International Atomic Energy Agency General Conference (Unofficial electronic version)	GC(40)/31 18 September 1996 GENERAL Distr. Original: ENGLISH
Fortieth regular session Agenda item 16 (GC(40)/22)

The General Conference,

(a) Recalling resolutions GC(XXXV)/RES/559, GC(XXXVI)/RES/586, GC(XXXVII)/RES/619, GC(XXXVIII)/RES/10 and GC(39)/RES/17 on the strengthening of safeguards,

(b) Convinced that the Agency's safeguards can promote greater confidence among States and thus contribute to strengthening collective security,

(c) Considering the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean, the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty and the Treaty establishing the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone and the Agency's essential role in applying safeguards in accordance with the relevant articles of these treaties, and noting the outcome of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,

(d) Noting that decisions adopted by the Board of Governors aimed at further strengthening the effectiveness of Agency safeguards should be supported and implemented and that the Agency's capability to detect undeclared nuclear activities should be increased, and

(e) Stressing that the strengthening of the safeguards system should not entail any decrease in the resources available for technical assistance and co-operation and that it should be compatible with the Agency's function of encouraging and assisting the development and practical application of atomic energy for peaceful uses and with adequate technology transfer,

1. Stresses the need for effective safeguards in order to prevent the use of nuclear energy for prohibited purposes in contravention of safeguards agreements entered into by States, and underlines the vital importance of effective safeguards for facilitating co-operation in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy;

2. Affirms that increasing the Agency's capability to detect undeclared nuclear activities in contravention of safeguards agreements will contribute to strengthening the effectiveness of safeguards;

3. Confirms its resolve to maintain and strengthen the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of the safeguards system in conformity with the Agency's Statute and calls upon all States to co-operate with the Agency in implementing the decisions taken by the Board of Governors to that end;

4. Notes with approval the report of the Director General submitted in document GC(40)/17 pursuant to resolution GC(39)/RES/17 concerning Programme 93+2;

5. Calls on the Secretariat to continue the implementation of Part 1 measures as rapidly as time and resources allow and urges the States concerned to facilitate this exercise by providing timely responses to the Secretariat's requests for information;

6. Welcomes the establishment by the Board of Governors of a Committee which began its work in July 1996 and is tasked with the drafting of a model protocol in order to strengthen the effectiveness and to improve the efficiency of the nuclear safeguards system and thereby reinforce and improve the Agency's capacity to detect any undeclared nuclear activities;

7. Urges the Committee to make every effort to advance its work with a view to reporting the outcome to the Board at its December 1996 session; and

8. Requests the Director General to report on the implementation of this resolution to the General Conference at its forty-first regular session.