A/79/PV.22 General Assembly

We thank the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for submitting its 2023 annual report and the representative of Ghana for introducing draft resolution A/79/L.7 (see A/79/PV.21), which we happily co-sponsored. The Republic of Korea continues to be an active contributor to and a strong champion of the Agency’s work to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime, foster nuclear safety and security and promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Korea’s presidency of the sixty-eighth IAEA General Conference, held last September, is a reflection of our unwavering support for the Agency’s mandate to promote atoms for peace and development. We continue to support the IAEA’s efforts to universalize the comprehensive safeguards agreement, the additional protocol and the revised small quantities protocol. We urge all those that have not yet done so to conclude and bring those key instruments into force without delay. My delegation welcomes the consensus resolution “Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement between the Agency and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” (GC(68)/RES/13), adopted at the latest IAEA General Conference. The resolution strongly condemned the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s ongoing illegal nuclear activities and urged the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to fully comply with all its international obligations and take concrete steps towards abandoning its nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. Furthermore, it stressed the importance of all member States implementing their obligations under relevant Security Council resolutions fully, comprehensively and immediately. My delegation would like to highlight that all arms trade with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including the transfer of ballistic missiles, is strictly prohibited by those resolutions. My delegation appreciates the Director General of the IAEA and his team for their regular reports on Iran’s implementation of its nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), even though the Agency’s verification and monitoring activities in Iran have been seriously affected for more than three and a half years. In addition, we also note with appreciation the Agency’s tireless efforts to engage Iran and to clarify the outstanding safeguards issues arising from Iran’s legal obligations under its Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement. Amid the deadlock in the restoration of the JCPOA and the unresolved safeguards issues, we look forward to progress that will allow the Agency to provide assurance of the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme. The Republic of Korea also takes note of the IAEA General Conference resolution “Nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine” (GC(68)/RES/15), adopted for the second time since the war against Ukraine began. We join the international community in reaffirming that Ukrainian nuclear power plants must operate safely and securely under the full sovereign control of Ukraine. My delegation welcomes the continued efforts of the Director General and his team to address nuclear safety and security risks in Ukraine and fully supports the Director General’s seven indispensable pillars for nuclear safety and security during an armed conflict and five concrete principles for protecting the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, as well as the continued on-site presence of the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhya. Regarding the disposal of contaminated water stored at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station, we appreciate the Agency’s dedicated efforts over the past year to closely monitor the discharge to ensure that it adheres to relevant international safety standards and laws. It is essential that the discharge continue to be conducted in accordance with the plan reviewed by the IAEA. Given the international community’s strong interest in that issue, it is crucial that all related information be shared with the utmost transparency and without delay. The Republic of Korea remains committed to actively participating in the IAEA Task Force and inter- laboratory comparison activities. We will continue to support the Agency’s monitoring efforts, ensuring that the entire process is carried out effectively and transparently. We have actively contributed to expanding the benefits of the peaceful use of nuclear energy by supporting various IAEA technical cooperation programmes, such as the Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action, the Nuclear Technology for Controlling Plastic Pollution initiative, the Renovation of the Nuclear Applications Laboratories, Atoms4Food and the Peaceful Uses Initiative. Additionally, as reaffirmed in the memorandum of understanding signed last September between the Republic of Korea and the IAEA on enhancing technical cooperation for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, Korea is committed to strengthening its collaborative efforts in those key programmes. We reaffirm our support for the IAEA Platform on Small Modular Reactors and their Applications and the Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative in the development of advanced reactors with appropriate regulations. In particular, we welcome the International Conference on Small Modular Reactors and their Applications, to be held next week, and anticipate that it will further promote the advancement of small modular reactor technology and international cooperation. Korea also recognizes the IAEA’s continued efforts to address global challenges through nuclear technology and is eager to explore new areas of collaboration. The upcoming Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications and the Technical Cooperation Programme in November will provide valuable opportunities for closer partnerships and innovation. Finally, we would like to highlight once again the importance of better representation and empowerment of the member States on the IAEA Board of Governors. In that light, it is regrettable that after 25 years, the amendment to article VI of the IAEA Statute has not yet entered into force. The amendment provides for adapting the composition of the Board to the IAEA’s ever-increasing membership and to developments in the field of nuclear energy, ensuring greater equality and better representation. We encourage all member States that have not yet done so to take all necessary measures to ratify the amendment. With those remarks, we affirm our strong support for the work of the Agency, as well as draft resolution A/79/L.7, “Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency”.

Let me begin by congratulating the General Assembly on holding this important debate, which offers an opportunity to review the major developments that have occurred since the publication of the 2023 report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (see A/79/266). I am pleased to extend, on behalf of the Kingdom of Morocco, my sincere and warm congratulations to the Republic of Ghana on its election to the Chair of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). I also express my sincere gratitude to the IAEA member States for the election of the Kingdom of Morocco as a new member of the Board of Governors. Morocco welcomes the adoption of the Director General’s 2023 annual report. In that regard, I would like to share the following elements reflected in the report concerning Morocco. First, the Moroccan research reactor, recently designated by the IAEA, is the first international centre based on a research reactor in Africa. It is already offering nuclear education and training opportunities to African students and young professionals. Secondly, this year Morocco has provided several post-graduate training courses in radiation protection and the safety of radiation sources. Thirdly, the first Master of Science in Nutrition and Nuclear Techniques was introduced at the International University of Rabat, where 10 candidates from French-speaking countries began their studies in October 2023. Fourthly, the National Institute of Oncology has been designated as an anchor centre in the framework of the Rays of Hope initiative, thereby contributing to the capacity-building of African member States and creating opportunities for progress at several levels. Morocco supports international efforts to strengthen nuclear safety and security in its capacity as coordinator for North Africa of the Forum of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa, Chair of the Steering Committee of the Global Network for Nuclear Safety and Security, and member of the IAEA Commission on Safety Standards. The Kingdom of Morocco appreciates the initiatives launched by the IAEA Director General, which have had a positive impact on developing countries in the areas of health, agriculture and the environment. The success of initiatives such as Rays of Hope, the Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action, the Renovation of the Nuclear Applications Laboratories and Atoms4Food lies in their tangible impact on the ground by providing specific responses and substantial assistance to member States to combat cancer, food insecurity and the spread of pandemics. In that regard, my country remains fully committed to sharing its experience in those areas with the African States members of the IAEA. Thus, in collaboration with the IAEA and partner Member States, Morocco organized in 2023 11 regional training courses in various fields of nuclear applications and participated in the analysis of approximately 770 samples using nuclear techniques on behalf of many African partner member States. My country has also organized academic programmes in the nuclear field for 370 participants from 40 African member States. The Kingdom also hosted last February the annual regional meeting of national liaison officers and national coordinators of the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology, which was attended by 61 national liaison officers and national coordinators representing 43 IAEA member States. That major event was an opportunity to consider the impact of the IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme in Africa on promoting socioeconomic development in our continent. In line with its national commitments, Morocco has undertaken several initiatives to further strengthen its nuclear safety and security, in close cooperation with the IAEA and partner member States. In that regard, last November the IAEA Emergency Preparedness Review Service commended the solid foundations of emergency preparedness and response arrangements implemented in Morocco to address nuclear and radiological emergencies, noting a number of specific best practices that go beyond the expectations set by the IAEA safety standards. In addition, Morocco hosted the Integrated Regulatory Review Service mission in December 2023, which recognized that Morocco had taken effective steps to establish a new coherent legal and regulatory framework for nuclear and radiological safety. In conclusion, the Kingdom of Morocco, under the clear vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, remains firmly devoted to the principles of active and united South-South cooperation and is committed to continuing its actions in support of multilateral efforts and to promoting initiatives that embody our collective ambition of atoms for peace and development.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea delegation deeply regrets that draft resolution A/79/L.7, on the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (see A/79/266) before the General Assembly, refers to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference resolution GC(68)/RES/13, accusing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea unjustifiably of the exercise of its sovereign rights, and wishes to clarify our principled position in that regard. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is not a State member of the IAEA and therefore the IAEA has no justification and no qualification whatsoever to intervene in its internal affairs. That notwithstanding, the IAEA releases every year a report with biased and distorted contents on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and, moreover, unfairly takes issue even with the Constitution of our State in a resolution of the IAEA General Conference held this year. That is a flagrant violation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s sovereignty and intolerable interference in its internal affairs. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has never recognized the IAEA’s reports or its resolutions, which are full of groundless plots of the hostile forces, and categorically rejects them this time as well. The United States’ nuclear threats over the course of more than half a century compelled the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to acquire nuclear weapons and its hostile acts and military blackmail have become the factor propelling the process of steadily bolstering our nuclear forces. That is a fact that no one can deny. Comrade Kim Jong Un, President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, has said that our nuclear weapons are a means of deterrence and the ultimate weapon that our Republic — which, from the early days of its birth, has been under nuclear threat by the United States, the first user of nuclear weapons and the largest nuclear Power in the world — has acquired in waging an arduous and bloody struggle for scores of years so as to reliably defend its dignity and security and completely remove the danger of a nuclear war. The nuclear weapons that our State possesses to defend itself under consistent nuclear threat from hostile nuclear- weapon States pose no threat to any others and our absolute power has the responsible mission to truly deter war and safeguard the peace. The recent military security environment on the Korean peninsula is entering a grave phase as the nuclear threat manoeuvres of the hostile forces against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are becoming ever more blatant and crossing the red line. Since early this year, the United States and its allies have staged joint military exercises one after another under various code names, such as Freedom Shield, Freedom Edge and combined air drills, in the vicinity of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and such military actions have never excluded the nuclear concept. Much more serious is the fact that the United States and the Republic of Korea are openly exposing their scheme to use nuclear weapons against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea by fully operationalizing the Nuclear Consultative Group, an anti-Democratic People’s Republic of Korea nuclear war machine engineered last year, even staging nuclear war simulation drills against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and recently introducing the latest United States nuclear submarine and the strategic bomber B-1B into the Republic of Korea region. Such existential threats have made us come to the conclusion that our nuclear forces and nuclear posture should be more thoroughly perfected. The destruction of the strategic power balance on the Korean peninsula precisely means that the threat of the outbreak of war and possessing strong power is the only way to absolutely guarantee the genuine peace and development of the State. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, as a responsible nuclear-weapon State, will deter the reckless manoeuvres of the hostile forces to infringe upon our sacred sovereign rights with the strongest and most overwhelming counteraction, thereby firmly safeguarding peace and security in the North-East Asia region, including the Korean peninsula and beyond. It was none other than the United States and its servile IAEA that forced the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the IAEA by fomenting suspicions over our peaceful nuclear facilities in the early 1990s. As in the past, we will never engage with the IAEA’s resort to biased and double-dealing practices by siding with the United States hostile policy towards the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. For the IAEA to be faithful to its inherent mission, it should first call into question the United States, a nuclear criminal State undermining the international non- proliferation regime by indulging in nuclear proliferation to non-nuclear-weapon States.

Kuwait affirms its readiness to participate on an ongoing basis in the discussions on the item related to the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (see A/79/266), based on its commitment to making use of nuclear applications in capacity-building and development rather than an in arms race or any negative uses of that technology. Today, we celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of our joining the Agency in 1964. In that regard, we affirm the continuation of our close collaboration with the Agency since we joined it through the cooperation of the competent Kuwaiti authorities to maximize the benefit of the Agency’s programmes that support development, economic and social projects in a peaceful and safe manner. In that context, I note the constructive cooperation between my country and the Agency. We have pursued cooperation in implementing a number of successful projects that have achieved a high rate of completion through our national programme for technical cooperation, consisting of nine projects and based on the State of Kuwait’s plan for the years 2020 to 2025. In pursuance of the concept of atoms for peace and development, my country reiterates its commitment to cooperating with all concerned parties, especially in the light of the current global crises affecting all aspects of life, especially food, economic and human security. The current situation requires the Agency to follow up on nuclear safety systems in Member States, which have proven their worth in strengthening the necessary guarantees for the sustainability of nuclear security through the provision of appropriate infrastructure and support for nuclear safety to serve humankind. International security and peace have been and remain the two fundamental axes of the renaissance and progress of nations. Those goals cannot be achieved in the face of the threat of developing and using nuclear weapons. In that regard, my country stresses the need to fully comply with international treaties and decisions related to nuclear security, as well as to respect the right of States to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. In that regard, we call on North Korea to fully comply with international resolutions and nuclear security treaties, as well as relevant Security Council resolutions. We stress that threatening to use nuclear weapons not will lead to a peaceful outcome but instead have the exact opposite effect. It will lead to increased competition and burden the world with threats that are beyond its capacity to bear. The world cannot withstand a nuclear conflict. Let that nuclear Power therefore transform itself into a peaceful Power by using that technology in its proper field, with a view to maximizing human benefit. We also express our deep concern over the rapid developments related to the Iranian nuclear file and we stress the need to reach constructive and rapid understandings between Iran and the concerned countries in a way that contributes to maintaining the security and stability of the region. We stress the importance of Iran’s commitment not to exceed the uranium enrichment rates appropriate for peaceful uses and call on it to fully meet its obligations and cooperate transparently with the International Atomic Energy Agency. In that context, we warn of the danger of a nuclear arms race breaking out in the region, given the threat it would pose to security and stability at the regional and international levels. We reiterate our firm position on the need to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, in accordance with the decision of the 1995 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. In that context, we welcome the presidency of the brotherly Republic of Mauritania of the fifth session of the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction. We will work with our Mauritanian brothers to the best of our ability to make the session a success because we firmly believe that such zones contribute to enhancing security and stability in the world, especially in light of the current events in various parts of the world. We also appeal to the international community to stand together and speak with one voice to emphasize the need for the occupying Israeli entity to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as a non-nuclear-weapon State and subject its facilities to the comprehensive safeguards system of the International Atomic Energy Agency. In that context, and in the light of the escalation of violations by the occupying entity against our brothers in Palestine and Lebanon, we stand today as an international community at a dangerous crossroads that requires us to strengthen our solidarity to confront the occupation, which, like a fire that feeds on the dry straw of conflict, seeks to ignite an all-out war that could devour everything in the region. The occupying Power, which is opening multiple fronts under the guise of self- defence, wants nothing but to destroy the region and create a state of chaos that spreads far beyond the Middle East. Our warning of the possible outbreak of an all- out war is not the mere echo of words in the air, but rather a powerful alarm bell whose clamour must reach every corner of the world. Therefore, from this Hall we warn the international community of the danger of slipping into the abyss of a war that knows no end and no limits. The recent developments related to some countries updating their nuclear arsenals and their ongoing policy of nuclear deterrence are a source of great concern. We in the State of Kuwait believe that security and peace are achieved not by stockpiling weapons but through dialogue and cooperation. We therefore call for greater international efforts to completely eliminate nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. The State of Kuwait affirms its principled and firm position in support of multilateral action as the best way to address challenges related to disarmament and non-proliferation, and fully adheres to the relevant international treaties and agreements, foremost among which is the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, as we believe that the only way to ensure that nuclear weapons are not used again is to eliminate them completely. We call on all countries to cooperate to achieve that goal. In conclusion, the nuclear menace is not just a passing threat but a black cloud that looms over our present and our future, carrying within it destruction that does not distinguish between the young and the old or one city and another. We are now at a crossroads — either we walk the path of wisdom and dissipate that cloud, illuminating our sky with the light of peace, or we surrender to the vortex of terror and destruction. Nuclear weapons do not preserve security or create peace, but rather sow fear in hearts and death on Earth. Let us therefore work together to build a world free of those weapons and raise our voices in harmony. In unity we find strength, in peace we find life and in collective action we achieve what was only a dream yesterday. Let us offer future generations a world that is worth living in.

We commend Ghana for its work as Chair of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). As the world’s foremost intergovernmental organization in the nuclear field, the IAEA plays an irreplaceable role in preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. China consistently calls for preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and upholding the authority and effectiveness of the international non-proliferation system. China supports the Agency’s objective and impartial role in seeking political solutions to regional hotspot issues, such as the Korean peninsula and the Iranian nuclear issue. China calls on countries of the Middle East and nuclear-weapon States to earnestly fulfil their responsibilities and engage in a process of establishing a zone free of nuclear weapons and other WMDs in the Middle East to serve as an important mechanism for lasting peace and security in the region. China attaches great importance to nuclear safety; supports the efforts of Director General Grossi to ensure the safety and security of all civil nuclear facilities, including the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant; and supports the Director General and the Agency’s secretariat in performing their functions in strict accordance with their mandate. Having said that, the safety of nuclear facilities is but one dimension of the Ukrainian crisis and its ultimate resolution is predicated on the prospect of a political settlement of the crisis. China advocates a balanced approach to preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and promoting peaceful uses, and supports the Agency in delivering the benefits of nuclear energy to all, ensuring the equal and orderly participation of the global South in international nuclear energy cooperation and contributing to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We firmly oppose overstretching the concept of national security, instrumentalizing export controls for the politically motivated decoupling and disrupting of supply chains, and imposing undue restrictions on international nuclear energy cooperation. At this seventy-ninth session, China will submit to the Assembly a new iteration of the resolution on promoting international cooperation on peaceful uses in the context of international security. We count on members’ support in that regard. This year marks the fortieth anniversary of China’s membership of the Agency. The 40 years of successful cooperation between China and the Agency also coincided with China’s journey to develop and grow its nuclear industry — a journey that is open and inclusive. China recently opened 12 of its nuclear research facilities to countries of the global South and beyond in the context of its efforts to deliver major global public goods in support of technological innovation and development. As China marks the fortieth anniversary of its membership in the Agency, we will implement the Global Development Initiative and advance comprehensive cooperation with the Agency and its member States to share our experience in nuclear energy and technology and contribute further to the Agency’s mission of atoms for peace and development.

The delegation of the Republic of Paraguay recognizes the role and responsibility of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in promoting the peaceful use of nuclear techniques among interested member States. In that vein, our delegation highlights the relevance of the peaceful use of technologies that use nuclear sources and material in a number of sectors, especially in the areas of health, food security and safety, animal health and production, environmental protection, water resource management and other fields related to the use of radioisotopes and ionizing radiation. Nonetheless, it never hurts to remember that, like any tool, the illegitimate use of that potential also represents a latent risk that, without exaggeration, has catastrophic consequences. As in the past, Paraguay supports the Agency’s initiatives to promote nuclear technology and the progress that allows countries to achieve universal and equitable access to drinking water and adequate sanitation and hygiene services. In particular, we welcome the global Atoms4Food programme, aimed at increasing food production, food security, agricultural planning and nutritional programming using nuclear and isotopic techniques, which are important for a country like Paraguay, which produces food for 100 million people around the world. In implementing our national policies, the national Government of Paraguay prioritizes the training of human resources and encourages research on nuclear applications in medicine, agriculture and industry. It also promotes women’s access to training opportunities. With regard to nuclear medicine, we seek access to the latest technology and recognize the importance of international cooperation in that regard. We value the Agency’s ongoing dedication to research and information on the programmes and actions carried out by States in the nuclear field. We therefore emphasize the need to prevent, avert and prohibit the production of nuclear weapons and express our grave concern about the existence of undeclared or unintentional nuclear activities that could endanger peace and security, and we condemn any threat of use of nuclear weapons and the unlawful occupation of the sovereign territory of other States where nuclear infrastructure exists. We reiterate that the safeguards regime constitutes the cornerstone of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and is part of general international law. Comprehensive safeguards agreements are the guarantee for preventing clandestine nuclear weapons programmes and the diversion of such materials; they promote security and confidence while contributing to the overall objective of preventing nuclear proliferation. In addition, they contribute to establishing a basis for international collaboration on nuclear technology without conflict, especially with developing countries. Therefore, we trust in multilateralism as the most appropriate way to address global challenges and we support the IAEA and the Director General in taking the measures necessary to guarantee the international community the necessary efforts to achieve high quality and efficiency in international safety and safeguards. With a view to ensuring transparency regarding the discharge of water treated by the Advanced Liquid Processing System from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, we encourage the Agency to continue to inform member States about progress, maintain continuous communication and carry out comprehensive long- term monitoring and evaluation activities. We also highlight the importance of the correct implementation of the Agency’s Nuclear Security Plan 2022-2025. The competent international forums in the matter must address the problem of nuclear physical security, and we advocate for coordination among the nuclear physical security agencies of each country, taking into account the current scenarios and threats in the framework of ongoing cooperation programmes. In that context, Paraguay has one of the highest percentages of project execution among the countries of the Latin American region, which is another example of Paraguay’s commitment to the international community. Finally, we thank the IAEA for its report and reaffirm our commitment to continuing to collaborate in promoting the peaceful use of nuclear techniques and their applications, contributing thereby to the peaceful use of nuclear energy in the world.

The Russian Federation pays close attention to the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is an important instrument of international cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, as well as a unique mechanism for monitoring the fulfilment by States of their obligations in the field of nuclear non-proliferation. We support the work of the IAEA in implementing its statutory goals and functions. We do so both financially and by providing specialized expertise. We continue to finance major Agency projects through the Technical Cooperation Programme, the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles, the Rays of Hope cancer initiative, the Nuclear Security Fund and the Russian Safeguards Support Programme. Our specialists actively participate in the Agency’s events and make a significant substantive contribution to its activities. We advocate for the broad access to the benefits of peaceful atoms for all States of the world that comply with their obligations in the field of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, as well as for the development of international cooperation in that area. Our country is convinced that IAEA member States should do everything possible to ensure that the Agency’s activities are not politicized and are carried out strictly in accordance with its mandate. Against that background, we note with regret that the IAEA’s annual report (see A/79/266) contains provisions that incorrectly interpret the national jurisdiction of a number of nuclear facilities and off-site locations, although the text of the report does contain a passage stating that the Agency does not express an opinion regarding the legal status of any country or territory. In that regard, we stress once again that the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, the nuclear facilities in Sevastopol and off-site locations in Crimea, the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics and the Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions are located on Russian territory and under Russian jurisdiction, as set out in IAEA Information Circular 1102. That objective reality is based on the results of the free expression of the will of the population of the aforementioned territories in referendums held there. In that context, and taking into account the politicized accusations made against the Russian Federation by some delegations, in particular on the issue of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, we note that the only party that poses threats to nuclear and physical nuclear safety in the current conflict is Ukraine. That is clearly illustrated by the repeated attacks undertaken by Kyiv against Zaporizhzhya this year. I will not go into the details of those reckless actions. Our country regularly informs the IAEA secretariat, the Security Council and the international community as a whole about the real situation at Zaporizhzhya. An IAEA mission is present at the plant. Its experts have the opportunity to see with their own eyes who is actually making threats to the nuclear power plant. We hope that it can inform the international community about that and directly name the source of the attacks: the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ukraine in every way demonstrates its disregard both for the Agency’s efforts, including by promoting politicized initiatives in the General Assembly that undermine the IAEA’s efforts, and simply for common sense. If anyone doubts who exactly is responsible for posing a threat to nuclear and physical nuclear safety, those doubts should now be completely dispelled following Kyiv’s reckless actions in the Kursk region and its preparation of a provocation against yet another Russian nuclear facility, the Kursk nuclear power plant. The entire international community must understand the danger the Ukrainian side is thus creating for the entire European continent. The Russian Federation, for its part, will continue to do everything necessary to ensure the safety of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, in accordance with its national legislation and international obligations, as well as to inform the international community about the real state of affairs at the plant. In view of all of that, we cannot agree with any provision of the IAEA annual report and its annexes that contradicts the fact that the aforementioned facilities belong to the Russian Federation. The same applies to other IAEA documents that ignore the relevant realities, including those that go beyond the Agency’s mandate and the completely unprofessionally drafted resolutions of the IAEA Board of Governors and General Conference on the Ukrainian issue. I would like to emphasize that those documents are legally and politically null and void for us. We also note that the Russian Federation has distanced itself from IAEA General Conference resolution GC(68)/RES/13, the on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, since it considers it to be a useless, inadequate and harmful document. The points I have mentioned are the reservations of the Russian Federation to the draft document under discussion. We ask the Secretariat to reflect them in the minutes of the meeting. Taking into account the comments voiced, our country distances itself from draft resolution A/79/L.7, “Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency”.

The United Kingdom is pleased to again co- sponsor the draft resolution before us (A/79/L.7), which captures the range of vital work that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has undertaken this year. We wish to thank Director General Grossi for his leadership in a year that has brought new and continuing challenges, and underscore the United Kingdom’s support for the Agency and its independence. We welcome the Agency’s willingness to tackle the world’s challenges head on, including with the launch of Atoms4Food this year and the continuation of other programmes that support food security, health and the environment. The Agency’s work on new and emerging technologies, such as small modular reactors and fusion energy, help to ensure that they can be used safely and securely. The United Kingdom looks forward to next week’s International Conference on Small Modular Reactors and their Applications and the Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications in November to highlight those important efforts. While members of the IAEA inevitably have varying views and priorities, we have always been able to rely on unity on the importance of the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear technology, robust safety and security frameworks, and safeguards. That is why the United Kingdom was alarmed to see Foreign Minister Lavrov’s recent remarks that the Russian Federation considers the term “denuclearization” has lost all meaning in relation to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Any suggestion by the Russian Federation that it would not challenge a non-nuclear-weapon State developing nuclear weapons not only profoundly contradicts joint statements it has put their name to, explicitly opposing the further spread of nuclear weapons, but also undermines the core tenets of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). As a nuclear-weapon State, Russia has particular responsibilities to uphold the NPT that it must adhere to. That is part of a wider, worrying trend we have seen of Russia undermining the international community’s work in holding the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to account and seeking a route back to compliance through dialogue. Russia’s veto of the mandate renewal for the Panel of Experts of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006), as well as its disassociation from IAEA General Conference resolution GC(68)/RES/13, on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, only serve to compound the concerns and challenges highlighted in the Agency’s report (see A/79/266). With the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea continuing to build and develop its nuclear programme, in clear violation of relevant Security Council resolutions, now more than ever the international community must continue to press for and champion diplomatic steps towards denuclearization. While further challenges remain ahead, the United Kingdom is hopeful that the IAEA will continue its important work. Doing so will ensure prosperity, safety and security for us all.

I appreciate the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (see A/79/266). However, I must emphasize the necessity for more professional and impartial reporting. Nuclear power is crucial to meeting energy demands while minimizing carbon emissions, particularly in developing countries. As of 2023, approximately 30 per cent of global energy was generated from renewable and low-carbon sources and the transfer of nuclear knowledge and technology to developing nations, as outlined in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and the statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) remains vital. Safeguards should facilitate advancements in nuclear science and technology without infringing on the rights or sovereignty of NPT States. It is unacceptable to exploit concerns over nuclear proliferation to restrict those rights. Unilateral coercive measures and double standards undermine the peaceful use of nuclear energy and hinder technical cooperation. According to recent IAEA reports, approximately 40 countries have sought assistance in developing their nuclear capabilities for peaceful purposes, highlighting the need for equitable access. It is concerning that some States continue to deny developing nations access to nuclear technology, which contravenes IAEA and NPT statutes, while simultaneously supporting the Israeli regime, the existence of whose clandestine weapons of mass destruction arsenals is irrefutable. Concerning Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme, it is important to note that the IAEA conducts robust verification and monitoring activities in Iran. We expect that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s continuous and cooperative arrangement and engagement with the IAEA will be duly recognized. Iran is entitled to exercise its rights, as outlined in our Comprehensive Safeguard Agreements with the IAEA, regarding the admission of inspectors and related issues. We maintain a constructive relationship with the IAEA and its secretariat, aiming to resolve any outstanding matters To that end, the IAEA Director General is set to visit Iran soon. However, it is crucial to underscore that discussions surrounding Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme should be based on facts rather than on selective or fabricated narratives. Notably, the illegal withdrawal of the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, a move that affected not just Iran but the entire region, and the non-compliance of the European Union and European participants in the JCPOA, seem to have been overlooked by certain delegations. As we have consistently maintained, there must be a clear distinction between the legal obligations of member States under their safeguards agreements and their voluntary commitments. The verification and monitoring activities related to the JCPOA are voluntary and are not linked to the comprehensive safeguards agreement. Importantly, all of Iran’s nuclear materials and activities have been fully declared and verified by the IAEA. As of now, Iran has the highest number of safeguards inspections of any country with a peaceful nuclear programme, demonstrating a commendable record of cooperation with the IAEA. The Agency and Iran share a close working relationship across various domains. The Agency has verified on multiple occasions that there is no evidence of diversion of declared nuclear material or activities in Iran. Nonetheless, the Agency’s impartiality, independence and professionalism must not be compromised in the context of safeguard obligations or influenced by certain parties, ensuring that all States can enjoy their rights as enshrined in the IAEA statute. The actions of the Israeli regime, characterized by grave human rights, international law and international humanitarian law violations, mirror atrocities committed by groups such as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham and the Nazis, as it continues to inflict suffering on defenceless Palestinians and Lebanese. Alongside its nuclear threats against neighbouring countries, it has covertly assassinated our nuclear scientists and targeted Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities. Those horrific acts of terrorism must be clearly condemned by the global community. The regime must be held accountable and none of its atrocities should be treated with impunity. With the international condemnation of the Israeli regime’s actions, we categorically denounce its possession of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, and its threats to use them. The Israeli regime has persistently refused to sign the NPT and comply with comprehensive IAEA safeguards. The Agency must address the regime with an unbiased and professional approach. It is imperative that we work towards disarming the regime to establish peace and security in the region,

There is no doubt, as observed by Director General Grossi, that as we marked the seventieth anniversary of United States President Dwight Eisenhower’s famous “atoms for peace” speech last year, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) remained as relevant as ever through its indispensable work in safety, security and safeguards and in expanding access to the life-saving and life-affirming uses of nuclear science and technology across the globe. As reflected in its 133-page comprehensive annual report (see A/79/266), we note with appreciation the significant adaptations in the Agency’s methods of work to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of its mandate in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology, enhancing nuclear safety and security, as well as nuclear verification and safeguards. The technical cooperation activities of the Agency are, now more than ever, vital to a developing country such as Sri Lanka. The Director General and his team must be congratulated on facilitating the peaceful application of nuclear technology in various sectors, including health care, agriculture and energy production. We also note that through its technical cooperation programmes the Agency has assisted developing countries in harnessing nuclear technology for socioeconomic development, improving health-care services, enhancing agricultural productivity and giving greater access to clean and sustainable energy sources. It must be noted that the IAEA has played a critical role in fortifying the emergency preparedness and response capabilities of member States. Members will appreciate, however, that we always have areas where improvement can be suggested for enhanced supervision. At the risk of repeating myself a year later, we believe that to minimize the risk of proliferation the IAEA needs, first, to continue its rigorous inspections, improve technology and maintain transparency. Secondly, the IAEA can continue stepping up its coordination efforts with member States, providing timely and accurate information and facilitating international cooperation in the case of accidents or incidents. Thirdly, we ask that the IAEA continue to widen the scope its technical cooperation programmes to assist member States, particularly developing countries, in building their nuclear infrastructure and capabilities by providing more opportunities for training and expertise and the resources to enhance safety, security and peaceful application of nuclear technology. We hasten to offer greater encouragement to continue to promote and encourage universal adherence to international treaties and agreements connected with nuclear energy and non-proliferation, which could involve diplomatic efforts, advocacy and dialogue with member States. We also believe that it might be useful to enhance the IAEA’s mechanisms for information-sharing among member States. My delegation also believes that the IAEA could, in collaboration with member States, develop and further strengthen legal frameworks relevant to nuclear energy and security, which could contribute to promoting the adoption of international conventions, protocols and guidelines that would provide a clear legal basis for the work of the Agency. The observation by the Director General in his statement, which we have had the benefit of reading this morning, that, “[t]he IAEA Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative brings together all stakeholders in an effort to facilitate the timely and safe deployment of advanced nuclear reactors, including small modular reactors” (A/79/266/ Add.1, p.3) is of particular interest in the context of the high-case scenario that nuclear electrical generating capacity in 2052 will be two and a half times bigger and that small modular reactors would make up a quarter of that increase. We believe that this vision spells out a trajectory worthy of being pursued, even more so given that, as has been observed, regardless of which energy mix best serves a nation individually, all nations benefit when investments in nuclear energy are made because they mitigate climate change and air pollution — global ills that do not respect sovereignty or national boundaries. We also hope the fusion energy programme, considered to be a promising candidate, will be pursued as a priority, as it will meet future global energy demands due to its potential for abundant, clean and safe energy, although significant technological and financial challenges remain. We are appreciative of the reality that it may take decades before fusion can contribute to the global energy mix in a meaningful way. Respecting the right of all States to the peaceful use of nuclear energy is, we believe, very much in keeping with the letter and spirit of realizing the Sustainable Development Goals. In conclusion, Sri Lanka reiterates its commitment to providing increased support to the IAEA that would reinforce its critical role in nuclear supervision, non- proliferation, safety and security and contribute to a strengthening our global efforts to ensure the safe and peaceful of nuclear energy. We wish the IAEA, in line with its atoms for peace and development mandate, every success in supporting countries in reaching the Sustainable Development Goals, which engage with the use of nuclear science and technology. I conclude by reading out a quote from President Eisenhower, who said: “The more important responsibility of this atomic energy agency would be to devise methods whereby this fissionable material would be allocated to serve the peaceful pursuits of mankind. Experts would be mobilized to apply atomic energy to the needs of agriculture, medicine and other peaceful activities. A special purpose would be to provide abundant electrical energy in the power-starved areas of the world. Thus the contributing Powers would be dedicating some of their strength to serve the needs rather than the fears of mankind.”

Let me begin by thanking Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for his submission of this year’s annual report (see A/79/266), an update on the activities of the IAEA. I also wish to congratulate Ghana for the excellent job it is doing in its capacity as the Chair of the Board of Governors. Nigeria therefore wishes to reaffirm its support to the IAEA in discharging its mandate. My delegation is convinced that nuclear weapons remain the principal threat to humankind and that their elimination would be a major boost to international peace and security. The need to work together to eliminate those dangerous weapons for greater socioeconomic development is essential. Nigeria reiterates its call on nuclear- weapon States to be more transparent in their commitment to a nuclear-weapon-free world and also to redirect their resources to more impactful ventures, such as agriculture, health care, education and renewable energy, amongst others. Nigeria wishes to renew its call for accelerating nuclear disarmament and bringing under the safeguard regime the activities of non-nuclear-weapon States that are yet to sign and ratify the IAEA comprehensive safeguards agreement. My delegation calls on all members to apply the comprehensive safeguards agreement of the International Atomic Energy Agency to all their nuclear activities in order to accelerate the advent of a nuclear-weapon-free world. It is against that backdrop that my delegation underscores the importance of continued respect for the inalienable rights to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Nigeria also wishes to stress the central role of the IAEA through its continued technical support and cooperation, as well as in maximizing the use of science and technology for socioeconomic development. We urge the IAEA to continue assisting member States, especially the developing countries, on the various peaceful uses of nuclear energy, particularly in generating electricity, protecting human health, water management and safeguarding the environment. To that end, strengthening the activities of IAEA through enhanced funding is highly pivotal. In September 2023, Nigeria signed its country programme framework for the period 2024 to 2029, which identifies five priority areas for technical cooperation and the transfer of technology. Those areas include food and agriculture, health and nutrition, nuclear and radiation safety and security, and water and the environment. Nigeria, in collaboration with the IAEA, has many different development ambitions, especially in human and animal health, agriculture and husbandry, power generation and water conservation. While we applaud IAEA assistance and its contribution to the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology in Africa, especially in human development, my delegation calls for deeper collaborative efforts with Nigeria in the areas of health and energy, as well as other priority projects of the Government. In conclusion, we acknowledge the good work of one of ours, Ambassador Vivian Okeke, in the IAEA office in New York and encourage the Director General and his team to intensify their efforts to ensure that nuclear technology is used responsibly for peaceful purposes. We also encourage the IAEA to continue its efforts aimed at overcoming the challenges to the beneficial uses of nuclear energy,

At the outset, let me thank Ghana for its work in its capacity as Chair of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and express our satisfaction at the imminent adoption by consensus of draft resolution A/79/L.7, entitled “Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency”, which we have co-sponsored. In that context, we would like to highlight the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency and its Director General, Mr Rafael Grossi, in promoting nuclear energy and technology for peace, health and prosperity in the world, in a context of serious challenges in the areas of climate, food and international security. In that context, we also express our concern about the risks arising from the potential impact of nuclear and/or radioactive material on facilities in Ukraine. We express our full support for the work of the IAEA and its independence, as well as for its reports on technological safety, physical security and safeguards, including the seven pillars essential to ensuring nuclear safety and security during an armed conflict and the five concrete principles to avert a catastrophic incident at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. Argentina is a nuclear country with more than 70 years of experience, a period in which extensive scientific, technological and industrial capabilities have been generated. In addition to being part of a select group of countries that have nuclear power in their energy matrix, Argentina is one of the few countries that has mastered the full nuclear fuel cycle, while maintaining a firm commitment to peaceful uses. As a result, we have built a unique profile as a developing country, responsible exporter of nuclear research reactors and radioisotope production to countries on all continents, as well as other nuclear components and services. The role played by the International Atomic Energy Agency in promoting nuclear energy is widely valued by Argentina. Since its creation, the Agency has been an invaluable source of technical cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, the development of nuclear applications in various sectors, and the creation and definition of standards and measures for the safe and reliable operation of nuclear energy, and as a guarantor of the global system of nuclear safeguards. We highlight the work carried out by its Director General, Rafael Grossi, in all these fields, complemented by his active involvement in sensitive issues on the international agenda. In a context of growing demand for energy, but also of measures that help to confront climate change, nuclear energy is positioned as a fundamental part of the solution to those challenges. Argentina contributes to that change through three power plants — all under IAEA safeguards — that produce more than 7 per cent of the national electricity generation. Argentina reiterates the importance of ensuring that safeguards implementation activities are efficient, effective and supported by a solid technical basis, thereby ensuring their non-discriminatory nature. The Argentine Republic insists on the need for the safeguards regime and its guarantees to be developed in an environment of cooperation and dialogue. In that regard, it is of utmost interest to highlight the importance of Argentina’s Quadripartite Agreement with the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Brazilian-Argentine Agency for Accounting and Control of Nuclear Materials (ABACC) and the IAEA. Argentina once again highlights the relevance of ABACC and the bilateral inspection system both to the implementation of safeguards and to building trust.

We thank Ghana for submitting draft resolution A/79/L.7, on the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (see A/79/266). India values the essential role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in assisting countries to build human and institutional capacities, including regulatory capabilities, for the safe, secure and peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology. India welcomes the Agency’s flagship initiatives, cutting across different areas of nuclear science and technology, such as the Rays of Hope initiative for cancer control, the Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action for strengthening capacities to respond to zoonotic disease outbreaks, and the Nuclear Technology for Controlling Plastic Pollution initiative. We also appreciate the support extended by the IAEA to member States in response to natural disaster and emergency situations. India has made significant achievements in the area of nuclear power and research applications. Indian nuclear power reactors have been setting records for long, continuous operation. Units of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited have operated continuously, 46 times for more than a year and 4 times for more than two years. The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre has continued to be at the forefront in advancing the non-power application of nuclear science and technology to improve our citizens’ quality of life and contribute to the societal and economic development of the nation. India’s Heavy Water Board, which is the largest global producer of heavy water, has exported heavy water to various countries around the world for non- nuclear applications. The closed fuel cycle being the cornerstone of the Indian nuclear power programme, the country’s first prototype 500 megawatt fast breeder reactor at the Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam enterprise is undergoing core loading, paving the way for first approach to criticality. The Tata Memorial Centre initiated indigenous chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy in India, which brought down the cost of cancer treatment from $500,000 to just $30,000. The National Cancer Grid is now a 310-member network across the country that treats approximately 60 per cent of the country’s total cancer load in a cost-effective manner. India has also contributed to the Agency’s Technical Cooperation Programme by seconding experts and offering training slots in our reputed institutions for experts from other member States. We have also supported the research and development activities of the IAEA by participating in and hosting tactical meetings and coordinated research projects. We will continue to provide support to the Agency’s programmes. Let me conclude by expressing my appreciation for the dynamic role played by the IAEA in guiding the principal uses of nuclear energy and ensuring nuclear safety and security. We look forward to the Agency’s continued support to member States in providing an atmosphere conducive to the growth of nuclear science and technology. As a responsible nuclear Power with advanced technology, India remains committed to expanding the peaceful applications of nuclear technology in both the power and the non-power sectors, while ensuring the security of nuclear and radiological materials. India has a robust nucleus safety culture and impeccable safety record. India will continue to support the Agency in its efforts to provide a robust, sustainable and visible global nuclear safety and security framework.

Canada thanks the delegation of Ghana, as the current Chair of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors, for its efforts in coordinating the preparation of draft resolution A/79/L.7 in Vienna and for working to achieve its consensus adoption here in New York. Canada is pleased to join the consensus adoption of the draft resolution and is also proud to co-sponsor it. We remain strongly committed to supporting the IAEA in the delivery of its mandate, including through the promotion of nuclear technology, energy applications to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, advancing nuclear safety and security worldwide and implementing safeguards in support of the global non-proliferation regime. With respect to the content of the draft resolution and recent deliberations on the text in Vienna, my delegation would like to flag three core points. First, resolutions of the IAEA General Conference, whether adopted by consensus or by recorded vote, are formal decisions of the Conference and applicable to the activities of the secretariat and member States as appropriate. Secondly, General Conference resolution GC(68)/RES/13, on the implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, was adopted by consensus with 63 cross-regional sponsors. Russia’s decision to disassociate itself from the consensus adoption of the resolution, after electing not to participate in negotiations on the text in Vienna, does not change the strong signal sent by the General Conference regarding the continued non-proliferation and safeguard challenges posed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear programme and our collective support for the Agency’s work in that regard. Thirdly, Canada fully rejects any attempt by Russia to use its reservation on the IAEA 2023 annual report (see A/79/266) to further its illegal and illegitimate claims of ownership over the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. The Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant is and will remain a Ukrainian nuclear facility, in line with repeated decisions of the General Assembly, which call for the return of the plant to the full control of the sovereign and competent authorities of Ukraine. Canada once again thanks Ghana for its efforts in delivering the draft resolution and stands ready to continue to work with all delegations to support the critical activities of the IAEA.

I thank you, Sir, for convening this meeting and for promoting the peaceful use of nuclear technology. We welcome the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (see A/79/266) and thank Director General Rafael Grossi for his statement (A/79/266/Add.1). We also thank the delegation of Ghana for draft resolution A/79/L.7, which is before us today. The global arms race, along with multiple conflicts around the world, has reached a level where the international rule of law is often neglected and ignored. This very Organization was established to endorse the implementation of an international rules-based order and to bring peace to the world. We therefore support efforts to advance the use of atomic and nuclear technology for peaceful purposes only. Timor-Leste supports global efforts to facilitate the use of nuclear energy and technology in medicine, agriculture, industry and development. For instance, nuclear techniques are used in diagnostic tests, cancer treatment, food preservation and improving crop yields, thereby contributing to public health and food security. Timor-Leste has bitter first-hand experience of the effects of weapons in the past. The effects of napalm and chemical weapons constitute a deviation from the objectives of the IAEA and violate international humanitarian. We believe that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is the only institution that has the means to facilitate the safe transfer of nuclear technology to developing countries. That can be done through technical cooperation programmes that provide training, equipment and expertise to help those countries harness the benefits of nuclear technology. By doing so, the IAEA helps bridge the technological gap between developed and developing nations, foster sustainable development and improve the quality of life in less affluent regions. Nuclear safety is of paramount concern to all countries around the world. We believe that the IAEA has set international safety standards and provides guidance and assistance to ensure that nuclear facilities operate safely and securely. We also urge the IAEA to conduct regular inspections and audits to verify that countries comply with their nuclear non-proliferation obligations. That verification process is crucial to preventing the diversion of nuclear materials for non-peaceful purposes and ensuring that nuclear energy is used solely for peaceful applications. The recent bombings of nuclear sites, the threat to use of nuclear weapons in Europe and the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East are stark reminders of the possible catastrophic consequences of the use of nuclear weapons. As the IAEA advocates for the peaceful resolution of conflicts, so do we condemn any action that threatens nuclear safety and security. We support the Agency’s efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and promote disarmament. It is essential to prevent terrorist organizations from acquiring nuclear weapons, as that would pose a significant threat to global security. The Agency’s work in promoting non-proliferation is critical to maintaining global peace and security. By ensuring that nuclear materials are not diverted for military purposes, it can help to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, support international efforts to promote disarmament and encourage countries to adopt peaceful means to resolve disputes. Small island developing States (SIDS) are particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of the arms race and nuclear proliferation. The diversion of resources towards military spending undermines development efforts and exacerbates the challenges faced by those nations. We therefore support the IAEA’s focus on promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear technology that can help SIDS address their unique development needs, such as energy security and climate resilience, without the burden of military conflicts. To conclude, we support the IAEA’s role in promoting the peaceful uses of atomic energy, facilitating technology transfer and ensuring nuclear safety, verification and security, which is indispensable to the development of humankind. Timor-Leste believes that, by advocating for non-proliferation and peaceful conflict resolution, the Agency contributes to global peace and stability. It is crucial to discourage the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to focus on development rather than on military spending.

The General Assembly will now proceed to consider draft resolution A/79/L.7. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that, since the submission of the draft resolution, in addition to the delegations listed in the document, the following countries have also become sponsors of draft resolution A/79/L.7: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras. Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Myanmar, Namibia, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Türkiye, Uganda, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay and Zimbabwe.

The General Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/79/L.7, entitled “Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency”. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to adopt draft resolution A/79/L.7?

The exercise of the right of reply has been requested. May I remind members that statements in the exercise of the right of reply are limited to 10 minutes for the first intervention and to 5 minutes for the second intervention, and should be made by delegations from their seats.

The Republic of Belarus is exercising its right of reply to the statement made by the representative of Lithuania regarding the Belarusian nuclear power plant (see A/79/PV.21). We believe that accusations that the Belarusian nuclear power plant is unsafe and rife with violations to be unfounded and biased against us. That was made clear by the recent visit of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General to the plant, to which, incidentally, the representative of Lithuania referred in his statement. During that visit, the head of the Agency was able to personally verify the safety of the facility. The IAEA Director General expressed exclusively positive assessments following his visit. That only confirms the fact that the Belarusian nuclear power plant meets the most modern standards of reliability and safety. In general, from the very beginning of the implementation of its national nuclear energy programme, Belarus has been and remains committed to the highest standards of nuclear and radiation safety. We proceed from the fact that nuclear safety has no national affiliation and that the extent of its importance cannot depend on the affiliation of nuclear installations. At the same time, an ostentatious and excessive concern for nuclear safety, especially on the part of neighbouring countries that have abandoned nuclear energy, often conceals economic and political goals that are far from ingenuous. Belarus, for its part, regularly participates in review events under international conventions on nuclear safety, including such significant agreements as the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management and the Convention on Nuclear Safety. At the joint eighth and ninth review meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety in March 2023, the contracting parties noted the implementation of the provisions of the Convention by the Republic of Belarus. We reject Lithuania’s accusations of a lack of transparency on our part. In fact, we are absolutely open to discussions, and we are discussing such specific topics as safety assessments of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, including protection against a commercial aircraft crash, within the framework of relevant international platforms, such as the aforementioned Convention on Nuclear Safety and, importantly, through regular bilateral correspondence between the competent Belarusian and Lithuanian authorities. We therefore call on Lithuania to continue the interaction within the framework of the above-mentioned technical channels and to stop using the General Assembly rostrum to politicize the debate on the IAEA’s annual report.

I am compelled to take the floor regarding the absurd references to my country made by the representatives of Iran and Syria (see A/79/PV.21). Iran is in no moral position to lecture or preach about nuclear threats. Iran itself is accountable for the mistrust in the Middle East arms control architecture and has violated its commitments to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and to its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as baldly presented by the Agency over and over again. The Iranian regime’s track record throughout the years is well known; it is based on lies and deceit regarding its true intentions. As the IAEA Board of Governors resolutions from past years, including that adopted in June 2024, state so accurately, Iran fails to implement its legal obligations, despite opportunities provided by the IAEA. Iran fails to provide credible explanations for the presence of substances like uranium, which impact the correctness and completeness of its declarations. Make no mistake — Iran will do whatever it can to deceitfully wash away its crimes and will use false accusations against Israel while doing so. Furthermore, I would like to remind all delegations that Iran is the world’s primary terrorism- sponsoring State and the world’s biggest proliferator of small arms and light weapons, heavy weapons, rockets, missiles and other related technologies, such as unmanned aerial vehicles. All of that is done with the aim of promoting Iran’s radical agenda and destabilizing the entire Middle East and beyond. Iran’s ongoing support of Hamas and Hizbullah, both internationally designated terror organizations, was the backbone of the 7 October 2023 massacre against the people of Israel and the spiral of escalation deepened by Hizbullah’s attacks against Israel the following day. Syria is in no moral position to criticize anyone or spread such false accusations as it did today. Syria, for its part, is yet to answer open questions set by the IAEA with regard to its clandestine nuclear programme, also violating its commitments to the NPT and its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement. Syria is one of the clearest examples of non-compliance with regard to its disarmament obligations. Let us also remember that it is Syria that permits Iran to establish terrorist bases within its borders and allows radical organizations to act freely in its country, undisturbed. It has also used chemical weapons against its own population, murdering hundreds of women and children. It is vital that the international community remain vigilant in dealing with the challenge of Syria’s non-compliance in order to prevent the further erosion of the obsolete norm against the use of chemical weapons and to reinstate it. The international community must also continue to investigate Syria’s current capabilities and activity with regard to its chemical weapons programme. Finally, this morning we heard some delegations’ remarks regarding nuclear disarmament in the Middle East. Israel will not participate in processes that bypass the established United Nations practices and are ill motivated.

I am compelled to exercise my right of reply to the reply exercised by the representative of Belarus. The visit of Director General Grossi to Belarus, as mentioned in the statement of the representative of Belarus (see A/79/PV.21) and also in his right of reply, does not change our attitudes towards and evaluation of the Astravets nuclear power plant, which is unsafe and was constructed with numerous violations. I have a great deal of technical information from open sources, but in the interest of time I will limit myself to making only general observations, as follows. We are deeply troubled by the evident absence of a safety culture and the deficit of transparency and openness, as well as repeated equipment failures that are concealed. We are also concerned about the delays in implementing safety improvements. It is essential, actually, to pursue three modes of activity. First of all, countries have to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency and ensure that relevant missions are invited to rapidly assess their nuclear activities. Secondly, it is very important not only to invite those missions, but also to make sure that the recommendations and suggestions made by those missions are rapidly implemented. Thirdly, transparency is paramount. We still have doubts regarding the implementation of previous International Atomic Energy Agency missions to the Astravets nuclear power plant, and their conclusions and recommendations are still lacking implementation. We also have seen no publicly available reports from those missions. Therefore, Lithuania urges Belarus to suspend the operations of its nuclear power plant until all safety issues are comprehensively addressed.

I am exercising our right of reply to address the factitious allegations made by the representative of the Israeli terrorist regime against my country. First and foremost, I firmly reject them. The Islamic Republic of Iran expresses its heartfelt condolences to the suffering people of Palestine and Lebanon and its firm solidarity with them. We strongly condemn the grave atrocities committed by the Israeli regime in Gaza, which have led to the deaths of more than 43,000 people so far, more than half of them women and children. The extent, frequency and the gravity of the barbaric crimes of the Israeli regime in Palestine are unprecedented. Those brutalities constitute genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Israeli forces commit all such crimes daily, repeatedly and concurrently before the eyes of all humankind. They have turned Gaza into a graveyard for children and hell on Earth. That bloodshed and indiscriminate bombing must be stopped immediately, and humanitarian aid must be delivered without hindrance. As for the specific agenda item on today’s meeting, it is both ironic and absurd that a regime that is not a party to any of the relevant international treaties and conventions would allow itself to comment on the States parties to those treaties. The representative of the Israeli regime must know that its hideous and hypocritical positions will get it nowhere. That regime, which is the biggest violator of international regulations and the only clandestine nuclear-armed entity in our region, has no legitimacy to comment on Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme. In response to the unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations made by the observer of the European Union (see A/79/PV.21) and the representatives of certain other countries regarding Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme, we firmly reject those politically motivated accusations. Iran remains committed to the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and works constructively with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure transparency and compliance with safeguards agreements. To that end, Iran has allowed extensive IAEA inspections. In 2023 alone, Iran was subject to 485 inspections, amounting to 22 per cent of all IAEA inspections, despite having only about 3 per cent of the world’s nuclear facilities. Such a volume and level of inspections have never been carried out in any country before in history. Undoubtedly, without Iran’s good-faith cooperation, the IAEA could not perform that unprecedented level of verification activities. Therefore, my country deserves recognition for its commitment to and cooperation in safeguarding the verification activities of the IAEA. I would like to underscore that all Iran’s actions following the United States unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action were carried out in accordance with the provisions of the agreement, especially its article 36. Iran exercised considerable restraint by waiting for a full year after the United States withdrawal, during which we expected our European partners to honour their commitments to mitigate the impact of the United States’ decision. I would like to emphasize that Iran’s nuclear programme cannot and should not be classified as nuclear proliferation. Instead, it represents the efforts of a responsible NPT member to exercise its inherent right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, as granted by article 4 of the Treaty. The unsubstantiated allegations against Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme have been used by certain States to adopt policies and take actions that have unlawfully prejudiced the legitimate legal interests of my country under the NPT’s grand bargain. Moreover, those politically motivated, baseless and unsubstantiated accusations serve to distract the attention and resources of the international community from addressing genuine and pressing concerns, namely, the failure of nuclear States to uphold their obligations under the NPT. Those countries should be concerned about NATO’s nuclear-sharing policy, as some of them are active members of that military alliance. Today, 32 NATO members rely on the extended nuclear deterrence provided by the United States. Five NATO States host United State nuclear weapons under nuclear- sharing arrangements, exemplifying proliferation and bypassing NPT obligations.

I have asked for the floor to respond to the allegations made in the statement delivered by the representative of the Israeli entity against my country. We categorically reject the statement by the Israeli representative concerning Syria. It would seem that the Israeli entity’s representative is unaware of the bloody history of the entity that she represents. The Israeli entity was the first to use biological and chemical weapons in the Middle East and is now reminding us of its criminal practices through its use of internationally banned weapons in its ongoing aggression against the Palestinian people for over a year and its threats to drop a nuclear bomb on the Gaza Strip, home to 2 million civilians. The Israeli representative is in no position to lecture us about adherence to international legal obligations, as that entity is the only one in the Middle East that owns a huge arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in all forms and without international oversight. All relevant conferences and meetings on conventions on weapons of mass destruction that have been held in New York, The Hague and Vienna, including the tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, have exposed the fact that Israel has ignored all international conventions, treaties and resolutions on non-proliferation. For decades, Israel has ignored the calls of the international community to accede to agreements on non-proliferation and disarmament. The accusations contained in the Israeli’s delegation statement are categorically rejected because they were made by an entity that is not qualified to make such allegations against Syria, given that it is a hostile entity that is occupying Syrian land. Such allegations, as everyone knows, are an Israeli tactic that is designed to distract attention from Israel’s nuclear arsenal and the fact that it does not respect relevant international resolutions. We all know the identity of the party that conducts clandestine and suspicious activities in the region, develops weapons of mass destruction and owns huge arsenals of such weapons. Those who trample international law through their barbaric attacks on Palestine, Syria and Lebanon are well known. It is not a party to any of the relevant international mechanisms and agreements. I believe that those facts are enough to judge the veracity of their allegations and to expose their true intentions.

The delegation of Belarus is compelled once again to exercise the right of reply in connection with the statement just made by the representative of Lithuania. We are opposed to the use of the General Assembly to politicize the discussion of the activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency. We reiterate that the discussion of technical issues, which the delegation of Lithuania so persistently imposes on us, should be conducted within the appropriate technical forums, as we noted in our previous statement in the right of reply. We again express our readiness for an open, constructive and professional expert dialogue with all interested parties, including Lithuania, in the appropriate forums and through the appropriate channels, including regarding Belarus’ concerns about Lithuania’s decommissioning of the Ignalina nuclear power plant and the construction by that country of facilities for the storage and disposal of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste directly along the Belarusian border.

I have to exercise my right of reply to the statement just delivered by the representative of Belarus, since it touched on the disposal of nuclear waste. I would like to underline very briefly that Lithuania has provided Belarus with detailed written responses to comments and other questions related to that project. Specifically, the feedback from Belarus has been incorporated into amendments of the environmental impact assessment report that we are undertaking. Furthermore, Lithuania remains committed to responding to all comments from Belarus and other countries regarding the environmental impact assessment report. Regarding the Belarusian nuclear power plant, I believe that I need offer no more comments because everything has been said in this exchange and in our statements,

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 89?