A/73/PV.34 General Assembly

Before proceeding, I wish to advise the Assembly that the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency has informed the President of the General Assembly that he regrets that he is unable to attend today’s meeting to introduce the report of the Agency for the year 2017 and deliver a statement on the developments that have taken place since its publication. His prepared statement has been circulated in a letter from the President of the General Assembly and will be issued as an official document (see A/73/315/Add.1). I now give the floor to the representative of Jordan to introduce draft resolution A/73/L.19.

Allow me to begin my statement by expressing our deep gratitude to Mr. Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for his briefing contained in the statement that has been circulated regarding the main activities of the IAEA (see A/73/315/Add.1) and for introducing the Agency’s report for 2017 (see A/73/315). This annual debate is a very important opportunity for the General Assembly to assess the tasks and principal activities of the IAEA and stress the great importance that the entire international community attaches to the Agency’s work and its “Atoms for Peace and Development” mandate. That is clearly highlighted by the report of the IAEA with regard to implementing the safeguards system; facilitating peaceful uses of nuclear technology; ensuring the safe use of that technology; technical cooperation and capacity- building; and nuclear security and safety. The Agency has managed to strike a successful balance between all of those activities, thereby contributing not only to consolidating international peace and security but also to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals, especially in developing countries. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, in its capacity as the President of the IAEA Board of Governors for this year, is pleased to introduce to the General Assembly draft resolution A/73/L.19, entitled “Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency”, whose content enjoyed consensus from the Agency’s member States following consultations held in Vienna on 16 October. It was also supported here in New York in the meeting held on 25 October, to which all States Members of the United Nations were invited. The draft resolution before the Assembly today emanates from a basic requirement set out in the IAEA Statute, as well as a cooperation agreement signed by the United Nations and the IAEA in 1957. In conformity with the traditional practice, the text of the draft resolution takes note of the resolutions adopted and decisions taken by the Agency’s General Conference during its sixty-second regular session and reiterates the strong support of the Member States to the IAEA and its continued activities. We hope that the General Assembly will adopt the draft resolution by consensus this year, thereby reflecting the importance of the Agency and its role as an international instrument and convergence focal point.

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). The candidate countries Turkey, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania; the country of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina; the European Free Trade Association country and member of the European Economic Area Liechtenstein; as well as the Republic of Moldova, align themselves with this statement. We are pleased to support the draft resolution (A/73/L.19) on the report (see A/73/315) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) — a report that once again reaffirms the indispensable role of the Agency with regard to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and in facilitating the development and practical application of atomic energy for peaceful uses, as well as in technology transfer and nuclear verification, safety and security. We also note with satisfaction the amount of strong support that has been expressed for the Agency’s work. The European Union is fully committed to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. We reiterate our firm support for the full, complete and effective implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as the cornerstone of the international non-proliferation regime, the essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament, in accordance with article VI of the NPT, and which we regard as vital to the further development of nuclear energy applications for peaceful purposes. The European Union reaffirms its full support for the establishment of a zone in the Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems and reiterates its readiness to assist in the process leading to that goal. The IAEA safeguards system is a fundamental component of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and plays an indispensable role in the implementation of the NPT. We underline the primary responsibility of the Security Council in cases of non-compliance. The European Union further recognizes the serious proliferation challenges that continue to be a threat to international security and the need to find peaceful and diplomatic solutions to them. The European Union is determined to work with the international community to preserve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), an agreement unanimously endorsed by the Security Council in resolution 2231 (2015). The EU deeply regrets the withdrawal of the United States from the JCPOA and stresses that as long as Iran continues to implement its nuclear-related commitments, as confirmed by the IAEA, the EU will remain committed to the continued full and effective implementation of the nuclear deal. We call on all parties to implement all parts of the JCPOA fully and effectively. While welcoming the ongoing implementation, the EU reiterates the need for Iran to continue to abide strictly by all its nuclear-related commitments and to cooperate fully and in a timely manner with the IAEA, including by implementing the comprehensive safeguards agreement and its additional protocol, as well as by providing all requested access. In that regard, Iran’s early ratification of the additional protocol is essential. The European Union fully supports the IAEA’s long-term mission of verifying and monitoring Iran’s nuclear-related commitments and recalls the importance of ensuring the necessary means for the Agency to carry out its role. The recent inter-Korean high-level talks, the Panmunjom Declaration on Peace, Prosperity and Reunification of the Korean Peninsula and the joint statement issued following the summit in Singapore between the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are positive steps that can contribute to easing tensions on the Korean peninsula. While we support those diplomatic efforts, the European Union urges the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to engage seriously in the follow-on negotiations and to take concrete steps to embark on a credible path towards complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization and to maintain its declared suspension of testing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. Until the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea takes those concrete steps towards denuclearization, we will continue to strictly enforce the existing sanctions, and we call on all States to do the same. We urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to comply with the relevant Security Council resolutions, to return to the NPT and the IAEA safeguards at an early date and to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty without delay. The European Union continues to attach the highest importance to maintaining an essential role for the IAEA in verifying the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear programme and welcomes and supports the Secretariat’s efforts to enhance its readiness to do so. The European Union urges Syria to cooperate promptly and transparently with the Agency in order to resolve all outstanding issues, including by concluding and implementing an additional protocol as soon as possible. The European Union continues to call for the universalization of the comprehensive safeguards agreement, together with the additional protocol, without delay. The EU strongly supports the State-level concept, as well as the further development and application of enhanced capabilities for analytical services, information analysis and technologies. Furthermore, the European Union actively supports the Agency’s safeguards system through the European Commission Safeguards Support Programme, the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation and Member State Support Programmes. The European Union and its member States attach the utmost importance to the worldwide implementation and continuing improvement of nuclear safety. For that reason, a European Union directive has set up a European system to ensure peer reviews on specific safety issues at least every six years. The first such peer review, dedicated to the issue of the ageing management of nuclear power plants and research reactors, has been recently completed. The European Union has also provided its expertise through so-called stress tests in a number of neighbouring countries, with a view to building a more robust, sustainable and transparent nuclear-safety framework worldwide. The European Union stresses the need to continue to strengthen nuclear security worldwide in order to prevent nuclear terrorism and the misuse of nuclear and radioactive material. To that end, we highlight the importance of States becoming party to and fully implementing the relevant treaties, the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, and we underline the importance of Security Council resolutions 1540 (2004) and 2325 (2016). In the context of the EU strategy against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, we actively support international initiatives that contribute to strengthening nuclear security. For the period from 2014 to 2020, the European Union has dedicated more than €100 million to the regional Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Centres of Excellence Initiative. The European Union will actively support the preparation of the international conference on nuclear security to be held in February 2020. The European Union strongly supports the central role of the International Atomic Energy Agency in improving the global nuclear security framework by strengthening international cooperation, offering advisory services and providing direct assistance to member States. We call on IAEA member States to ensure the availability of sufficient resources for those services. Together with its member States, the EU is among the biggest donors to the IAEA Nuclear Security Fund. The European Union funding to the IAEA has helped the Agency to assist countries in upgrading and ensuring the physical protection of selected facilities and in improving their national regulatory infrastructure. The European Union remains firmly committed to the benefits of multilateral approaches to the nuclear fuel cycle and to ensuring that high standards of safety, security and safeguards are implemented to protect our collective non-proliferation interests. The European Union has supported the IAEA low-enriched uranium bank project with approximately €25 million and looks forward to its full establishment in 2019. Finally, the European Union and its member States continue to be strong supporters of the IAEA’s Technical Cooperation Programme. The EU is the second-largest contributor to the Programme. We fully appreciate the Agency’s role in promoting the responsible development of the peaceful applications of nuclear technology, and we take positive note of the fact that the IAEA has continued to actively engage in the global dialogue on the Sustainable Development Goals. The European Union supports the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and technology, including through technical expertise and with an average contribution of €15 million annually. The European Union supports the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and technology, including through technical expertise and with an average contribution of €15 million per year.

On behalf of the delegation of the Republic of Belarus, I would like to thank Mr. Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for his preparation of the report of the Agency for 2017 (see A/73/315). A focus on sustainable development is an important distinguishing feature of international cooperation today. As a founder nation of the IAEA, Belarus is pleased that the Agency is making a significant contribution to achieving the Goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We would like to emphasize the IAEA’s role in facilitating the peaceful uses of nuclear and radiological technologies. Their development and widespread use helps to solve problems in addressing global challenges from energy and food security to cancer treatment and the fight against climate change. Belarus wholeheartedly supports the IAEA’s safeguards system, which is a fundamental part of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and plays an irreplaceable role in the implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). In our view it is particularly important to ensure that the process of improving the safeguards mechanism continues to be clear, objective and based on the rights and obligations of the parties in accordance with their safeguard agreements. The IAEA’s Technical Cooperation Programme is the mechanism through which the provisions of article IV of the NPT are effectively implemented and one of the most important aspects of the Agency’s implementation of the role assigned to it with regard to implementing the Treaty. For Belarus, the Technical Cooperation Programme has become a concrete source of support in solving problems of socioeconomic development. With its help, we have been successfully dealing with issues of sustainable development in the areas affected by the Chernobyl disaster for almost three decades. The IAEA’s technical cooperation has also made a significant contribution to the achievement of our national nuclear-medicine programmes. Belarus shares the view that for the foreseeable future nuclear energy will keep its position and potential for development. We welcome the IAEA’s steps aimed at assisting member States in making considered decisions regarding the establishment and development of national nuclear-energy programmes. The cooperation between Belarus and the IAEA in this area has evolved since the early days of the implementation of our national programme. We have made active use of the entire range of the Agency’s instruments, from technical cooperation projects to expert missions and peer reviews. The nuclear accidents at Chernobyl and Fukushima have emphasized that issues related to ensuring nuclear safety are top priorities, and we welcome the Agency’s increasingly significant contribution to creating reliable nuclear- safety infrastructure all over the world. We commend the IAEA’s work on strengthening and universalizing the relevant conventions and in developing and improving standards and technical documents. The secretariat’s work in providing advisory services and conducting independent peer reviews in interested States is extremely important. Belarus supports draft resolution A/73/L.19, on the report of the IAEA, and has sponsored the draft text in a sign of its support for the Agency’s activities in promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

The Russian delegation thanks Mr. Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for his presentation of the report (see A/73/315) on the Agency’s work. Our country was present at the Agency’s creation. We have always supported it, and we value its activities during the reporting period. We hope that the IAEA will continue to increase its efforts in the interests of the development of atomic energy and technologies all over the world and the expansion of international cooperation in those areas, while improving and strengthening the nuclear-weapon non-proliferation regime. The uniqueness of the IAEA verification mechanism enables it to be highly effective in monitoring States’ fulfilment of their non-proliferation commitments. One of the central achievements in that regard is the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), on the Iranian nuclear programme. To date, Iran remains the country that has been most subject to verification by the IAEA. The Agency has established and maintained an exceedingly complex verification mechanism and is dealing effectively with the tasks involved, enabling it to monitor Tehran’s fulfilment of its obligations under the JCPOA and of its existing safeguards. The Director General’s reports regularly confirm that Tehran is meeting its obligations under the JCPOA in addition to its implementation of the Additional Protocol to its Safeguards Agreement. We reaffirm our firm commitment to the JCPOA, which represents a carefully calibrated balance of the interests of the parties and should be strictly implemented. We provide various forms of support to the Agency with regard to Iran, including organizing targeted training courses for IAEA inspectors. We emphasize that we are deeply concerned about the irresponsible actions of the United States regarding the JCPOA, which are aimed at undermining this multilateral international agreement supported by the Security Council. We welcome the emerging positive momentum with regard to resolving the Korean peninsula’s nuclear problem. In the context of the IAEA, we should point out that the Agency’s mandate does not permit its resources to be used in verifying the dismantling of nuclear weapons or military nuclear infrastructure. However, we welcome the work of the IAEA secretariat in maintaining its readiness for a resumption of the application of safeguards throughout the Korean peninsula. The Russian Federation is in favour of improving the Agency’s monitoring capabilities, including in future by converting the additional protocols to IAEA safeguards agreements into a universally recognized standard for verifying non-proliferation obligations. Whatever reforms of the Agency’s safeguards system are undertaken, the mechanism for their application should continue to be objective, depoliticized, technically based, comprehensible to member States and based on the rights and obligations of the parties in accordance with their safeguards agreements. An unbiased, objective approach to nuclear verification is a key element in ensuring the stability of the IAEA comprehensive safeguards system and of the nuclear- weapon non-proliferation regime in general. Russia actively participates in the Agency’s activities as a financial donor, including through voluntary contributions to the IAEA’s International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles, the Technical Cooperation Fund and the Nuclear Security Fund, as well as in support of the implementation of Agency projects in the area of nuclear infrastructure development. At the moment our annual extra-budgetary contributions in support of the IAEA are comparable to our payments to the Agency’s regular budget. We wholeheartedly support the IAEA’s efforts in the field of technical cooperation and the provision of related assistance to developing countries, and, for our part, we actively promote the development of atomic energy in other countries. In 2017 and 2018 we signed agreements on peaceful nuclear cooperation with Bangladesh, Zambia, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, China, Paraguay, the Sudan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. In that regard, I would like to point out that we in Russia have a functioning international centre for uranium enrichment, which we invite all States developing atomic energy and abiding by their non-proliferation commitments to participate in. Russia is also building a multipurpose fast research reactor at our State Research Institute for Nuclear Reactors. We invite all interested countries to participate in our international research centre at the Institute. The Russian Federation supports the work of the Agency in the area of physical nuclear security. We firmly believe that the responsibility for ensuring such security on individual States’ territories belongs to the States themselves, which should use their discretion in determining the optimal parameters for their national systems and measures. We stress the IAEA’s central role in international cooperation on nuclear security and its active participation in organizing contacts and sharing experiences between interested States. We deem it important to ensure the broadest possible participation by States in the international agreements on nuclear security, the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities and the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. Russia has signed and ratified those international agreements, and we call on States that have not yet done so to accelerate their internal procedures for acceding to those major international instruments. We emphasize the need for ensuring a cautious approach to the IAEA on the part of its member States. It is important to refrain from artificial involvement in the agenda of the Agency’s governing bodies or in its activities in general beyond the scope of its Statute, including nuclear-disarmament issues. Given the importance of the Agency’s work in the interests of expanding the peaceful use of atomic power and strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime, the Russian delegation supports draft resolution A/73/L.19, entitled “Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency”, and is one of its sponsors.

Australia commends Director General Amano for his report (see A/73/315) on the activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and is pleased to continue its co-sponsorship of draft resolution A/73/L.19. The report outlines what has been another productive year for the IAEA. Australia greatly values the Agency’s work across nuclear science and technology, safety, security, safeguards and technical cooperation. Last year we celebrated the Agency’s sixtieth anniversary. As we noted then, these themes are just as relevant and important today as they were at the very beginning. Going forward, Australia welcomes the Director General’s commitment to championing gender equality in particular. We will continue to strongly support and advocate for efforts to increase the representation of women in technical areas and in the Agency’s senior management, particularly through the Group of Friends for Women in Nuclear, now established in Vienna. Australia remains a strong supporter of the transfer of knowledge and expertise through the IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme and is pleased to be providing extra-budgetary contributions to the Peaceful Uses Initiative. We are proud to be providing those funds for the modernization of the nuclear- application laboratories at Seibersdorf, Austria, and for the renewal project. Australia is firmly committed to nuclear safety and security and this week is undergoing an Integrated Regulatory Review Service mission, demonstrating our sustained commitment to the international peer review system and to continuing improvement in regulating nuclear and radiation safety. That also follows the successful completion of a follow-up mission of the International Physical Protection Advisory Service held in Australia in November 2017. The IAEA continues to play a key coordinating role in assisting Member States in enhancing nuclear security. The global importance of nuclear security and of the IAEA’s role was re-emphasized at the IAEA’s successful International Conference on Nuclear Security in December 2016, which attracted more than 2,100 participants from 139 member States. We look forward to the next Conference, to be held in 2020. We also commend the IAEA’s continued outreach on the amended Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities and call on States to make suitable preparations for the Review Conference of the amended Convention in 2021. The Australian Government remains committed to the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of North Korea. We welcome the ongoing dialogue between North Korea and both the Republic of Korea and the United States. We note North Korea’s commitment to halting nuclear testing and allowing international inspections of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site and the Tongchang-ri missile site. While we see those commitments as positive, we remain committed to maintaining pressure on North Korea until it takes concrete steps towards complying with the relevant Security Council resolutions on its nuclear and ballistic-missile programmes. Australia thanks Jordan for introducing the draft resolution. We look forward to contributing to the IAEA’s continued successes in the years to come.

Let me begin by welcoming Mr. Yukiya Amano’s reappointment as Director General at the helm of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), attesting to the trust that member States place in his leadership. As the annual report (see A/73/315) presented to us today points out, it is important to recall the Agency’s goal, as stated in article II of its Statute, to enlarge, “the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world”, and call attention to its motto — “Atoms for Peace and Development” — which represents the essential nature of its mission in a few words. In a turbulent world, where our States are often dealing with a number of simultaneous and cumulative challenges, the role of the Agency remains central. On the one hand, it must confront security challenges such as nuclear proliferation and ensure that State guarantees are respected, while on the other, its programmes make a significant contribution to development. Access to safe, affordable and low-greenhouse-gas-emission energy, the use of nuclear techniques in agriculture, soil erosion and especially nuclear applications in health care contribute directly to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 7, 2 and 3, respectively. So while the general public may not always be aware of all of the applications of nuclear technology and the positive contribution that peaceful uses of the atom make to daily life, the Agency plays a role as a major guarantor of international security and an important factor in sustainable development. The Scientific Forum held at IAEA headquarters in September, this year devoted to the theme “Nuclear technology for climate: mitigation, monitoring and adaptation”, was particularly timely given that climate change affects all of us without exception, and certain countries with violent intensity. The IAEA’s work can help us reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and assess the effects of climate change through the application of nuclear techniques for scientific research and climate preservation. The Assembly can rest assured that Monaco will continue to support the Agency, including through its Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy, whose goal is improving the effectiveness of radiological medicine in the fight against cancer, and which has enjoyed the support of our Government for a decade. We also share with the Agency a deep commitment to science and to cooperation, which should help us to respond to States’ aspirations to contribute to sustainable development and improve their citizens’ quality of life. In the area of marine scientific research, for example, the Agency has developed new analytical methods and conducted environmental studies aimed at improving our understanding of the movements of toxic contaminants — mercury, lead and so forth — and their effects on coastal and marine ecosystems. The cooperation between Monaco and the Agency dates back to 1961, when the IAEA International Laboratory of Marine Radioactivity, the first of its kind, was established within the Musée océanographique de Monaco. The laboratories set up in Monaco were initially specifically dedicated to the marine environment and carried out scientific research both in the laboratory and on the world’s oceans and seas with a view to assessing the impact of human activities on marine species and gathering data. Monaco has hosted the IAEA Environment Laboratories at their current location, employing more than 40 people, for the past 20 years. That anniversary was celebrated in the Principality last month, with the Deputy Director General of the IAEA and Head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications present. In 2012, the Agency also established the Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre within the Environment Laboratories on the same premises. As a direct consequence of the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, ocean acidification has a significant and devastating impact on the many marine species that form a shell or a calcareous skeleton, such as crustaceans and corals. The IAEA, its International Coordination Centre and the Scientific Centre of Monaco organize regular international workshops in the Principality on the socioeconomic impacts of ocean acidification. After assessing the situation, studying the implications for fisheries and aquaculture and looking at the impacts on coastal populations, the fourth such workshop, held in October 2017, focused on the effects on coral reefs. In conclusion, this year Monaco once again expresses its full confidence in the International Atomic Energy Agency and is pleased to continue to co-sponsor draft resolution A/73/L.19.

Thailand wishes to express its sincere appreciation to Mr. Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for his statement (see A/73/315/Add.1) presenting the Agency’s report for 2017 (see A/73/315). We also thank Jordan, in its capacity as Chair of the Board of Governors, for facilitating draft resolution A/73/L.19. The IAEA has always played a crucial role in promoting the peaceful applications of nuclear technology. Its work to strengthen nuclear safety, security and safeguards has contributed greatly to global security and development. Against the current international security background and challenges, the IAEA continues to play an essential role in upholding the principles of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Thailand fully supports and commends the Agency’s commitment to monitoring and verification under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as well as its readiness to verify the nuclear programme of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. For our part, we wish to highlight that during 2018, Thailand ratified and acceded to a number of treaties under the auspices of the IAEA. They include the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its Amendment, the Convention on Nuclear Safety and the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. That is clear testament to our determination to fulfil international obligations and commitments. Thailand values the close relationship with the Agency and has benefited greatly from the Agency through technical cooperation and assistance programmes. This year, the IAEA designated the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology as an IAEA Collaborating Centre on water resources assessment and management. We have also hosted 19 IAEA capacity- building activities, which covered various areas such as sterile insect technique, cancer control, nuclear safety and radiation technology. Such activities and engagement between the Agency and member States reflect its positive contributions to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals by all States. Thailand looks forward to continuing that close relationship with the Agency and stands ready to explore further potential areas of collaboration. As a member of the Board of Governors for the period from 2018 to 2020, we are determined to work closely and constructively with all parties in advancing the work of the Agency. In conclusion, Thailand reaffirms its continued support for the draft resolution, and we are pleased to co-sponsor it.

My delegation would like to thank Mr. Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for the report of the IAEA for 2017 (see A/73/315), as well as for his statement presenting the report, which contains complementary information on the main developments in the activities of the Agency (see A/73/315/Add.1). My delegation attentively took note of the report, which reflects the important role played by the IAEA in enhancing international cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear energy and in continuing to provide technical assistance and the necessary support to member States based on their requests to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. My delegation encourages the IAEA to continue to carry out its activities in a balanced manner that meets the needs of member States in the area of nuclear technology to achieve effective socioeconomic development. We also commend the efforts of the Agency to support member States in implementing their development projects in line with the Agency’s Technical Cooperation Programme. We call on all Member States to continue to support the Programme and the Agency’s other monitoring and verification programmes. Strengthening the Agency’s safeguards regime should not adversely affect technical cooperation and assistance. We are concerned about the fact that some nuclear- weapon States have adopted a policy of restricting the transfer of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes in clear violation of article IV of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). That obstructs technical cooperation programmes and undermines the basis of the NPT, particularly in terms of denuclearization, nuclear non-proliferation and the inalienable right of member States to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. At the national level, we highly commend the valuable cooperation carried out with my country in recent years, especially in the areas of human health, underground water resources management and insect pest control, which are some of the priorities of our national programme to meet the country’s socioeconomic needs and development requirements. My country is committed to the Agency’s orientation and will therefore submit fewer but more substantive projects within the specific priorities of the national programme. In that regard, we submitted seven proposals pertaining to technical assistance projects for the period from 2020 to 2021, six of which were accepted. In conclusion, we express our readiness to continue to cooperate with the IAEA and Member States to ensure the peaceful use of nuclear energy. We look forward to strengthening the Agency’s role in the verification of nuclear denuclearization, given its technical capability, integrity and indisputable professional competence, as well as its legitimate mandate. The adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in 2017 constituted a clear demonstration of the robust commitment by the vast majority of the international community to denuclearization. We hope that the IAEA and Member States will meet such aspirations.

We welcome the remarks made by the representative of Jordan at the outset of today’s proceedings, which ably underscore the importance of the General Assembly and its role in the world today. I would also like to convey my delegation’s sincere appreciation to the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mr. Yukiya Amano, for his statement (see A/73/351/Add.1) presenting the IAEA’s report for 2017 (see A/73/315) and for providing valuable updates on the Agency’s activities in 2018. We are pleased that the IAEA Board of Governors continues to place greater emphasis on the development role of the IAEA through its activities related to nuclear science, technology and applications. Together with other Member States, South Africa will continue to advocate for a balanced approach to the implementation of the IAEA mandate, in line with its motto, “Atoms for Peace and Development”. South Africa fully supports the priorities and work of the IAEA, including the progress achieved by the Agency during in 2017. In that regard, South Africa has always maintained that the Agency’s nuclear applications in areas such as agriculture and crop production, food security, human health, water- resource management, nuclear technology and animal health contribute to the socioeconomic development of developing countries — especially those in Africa — and assist them immensely in their efforts to implement the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. In that context, South Africa reiterates the support voiced by many Member States for the IAEA to continue assisting developing countries, particularly in Africa, to enhance the benefits that could be derived from the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology. South Africa, for its part, has immensely benefitted from IAEA scientific and technological support, not least in the strengthening of the clinical management of oncological, neurological and cardiovascular diseases. The IAEA also supported South Africa in the development of the sterile insect technique to help control malaria. Furthermore, South Africa wishes to underscore the central role played by the Agency in implementing its safeguards verification system, which plays an essential role in verifying the peaceful nature of nuclear energy programmes. As the only country to have voluntarily dismantled its nuclear weapons programme, carried out with the assistance and guidance of the IAEA, South Africa can attest to the indispensable role of the Agency’s safeguards system. In addition to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, South Africa believes that nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation are mutually reinforcing processes. Therefore, progress on all the pillars of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is essential to realizing the IAEA’s object and purpose. In conclusion, my delegation has co-sponsored draft resolution A/73/L.19, submitted by Jordan in its capacity as the Chair of the Board of Governors for the term 2018-2019. The draft resolution, inter alia, reaffirms the indispensable role played by the Agency in encouraging and assisting the development and practical application of atomic energy for peaceful uses, in technology transfer to developing countries and in nuclear safety, verification and security. In that regard, we appreciate Jordan’s coordinating role.

It is an honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the delegation of the Republic of Paraguay. We appreciate the introduction of the report (see A/73/315) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and reaffirm our confidence that the Agency will ensure that atomic energy contributes to global peace, health and prosperity, as prescribed by its Statute. The delegation of Paraguay stresses the importance of the nuclear security and verification activities of the IAEA, whose assistance must not be perverted to contribute to military ends or to undermine international peace and security. The Republic of Paraguay reiterates its commitment to the provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and welcomes the progress made and initiatives undertaken by the IAEA in the fields of disarmament and non-proliferation, particularly in the Middle East and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Our delegation calls on all Member States to support and facilitate the Agency’s verification and monitoring system for the application of safeguards. Paraguay has worked intensively to strengthen its coordination with the IAEA to regulate and control the peaceful and beneficial use of ionizing radiation sources and nuclear energy. Over the past year, Paraguay has incorporated into its national legal system the Small Quantities Protocols Amendments to the Agreement between the Republic of Paraguay and the IAEA for the Application of Safeguards in connection with the 1978 Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Treaty, which stipulates the need to notify the IAEA, in a timely manner, about the possession of nuclear materials by Paraguay and the planning of nuclear facilities in Paraguayan jurisdiction. Paraguay has also incorporated into its national legal system the 1997 Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, which regulates aspects of the safety of spent fuel and radioactive waste management. We emphasize that the development of programmes for the peaceful use of nuclear energy and their implementation should be carried out with transparency, under the guidance and supervision of the IAEA, taking every possible precaution and limiting the potential harm that the production of nuclear energy could cause to the environment and to human health. States that carry out such programmes on their territories should do so on the basis of broad cross-border responsibility, adhering to best practices in international cooperation, risk prevention and due diligence, and responding appropriately to possible transboundary damages. Finally, the delegation of Paraguay underlines the role of technical assistance and international cooperation for developing countries such as the Republic of Paraguay, especially in developing and strengthening national capacities for the peaceful use of atomic energy in the framework of efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. It therefore calls for enhancing the multilateral debate on the peaceful use of atomic energy and on disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation in all its aspects, within the framework of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and respect for international law.

The Chinese delegation thanks Mr. Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for his presentation (see A/73/315/Add.1) of the Agency’s report (see A/73/315). Over the past year, the Agency has effectively implemented the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in accordance with its obligation under the Agency’s statute to make progress in promoting the development of nuclear energy and nuclear technology by Member States, improving global nuclear security and safety, and safeguarding nuclear non-proliferation. China commends those efforts. With their growing momentum and wider use, nuclear energy and nuclear technology are playing an increasingly important role in ensuring energy security, helping adaptation to climate change and achieving sustainable development. Meanwhile, the international nuclear security and nuclear non-proliferation situation remains grim. The risk of nuclear terrorism cannot be ignored, and global governance in the nuclear field remains an uphill battle. China hopes that the Agency will steadfastly adhere to the purpose of atoms for peace and development and focus on the following tasks. First, it must promote the development of nuclear energy and the application of nuclear technology. The Agency should continue to increase its contribution to promoting international exchanges and cooperation in nuclear energy and technology, and prioritize technical cooperation as a channel of support and assistance to nuclear-energy development and nuclear-technology applications in developing countries, so that all countries can benefit from nuclear energy. Secondly, the IAEA must improve the safeguards regime. The Agency should commit to safeguarding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as its cornerstone, and continue to enhance the universality, effectiveness and efficiency of the safeguards system, while ensuring objectivity and fairness. It is hoped that the IAEA secretariat will continue to engage closely with Member States on national safeguards. Thirdly, the Agency must strengthen global nuclear-energy safety and nuclear security. China supports the Agency’s ongoing efforts to promote the implementation of the nuclear security plan, nuclear- energy safety standards and nuclear-security guidelines, to assist Member States in capacity-building, to promote international and regional cooperation and to contribute to building a fair, cooperative and win-win international nuclear-safety system. Fourthly, the Agency must address regional hotspot nuclear issues in an impartial and objective manner. China appreciates the Agency’s efforts to facilitate the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which is conducive to the maintenance of the NPT, contributes to peace and security in the Middle East and is hence in the common interest of the international community. China supports the fulfilment of the Agency’s monitoring and verifications mandate. As such, it has decided to contribute an additional ¥1.5 million to the Agency. China welcomes the recent progress on the Korean peninsula and supports and encourages all relevant parties’ efforts to achieve denuclearization and lasting peace and prosperity on the peninsula. China also supports the Agency in the playing of its due role in applying safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, pursuant to its mandate. The Chinese Government attaches great importance to the development of nuclear energy and consistently upholds the rational, coordinated and balanced nuclear safety concept put forward by President Xi Jinping, adheres to the principle of safety first and maintains a good nuclear-safety record. In January, China promulgated and implemented a nuclear-safety law that provides a further solid guarantee for the safe and sustainable development of China’s nuclear energy. China supports and actively participates in relevant international cooperation endeavours in the field of nuclear energy and stands ready to continue to strengthen overall cooperation with the Agency through the China Center of Excellence on Nuclear Security and the China Customs Radiation Detection Training Center. China is ready to carry out exchanges and training programmes with all parties with a view to making its due contribution to the promotion of the healthy and safe development of nuclear energy in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

The Government of Japan highly commends Director General Amano’s work in addressing and promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and nuclear non-proliferation. Japan will continue to fully support the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and invites all Member States to do likewise. Promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy is one of the three pillars of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Japan supports Atoms for Peace and Development, an initiative undertaken by Director General Amano, as it contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Japan will serve as co-Chair of the IAEA Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology, which will open on 28 November. I would like to request the support of Member States for the success of the upcoming Conference. In order to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, it is essential that we strengthen the existing safeguards that ensure nuclear safety and security. IAEA safeguards are an essential instrument for nuclear non-proliferation. Japan therefore advocates the universalization of the additional protocols to the comprehensive safeguards agreement with a view to strengthening those safeguards. Japan has been striving to help universalize the additional protocols and make the safeguards more effective and efficient, including by contributing to the success of the IAEA Symposium on International Safeguards, which was held in November, as well as the Asia Senior-Level Talks on Non-Proliferation and the Asia-Pacific Safeguards Network. Over the past seven years, Japan has actively worked to enhance nuclear safety, drawing on the lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident, including by fundamentally reforming the country’s regulatory structures. Japan will continue to share its experiences from the accident with the international community and contribute to enhancing nuclear safety worldwide, including by assisting in the development of infrastructure and human resources in countries introducing new nuclear power plants. Nuclear security is another key area of Japan’s focus. In view of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, to be held in Tokyo, Japan and the IAEA signed practical arrangements on cooperation in nuclear-security measures this year. On the basis of the arrangements, Japan will step up collaborative efforts with the IAEA to increase readiness to counter nuclear terrorism. As for North Korea, at the Summit between the United States and North Korea in June, Chairman Kim Jong Un’s intention to completely denuclearize the Korean peninsula was reaffirmed in the form of a document. Japan supports this step towards the comprehensive resolution of the outstanding issues of concern regarding North Korea. Japan reaffirms its strong commitment to working with the international community to achieve the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all North Korea’s nuclear weapons, existing nuclear programmes and related facilities, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions. Japan calls on North Korea to take concrete steps towards denuclearization. The international community needs to come together to support the process between the United States and North Korea. We emphasize the critical importance of all States fully implementing the relevant Security Council resolutions, and we call on them to continue working collectively to that end. The IAEA Director General’s recent report notes that North Korea is continuing its nuclear programme. Japan calls for cooperation from the international community to assist the IAEA in playing a key role in addressing that important issue. Lastly, let me briefly say a word on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Japan supports the JCPOA, which contributes to regional stability and to strengthening the international non-proliferation regime. Japan commends the IAEA’s essential role in the monitoring and verification of the JCPOA. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate, on behalf of my Government, Japan’s firm commitment to further promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

Singapore thanks Director General Yukiya Amano for the comprehensive annual report (see A/73/315) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). We are pleased to once again sponsor this year’s draft resolution (A/73/L.19) on the Agency’s report. Allow me to make several points on the work of the IAEA. First, Singapore has been an active member of the IAEA since the Agency’s establishment in 1957 and has benefited from the Agency’s expertise and knowledge. We have been privileged to serve on the IAEA Board of Governors for the past two years. During its tenure, Singapore has actively contributed to discussions on nuclear safety and security. We have advocated for the IAEA to enhance its nuclear-safety guidance documents and to ensure that they remain current with the latest innovations in nuclear technology, in particular those related to small and medium-sized or modular reactors and transportable nuclear-power plants. We have underscored the importance of strengthening nuclear security and supported the IAEA’s efforts to develop nuclear-security guidance on computer and information security through the Nuclear Security Guidance Committee. Secondly, Singapore has consistently called for the IAEA to provide sufficient technical assistance to developing countries, in particular small States and least developed countries, to help them achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The IAEA Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology, which will take place in Vienna later this month, will be an opportunity for IAEA member States to discuss the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology and their contribution to sustainable development. Singapore continues to make concrete contributions through the enhanced Singapore-IAEA third-country training programme, which was launched by Director General Amano in Singapore in 2015. Over its past two years as a member of the Board of Governors, Singapore has conducted regional workshops on topics such as emergency preparedness and response, nuclear regulatory law and food safety. Thirdly, we welcome the IAEA’s regional partnerships, which play a crucial role in the fulfilment of the IAEA motto, “Atoms for Peace and Development”. In our region, Singapore is this year’s chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Network of Regulatory Bodies on Atomic Energy. In June, the Network adopted a five-year work plan that mapped out the details of critical work areas, such as the establishment of a harmonized assessment and decision-making protocol during a nuclear or radiological emergency. The Network is also working closely with the IAEA to finalize the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-IAEA practical arrangements to deepen our institutional links and cooperation with the IAEA. Fourthly, the IAEA has acquitted itself well over the past year in dealing with challenging developments in key dossiers such as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the verification and monitoring activities in Iran under Security Council resolution 2231 (2015). Singapore welcomes the recent positive developments on the Korean peninsula, including the inter-Korean summits. We hosted the summit between President Trump and Chairman Kim in June, which we hope will be an important step on the journey towards lasting peace and stability on the Korean peninsula. We welcome the stated commitment of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to complete denuclearization and its pledge to refrain from conducting further nuclear and missile tests. We urge all concerned parties to continue dialogue and take concrete steps to implement the joint statement of the Singapore summit. We call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to fulfil its international obligations, including those under the relevant Security Council resolutions, and to return to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Singapore takes its obligations under the relevant Council resolutions seriously and implements them fully and faithfully. We also note that the IAEA has continued to verify Iran’s implementation of its nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The JCPOA plays an important role in the global nuclear non-proliferation architecture. We note that the remaining parties to the JCPOA have reaffirmed their commitment to the full and effective implementation of the agreement, as long as Iran continues to fulfil its nuclear-related commitments. We urge all remaining parties to continue their dialogue through the Joint Commission and other avenues to sustain this internationally negotiated agreement. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate Singapore’s firm commitment to the work of the IAEA. Although Singapore has stepped down from the Board of Governors, we will continue to play an active and constructive role to support the IAEA’s work.

I will deliver the short version of our statement. The complete statement will be made available on the PaperSmart portal. First, Indonesia would like to express its appreciation to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General for the Agency’s 2017 report (see A/73/315) and for his valuable statement (see A/73/315/ Add.1). We welcome IAEA’s efforts to provide necessary support to Member States and encourage its secretariat to pursue its programme of work in a balanced manner, including to share the benefits of nuclear science and technology for socioeconomic development. We appreciate the Agency’s continued support Indonesia in, among other things, the development of Indonesia’s nuclear-energy programme; the revision process of Act No. 10 of 1997, on nuclear energy; the management programme of low-activity disused sealed radioactive sources in the area of management of radioactive waste and disused sealed radioactive sources; the national technical cooperation bench-to- business pilot project on soybeans; and the nuclear- security measures during the 18th Asian Games and the 2018 annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, which was held in Bali and attended by thousands of participants. Furthermore, Indonesia provides ongoing support to several IAEA programmes, such as the Indonesia-IAEA practical arrangements, which helps the least developed countries establish their safety infrastructure through the Agency’s Peaceful Uses initiative. Indonesia also hosts the annual IAEA Regional School on Nuclear Security for the Asia Pacific region and, in 2017 and 2018, hosted regional training courses for teachers to introduce nuclear sciences in secondary schools. In addition, through the regional capacity-building initiative, my country supports IAEA programmes that promote resource mobilization and the optimized usage of regional resources for capacity-building. Indonesia acknowledges and welcomes the many important IAEA activities and programmes, including the International Symposium on Plant Mutation Breeding and Biotechnology, held in August; the upcoming International Symposium on Understanding the Double Burden of Malnutrition for Effective Interventions, to be held in December; the Renovation of the Nuclear Applications Laboratories project; as well as the Site and External Events Design Review Service and the follow-up Integrated Regulatory Review Service. At this juncture, we would also like to emphasize that nuclear-security efforts must be pursued in a comprehensive manner that goes beyond ensuring the peaceful use of nuclear material. Furthermore, such efforts must not hamper international cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear activities or undermine the established priorities of IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme. Indonesia looks forward to opportunities to further strengthen its cooperation with the IAEA in 2019 and for many years to come, including in the area of the marine environment through the marine radioecology laboratory to be established in the north of Java. Further, we would appreciate additional support from the Agency’s Department of Nuclear Energy and the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security to develop capacities related to the management of high- activity sources. Finally, we would emphasize that the purpose of draft resolution A/73/L.19, entitled “Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency”, is to provide the States Members of the United Nations the opportunity to recognize the activities that IAEA has undertaken during the reporting year and to lend their support to the Agency’s continuing work. We have sponsored the draft resolution and duly hope that it will be adopted by consensus and contribute to promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

My delegation is pleased to join in the annual debate on agenda item 92, “Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency.” We thank the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for his comprehensive statement and take this opportunity to highlight a number of issues that are of particular importance to Jamaica under this item. First, we applaud the work of the IAEA in support of the maintenance of international peace and security. We therefore note with great satisfaction that the Agency now implements safeguards in more than 180 countries, which confirms that the Agency remains indispensable to strengthening cooperation in the nuclear field and to promoting the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies. Secondly, we continue to be pleased with the level support being extended by the Agency for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. As we draw closer to 2030, it is fitting that our collective efforts should be directed towards ensuring the attainment of the Goals, in particular those related to health, water and sanitation, as well as to sustainable and modern energy. Thirdly, Jamaica welcomes the fact there continues to be such a strong focus on capacity-building through technical cooperation. We are deeply appreciative of the strong partnership that has been forged over the past 50 years of being a member of the IAEA and are pleased that it is a partnership that continues to be deepened and strengthened. Jamaica currently has nine active projects, four of which commenced in January, under the 2018-2019 project cycle. Our projects with the Agency cover a range of issues and concerns, such as upgrading the research reactor infrastructure at the University of the West Indies SLOWPOKE-2 facility; organizing irrigation water management to improve crop output and water quality control; re-establishing nuclear-medicine capacities; and building capacity for cancer diagnosis and treatment services related to nuclear technologies. Given the work in which we are currently engaged with the IAEA, we look forward to further updates on the proposal to create a one-house approach to cancer-related issues as part of the ongoing review of the Agency’s Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy. We are honoured to have received the Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation of the IAEA, Mr. Dazhu Yang, who visited Jamaica last month and signed the Cooperation Programme Framework for the period 2018- 2023. New projects will be funded under the 2020-2021 cycle to tackle coastal and marine pollution, obesity in young children, and the development and use of nuclear cardiac imaging in the diagnosis and management of cardiac patients with non-communicable diseases. In addition, Jamaica has hosted a number of meetings throughout 2018, including an intermediate coordination meeting on developing a capacity-building programme to ensure the sustainable operation of nuclear research reactors through personnel training, held in January, and an IAEA regional training course on safeguards implementation in States with small quantities protocols in May. An IAEA national training course on orphan source search is scheduled to be held in Kingston from 3 to 6 December. Fourthly, our engagement with the Agency also extends to the regional level, as we currently participate in several regional and interregional projects. Therefore, the role of the Regional Cooperation Agreement for the Promotion of Nuclear Science and Technology in Latin America and the Caribbean remains critical. Jamaica remains fully committed to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. As we look to the third Preparatory Committee for the 2020 Review Conference, we hope that we as an international community will be able to fully commit to the obligations that have guided us for the past 48 years of the Treaty’s existence. We are pleased to note that the non-proliferation regime was also bolstered by the adoption last year of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. We are happy to have signed the Treaty in December and look forward to working with others to advance its objectives. In closing, Jamaica reiterates its full support to the Director General and his team, and assures them of our unswerving commitment to helping the Agency fulfil its mandate.

We thank Director General Yukiya Amano for the 2017 report (see A/73/315) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and for his comprehensive statement (see A/73/315/Add.1), which has been circulated. The Agency’s report is an important publication for gaining an appreciation of the essential tasks being performed by the IAEA both in promoting and in ensuring the peaceful use of nuclear energy. India has co-sponsored draft resolution A/73/L.19, on the activities of the IAEA. Today’s debate is an important occasion to reflect upon the critical role that the IAEA has played in supporting countries in pursuit of nuclear power in a safe and secure way and in conducting technical cooperation activities to bring nuclear applications to its member States. Nuclear power remains an important option for meeting the challenges of increased energy demands, addressing concerns about climate change, lowering volatile fossil-fuel prices and ensuring the security of the energy supply. In that context, the IAEA International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the Twenty- First Century, in Abu Dhabi, played a significant role in bringing policy-makers, scientists, technologists and environmentalists together to examine the prospects of nuclear power. The Agency needs to continue its programmes of support for member States embarking on or expanding their nuclear-energy programmes and, most importantly, to support member States in enhancing their capacity to build public acceptance of nuclear energy. India attaches importance to the Agency’s work in the different fields of nuclear science. We contribute to those activities by participating in the technical meetings and coordinated research projects. The Agency’s programmes and achievements related to nuclear applications in food and agriculture, health and nutrition, water resources management, protection of the environment and others are helpful in meeting the needs of developing countries. India will continue to provide its support to those Agency programmes through the service of experts and offer training slots in reputed institutions in India for experts from Member States. Advanced fission reactors, including fast reactors, contribute to a more efficient use of nuclear fuel and to reducing the volume of radioactive waste. India participated actively and exchanged information on new developments and experience in the field of fast reactors and related technologies during the International Conference on Fast Reactors and Related Fuel Cycles, held in the Russian Federation in June 2017. Thorium-based fuel cycles and technologies present opportunities for enhanced passive safety features and the utilization of the larger source of natural resources provided by thorium and its inherent proliferation resistance. International collaboration under the IAEA would help provide a much wider resource base for future nuclear technology development in that direction. We support the Agency’s nuclear fusion programme. We are pleased to inform the Assembly that India hosted the twenty-seventh IAEA Fusion Energy Conference last month in the city of Ahmedabad. The Conference provided a forum for the discussion of key physics and technology issues, as well as innovative concepts of direct relevance to the use of nuclear fusion as a source of energy. With the participation of several international organizations, as well as the collaboration of more than 40 countries and several research institutes, including those working on smaller plasma devices, the Conference helped to identify possibilities and means for continuous and effective international collaboration in that area. We also take note of the Agency’s work in improving global safety and security. In that regard, we appreciate the review and publication of safety standards and security guidance that serve as an international reference for nuclear safety and security. India remains committed to supporting the work of the IAEA.

The delegation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is taking the floor to clarify its position with regard to the nuclear tests described unfairly in the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (see A/73/315). Based on our willingness to end this history of confrontation and achieve lasting peace on the Korean peninsula, we proactively proposed the establishment of a peace region and the denuclearization of the peninsula, and made sincere efforts to that end. Thanks to the initiative and efforts of the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, an atmosphere of dialogue and cooperation, détente and peace has been created on the Korean peninsula, which has had a positive influence on progress towards stability in North-East Asia and the Asia-Pacific region as a whole. Significant events such as the historic inter-Korean summit meetings and the first-ever Democratic People’s Republic of Korea-United States summit talks have taken place and were welcomed with the enthusiastic support of the entire world. In April, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea took the initiative to discontinue nuclear and intercontinental ballistic-rocket testing and irreversibly dismantle the nuclear test site. Most recently, under the observation of experts from interested countries, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea began to permanently shut down the Tongchang-ri missile-engine testing and rocket-launch facility. We also expressed our intention to take additional measures, such as the permanent dismantling of the nuclear facilities at Nyŏngbyŏn, if the United States takes corresponding actions in line with the spirit of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea-United States joint statement of 12 June. The discontinuation of nuclear tests is an important process for global nuclear disarmament, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s proactive measures are a significant contribution to international efforts towards nuclear disarmament. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea maintains its consistent position that it will faithfully implement the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea-United States joint statement. Peace and stability on the Korean peninsula will be guaranteed if the hostile relations that have lasted for more than half a century are brought to an end and if new relations between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the United States are established on the basis of mutual trust and peaceful coexistence. Confidence-building, with the aim of removing deep- rooted distrust between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the United States, should be a top priority in our efforts to achieve the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. The report of the IAEA, which fails to mention the positive developments that have taken place on the Korean peninsula this year, is fraught with prejudices and distortions, which shows that the IAEA has lost its impartiality as an international organization and is being manipulated for impure political purposes. Accordingly, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea delegation categorically rejects the report of the IAEA. The IAEA should take a fair and impartial stance and call upon the international community to respond to the goodwill measures taken by the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

At the outset, I would like to thank the President for the excellent way in which she is guiding our work. My country has taken note of the annual report (see A/73/315) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which provides an overview of the activities and achievements of the Agency in 2017 in the main areas of technological cooperation, nuclear technology, nuclear safety and security, as well as the safeguards agreements. Given the importance of the issues addressed by the report, I would like to touch upon the following elements. First, Algeria welcomes the first international conference on the IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme, held in Vienna at the end of May 2017, which was an important opportunity to address the technological contributions and uses of atomic energy to achieve and implement the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as exchange experiences in that regard. We value the level of participation in the conference, which proves the engagement and interest of Member States in promoting and bolstering technological cooperation. Secondly, in the light of the future expansion of the IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme, my country, which regularly makes financial contributions to the regular budget of the IAEA and the Technological Cooperation Fund, calls for the allocation of secured, adequate and predictable financial resources to allow the Agency to fulfil its future commitments, including the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Thirdly, within the framework of our national programme to combat cancer, my country increased its activities related to the training of medical physicists and qualified staff in protection from radioactivity. This falls under the implementation of the action plan adopted by Algeria in accordance with the recommendations of the IAEA. Fourthly, Algeria has developed facilities to train personnel and maintain nuclear equipment with the assistance of the Agency. Those facilities carry out periodic training programmes, including programmes targeting African States. Fifthly, my country continues to make considerable efforts to promote technical cooperation among African States within the framework of the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology. In this regard, the four regional centres in Algeria affiliated with that Agreement are working to promote protection against nuclear radiation and improve nuclear medicine and food safety. Algeria attaches paramount importance to nuclear safety and security. We therefore value the efforts of the IAEA to this end, given the Agency’s broad expertise in developing the international nuclear safety and security framework. Algeria reaffirms its principled position that the primary responsibility for nuclear safety and security in a given State lies with that State. My delegation also stresses that measures for promoting nuclear safety and security must not hinder international cooperation in this area nor restrict the priorities of the Technical Cooperation Programme, as defined by the Agency. At the national level, Algeria is working tirelessly to promote the national infrastructure for protection against radioactivity by developing a strict control system in the use of atomic radioactive devices, as well as establishing laws and regulations that ensure and enhance protection from nuclear and radioactive risks. Algeria considers the IAEA verification system to be an essential element in the multilateral denuclearization and non-proliferation regime, and stresses the universalization of the system. Accordingly, the IAEA provides the best legal framework for assuring non-nuclear States that nuclear non-proliferation commitments will be kept in line with the comprehensive safeguard agreements. The provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons guarantee States parties the right to develop and produce nuclear energy for peaceful uses. This inherent right must not be prejudiced for any reason, especially with respect to nuclear safety and security. As a State party to the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty — also known as the Pelindaba Treaty — Algeria reiterates its firm commitment to the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones all over the world, given their importance to strengthening international peace and security. In conclusion, Algeria reiterates its concern about obstacles to the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons. In this regard, we call on all States to support the negotiating conference to be held in 2019 for the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. Such a conference would be an extremely practical and important step towards achieving security, stability and peace in the region and throughout the world.

I would like to begin by thanking Director General Yukiya Amano for the comprehensive 2017 report (see A/73/315) submitted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Argentine Republic has been committed to the work of the IAEA since its inception, and it is in this spirit that we have co-sponsored the draft resolution on the report (A/73/L.19). The Argentine Republic understands that the IAEA plays a critical role in promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear technology, a role that should continue to be strengthened. It is impossible for us to think of a future of substantive sustainability and energy sustainability without a nuclear component as part of the global energy mix. Argentina hopes to play a pivotal role in this process by investing in technology for nucleo-electric power generation. Argentina’s nuclear sector enjoys a prominent international profile with an extensive development of nuclear applications for peaceful and civil use, which is of vital importance for the application of the international safeguards system. For this reason, we reiterate the importance of ensuring that activities for the implementation of safeguards are efficient, effective and based on a solid technical foundation and guarantee their non-discriminatory nature. The effectiveness of the verification system implemented by the IAEA for nuclear activities is essential for preventing nuclear proliferation and is undoubtedly the central pillar on which the international community has worked for decades to prevent the misuse of nuclear materials and technologies. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Argentina considers it vital that such verification measures not affect the inalienable right of States to the development of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, as established in article IV of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Argentina wishes to reiterate the need for the safeguards regime and its guarantees to be implemented in an atmosphere of cooperation and dialogue. In this regard, we wish to highlight once again the quadripartite agreement that Argentina has with its sister country, the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Brazilian-Argentine Agency for Accounting and Control of Nuclear Materials (ABACC) and the IAEA, which, since 1991 has been defining and regulating cooperation activities for the application of nuclear safeguards. The establishment of the ABACC was a milestone, not only in terms of our relationship with Brazil, but also in confidence-building and providing credible guarantees for the exclusively peaceful uses of nuclear development in both countries. It also served as a significant regional contribution because it enabled us to consolidate the idea of a nuclear-weapon-free Latin America. Argentina’s commitment to the highest standards of nuclear safety continues to be one of the pillars of our policy in this area. Our Nuclear Regulatory Authority is the independent technical and regulatory body designated by law to monitor all such activities, including the proper inspection of the construction of reactors. We also had the honour to showcase our commitment in this regard by presiding over the diplomatic conference held in 2015 to examine the proposal to amend article 18 of the Convention on Nuclear Safety, at which the Vienna Declaration on Nuclear Safety, which reflected the interest of many States parties in continuing to strengthen technological security, was adopted. Argentina wishes to highlight the achievements of the seventh review meeting of the contracting parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety in 2017 and is committed to continuing to work on the preparatory aspects of the eighth meeting, which will take place in 2020. The 2017 Convention was the first time a peer review was carried out on the implementation of the principles of the Vienna Declaration on Nuclear Safety. I would also like to highlight the importance of the sixth review meeting of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, in May and June, which enjoyed the participation of nearly 1,000 representatives and 78 contracting parties. Argentina wishes to express its recognition and support for the work of the IAEA which respect to physical nuclear security. In this regard, our country has repeatedly underscored the central role of the Agency in articulating and strengthening the architecture for physical nuclear security, while calling for it to exercise a more active role in this field. Our country is involved in the preparatory work that will lead to the IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Security, in February 2020, and in reviewing the implementation of the amendment to the International Conference on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities, in 2021. We believe that these initiatives reaffirm the essential responsibility and core role of the IAEA in strengthening and coordinating the international architecture for physical nuclear security. It is our desire that the IAEA should continue to exercise its role as the main coordinator around other international organizations and initiatives in this area so that efforts on physical nuclear security and in the fight against nuclear terrorism can converge in an orderly and sustained manner. I would also like to highlight the importance of supporting the work of the IAEA, not only from a political perspective, but also financially, given that nuclear security is clearly an area where countries must make their actions match their words. We would also like to recall that aspects related to physical nuclear security are the sovereign faculty of each State, and that advances and improvements to counteract terrorist threats must correspond to the real risk that each country faces. On this basis, we reaffirm the need to harmonize both binding and non-binding measures in order to progress gradually, sustainably and cooperatively. Argentina has been an active participant in and aspires to become a focal point for conducting training activities in the region. In this regard, our country has offered to host several activities related to education, training and human resources in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy, under the auspices of the IAEA. Argentina will continue to work with the Agency’s Technical Cooperation Programme, where we offer our experience in and facilities for training and capacity- building, which have already benefited technical personnel and professionals both from our region and around the world.

I thank the distinguished Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for his report (see A/73/315). Today, nuclear energy is part and parcel of the socioeconomic development of our societies. Accordingly, all States, in particular developing countries, must have free and indiscriminate access to all benefits of nuclear energy. From this perspective, Iran stresses the great importance of the full realization of the inalienable right of any State to develop research, production and uses of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, which includes the inherent right of each State to develop a full national nuclear-fuel cycle for peaceful purposes. Likewise, they have the right to participate in the fullest possible exchange of equipment, materials and scientific and technological information for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. These inherent rights have also been reaffirmed in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Accordingly, developed States parties are obliged to cooperate in the further development of applications of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, especially in developing countries. In this context, article II of the IAEA Statute mandates the Agency to seek to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world. For this reason, Iran emphasizes the importance of the Agency’s statutory functions and primary responsibility in assisting Member States in research on, and the practical application of, nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Appreciating the related activities of the Agency, Iran stresses the need for their further enhancement, particularly to meet the expectations of developing countries. It should be ensured that the Agency’s Technical Cooperation Programme remains firm and sustainable through sufficient, assured and predictable financial and human resources. Iran underlines that the IAEA is the sole competent authority responsible for the verification of the fulfilment of safeguards obligations. Related functions of the Agency should be carried out in full conformity with the relevant legally binding instruments and take into account the concerns and interests of Member States, particularly in strict observance of the principle of confidentiality. Iran is determined to vigorously continue exercising its inalienable right to nuclear energy, including the development of a full national nuclear- fuel cycle for peaceful purposes, which is essential for its socioeconomic development. All accusations against Iran’s nuclear programme were baseless from the beginning; the crisis was manufactured to sustain pressure on Iran. However, the crisis came to an end with the conclusion of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was the outcome of lengthy and intensive multilateral diplomatic efforts undertaken to resolve an artificial crisis and build trust. Now, according to the IAEA, Iran is subject to the most robust nuclear verification regime. Likewise, in its 12 consecutive reports, the IAEA has confirmed Iran’s full compliance with its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan. However, in violation of its international commitments, the current United States Administration withdrew from the JCPOA and reimposed its illegal sanctions against Iran. The United States continues to systematically violate its commitments under the JCPOA and Security Council resolution 2231 (2015). It is now brazenly forcing others to either violate resolution 2231 (2015) or face punishment. All such illegal measures of the United States have been rejected by the international community, including by almost all its friends and allies. The United States policy towards the JCPOA and resolution 2231 (2015) clearly indicates that, even in the past, they did not have any genuine concern about Iran’s nuclear programme. They openly lied in expressing concern over this programme only to continue their animosity towards Iran. In a statement made on 2 November, the European Union High Representative, Federica Mogherini, and the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Finance of France, Germany and the United Kingdom called the JCPOA a key element of the global nuclear non-proliferation architecture and of multilateral diplomacy — and crucial for the security of Europe, the region and the entire world. Therefore, to ensure the continuity of a document as important as the JCPOA, the international community must remain vigilant and not allow itself to be deceived once again by the fabrications of the United States, which are rooted solely in its hostility towards Iran. Iran has been and will remain fully committed to the JCPOA, inasmuch as all other JCPOA participants also fulfil their related commitments in a complete and timely manner. The JCPOA acknowledges Iran’s discretionary right to cease performance of its commitments under the agreement in whole or in part if the lifted sanctions under the deal are reintroduced or reimposed. Paragraphs 26 and 36 reflect the common understanding at the time of negotiations that any reimposition of sanctions gives Iran the right to respond by wholly or partially ceasing to perform its reciprocal measures under the agreement. The Islamic Republic of Iran has made it very clear on various occasions that the reimposition of sanctions was a grave material breach of the JCPOA. Iran has called upon the remaining participants of the JCPOA to hold the United States accountable for the consequences of its reckless, wrongful act, and stated that, in order to maintain implementation of the JCPOA in its totality, the remaining JCPOA participants needed to provide objective guarantees that Iran would be compensated unconditionally through the appropriate national, regional and global measures. The JCPOA participants are therefore urged to fulfil all their commitments in a genuine spirit. This is indeed in the interest of the JCPOA participants and the international community of States as a whole. Therefore, current support for the full implementation of the JCPOA by all its participants needs to be maintained. Likewise, in line with the principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations and in support of multilateralism, the international community has a responsibility to preserve the JCPOA by rejecting the illegal unilateral measures of the United States.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Republic of El Salvador. At the outset, allow me to express my appreciation to Director General Yukiya Amano for presenting the report (see A/73/315) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the Agency’s activities during 2017. The draft resolution on the report of the IAEA that is approved by the General Assembly each year is based on the agreement between the United Nations and the Agency signed in 1957. The draft resolution reaffirms the indispensable role of the Agency in aiding the development and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, the transfer of technologies to developing countries and in maintaining a nuclear security and verification regime. My delegation believes that this is a unique opportunity to keep abreast of the activities that the Agency has undertaken during the reporting period, as well as to provide Member States with the opportunity to engage in and support the Agency’s ongoing work. We welcome the decisions adopted by the General Conference of the IAEA at its sixty-second session, held from 17 to 21 September. In this context, my country recognizes the sovereign right to exploit and make use of nuclear technologies exclusively for peaceful purposes, as established in article IV of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. At the same time, we reaffirm our obligation to work towards general and complete disarmament as the only means of guaranteeing international peace and stability. At the global level, our countries must continue to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, science and technology for exclusively peaceful purposes and prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, which will enable us to continue contributing to sustainable development and world peace. My country is aware of the benefits of nuclear technology for the peoples of the world, not only in generating nuclear power, but also in various areas such as health, agriculture, food security, the environment and research, inter alia. For this reason, El Salvador is convinced that, through joint work, cooperation and the establishment of synergies between countries for the proper and peaceful use of nuclear technology, it is possible to achieve excellent results that foster scientific development for the benefit of our populations. In particular, El Salvador wishes to highlight the important role of the Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy in examining and strengthening its national capacities for cancer control. We hope to be able to work more closely in future with a view to improving the efficiency of radiological medicine services as part of an comprehensive framework for cancer control, and in supporting the training of health professionals. We would therefore like to reiterate that it is indispensable for countries to join with the IAEA in working to ensure that the use of nuclear energy is used to increase health coverage and quality and food production and supply, as well as promote the more effective prevention and reduction of the negative impacts of climate change and greater attention to natural disasters, among other aspects of high priority for my country that contribute to achieving true human development. El Salvador appreciates the constant and invaluable support of the IAEA for the implementation and strengthening of the uses of atomic energy in technology and science, which has enabled my country to make important strides in terms of its uses. It therefore hopes to continue to deepen its bilateral cooperation relations with the IAEA, in recognition of its important value added as an agency. We are currently preparing our national programme framework for the period 2018-2023, in order to continue strengthening cooperation between El Salvador and the IAEA, a mechanism that facilitates the alignment of the Agency’s work with the priorities of the Government of El Salvador. Moreover, in order to contribute to global efforts aimed at achieving effective nuclear physical security and ensuring the efficient implementation of international instruments, my country is pleased to announce that it has joined the Incident and Trafficking Database programme, which is a system that has confirmed its relevance in detecting incidents and preventing them when they are related to illicit trafficking or the malicious use of nuclear energy, in support of and ensuring the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Finally, we would like to reiterate our firm commitment to continuing working hand in hand with the Agency, and we urge Member States to continue to support the activities of the IAEA.

Egypt welcomes the General Assembly’s imminent adoption by consensus of draft resolution A/73/L.19, of which it is a co-sponsor, on the annual report (see A/73/315) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). We commend the efforts of the Director General of the Agency and the Jordanian delegation in drafting the report and in preparing and submitting the draft resolution, respectively. As one of the founding States of the IAEA, Egypt was one of the very first countries to use atomic energy for peaceful purposes and is now building a nuclear reactor. Accordingly, we attach great importance to the Agency’s activities in the areas of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and the promotion of international cooperation and technical support, as well as nuclear safeguards, verification, safety and security. We support the efforts of the Agency and the activities of its Secretariat in all of these areas, under the leadership of the Director General, particularly at a time when we are preparing to launch our first national plant to generate electricity using nuclear energy. Egypt calls once again for efforts to be stepped up to provide the Agency with the financing and human resources it needs to complete its tasks in terms of technical cooperation and in striking a balance among its three pillars, in line with its Statute and fulfilling its raison d’être. Proper support for the Agency would also ensure the continuity and stability of the Agency’s activities in promoting all forms of peaceful use of atomic energy, especially in developing countries, while taking into account the fact that the peaceful use of atomic energy in all its forms and manifestations is an inalienable right. In the same vein, Egypt is striving to ensure the success of the ministerial meeting on nuclear science and technology to be held in Vienna in November. As a member of the IAEA Board of Governors, Egypt is also working to support the Agency’s activities in the areas of technical cooperation and nuclear safety and security, while devoting the necessary attention to the Agency’s development role and the interests of African States and the Group of 77 and China. Egypt reaffirms that the IAEA is the sole entity internationally mandated to issue verification reports on States’ compliance with the obligations of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons regime. In addition, in accordance with the IAEA Statute, the Agency also plays a vital role in galvanizing denuclearization efforts; in verifying the dismantling of nuclear weapons, thereby assuming an important role in the maintenance of international peace and security; and in implementing all obligations set forth in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), particularly article VI. Egypt attaches great importance to the Agency’s activities in implementing safeguards and in impartially and independently verifying the non-diversion of nuclear materials from exclusively peaceful uses, pursuant to the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, which is the legal basis for this aspect of the work of the Agency, under the NPT. To fully achieve these ends, the Agreement must be universally adopted. We also stress that strengthening the Agency’s safeguards system should not entail any commitment beyond the contractual obligations provided for in the NPT. Indeed, applying safeguards at the State level requires the consent of the country concerned, not just consultations with it. In conclusion, Egypt looks forward to the Agency’s implementation of the mandate provided for in the recently adopted General Conference resolution on applying the IAEA safeguards in the Middle East, which would establish a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction (GC(62)/RES/12). We also look forward to the taking of the steps necessary to implement the resolution, given the important developments that took place in the First Committee at its current session, namely, the adoption of a draft decision calling on the Secretary- General to convene a conference on this topic in 2019 (A/C.1/73/L.22/Rev.1).

Cuba recognizes and supports the important work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in pursuit of sustainable peace and development, as well as the advances made during the recent period. The achievement of the objective of nuclear disarmament has been and will continue to be the highest priority in the field of disarmament. We recognize the contribution of the implementation of the IAEA safeguards verification system, which is essential to certify the peaceful nature of nuclear-energy programmes. We also appreciate the indispensable and significant contribution of the IAEA in the promotion and development of the application of nuclear technologies in such key areas for the economy and society as human health, with special attention to the cancer-control programme, food security, agriculture and environmental protection. In 2017, in the area of technical cooperation, our country achieved an implementation rate of 96.5 per cent in projects with the Agency and took part in 50 regional projects. We carried out 19 training courses in the form of scholarships and scientific visits, and participated in 55 courses and 49 technical meetings. During the period, 90 expert missions were carried out in different countries. Our country hosted scholarship holders and scientific visitors from abroad, as well as six regional events. We will continue cooperating with developing countries and sharing the results and experiences of our years of technical cooperation with the IAEA. Given the importance of continuing to support the development and promotion of nuclear applications and technical cooperation in developing countries and to assist in the transfer of technology to those countries, the Agency must redouble its efforts to increase the resources of the Technical Cooperation Programme, with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as its main focus. Our country firmly supports the inalienable right of all States to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, without any discrimination or conditions. Cuba reiterates its rejection of and demands the immediate lifting of any kind of limitations and restrictions on exports to developing countries of materials, equipment and technologies for peaceful nuclear activities. We reject the United States Government’s decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and to reimpose unilateral sanctions against Iran. It is unjustified, contrary to international law, and contravenes the norms of coexistence among States, and, as a result, could lead to serious consequences for stability and security, thereby distancing us from the objective of establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East. We reaffirm our support for the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. In this regard, we deeply regret the fact that the conference planned for this purpose has not yet been held, and we support the initiative of the League of Arab States to hold a conference no later than June 2019 to commence negotiations on a legally binding treaty on the issue. Last year, the Republic of Cuba deposited with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency its instrument of ratification of the Convention on Nuclear Safety and its instrument of accession to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. That shows our country’s unquestionable commitment to nuclear safety. The effective management of nuclear physical security does not admit exclusions or selectivity. The framework for the adoption of international standards on physical security is the IAEA, which must be the result of transparent and inclusive multilateral negotiations, with the participation of all States. The entry into force of the amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material should provide greater protection for nuclear facilities and materials; facilitate cooperation among States parties to prevent and combat crimes involving the use of radioactive and nuclear materials; and ratify the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The possibility of a terrorist attack using nuclear materials cannot be eliminated through a selective approach that is limited to horizontal proliferation and that disregards vertical proliferation and disarmament. Finally, we congratulate the IAEA on its work and outstanding contribution to issues of such importance as climate change, combating desertification and drought, food security and the treatment of diseases, as well as the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

At the outset, my delegation would like to express its appreciation to Mr. Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for presenting the Agency’s annual report, which outlines the IAEA’s achievements and activities in 2017 (see A/73/315). We also express our sincere thanks to the delegation of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, in its capacity as Chair of the IAEA Board of Governors, for facilitating the draft resolution before us (A/73/L.19). Iraq emphasizes the primacy of the Agency’s activities in providing technical cooperation to developing countries, including my own. When we use nuclear technology in such areas as health, agriculture, food, water resources, radioactive isotopes and radiation technology, we are benefiting from programmes created by the IAEA. The Technical Cooperation Programme is one of the Agency’s principal means for promoting and transferring nuclear technology to achieve sustainable socioeconomic progress in developing nations, in accordance with its Statute. The Programme is a joint responsibility of the Agency and its member States, and it is implemented according to the requirements and needs of its members. If the Programme is to succeed, concerted efforts are necessary, as is the provision of sufficient guaranteed resources that are proportional to the resources allocated to the Agency’s other activities, pursuant to the Statute. At the national level, despite the huge challenges it faced, my Government achieved great success when it liberated some of the hot spots of terrorism, the most recent of which was the Nineveh governorate, which we rid of Da’esh terrorist gangs. Nevertheless, while facing such challenges, Iraq ratified the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism and adopted measures needed to implement these conventions through specialized committees set up for that purpose. My Government is working steadfastly to dispose of nuclear waste and address other challenges through direct coordination with and tailored technical cooperation from the IAEA. These tasks are being accomplished entirely upon Iraq’s initiative and on national policies adopted by our Government on the management of radioactive waste arising from the dismantling of previously destroyed nuclear sites, as well as from medical, industrial and oil installations. With regard to organizational issues around nuclear and radioactive activity, my Government has made important strides, including Law No. 43, enacted in 2016, which established an atomic energy commission in Iraq. We are currently taking the steps necessary for this commission to start its operations. My Government believes that the establishment of a Middle East free of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction is one of the fundamental steps that need to be taken to ensure the security and stability of the region. However, the sensitive and dangerous developments taking place at the international level in general and in the Middle East in particular compel the international community to take collective responsibility for the situation and require concerted efforts aimed at the establishment of such a zone. Accordingly, my delegation once again emphasizes the vital role played by the United Nations and the three depository States of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in convening a conference to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East as soon as possible, in line with the 1995 resolution on the Middle East and the Action Plan set forth in the Final Document of the 2010 NPT Review Conference. Furthermore, this year, the First Committee adopted a draft decision (A/C.1/73/L.22/Rev.1), whose text was introduced by the League of Arab States, calling on the Secretary-General to extend an invitation to the countries of the region, the three sponsors of the 1995 resolution on the Middle East responsible for its implementation, and other relevant international organizations, to participate in a conference to negotiate a treaty to establish a zone free of weapons of mass destruction and nuclear weapons in 2019. Iraq believes that the Israeli entity must start its denuclearization process and accede to the NPT as a non-nuclear State. Its nuclear facilities must be subjected to the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement of the IAEA, which is an urgent and extremely important step that must be taken in order to ensure the successful establishment of such a zone. In conclusion, my delegation emphasizes once again that it is the inalienable right of all States, especially developing States, to develop peaceful nuclear programmes. Such programmes can lead to those States’ unhindered development, circumvent the monopolies of a specific group of States and avoid the imposition of internationally binding conditions that affect developing States’ interests.

On behalf of the delegation of Kazakhstan, I wish to express our sincere thanks to Mr. Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for presenting the sixty-second report of the Agency, for the calendar year 2017 (see A/73/315). The report reflects the Agency’s balanced and effective policy in its key mandates of nuclear safety and security and the prevention of the spread of nuclear weapons, as well as the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Kazakhstan fully supports the Agency’s activities in promoting the transfer and development of technologies related to peaceful nuclear applications. Over the past few years, our country has contributed more than $1 million to the relevant Agency funds. We intend to further develop our technical cooperation with the IAEA for its ongoing programmes and new explorations and innovations. Kazakhstan welcomes the Agency’s activities related to implementing safeguards. We believe that the Agency system is the most effective instrument for supporting the nuclear non-proliferation regime. Kazakhstan supports the preservation and further unfailing implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). We commend the IAEA for its continued work on the verification of the implementation of the JCPOA. We wholeheartedly supported the Agency’s proposed project to establish the IAEA Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) Bank. We are proud that last year, the IAEA LEU Bank storage facility was inaugurated in Kazakhstan and believe that it will make a significant contribution to the development of peaceful uses of nuclear energy and thereby strengthen global nuclear security. Having traditionally and annually co-sponsored the draft resolution on the report of the IAEA, Kazakhstan supports draft resolution A/73/L.19, entitled “Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency”. With our deep conviction and commitment, we are indeed pleased to endorse the Agency’s important role in fulfilling its mandate to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and in further advancing the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

Bangladesh takes note of the report (see A/73/315) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and thanks Mr. Yukiya Amano, Director General, for his able leadership of the Agency. During the reporting period, in our national context, we have started construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, the first in Bangladesh, under bilateral cooperation arrangements with the Russian Federation. Following the delivery of a design and construction licence from Bangladesh’s atomic energy regulatory authority, the first concrete for Units 1 and 2 of the plant was poured on 30 November 2017 and 14 July 2018, respectively. Furthermore, following the Agency’s guidelines, the relevant Bangladeshi authorities are implementing the integrated work plan for national infrastructure developed with the support of IAEA. Work has already started for recruiting and training personnel for the safe operation and maintenance of the nuclear-power plant. Bangladesh reposes its full confidence in the guiding role of the IAEA in coordinating international efforts to strengthen global nuclear safety, security and safeguards when it comes to the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Bangladesh underscores the importance of the Agency’s ongoing efforts aimed at supporting member States in sharing knowledge, expertise, technology and information on all aspects of nuclear safety. We acknowledge the Agency’s work in maintaining, improving and promoting nuclear, radiation, transport and waste safety, as well as emergency preparedness and response worldwide. We attach importance also to the Agency’s ongoing efforts aimed at assisting member States, upon their request, in building and developing their nuclear-security capacity, which includes supporting the establishment of effective, sustainable and comprehensive national nuclear-security infrastructure. Bangladesh subscribes to the view that the responsibility for nuclear security within a State rests entirely with the concerned State. We also underline that nuclear-security considerations should not hamper the utilization of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, nor should it negatively affect international cooperation in that regard. The Agency’s work in nuclear power and nuclear applications continues to underline the need to increase the transfer and sharing of nuclear technology and knowledge with developing countries. In this context, we recall the signing of the country programme framework for 2018-2023 with the Agency’s Department of Technical Cooperation in September. The framework includes, inter alia, support for a study to use nuclear techniques in addressing riverbank erosion in Bangladesh, which is already being accelerated owing to climate change. We urge the IAEA to continue to support our efforts to develop nuclear-science education and research capacity; promote medical research on cancer therapy and medical treatment for certain diseases; increase food production and ensure food safety; ameliorate the environment and develop irradiated crop varieties. Bangladesh actively participated in the sixty- second session of the IAEA General Conference in September. We support the continuation of IAEA’s mandated work on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the question of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear programme. We also support the application of the Agency’s safeguards in the Middle East, including by pursuing the objective of establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region. We take note of the adoption without a vote of the resolution on the implementation of the Agreement between the Agency and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for the application of safeguards in connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. In conclusion, Bangladesh thanks Jordan for facilitating the adoption of the draft resolution on the report of the IAEA (A/73/L.19).

We have heard the last speaker in the debate on agenda item 92. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/73/L.19, entitled “Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency”. I now give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that since the submission of the draft resolution and in addition to those delegations listed in document A/73/L.19, the following countries have become sponsors of the draft resolution: Albania, Algeria, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Costa Rica, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, the Philippines, Romania, the Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, the Sudan, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America and Uzbekistan.

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to adopt draft resolution A/73/L.19?

I shall now call on those representatives who wish to speak in exercise of the right of reply. I would like to remind members that statements in the exercise of the right of reply are limited to 10 minutes for the first intervention and to five minutes for the second, and should be made by delegations from their seats.

The performance of the observer of the European Union (EU) confirmed once again our doubts and those felt by many Member States with regard to resolution 65/276, which was submitted and adopted several years ago to grant observer status to the EU and to give it the right to speak at the United Nations. It seems to us that the endorsement by Member States of that resolution was a great mistake. The States members of the EU are responsible for two world wars that killed nearly 100 million people and destroyed the world at that time. The EU enjoys observer status at the United Nations, and we call on it not to compete with the United Nations by allocating awards and sanctions to Member States. The EU is a mere observer here, and the representative of the EU must learn that lesson and recognize his own limitations. It is shameful to the General Assembly that the representative of the EU criticizes certain States in his statement and directs accusations against them. What he included in his statement confirms the fact that the EU is playing the role of devil’s advocate. Its statement did not even criticize the Israeli entity, which represents the real and perhaps only danger in our region and the world owing to its possession of huge arsenals of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, as well as their means of delivery, as they could reach beyond our local region with no international control. There is a clear reason why the EU has not made accusations against Israel for possessing nuclear weapons. It is because certain States of the EU have provided Israel with nuclear reactors, heavy water, nuclear technology and submarines capable of launching nuclear weapons as well as other means of delivery. The EU should be the last to raise the issue of non-proliferation, especially given that four of its member States and one other State which seeks to join the EU have stationed nuclear weapons on their territories, in grave violation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Many EU countries are in violation of their own obligations under the NPT and other conventions of the International Atomic Energy Agency. That is because they cooperate with Israel to bolster its military capacities, especially the capacities of the Israeli military nuclear programme, as well as Israel’s programmes related to other weapons of mass destruction. Those countries also provide Israel with expertise, material and technology, in addition to assisting Israel in making, possessing and developing nuclear weapons. If the EU were honest in its statement with regard to supporting a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, its member States would have voted in favour of the draft decision recently adopted by the First Committee (A/C.1/73/L.22/Rev.1) that calls for the convening of a conference in 2019 on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. However, the EU countries did not support the convening of such a conference, which is proof of the hypocritical character of the EU statement and its clumsy policies.

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 92?