International Atomic Energy Agency General Conference (Unofficial electronic version)	GC(43)/RES/18 October 1999 GENERAL Distr. Original: ENGLISH
Forty-third regular session Agenda item 20 (GC(43)/27)

The General Conference,

1. Recalling its Resolutions GC(XXXVIII)/RES/15, GC(39)/RES/18, GC(40)/RES/17, GC(41)/RES/17 and GC(42)/RES/18 on measures against illicit trafficking in nuclear materials and other radioactive sources,

2. Noting the programme for preventing and combating illicit trafficking in nuclear material agreed upon by the participants in the Moscow Nuclear Summit of April 1996 contained in document INFCIRC/509,

3. Welcoming the confirmation of participants at the Denver Summit of June 1997 on their commitment to implement the "Programme for Prevention and Combating Illicit Trafficking in Nuclear Materials",

4. Noting also that revised Recommendations for the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials and Nuclear Facilities (INFCIRC/225/Rev.4) were issued after intensive consultations by Member States' and Agency experts,

5. Noting further that an informal Open-Ended Experts Meeting will take place on 15-19 November 1999 to discuss whether there is a need to revise the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material,

6. Noting further that the Agency, together with the European Commission, the World Customs Organization and the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), organized the "International Conference on the Safety of Radiation Sources and the Security of Radioactive Materials" in Dijon, France, from 14 to 18 September 1998, and that the results of this conference have had an important impact on the activities undertaken by the Agency,

7. Noting further that some of the activities were covered by the Secretariat Action Plan regarding the safety of radiation sources and the security of radioactive materials developed pursuant to resolution GC(42)/RES/12, which was endorsed by the Board and by the General Conference in resolution GC(43)/RES/10; and

8. Noting further that the UN General Assembly is continuing its elaboration of an international convention on the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism (UNGA resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996),
1. Takes note of the progress report submitted by the Secretariat in document GC(43)/13;

2. Welcomes the activities in the fields of prevention, detection and response undertaken by the Secretariat, in support of efforts against illicit trafficking, including activities to:
   • improve the international standards for protecting nuclear and other radioactive material from illegal uses, including the necessary guidelines for detecting and responding to illegal use of these materials,

   • assist Member States to assess and to improve their systems for protection and control of nuclear material and the security of other radioactive material by implementing Agency standards and recommendations,

   • assist Member States on request to improve border controls of nuclear and other radioactive materials, and

   • provide training to staff in Member States for these purposes;

3. Also welcomes the activities undertaken to provide for an exchange of information with Member States, including continued maintenance of the illicit trafficking database programme, as well as to improve the exchange of information by making the best use of the database;

4. Invites all States to participate in the illicit trafficking database programme on a voluntary basis;

5. Invites the Director General to submit a report to the Board of Governors on the progress on the Secretariat's activities and on the possibilities:
   • of further improving the international standards in this area, particularly with regard to security of radioactive material, and

   • of enhancing co-operation and co-ordination with Member States and with other international organizations in preventing, detecting and responding to the illegal use of nuclear and other radioactive materials;

6. Also invites the Director General to develop within available resources a plan describing the future activities to be undertaken in these areas and the time schedule for their implementation;

7. Further invites the Director General to continue working during the coming years in accordance with the relevant conclusions of the Board of Governors;

8. Requests the Director General to submit a report to the General Conference at its forty-fourth session on activities undertaken by the Agency in the intervening period; and

9. Requests the Director General to bring the present resolution to the attention of the UN General Assembly and invites the UN General Assembly, in its continued elaboration of the above-mentioned convention, to bear in mind the Agency's activities in preventing and combating illicit trafficking in nuclear materials and other radioactive materials.