear safety is in the hands of each State, we believe that the IAEA’s role in assuring the safety of all nuclear activities worldwide should be enhanced and strengthened to the extent mandated by its Statutes. Turning to the activities of the Agency in the area of nuclear security, we are of the view that while the responsibility for ensuring nuclear security within a State lies primarily with the Government of that State, international cooperation and coordination to ensure nuclear security worldwide are crucial, and the IAEA has a central role to play in that regard. We are pleased that the Agency has helped countries to reduce the risk of terrorists obtaining nuclear or radioactive materials, and to prevent sabotage at nuclear facilities In conclusion, the activities of the IAEA have greatly contributed to a more prosperous, secure and safe world. We are therefore of the view that the IAEA needs our continued and strong support for fulfilling its mandate as enshrined in the IAEA Statute. In the light of the foregoing, my delegation supports the draft resolution contained in document A/68/L.10.

I now give the floor to the observer of the European Union.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU). Turkey, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Iceland, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia align themselves with this statement. We are pleased to support draft resolution A/68/L.10, on the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The report (see A/68/324) again reaffirms the indispensable role played by the Agency with regard to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and to assisting the development and practical application of atomic energy for peaceful uses, as well as in technology transfer and in nuclear verification, safety and security. The European Union is committed to effective multilateral action against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and attaches the utmost importance to the universalization of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). We call on States that have not yet done so to join the Treaty as non-nuclear-weapon States. Furthermore, the European Union is actively contributing to global efforts to seek a safer world for all and to create the conditions for a world without nuclear weapons, in accordance with the goals of the NPT and in a way that promotes international stability and is based on the principle of undiminished security for all. We underline the vital importance of non-proliferation for achieving those goals. The European Union is fully supportive of the action plan adopted at the 2010 NPT Review Conference and would like to reiterate its commitment, held since the Barcelona Declaration of 1995, to the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction. We therefore regret that the conference on the establishment of such a zone, due to take place in 2012, was postponed. The European Union fully supports the ongoing preparations for a successful conference, in particular the tireless efforts of its Facilitator, Ambassador Laajava of Finland. The European Union calls on all States in the region to urgently and proactively engage with the Facilitator and the convenors with the aim of convening the conference as soon as possible, on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at by the States of the region. The 2010 NPT Review Conference reaffirmed the role of the IAEA in verifying and ensuring States’ compliance with their safeguards obligations and stressed the importance of resolving all cases of non-compliance, as well as the importance of States parties responding resolutely and effectively in such cases. The European Union is deeply concerned about 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. The European Union would like to stress again that the Security Council, which has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, has the mandate to take 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. The measures contained in the model additional protocol form an integral part of the IAEA safeguards system, and the comprehensive safeguards agreements together with additional protocols constitute the current IAEA verification standard. The EU calls for their universalization without delay. From the beginning, the European Union has firmly supported the continued evolution of safeguards to a State-level concept that is more objectives-based and that considers all safeguards to be relevant information about a State. That approach enables the Agency to focus its efforts on areas of greater safeguards significance and those areas where the concerns with regard to the diversion of nuclear materials are the greatest. Furthermore, the European Union is grateful for the broad support received from IAEA member States for the recently adopted EU-sponsored IAEA General Conference resolution on strengthening the effectiveness and improving the efficiency of Agency safeguards. The European Union attaches importance to the highest standards for nuclear safety being implemented and continuously improved in the European Union and promoted internationally. In that context, the European Union and its member States call on all IAEA member States that have not yet done so to become, without delay, contracting parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety, the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident, the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency, and the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. In addition, we encourage IAEA member States to implement the Agency’s Action Plan on Nuclear Safety, in particular to use all the relevant peer- review services of the IAEA to improve nuclear safety. In that respect, a memorandum of understanding for a partnership on nuclear safety cooperation was signed during the IAEA General Conference on 17 September by the Director General of the IAEA, Mr. Yukiya Amano, and the EU Commissioner for Energy, Mr. Günther Oettinger. In the framework of its strategy against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the European Union actively supports Security Council resolutions 1540 (2004) and 1887 (2009), as well as a number of other international initiatives, such as the Group of Eight Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, the Proliferation Security Initiative, the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, and the Global Threat Reduction Initiative. The nuclear security summits have laid important groundwork aimed at strengthening nuclear security, reducing the threat of nuclear terrorism and securing all vulnerable nuclear material in the coming years. Strengthening nuclear security requires continuing effort, political will and global coordination, and the European Union remains committed to those goals. Out of the €260 million dedicated to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) risk mitigation worldwide, more than €100 million has been allocated to the European Union’s regional CBRN Centres of Excellence initiative. The EU strongly supports IAEA activities in the area of nuclear security and was pleased to participate in the Agency’s International Conference entitled “Nuclear security: enhancing global efforts”, held in July, as a cooperating organization. The European Union is among the main contributors to the Nuclear Security Fund, having provided approximately €30 million in EU funds to date, in addition to voluntary contributions, in funds and in kind, made individually by some of its member States, to the benefit of about 100 countries. We will continue to provide such support. Last month, the European Union took a new decision to support the Fund with an additional amount of more than €8 million. Effective physical protection is of the utmost importance in preventing nuclear material from falling into the hands of terrorists and in protecting nuclear facilities against unauthorized use and malicious acts. The European Union 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 2005 Amendment. Finally, the European Union attaches the utmost importance to the Agency’s technical cooperation programme and the role of the Agency in the responsible development of the peaceful applications of nuclear energy. The European Union supports both the IAEA and third countries in their cooperation with the Agency in that area, with a total amount of approximately €150 million per year. As further support to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, the European Union has allocated approximately €560 million over the period 2007 to 2013 for the promotion of nuclear safety, radiation protection and the application of efficient and effective safeguards for nuclear material in third countries.

The Russian delegation is grateful to the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mr. Yukiya Amano, for having introduced the Agency’s report for the period of 1 January to 31 December 2012 (see A/68/324). Russia fully shares the high assessment of the Agency’s work. We cherish the hope that the IAEA will continue to step up efforts in the interest of expanding international cooperation in the field of the peaceful use of nuclear energy and strengthening the global non-proliferation regime. The recent IAEA International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21st Century, held in June in Saint Petersburg, culminated in the adoption of a high-quality outcome document that sets the direction for development on the part of IAEA member States and the secretariat. We are pleased that the Conference reached the conclusion that for many States, nuclear energy is a tried, clean, safe and cost- effective technology that can be called upon to play a significant role in achieving energy security and sustainable development. Russia actively participates in IAEA activities as a financial donor, including through voluntary contributions to the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles, as well as to the Nuclear Security Fund. We fully back the Agency’s efforts in the field of technical cooperation and the provision of relevant assistance to developing States. The IAEA plays a fundamental role in the field of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapon. Its unique verification mechanism enables it, in a very effective way, to monitor States’ compliance with their obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Our country has consistently championed the improvement of the Agency’s monitoring functions, including advocating for the adoption of the additional protocol to the IAEA safeguards agreement as a universally recognized, non-proliferation-commitments verification norm. An impartial approach to nuclear verification based on objective indicators is an important element in preserving the legitimacy of the IAEA safeguards system in the field of technical cooperation and the provision of relevant assistance to developing States. In the context of the large-scale development of nuclear energy, the Russian Federation attaches priority attention to such issues as creating a new architecture for the peaceful use of nuclear cooperation, based on multilateral approaches to the nuclear fuel cycle, the guaranteed provision of services in the field of the nuclear fuel cycle and resolving the problem of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste management. Based on those priorities, Russia has proposed an initiative on the development of a global nuclear energy infrastructure and the creation of international centres for the provision of nuclear fuel-cycle services. We note with satisfaction that our initiative was both timely and useful. Within that framework in Russia, working with Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Armenia, we launched an international uranium enrichment centre. All States developing nuclear energy and complying with their non-proliferation obligations have been invited to participate in it. Another important step in the creation of a global nuclear energy infrastructure was the creation in Russia of a guaranteed stock of low enriched uranium under IAEA management. It has already been fully set up and can be used by member States of the Agency complying with their non-proliferation obligations. The main lesson of the accident at the Fukushima I nuclear power plant is that safety surpasses all other considerations, and that has been fairly well understood by the international community. To prevent similar tragedies in the future, there is a need to improve the international legal framework and the technological and organizational aspects of nuclear safety. To that end, Russia has prepared some important initiatives aimed at dealing with the existing shortcomings in the relevant international legal documents. What we have in mind is amendments to the Convention on Nuclear Safety and the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident. Furthermore, the Russian Federation has proposed improvements of IAEA safety standards, and we hope for broad support in the implementation of our initiatives. We support the Agency’s leading role in forging cooperation among States and an exchange of experiences in the field of nuclear safety, including on preventing the threats of nuclear and radiological terrorism. The IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Security, held in Vienna this past summer provided and elaborated on good indicators for future work and reaffirmed the principle of the Agency’s leading responsibility in that field. The key documents on which the provision of global nuclear physical safety is based are the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its Amendments and the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. Russia has signed and ratified those documents. We call upon States that have not done so yet to accelerate the completion of domestic procedures for accession to those important international instruments. The Russian delegation supports draft resolution A/68/L.10, on the IAEA’s report. We became a sponsor of the draft resolution due to the importance of the Agency’s work to achieve reliable energy supplies and to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

At the outset, I would like to thank the delegation of Viet Nam for introducing draft resolution A/68/L.10, on the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which Brazil is glad to sponsor. The Brazilian delegation also welcomes the Director General of the IAEA, Mr. Yukiya Amano, and wishes to thank him for introducing the IAEA annual report for 2012 (see A/68/324), as well as for the updated information on the Agency’s activities. Brazil attaches the utmost importance to all activities developed by the IAEA. Today, however, I will focus my remarks on the ongoing discussions about the development and conceptualization of safeguards implementation at the State level, as well as on the results of the fifty-seventh regular session of the IAEA General Conference in 2013, in particular its resolution on safeguards Brazil has been supportive of IAEA efforts to promote more efficient and effective safeguards in strict accordance with the relevant agreements entered into by member States with the Agency and taking into account the necessary distinction between legal agreements and voluntary commitments, such as the additional protocol to the comprehensive safeguards agreement. My country has joined others in the IAEA General Conference in a request in 2012 that the secretariat report on the development of new approaches for safeguards implementation through the so-called State-level concept. Last September, the safeguards implementation report submitted to the IAEA Board of Governors seemed rather meagre and did not fully meet our expectations for adequate information and clarification on several issues related to its implementation. It also sent equivocal signals as to the claimed non-discriminatory application of safeguards to all member States. Following an inconclusive preliminary exchange of views between the Board and the secretariat, we see the Director General’s decision to prepare a supplementary report as a step in the right direction. We expect the Director General’s supplementary report to be circulated as soon as possible, in time for member States to review it properly and in time for consideration and action by the Board at the session next June. Upon the presentation of the first report on the State-level concept, we expressed our concern with the possible use of sensitive information, including from open sources and third parties, for the purpose of safeguards implementation. Furthermore, we believe that the handling of information deserves a broader debate. It is high time for the Agency to review the existing rules and procedures to ensure the protection of information, its use in a secure, credible and impartial manner and the secretariat’s accountability to member States in that regard. The practices of the mid-1990s are no longer suitable in a world where advances in communications and cybertechnologies allow for frequent manipulation, fabrication and access to commercial and technological information, as well as the invasion of citizens’ data and privacy. We note with dissatisfaction the persistence of imbalances and double standards within the nuclear non-proliferation regime. As a key implementing tool of such a regime, the IAEA must be in line with other international initiatives to promote the equitable and full implementation of the mutually reinforcing goals of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. I would stress in that regard the importance of the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on Nuclear Disarmament (see A/68/PV.11) that took place a few weeks ago and the second Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons, to be held in Mexico next February. We look forward to the conclusions of those events and to considering their implications for the work of the Agency. We also welcome the resolution on safeguards adopted by the fifty-seventh General Conference, which recalls the Statute of the IAEA, in particular article III.B.1, stating that the Agency shall conduct its activities in conformity with the policies of the United Nations furthering the establishment of safeguarded worldwide disarmament. Brazil notes the opportune reference in the IAEA resolution on safeguards to Action 30 of the Final Document of the 2010 NPT Review Conference, which calls for the wider application of safeguards to peaceful nuclear facilities in nuclear-weapon States under the relevant voluntary offer safeguards agreements. Action 30 also stresses that comprehensive safeguards and additional protocols should be universally applied once the complete elimination of nuclear weapons has been achieved.

The Chinese delegation welcomes the briefing by Mr. Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on the work of the Agency. Over the past year, the IAEA has been earnestly fulfilling its duties in line with its statutory mandate and has made substantial achievements in areas such as the peaceful use of nuclear energy, nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear safety and security. The Agency organized two international ministerial conferences — on the development of nuclear power in the twenty-first century and on nuclear security — which provided an important impetus for international efforts in those areas. Meanwhile, the Agency has remained committed to enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of safeguards and to promoting the proper settlement of regional hotspot issues. The IAEA’s work has been fully acknowledged by its member States. The Fukushima nuclear accident two years ago prompted the international community to reflect on the development of nuclear energy. The accident sounded the alarm regarding nuclear safety. The recent reports on water leakage from the Fukushima nuclear plant are a source of concern. China is closely following the countermeasures to be adopted by Japan. We urge Japan to spare no effort in minimizing the subsequent impact of the accident and to provide timely, comprehensive and accurate information to the international community. Since China is a major energy consumer, its Government firmly supports the development of nuclear power. At the same time, China has always upheld the principle of safety first and attaches great importance to improving nuclear safety and emergency response performance. China has made constant improvements to relevant laws and regulations, stepped up infrastructure development and established a rigorous supervisory and regulatory system for nuclear safety. China also actively participates in international nuclear safety cooperation. A nuclear safety demonstration centre is being built in Beijing with steady progress. It will serve as a training and information exchange platform for Asia and the Pacific. China has made several financial contributions to the IAEA Nuclear Security Fund. China stands ready to provide help through the platform of the IAEA to countries that need to convert high enriched uranium to low enriched uranium in their research reactors. China has always actively supported the IAEA in its effort to fully and effectively fulfil the duties mandated by its Statute, to promote world peace and development. China hopes that the Agency will focus on the following aspects in its future work. First, the Agency should effectively promote the full implementation of the IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety and the Nuclear Security Plan for 2014 to 2017 with a view to raising the global nuclear security level and to restoring international confidence in nuclear energy development. We encourage the Agency to follow and monitor more closely the subsequent impact of the Fukushima nuclear accident and to provide the Japanese Government with the necessary guidance and assistance to properly address the water leakage issue. We also hope that the Agency will steadily push forward the comprehensive review of the Fukushima nuclear accident and the response measures. Secondly, the Agency should continue to provide support and assistance to developing countries through the IAEA technical cooperation programmes to help them to develop and utilize nuclear energy. Thirdly, the Agency should make safeguards more effective and efficient, while ensuring impartiality and objectivity. Last but not least, it should continue to play a constructive role in addressing regional nuclear issues and should contribute to the settlement of relevant issues through dialogue.

The accidents at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986 and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2011 gave rise to the substantial revision and strengthening of international nuclear safety standards and to the improvement of international norms to ensure both the highest level of nuclear, waste and radiation safety worldwide and the relevant system of emergency preparedness and response. We believe that, given its unique expertise, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has a leading role to play in nuclear- related accidents or emergencies, and its on-site involvement is vital in addressing the consequences. While the responsibility for nuclear safety rests with each member State, we believe that the IAEA Safety Fundamentals should constitute the minimum obligatory basis for States with advanced civil nuclear programmes. We strongly support the Agency’s activities aimed at improving nuclear, radiation, transport and waste safety worldwide. In 2011 the IAEA General Conference approved the Action Plan on Nuclear Safety following the Fukushima Daiichi accident. In implementing the Plan, Ukraine has carried out an assessment of the safety vulnerabilities of all our nuclear power installations. We have also successfully passed stress-test exercises at our nuclear facilities and are participating in the follow-up peer review process. The Ukrainian national regulator is pursuing a comprehensive programme of revision of national nuclear safety regulations. We believe that activities under both the Convention on Nuclear Safety and the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management enhance the safety of nuclear energy use worldwide. We call upon all States that have not yet done so to join those important instruments. The existing international treaty basis concerning the response to nuclear disaster requires further improvement. The relevant work has already begun within the Agency’s framework, and we believe that positive results can be achieved in the near future. There are many lessons to be further learned from the Fukushima accident. We look forward to the 2014 IAEA comprehensive report on the causes and consequences of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. The elimination of the consequences of the Chernobyl accident continues to be extremely important to us and constitutes a priority for the Government of Ukraine. Let me take this opportunity to reiterate our gratitude and appreciation to the States and international organizations that continue to provided support and assistance to us in overcoming the consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe. Currently, a New Safe Confinement over the destroyed Unit 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is under construction. That work, to be completed in 2015, will allow further transformation of the shelter object into an environmentally and ecologically safe system. Ukraine is fully committed to effective multilateral actions against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and attaches the utmost importance to the universalization of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Ukraine reiterates the paramount importance of the IAEA safeguards in providing effective control over sensitive materials and activities. The Agency’s system of safeguards is a fundamental component of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. We believe that both the comprehensive safeguards agreement and its additional protocol constitute the current best verification standard. Universal adherence to both instruments strengthens the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. Ukraine strongly supports the efforts of the Agency to strengthen the effectiveness and to improve the efficiency of its safeguards system. Ukraine has had the comprehensive safeguards agreement and the addition protocol in force since January 2006. In 2012, we successfully began implementation of the IAEA integrated safeguards. Ukraine commends the IAEA for its activities aimed at assisting States, at their request, to enhance national nuclear and radioactive security regimes, improve the physical protection of nuclear materials and prevent their illicit trafficking. We would like to emphasize the important role of the IAEA in fostering international cooperation in those fields. Ukraine welcomes the adoption of the Agency’s Nuclear Security Plan for 2014 to 2017. We reaffirm our view that the responsibility for nuclear security rests with each individual State. All States have the responsibility to establish appropriate systems of accounting and control and to take the necessary measures to prevent, detect and respond to malicious acts involving nuclear material. Adherence to the international 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 Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its 2005 Amendment as soon as possible. We also call for strengthening the international principles on nuclear export control as well as relevant national legislation. Contributing to the success of the Nuclear Security Summits held in Washington, D.C., and Seoul, Ukraine has announced and fully implemented its decision to eliminate all national stocks of highly enriched uranium. We look forward to the next Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague in 2014 in order to continue the discussion on vital issues of nuclear security. Ukraine has always been a strong supporter of the IAEA technical cooperation programme, which constitutes an important statutory function. Ukraine views implementation of the technical cooperation programme as the cornerstone of international cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. We believe that it is important to ensure fair access to technical cooperation funds and predictable funding of technical cooperation programmes. The key to effectiveness is to meet the needs of the member States. In order to maximize the socioeconomic impact of its technical cooperation projects, it is crucial for the Agency to further develop partnerships with other international organizations, where appropriate. We recognize the importance of the Agency’s research activities regarding nuclear energy, particularly in the fields of safety, waste management, innovative reactor technologies and fuel cycles. In that regard, we will continue to participate actively in the relevant projects udner the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles. The preservation of competence and know-how across the nuclear sector is fundamental to those activities. Developments in 2011 have led to widespread concern about the safety of nuclear power plants around the world and to deliberations about the viability of nuclear energy as a source of power. We would like to reiterate that each country has the right to define its own energy mix. Nuclear power will continue to be an important element of Ukraine’s energy strategy over a mid- and long-term perspective. It will continue to serve as a basis for the sustainable development of our national economy. Its growing importance is reflected in the updated energy strategy of Ukraine projected through 2030. In conclusion, we would like to join other delegations in welcoming the IAEA report (see A/68/324) to the General Assembly and we express our appreciation for the Agency’s work.

Belarus supports the activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its Director General, Mr. Yukia Amano, in the field of technical cooperation, nuclear energy, nuclear and radiological safety, non-proliferation guarantees, science and technology. We attach great importance to the Agency’s work in implementing its statutory functions to achieve the broadest possible use of nuclear energy for the maintenance of global peace, health and well-being. Such work must be focused on the creation and strengthening of member States’ capacity in the field of energy planning and providing comprehensive assistance in the implementation of national nuclear energy programmes. Belarus is currently conducting a large-scale project to build our country’s first nuclear power plant. Yesterday, the President of Belarus signed a decree on the creation of the first Belarusian nuclear power plant. I would like above all to stress that our country intends to carry out its nuclear energy programme in full compliance with IAEA standards and recommendations. We intend to use the full gamut of Agency-provided services for States that are developing their own nuclear energy sector, including invitations to IAEA advisory missions. Such cooperation is already under way. Belarus welcomed a number of IAEA specialized delegations and missions of experts, including a comprehensive mission on nuclear energy infrastructure. Belarus is working in close cooperation with the Agency’s secretariat to implement the recommendations resulting from those visits. I would like again to reaffirm Belarus’s commitment to the international norms applicable to nuclear safety, as well as our openness to and readiness for dialogue with interested States and international organization during the implementation of our nuclear power project. Belarus is specifically focused on the role of the IAEA in ​technical cooperation. The Agency’s current budget cycle for technical cooperation with our country includes projects in the areas of providing assistance for nuclear energy programmes, improving human resources, strengthening the regulatory bodies and the use of nuclear technologies in health care, as well as rehabilitating those parts of the country that suffered as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Although we commend the implementation of such programmes, we cannot help but notice a substantial reduction in the budget for technical cooperation for the next two years, which affects Belarus. We hope that the IAEA will not gradually phase out technical cooperation programmes, especially for States that require continued assistance. The Agency’s technical cooperation programme should be determined by the range and vested interest of Eastern European countries within the Agency’s existing framework. For Belarus, technical cooperation with the Agency is important in terms of resolving past problems, namely, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, and of providing access to the Agency’s expertise and knowledge needed to ensure the safe and effective implementation of the nuclear energy programme. From that point of view, the Agency’s existing mechanisms for providing technical assistance and for playing an advisory role to States building their first nuclear power plants are of the utmost importance. Belarus believes that the IAEA, alongside many other international organizations of the United Nations, must continue to participate in the multilateral efforts aimed at systematically rehabilitating the territories that suffered from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The experience of Chernobyl should serve to help the Agency react more rapidly and competently so as to prevent, respond to and mitigate the consequences of nuclear and radiological accidents. In future, the IAEA must not remain aloof on Chernobly-related issues. That would include taking stock of the outcome of the United Nations Action Plan for Chernobyl and the elaboration of a new conceptual framework for new international cooperation on Chernobyl. The many IAEA priorities include, most importantly, ensuring nuclear and radiological safety. Although the maintenance of nuclear security and safety is the prerogative and responsibility of States, that issue has received not only national but also international attention, and rightly so. The Agency can and must pay a central role in the organization of cooperation mechanisms among States, elaborating on relevant recommendations and disseminating best practices in the field of nuclear safety and security. In that regard, Belarus will actively cooperate with the Agency in ensuring the implementation of the Integrated Plan for Guaranteeing Nuclear Safety in the Republic of Belarus, for instance. Our country is prepared to take further steps in that connection, including in the context of the upcoming mission of the International Nuclear Safety Unit. In conclusion, we would like to support the IAEA’s annual report (see A/68/324)and take note of the decisions of the Agency’s General Conference in September.

Allow me, at the outset, to extend my thanks to Mr. Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for his comprehensive report (see A/68/324) on the activities of the Agency in fulfilling its mandate. Libya reiterates the importance of promoting a partnership between IAEA and its member States, especially in the areas of technical cooperation and capacity-building, since such partnerships have a positive effect on economic and social development, as well as on improving health-care systems. In that regard, we would like to express our utmost appreciation for the valuable assistance Libya has received over the past few years from the Agency, especially in terms of health care and underground water resource management, which are among the priorities of our national programme to achieve the goals of economic and social development in our country. Much like the Agency itself, one of the priorities of Libya’s national programme is to focus on the quality, and not merely the quantity, of projects. Therefore, for the 2014-2015 budget cycle, Libya has proposed four draft resolutions on technical cooperation, three of which — pertaining to the introduction of nuclear energy, the management of naturally generated nuclear waste and the fight against crop pests — have been approved. Libya also welcomes the effective role of the Agency in capacity-building within the health- care system through a number of national and regional projects that have undoubtedly contributed to the establishment of radiation treatment and diagnostic centres and the use of nuclear medicine and to the development of a national policy aimed at combatting cancer. Moreover, Libya commends the assistance that it has received from the Agency for capacity-building in energy planning and for implementing an action plan to modernize the national infrastructure so as to ensure that nuclear power can be introduced in the country. Libya welcomes and fully acknowledges the importance of measures taken by the IAEA to foster international cooperation in the field of nuclear and radiation safety. It has even established a national office for nuclear supervision, charged with the task of serving as an independent watchdog, in accordance with international standards and the relevant treaties and conventions to which Libya has acceded, including the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident. Moreover, Libya has established a committee on emergencies and preparedness in the event of a nuclear or radiation accident, for which it has received valuable assistance from the IAEA through a pilot regional project on developing national capacities in that regard. Libya attaches a great deal of importance to nuclear safety and security, so much so that the IAEA’s legal services have reviewed and presented a law that it drafted on nuclear power to a special committee for its approval. Libya hopes to amend and share that law with local authorities with a view to its adoption. Libya was so eager to ensure capacity-building in nuclear safety and to ensure the protection of nuclear materials and facilities during implementation, storage or transfer nationally and across borders that it organized, with the IAEA, a workshop to identify the design basis threat from 25 to 27 February, which has had a very positive impact on promoting national capacities in the field of the physical protection of nuclear facilities. Furthermore, Libya welcomes the efforts of the IAEA aimed at enhancing its activities in the field of nuclear technology and science and their various applications, in particular the use of radio isotopes in the management of water resources and the production of potable water by means of small and medium-sized nuclear reactors. Considering that Libya is a country that suffers from water shortages, planning is geared towards the desalination of sea water by means of nuclear energy. In that regard, Libya has expressed its keen interest to participate in coordinated research projects related to the nuclear desalination of sea water, especially those listed under the supervision and control of the IAEA, as well as to join the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles. Libya reiterates the inalienable right of the parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to the development, research, production and use of nuclear power for peaceful purposes without discrimination and in accordance with articles I and II of the Treaty. Nonetheless, preserving the delicate balance between rights and obligations, as stipulated in the Treaty, is a sine qua non. Libya acknowledges the central role played by the IAEA, as well as its security safeguards system, and supports enhancing its effectiveness. In that respect, we would like to reaffirm several points. First, we stress the pivotal role of the IAEA in monitoring and verification and in providing technical assistance to developing countries with respect to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Secondly, we underscore the equal right of all States to possess and use nuclear power for peaceful purposes, thereby not permitting specific countries to monopolize the use of nuclear technology while depriving others of that right. Thirdly, we emphasize the importance of committing all countries, without exception, to submitting their nuclear establishments to the international control and verification system of the IAEA. Fourthly, the international community must exert pressure on Israel to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and thus to submit all its nuclear facilities to the Agency’s international monitoring and verification system. The Libyan delegation reiterates its full support for international efforts aimed at establishing additional nuclear-weapon-free zones and zones free of other weapons of mass destruction worldwide. That is a step in the right direction to rid the world of the dangers of such weapons. To achieve that goal, we call upon the Secretary-General and other parties involved in organizing the special conference on transforming the Middle East into a zone free of nuclear weapons, which was supposed to be held in 2012, to shoulder their responsibilities and redouble their efforts in order to implement the provisions of resolution 50/9, as well as the outcome document of the 2010 NPT Review Conference (NPT/CONF.2010/50/(Vol. I)), to ensure that the conference is held before the end of this year. We also call upon them to convince all countries of the region to participate in the proceedings of the conference in earnest to safeguard its success and the achievement of its goals. In conclusion, Libya reiterates its desire to develop and support its partnership and cooperation with the IAEA in all transparency.

Cuba welcomes and supports the important role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The application of nuclear technology in priority areas such as human health, food security, environmental protection and the management of water resources constitutes an important contribution to improving the quality of life on our planet. As an example of the excellent state of relations between the IAEA and Cuba, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mr. Yukiya Amano, paid an official visit to Cuba from 29 September and 1 October, during which he met with Raúl Castro Ruz, President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba, as well as with other senior officials of the Cuban Government. The Director General also visited various Cuban scientific centres and institutions, where he was able to confirm the country’s progress in the use of nuclear technology in the service of life. During his visit to the Isotope Centre of the National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology and the National Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, the Director General was able to observe at first hand Cuba’s impressive use of nuclear technology as a tool for medical diagnosis, research and development, as well as for training highly qualified specialists in nuclear applications. The Director General pointed out that Cuba was an active member of the IAEA in the region and stressed the valuable role Cuban experts have played in many areas related to nuclear activities by sharing their knowledge and experience with other countries. Cuba accords particular importance to technical cooperation with the Agency as an essential means for promoting nuclear technologies in developing countries. The IAEA’s technical cooperation projects with Cuba are harmoniously integrated into the country’s priority development programmes, which guarantees their imipact and continuity. It bears noting that Cuba stands out for the high completion percentage of its technical cooperation projects, which regularly surpasss the general yearly average rate for the IAEA. Of equal importance is Cuba’s participation in regional and interregional projects that have achieved significant results, as well as our contribution, along with other countries, to expert missions, the courses, workshops and technical meetings held in Cuba, and our hosting of visiting scientists and scientific fellows at our institutions. Cuba also believes that collaboration among developing countries is of vital importance. For that reason, we reiterate our support for the Regional Cooperative Arrangements for the Promotion of Nuclear Science and Technology in Latin America as an essential mechanism for promoting cooperation on nuclear issues among the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. We welcome the measures that have been applied by member States and the IAEA to strengthen it, in which Cuba is playing an active role. The economic, commercial and financial blockade that the Government of the United States of America has kept in place against Cuba for more than 50 years affects the activities of the IAEA in our country and violates the Statute of that body. Because of the blockade, the IAEA continues to face difficulties in acquiring specialized equipment for projects in Cuba, due to the fact that American companies and those whose capital comes from that country are not allowed to sell such products for use in Cuba under the threat of sanctions. Cuban nationals are also prevented from participating in training opportunities in the United States, and that affects the implementation of projects in the fight against cancer, a priority of the IAEA. While denouncing once again the unjust and criminal blockade against Cuba, we also recognize the constant efforts of the IAEA secretariat to find alternatives and solutions in the midst of such an unfavourable scenario. Cuba values the work of the IAEA in the area of physical nuclear safety and we stress the fundamental responsibility of States in that realm. We commend the excellent level of cooperation achieved with the IAEA’s Office of Physical Protection and Material Security in implementing projects to improve physical nuclear security in border control and facilities with category 1 and 2 radioactive sources. My country welcomes the outcome of the International Conference on Nuclear Safety, held in Vienna from 1 to 5 July with the participation of all IAEA member States, and the intention to hold such conferences every three years, because we are convinced that the IAEA has a key role to play in physical nuclear security. In that context, I would like to note that Cuba has deposited its instrument ratifying the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, confirming our commitment in this area and our good relations with the IAEA. We reaffirm the importance of strengthening the nuclear security regime at the international level, with the primary responsibility for that resting with those countries possessing nuclear facilities, and ensuring a central role for the IAEA in promoting and coordinating international efforts and cooperation aimed at strengthening nuclear security worldwide. Cuba is proud to have achieved IAEA double certification, for the sixth consecutive year, for its strict compliance with its safeguards commitments, confirming that we are a country that does not divert materials or possess any unreported materials or installations. The most recent safeguards inspection, in late October, also concluded with excellent results. We consider safeguards extremely important, as well as the IAEA secretariat’s impartial and professional action concerning activities occurring in that area. We have repeatedly spoken out against its politicization and manipulation for political ends, and against the double standards that, regrettably, tend to prevail in its analysis. We maintain our position that activities in safeguards areas are the exclusive jurisdiction of the IAEA, which is why we have rejected decisions on this subject that have involved the Security Council. We affirm that verification activities must first respect the sovereignty and national interests of member States. We urge the secretariat of the IAEA to continue working to foster a climate of impartiality, trust, understanding and transparency, based on objectivity and truth and conducive to the settling specific cases concerning compliance with safeguards agreements under consideration by the Board of Governors or the General Conference of the IAEA. In that connection, we reaffirm the importance of respecting the inalienable right of all States to the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. We reiterate our support for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and a settlement negotiated by the actors involved. We are of the firm belief that a long-term solution to the nuclear issue on the peninsula can be reached only through diplomacy and dialogue by peaceful means. We also reiterate our support for the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East. The establishment of such a zone, besides being an important contribution to achieving the goal of nuclear disarmament, would be a major step forward in the peace process in the region. In order to achieve that, Israel must become a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) without delay and without conditions, and must submit its nuclear facilities to comprehensive IAEA safeguards. In that context, Cuba considers the failure to comply with the decision to hold a conference in 2012 on establishing a zone in the Middle East free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction to be disturbing and unjustifiable. The holding of such a conference is an important and integral part of the Final Document of the 2010 NPT Review Conference (NPT/CONF.2010/50 (Vol. I)). We urge that a conference take place without delay and before the end of this year. The first high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament (see A/68/PV.11), unquestionably a historic event, was held very successfully on 26 September, demonstrating broad global support for nuclear disarmament. The Non-Aligned Movement is working on an important follow-up meeting aimed at translating its implications into concrete actions that can help to ensure the total elimination and prohibition of nuclear weapons. Among the proposed initiatives is the designation of 26 September as an international day for the total elimination of nuclear weapons, which we hope the International Atomic Energy Agency will support and promote. While we endorse the important role played by the IAEA and its ties to the United Nations system, particularly its disarmament machinery, we take this opportunity to reiterate that our joint efforts must continue to advocate for nuclear disarmament as a top priority in view of the serious threat posed to international peace and security and the survival of the human species by the existence of tens of thousands of nuclear weapons and military doctrines and strategies that perpetuate the possession and use of such weapons. That is why nuclear disarmament cannot remain a continually postponed, conditional goal. Cuba will stand firm in the battle to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons, a commitment we must all make for future generations.

I would first like to thank the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), His Excellency Mr. Yukiya Amano, for his report. In recognition of the valued activities of the IAEA, Egypt once again joins the list of sponsors of today’s draft resolution on the Agency’s report (A/68/L.10), introduced by the representative of Viet Nam. I would like to highlight the following points with regard to the three main pillars of the Agency’s work. First, concerning nuclear technology, we note that the report (see A/68/324) presents nuclear energy as a low-carbon source that reduces the emission of greenhouse gases in energy generation and mitigates global warming. That demonstrates the potential of nuclear energy, particularly taking into consideration the fact that developing countries face challenges in the areas of both energy and climate change. The IAEA’s projections, according to the report for 2012, indicate significant growth in the use of nuclear energy worldwide. We see that as proof of a growing determination to exercise the inalienable right to develop research, production and uses of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes recognized in article IV of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). In order to enable developing countries to exercise their right to benefit from the peaceful uses of nuclear technologies, including in electricity generation, health, agriculture, food, water resources and radioisotopes, priority should be given to the Agency’s activities in the field of technical cooperation. We reaffirm the necessity of securing both adequate and predictable funding for international cooperation, which is one of the main pillars of the work of the Agency, in accordance with its statute. Secondly, in the area of nuclear safety and security, the report mentions that the impact of the Fukushima accident continued to be felt last year, slowing nuclear power’s rate of expansion. It also highlights the fact that managing the problem of ageing where nuclear power plants and research reactors are concerned continues to be an important issue. In that regard, Egypt reiterates the importance of the Agency’s central role in matters relating to nuclear safety, through its assistance to member States with capacity-building and relevant infrastructure. Those aspects are important priorities in the implementation of the Agency’s Action Plan on Nuclear Safety. On nuclear security, I wish to mention the IAEA’s International Conference on Nuclear Security, held in Vienna in July. The primary responsibility for nuclear safety and nuclear security rests with the State in question. Initiatives and measures aimed at enhancing nuclear security and safety should not be used as a pretext for restricting the right of countries to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Thirdly, with regard to verification, the rights and privileges related to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy are anchored in the NPT, the cornerstone of the non-proliferation regime. The NPT lacks universality in the Middle East. All States of the Middle East apply comprehensive safeguards except Israel, whose opaque nuclear activities remain outside international control, in disregard of the many United Nations and IAEA resolutions calling for its accession to the NPT as a non-nuclear-weapon State. There is no doubt that this situation increases the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. We regret that no conference on the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East was held in 2012, as had been mandated by the 2010 NPT Review Conference. During the general debate of the present session of the General Assembly, the Foreign Minister of Egypt announced yet another Egyptian initiative to facilitate the establishment of a Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction (see A/68/ PV.18). The implementation of that initiative would subject all nuclear facilities in the Middle East to full- scope IAEA safeguards. In so doing, it would enhance the Agency’s verification activities in the region and consolidate its role in ensuring the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons throughout the world. As coordinator of the New Agenda Coalition (NAC), Egypt introduced, on behalf of the Coalition, the annual draft resolution entitled “Towards a nuclear- weapon-free world: accelerating the implementation of nuclear disarmament commitments” (A/C.1/68/L.18). The draft resolution, supported in the First Committee by the overwhelming majority of 165 votes last week, calls upon all States to support the development of nuclear disarmament verification capabilities and legally binding verification arrangements within the context of the IAEA. This year Egypt also contributed by including for the first time a reference to “safeguarded worldwide disarmament” in the Agency’s resolution entitled “Strengthening the Effectiveness and Improving the Efficiency of Agency Safeguards”. We call on the Agency to make full use of those mandates in the field of nuclear disarmament. We also look forward to the Agency continuing to contribute to the follow-up to this year’s special event on nuclear disarmament and pursuing its leading role regarding the humanitarian consequences of the use of nuclear weapons. Egypt renews its determination to intensify cooperation with the Agency with a view to strengthening our national capacities in the field of the peaceful uses of nuclear technology. We are strongly committed to supporting the Agency’s three of pillars of work  — nuclear technology, nuclear safety and security, and verification — as we strive to establish a more peaceful, prosperous and stable world. Let me conclude by wishing the Assembly a happy new Islamic year, especially to the members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Singapore thanks the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the Agency’s comprehensive annual report (see A/68/324). Singapore has consistently supported the three pillars of the IAEA’s work, namely, safety and security, science and technology, and safeguards and verification. Singapore is committed to all global non-proliferation efforts. We note the productive and constructive meeting between IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano and Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, on 28 and 29 October in Vienna. We hope that the follow-up meeting between Iran and the IAEA on 11 November will yield genuine progress. While Singapore supports the right of all sovereign States to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, it must be in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). We therefore urge Iran to comply with its obligations under the NPT and the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and IAEA Board of Governors, and to assure the international community that its nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes. We also call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to refrain from further violations of the relevant Security Council resolutions, to return to the NPT regime and to resume its cooperation with the IAEA. It is regrettable that three States remain outside the NPT. Singapore urges all States that have yet to accede to the NPT to do so without delay. While there has been much emphasis on non-proliferation, we must not forget that disarmament is one of the three pillars of the NPT. The goal of global nuclear disarmament will remain elusive if nuclear- weapon States do not take concrete steps to implement article VI of the NPT. Nuclear-weapon States need to take the lead in reducing their nuclear arsenals in a transparent and verifiable manner, and in ending the qualitative improvement of nuclear weapons. It is crucial for concrete progress to be made in nuclear disarmament in the lead-up to the 2015 NPT Review Conference. As we work towards complete nuclear disarmament, Singapore strongly supports the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones as a confidence-building measure. Within our region, we seek to preserve South-East Asia as a zone free of nuclear weapons. We therefore call on the nuclear-weapon States to accede to the Protocol of the Southeast Asia Nuclear- Weapon-Free Zone Treaty, as soon as possible and without reservations. Singapore also hopes that the conference on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction will be convened without further delay. We acknowledge the IAEA’s ongoing efforts to work with member States on the implementation of the IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety post-Fukushima. An Emergency Preparedness and Response Expert Group was also established early this year. Singapore is pleased to contribute to the Group. Such efforts will help the international community to be better prepared should another emergency occur. We encourage the IAEA’s cooperation with regional organizations to promote IAEA standards on nuclear safety and security. Singapore welcomes recent developments regarding the establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Network of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies or Relevant Authorities. That initiative by Thailand aims to enhance regulatory cooperation to promote greater nuclear safety, security and safeguards within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) community. With Brunei Darussalam’s recent membership of the IAEA in September, all 10 ASEAN countries are now members of the IAEA. We hope that this will open the door to closer future cooperation between the IAEA and ASEAN. We also welcome the IAEA’s contributions in tackling global problems such as food security, water and energy shortages, health, and climate change. Those are the tangible benefits of the IAEA’s work in promoting the peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology. One key example is the contribution of the IAEA’s Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre in addressing the growing problem of ocean acidification. In conclusion, I reaffirm Singapore’s continuing support for the Agency’s work. We will continue working with the IAEA to promote capacity-building, in particular among developing countries. We are pleased to sponsor draft resolution A/68/L.10, on the report of the IAEA.

We congratulate Mr. Yukiya Amano on his re-election as Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He has Pakistan’s full support in his endeavours. We also congratulate Brunei Darussalam and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas for having joined the Agency as new members. We commend the Agency for having produced a very comprehensive report (see A/68/324) and for the reiteration of its key mandatory statutory objective, that is, to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world. Pakistan values the Agency’s role and contribution in that area. Pakistan is pleased to sponsor draft resolution A/68/L.10, on the report of the IAEA. We share the Agency’s assessment that nuclear energy would continue to be one of the preferred sources of viable, safe and sustainable alternatives in the future despite the justifiable public anxiety that arose in the wake of Fukushima accident. Recent international conferences, in particular the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, have shifted the emphasis to sustainable energy for all. The report rightly notes that nuclear energy is a low-carbon source that minimizes greenhouse-gas emissions and mitigates the impact of climatic change. In the past five decades, Pakistan has sought to harness nuclear technology for our development priorities in a variety of ways, in collaboration with the Agency. Pakistan has also been one of the beneficiaries of the Agency’s technical cooperation programme. Pakistan faces a severe energy deficit as the industrial, agricultural and consumer demand for electricity increases with the growing population. To meet that demand we are tapping into all sources — hydro-, solar, wind and nuclear power. Three nuclear power plants are already online and have been performing very well. The oldest of those was commissioned in 1972. Besides those three plants, two more nuclear power plants that will produce 340 megawatts each are under construction and are expected to be commissioned by 2016. Additional reactors are also planned. All nuclear power plants in Pakistan are under IAEA safeguards. Pakistan is an active mainstream partner in the global non-proliferation efforts. We have experience that spans four decades in safely operating nuclear power plants. We have the requisite expertise, well- trained manpower and the infrastructure to produce civil nuclear energy. Pakistan therefore fully qualifies to be a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. In the health sector, 18 nuclear medicine and oncology hospitals are providing diagnostics and treatment to several hundred thousand patients each year throughout the country. The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission has established educational and training programmes in radiation oncology, nuclear medicine and medical physics. Pakistan is willing to offer expert services and training facilities to other countries, in collaboration with the IAEA. For a country of more than 180 million people, food security is of critical importance. In the past 50 years, four agricultural centres have been engaged in a variety of research and development activities, leading to higher yield and better quality agricultural products. Research and development work in the physical sciences and engineering has led us to make important gains, including in water resource management and the production of most radioisotopes required by the nuclear medical centres and the private sector. In tandem with the growth in our nuclear power programme, our regulatory infrastructure has seen robust growth. Since its establishment, 12 years ago, the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority has evolved into a strong regulator and a licensing body. It has forged multiple links with the IAEA and regulators of other countries. Pakistan lauds the leading role that the Agency has played in harmonizing and coordinating global efforts to improve nuclear safety in the wake of the Fukushima incident. A short time after the accident, we convened a ministerial conference, held meetings at the expert level and made preparations for a comprehensive nuclear safety action plan. Pakistan has been actively engaged in drawing lessons from the Fukushima incident. As a result of the stress tests that we conducted after the accident, a comprehensive framework called the Fukushima Response Action Plan was put in place in June 2011 for all nuclear power plants. Accordingly, necessary revisions of emergency preparedness measures and internal peer reviews for operational safety have been undertaken. We have also invited and supported World Association of Nuclear Operators peer review missions and welcomed individual experts under the aegis of the IAEA. We will further deepen that cooperation. Pakistan has been an active participant in the Nuclear Security Summit process. The Summit process has been a vital catalyst for nuclear security. At the same time, we have called for broadening the base of that process to make it more inclusive and representative in due course. We compliment the IAEA for organizing a highly successful ministerial conference in Vienna earlier this year. The IAEA has a central and leading role in the international nuclear security architecture, as well as in the Summit’s successor arrangements post-2016. Over the years, Pakistan has worked closely with the IAEA to strengthen nuclear security. We are implementing a nuclear security action plan in cooperation with the IAEA. Pakistan attaches the highest importance to ensuring the safety and security of its nuclear programme. We have an unblemished record of having run a safe, secure and safeguarded civil nuclear programme for the past 40 years. Pakistan’s nuclear materials, facilities and assets are safe and secure. Our nuclear security regime is anchored in the principle of multilayered defence for the entire spectrum of any nuclear security threat — insider, outsider and cyber — and is guided by the concept of the “five Ds”, that is, to deter, detect, delay, defend and destroy. We have established extensive physical-protection measures, robust command-and- control structures, comprehensive export controls and an effective regulatory regime to ensure the safety and security of nuclear materials and installations. As of today, a specially trained and skilled force of 25,000 nuclear safety officials ensures the security of our nuclear assets. Besides, an integrated intelligence component exercises vigilance to provide depth in defence. Pakistan has gained rich experience in the field of nuclear security. We have established a centre of excellence that conducts specialized courses in nuclear security, physical protection and personnel reliability. We are ready to share our experiences, best practices and training facilities with other interested States in the region and beyond. We are currently deploying radiation portal monitors at key exit and entry points to prevent the illicit trafficking of radioactive and nuclear materials. Pakistan actively works with the international community on nuclear security. Pakistan is party to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. We implement the latest IAEA guidelines on nuclear security, and we subscribe to the IAEA Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources and the IAEA Incident and Trafficking Database. Our cooperation in those areas has been most productive. Pakistan recognizes the important role played by the IAEA verification regime. We have fully complied with our obligations pursuant to our Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA. The unanimous approval by the IAEA Board of Governors of safeguards agreements with regard to our Chasnu-3 and Chasnu-4 power plants reflects the international community’s recognition of, and confidence in, Pakistan’s expertise in the safe and secure operation of nuclear power plants. While the implementation of the Agency’s regulatory aspects is important in its own right, its promotional activities are of the highest priority for developing nations. An equitable allocation of extrabudgetary resources is needed for both the safeguards and the technical cooperation programmes of the Agency. Pakistan believes in an equitable, non-discriminatory and criteria-based approach to advance the universally shared goals of non-proliferation and the promotion of peaceful uses of nuclear energy. We hope that considerations of safety and security will facilitate, not hinder, the pursuit of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy for promoting the development agenda, improving human lives and mitigating the adverse impact of climate change.

My delegation would like to thank Mr. Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for introducing the 2012 annual report on the work of the Agency (see A/68/324). While strongly supporting the central role of the Agency in promoting safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, my delegation would like to comment on the Agency’s activities and related developments in the fields of nuclear safety, security and safeguards. First of all, we note with satisfaction that the Agency has successfully facilitated the implementation of the Action Plan on Nuclear Safety in key areas, including nuclear power plant safety assessments, IAEA peer reviews, emergency preparedness and response, and information-sharing. We also welcome the fact that this year’s progress report on the implementation of the Action Plan includes a quantitative assessment as well as a prioritization of the areas where further work needs to be done. The accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant continues to be a source of serious concern, especially to adjacent countries, because of the spillage of contaminated water into the sea and the effect it could have on the marine environment. My delegation appreciates the Japanese Government’s efforts to share relevant information with the international community. While noting that the Agency has taken the right steps in fostering international cooperation on that matter, we urge the Agency to further strengthen its cooperation with the Japanese Government, with a view to providing the necessary assistance to the greatest extent possible. The work of the IAEA in the field of nuclear security has resulted in major achievements over the past year. My delegation applauds the Agency’s successful hosting of the International Conference on Nuclear Security in July, and welcomes the adoption of the ministerial declaration and its outcome document as a good basis for our future work. We also welcome the new Nuclear Security Plan for 2014 to 2017, which builds on the developments of the past decade and the lessons learned. The Nuclear Security Summits continue to consolidate strong political will at the highest level to advance nuclear security across the globe. The IAEA, as a universal mechanism for addressing nuclear issues, has an essential role to play in translating that political momentum into concrete actions. Now let me turn to safeguards-related issues. It is deeply regrettable that several cases of non-compliance are still on the Agency’s agenda after many years of concerted efforts to resolve them. In particular, unresolved issues related to the North Korean, Iranian and Syrian nuclear programmes still pose grave challenges to the international non-proliferation regime and IAEA safeguards. Of particular concern to my delegation are North Korea’s ongoing nuclear activities, including its third nuclear test, on 12 February, and its stated intentions, in April, to restart its nuclear facilities at Yongbyon. As the IAEA Director General states in his latest report, those actions constitute a clear violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions. We strongly urge North Korea to fully comply with its obligations under all the relevant Security Council resolutions and under the Charter of the United Nations. The Joint Statement of the fourth round of the Six-Party Talks of 19 September 2005 also makes it clear that North Korea has the obligation to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes. The IAEA’s monitoring and verification role has been, and will be, an essential part of the North Korean denuclearization process. We welcome the Director General’s statement that the Agency will maintain its readiness to assume that role. We look forward to closer cooperation with the Agency and the international community to achieve the common goal of the denuclearization of North Korea. In conclusion, we would like to reiterate our full support for the IAEA’s work. The Republic of Korea is also pleased to co-sponsor draft resolution A/68/L.10, on the report of the IAEA.

At the outset, I would like to extend my thanks to the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency for his presentation of the Agency’s annual report (see A/68/324) to the General Assembly. I commend the programmes and plans developed by the Agency, as reflected in the report, with a view to developing technology transfers for peaceful purposes, maintaining a universal system of nuclear safety and fostering the safety of nuclear facilities. I would like to underscore the Agency’s increasing role, in particular in the area of cooperation on the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and development. The Sudan accords great importance to the contents of the report on the applications of nuclear technology to food security, as well as to advanced techniques in combating insects and the effective management of water resources and techniques related to developing modern irrigation systems for large agricultural projects and expansive spaces. On that basis, the Agency’s cooperation with UNICEF with respect to the areas of education and agriculture, as well as with the World Health Organization, certainly takes on greater importance. Assisting developing countries in establishing their relevant national technical systems complements the Agency’s efforts to enforce technical cooperation programmes and plans. We hope that such cooperation will be part of the Agency’s programmes in the areas of health and in support of regional and continental programmes to combat malaria-transmitting mosquitoes and the diseases that are the most lethal killers in Africa. That will enable the continent to achieve socioeconomic and development programmes, in particular the Millennium Development Goals and the internationally agreed economic agenda. My delegation emphasizes the right of all States, including my country, to develop, research and produce nuclear energy for peaceful uses, with no discrimination and in accordance with international obligations and agreed reference points. My delegation also stresses the need for States to refrain from pressuring the Agency or interfering in its activities, with a view to preserving its credibility and vital role. On that basis, we call for abiding by the tenets of equity and justice in addressing outstanding issues with some States on that score through dialogue and negotiation, in order to arrive at adequate solutions. On the other hand, my delegation would like to emphasize its firm position in backing and supporting the aspirations of all geographic regions that seek to designate themselves as free from nuclear weapons, based on the provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which constitutes one of the fundamental pillars of the international peace and security system. Taking that as our point of departure, we are gravely concerned that the Middle East region is no nearer to achieving that goal. That has been the case for decades because of the opposition of Israel, which possesses nuclear weapons in the region, and its refusal to subject its nuclear facilities to the comprehensive safeguards system of the IAEA, as well as its persistent disregard for the appeals of the international community and its repeated calls on that matter. Israel’s adherence to the Treaty and its Additional Protocol is vital for ending the tension that prevails in the Middle East and could pave the way for fostering and enhancing regional security as well as for the maintenance of international peace. With the same degree of enthusiasm, my country hopes that the Agency will continue to back the right of developing countries to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, while ensuring full opportunities for the Agency to control such activities. Our conviction stems from the fact that the production of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes could achieve considerable development breakthroughs, given the low cost of producing electricity and other sources of energy. The rising cost of producing alternative energy propels developing countries to seek faster and more efficient means to solve their energy shortages. We are fully persuaded that more support and cooperation from developed to developing countries in the field of alternative energy would minimize the risk of resorting to nuclear energy. It is logical for the IAEA to encourage developed countries to work with developing ones in that regard. In conclusion, my delegation appreciates the efforts deployed by the Agency as well as by numerous developed countries to promote cooperation with African States in the fields of the nuclear uses in energy, medical and health services and alternative energy projects, in a manner conducive to the effective achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

Cognizant of the crucial role being played by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as the central multilateral forum for the promotion of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, the Philippines welcomes the report of the IAEA (see A/68/324) and lends our full support to achieving the Agency’s noble goals and objectives. The Philippines warmly welcomes Brunei Darussalam as a new member of the IAEA, as well as the recent accession of Viet Nam to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. We appreciate the various technical cooperation programmes that the Agency has established in various fields related to our economic development. The IAEA’s importance in promoting international cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy is amply recognized throughout the world. The Philippines strongly supports the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones as a way to contribute to international peace and security. In the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, we have established the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone. The Philippines urges nuclear-weapon States to accede to the Protocol thereto as early as possible without reservations. The Philippines welcomes the First Committee’s recent adoption by consensus of draft resolution A/C.1/68/L.39, entitled “Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free-Zone (Bangkok Treaty)”. On the Middle East, the Philippines is steadfast in its call for the Secretary-General and the international community to exert their utmost efforts to convene, without further delay, a conference on the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. The growing global demand for energy has fuelled the interest in nuclear power, which means that safety and security considerations will also increase and should be commensurately addressed. The Philippines supports the implementation of the IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety. We take note of the progress made in the implementation of the Action Plan with the full cooperation of Member States, especially in safety assessment worldwide based on the lessons learned from the Fukushima accident. In the Philippines, the National Radiological Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan is being discussed by the country’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to incorporate lessons learned from the Fukushima accident and to operationalize the Plan at the community level. For us, one of the lessons is the need to establish an online network of radioactivity-monitoring stations around the country. To that end, we look forward to IAEA’s assistance for the establishment of a network of eight stations, which can be upgraded to as many as 16 to cover every region of the country. Recognizing the importance of regional cooperation in regulatory control, the Philippines welcomes the establishment of the ASEAN Network of Regulatory Bodies on Atomic Energy and offers its full support towards realizing its goals and objectives. In July, the Philippines hosted the Asian Nuclear Safety Network regional workshop on the integrated deterministic safety analysis and probabilistic safety analysis for risk management of nuclear power plants. The Philippines also recently hosted a second regional workshop on the implementation of IAEA general safety requirements, part 3, in October. In the area of nuclear security, we recall the successful first-ever IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Security held last July, which allowed member States to exchange views on emerging trends and consider objectives for international nuclear security efforts. We look forward to the development of those objectives into concrete programmes, with the development of the IAEA Nuclear Security Plan for the period from 2014 to 2017. The Philippines recognizes the critical importance of nuclear security and considers it an enabler rather than a constraint in the utilization of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. We wish therefore to highlight the successful completion of the project on conditioning of spent high activity radioactive sources under trilateral cooperation among the Philippines, South Africa and the IAEA. We thank the IAEA and the donor countries of the Nuclear Security Fund for funding that project. The Philippines believes that the IAEA continues to play an important role in helping countries achieve their Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through its technical cooperation programme and its various activities in nuclear applications. As our contribution to technical cooperation, the Philippines hosted a number of workshops and training courses, including the regional training course on the use of nuclear and isotopic techniques in the assessment of fertilizer and water use efficiency, in September, and the regional training course in basic radiation processing of polymer focusing on radiation grafting, in April. The Philippines is also hosting two activities this month: the mid-term review meeting on supporting sustainable air pollution monitoring using nuclear analytical technology, and the workshop to review the status of implementation of IAEA clinical training guides. The Philippines anchors the attainment of its development agenda to the goals of inclusive growth and to ecological responsibility for present and future generations. In bringing that agenda to fruition, we recognize the important role of science and technology in attaining our MDGs. In the area of nuclear medicine, the Agency’s assistance allowed the Philippines to establish a technetium-99 generator facility that makes nuclear procedures using technetium-99 now affordable to the public. The Philippines recently inaugurated its first technetium-99 generator production facility, which is expected to cut at least 50 per cent from hospital procedures, making diagnostic tests more affordable, faster and more accessible to a broader segment of the population. The Philippines congratulates the Agency for its valuable work under the Programme for Action for Cancer Therapy. We encourage Member States and other funding institutions to donate generously to the Programme. In the area of addressing marine and coastal pollution, the Philippines has been designated as a repository to coordinate and manage the regional Asia and Pacific Marine Radioactivity Database, a live database useful in marine monitoring among the countries in the region. In conclusion, the Agency is confronted with many challenges and issues complicated by political realities. The Philippines believes, however, that we cannot allow our gains to be eroded by such challenges. We look forward to working with the Agency and Member States in the spirit of mutual respect, transparency and constructive dialogue.

The past year was yet another of great importance for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). At the outset, Switzerland would like to congratulate Director General Amano for his re-election to lead the Agency. The IAEA is facing major challenges, including three that Switzerland would like to underline. First, Switzerland welcomes the holding by the IAEA of a ministerial conference on nuclear security in July. The Conference was a success and ended with the adoption of a substantive final declaration. Moreover, it underlined once again the importance of the Agency in reinforcing its coordinating role among the various international forums dealing with nuclear security. Ensuring the sustainability of IAEA efforts in that regard will be one of the challenges over the years to come. A second important element was the presentation by the IAEA secretariat of its report on the conceptualization and development of safeguards implementation at the State level, the so-called State-level concept. That report was the subject of intense discussion at the IAEA Board of Governors and at the last IAEA General Conference. Switzerland, which is in favour of any effort to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the safeguards, supported the conceptual work of the secretariat by organizing various seminars. It will continue to follow closely the developments and discussions in this area, in particular with regard to the supplementary document to be submitted to the IAEA Board of Governors prior to the fifty-eighth session of the IAEA General Conference, in 2014. The result of all of those discussions could constitute an important step in the evolution of the IAEA safeguards system. Finally, the third element Switzerland would like to raise is the new atmosphere characterizing the resumption of negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue. The successful resolution of that issue, in which the IAEA plays an essential role, can only contribute positively to strengthening the role of the Agency in the global fight against nuclear proliferation and, therefore, to international stability. Switzerland, which hosted the last two meetings between Iran and the E3+3 Governments, supports all diplomatic efforts on this issue. Dato Muda (Malaysia): At the outset, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for his introduction of the annual report of the Agency (see A/68/324), for the period of 1 January to 31 December 2012. I also congratulate Mr. Amano on his re-election as Director General, and I look forward to his continued commitment and stewardship of the Agency. Malaysia welcomes the Bahamas, Brunei Darussalam and Swaziland as new member States of the IAEA in 2013. My delegation believes in the strengthening and universalization of the Agency’s membership, in order for it to effectively carry out its mandate. In that regard, we are pleased to note that, despite the limited resources due to economic difficulties, the Agency has continued its work as scheduled. As highlighted in the report of the IAEA and the statement by the Director General, the work of the Agency continued to be of major significance in 2012. The continued growth in the use of nuclear power, especially in Asia, will require much of the IAEA’s attention and resources. Global food, health and environmental challenges are increasingly being addressed through civilian applications of nuclear technology, including those facilitated by the Agency. In the wake of the Fukushima incident, the IAEA has also played a crucial role through various nuclear safety and security initiatives. At the same time, it continues to provide technical cooperation in developing member States’ capacities to use nuclear technology for development purposes. Malaysia believes that the sovereign right to use nuclear energy is concomitant with the obligation to ensure its use in a safe, secure and peaceful manner. We are improving our regulatory framework and currently revising the relevant laws with a view to enacting comprehensive nuclear legislation. It will incorporate provisions for nuclear safety, security and safeguards, and enable the ratification of the relevant international nuclear instruments, including on nuclear liability. We welcome the successful convening of the International Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21st Century, held in Saint Petersburg from 27 to 29 June. It was a timely initiative by the Agency and the Russian Federation, as rapid socioeconomic developments have increased the demand for nuclear power as a reliable and sustainable option for an energy mix. Malaysia’s delegation to that Conference, headed by the Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, took careful note of the various approaches on nuclear programmes proposed during the Conference. We believe that any decisions supporting a nuclear programme should be based on a country’s needs, the consent of its people, the environment, the state of readiness in terms of infrastructure and human resources, and the political situation. My delegation also recognizes the importance of regional cooperation in nuclear regulatory control. In recent months, we joined our Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) neighbours in working towards the establishment of the ASEAN Network of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies or Relevant Authorities (ASEANTOM). In that regard, Malaysia welcomes Thailand’s hosting of the first ASEANTOM meeting, from 2 to 5 September. It is our collective hope that those efforts will ultimately contribute to the goal of preserving South-East Asia as a nuclear-weapon-free zone. The Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons entitles States parties to have access to nuclear technology, provides for the exchange of nuclear knowledge and scientific information, and fosters cooperation among States to develop peaceful uses of nuclear energy. In that connection, my delegation highly appreciates the IAEA’s role in assisting States in planning for and using nuclear science and technology for peaceful purposes. Malaysia continues to accord high importance to the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology in agriculture, biotechnology, industry, the environment and medical applications. In that context, we have always believed that research and development and knowledge-sharing are the keys to the successful and sustainable development of nuclear technology by member States. We therefore attach great importance to projects being conducted under the Agency’s coordinated research activities. In the light of the significance of the IAEA nuclear sciences and applications laboratories in supporting nuclear science activities, especially in developing countries, Malaysia would like to extend its support to the planned modernization of the laboratories. We believe that would be a valuable opportunity for Malaysian scientists and researchers to gain training and hands-on experience. Let me now turn to the issue of nuclear safety and security, which my delegation has always considered to be of the utmost importance. Malaysia acknowledges the continuous efforts by the IAEA to strengthen the nuclear safety regime and implement the Action Plan on Nuclear Safety following the Fukushima nuclear accident. Together with Japan, we co-chaired the Fukushima Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety in December 2012. We have always called for nuclear safety to be addressed in a multilateral environment, according to internationally approved standards, with the IAEA playing a central role. The Conference was a significant step in that regard. Malaysia also welcomes the successful convening of the International Conference on Nuclear Security in Vienna from 1 to 5 July. That event renewed the commitment of the Agency and its member States to establishing a more effective worldwide nuclear security regime. However, my delegation would like to reiterate that nuclear security should not be seen in isolation, but should be addressed in the larger context of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. On Malaysia’s part, we have established our national nuclear security regime through various measures. We have strengthened the nuclear security infrastructure, in particular the detection capabilities in our major ports of entry and international borders. We have complemented that with established standard operating procedures and a system of national coordination among different ministries and enforcement agencies. The IAEA took note of our efforts, and it now recognizes Malaysia as a national security support centre, with a regional role and capacity. To that end, Malaysia stands ready to share its experiences with other member States in setting up a national nuclear security regime. On the Agency’s technical cooperation programme, Malaysia reiterates its longstanding position that it should be based on member States’ needs and requests. The Programme should take two factors into account, that is, the evolving requirements of national stakeholders and the need for adequate, sustained and regular funding. Nevertheless, Malaysia continues its active implementation of national technical cooperation projects and regional cooperative arrangement projects under the current cycle. We have also contributed to the programme by providing training, expertise and in-kind contributions to other member States. Malaysia has also been entrusted with hosting the Postgraduate Education Course in Radiation Protection. However, as we understand, the evaluation of a project’s progress is based primarily on spending or resource constraints. My delegation is of the view that the evaluation should take into consideration all measurable parameters of the project, particularly its overall impact made against the set objectives.

We have heard the last speaker in the debate on this item at this meeting. The representative of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has asked to speak in exercise of the right of reply. May I remind members that statements in exercise of the right of reply are limited to 10 minutes for the first intervention and 5 minutes for the second intervention, and should be made by delegations from their seats. I now give the floor to the representative of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

With regard to the remarks by the representative of South Korea, the delegation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea would like to clarify its position. In his statement, the representative made reference to three issues. First, with regard to certain nuclear tests by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, as is clear to everyone, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea conducted certain nuclear tests successfully. They were done in response to the infringement upon the sovereignty and dignity of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, as well as to the nation and the people of Korea. Once again, as is well known to everyone, we successfully launched a satellite twice last year, on 1 April and in December. Both satellite launches were conducted in the most transparent manner, with invitations to all the major leading media reporters and cameramen — and it was live and followed international procedures. Notwithstanding those transparent and legitimate activities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the United States questioned our peaceful satellite launch and brought that question to the Security Council. Its action was purely and absolutely a manipulation and misuse of its power as a so-called permanent member of the Security Council. History shows that no country, except for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, has had a satellite launch raised in such a manner. Last year alone, more than 50 satellites were launched by space-faring countries. But no single other country was questioned, including South Korea or Japan, who followed our launch last December. Again, those two countries did not give rise to any questions, and the Security Council remained silent. That reflects a typical double standard. Therefore, in response to that violent, rampant violation of our sovereignty, our dignity and the national pride of our people, we had no other option but to conduct the third nuclear test. Secondly, the representative of South Korea referred to the Security Council resolution. Again, that resolution, as I mentioned earlier, was just a political manipulation by one permanent member of the Council; therefore we totally reject it. Thirdly, the South Korean representative referred to the abandonment of nuclear weapons by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on a unilateral basis under the obligation and commitment of the Six-Party Talks. I want to recommend that he carefully study the contents of that Joint Statement of 19 September 2005 . It clearly stipulates the commitment of the key players — the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the United States — not to use or threaten to use of nuclear weapons. But the United States has never honoured a single commitment under the Joint Statement. Therefore, I strongly recommend that South Korea carefully study the Six-Party Talks, which made it clear that action-for-action is the only basis on which to act. That reflects the reality of the Korean peninsula. This is not a unilateral issue concerning the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea alone. It was created by the United States and is perpetrated by the United States. The United States should therefore take the leading action. As far as the hostility and blackmail, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will not move. The United States should make the initial move, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will follow.

We have heard the last speaker in the debate on agenda item 88 for this meeting.