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Luxembourg, Ambassador Georges Santer, Head of Delegation:
The delegate noted nuclear plant safety, radioactive waste and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons as matters of priority to his country. He referred to the 1st meeting on examination of national safety reports on NPP safety within the framework of the Nuclear Safety Convention as a significant step towards implementing safety obligations; he also noted the positive effect of the meeting, particularly in those countries with nuclear safety standards below those put forward by the IAEA. The delegate hoped that supplementary measures would be applied prior to the 2nd meeting planned for 2002, and encouraged all states with nuclear installations to accede to the Nuclear Safety Convention without delay. Since the adoption of the Additional Protocol in May 1997, Luxembourg has actively worked towards a collective approach and hopes that ratification of the Additional Protocol will be achieved before the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in April 2000. The delegate congratulated the Agency on its fruitful co-operation with EURATOM, noting specifically that this co-operation would have the additional financial benefit of avoiding duplication of effort. The delegate expressed the wish that the problem of orphan radiation sources be addressed as soon as possible, and that the question of declassification of research reactors also be addressed. Speaking on the reduction of nuclear weapons arsenals, the delegate noted encouraging developments, and hoped that an accord would soon be adopted permitting the Agency to ensure that fissile material was not being reused for military purposes. The delegate expressed hope that the Agency would be closely associated with the work of the Conference on Disarmament with the goal of active participation in the drafting and application of a verification system. In closing, the delegate informed the General Conference that Luxembourg would make its full contribution to the Technical Co-operation Fund, which is of tremendous benefit to developing countries in the fields of nuclear safety, health, agriculture, and hydrology. He hoped that the Agency would pursue its policy towards increasing the number of donors to the Technical Co-operation Fund. He congratulated the Agency for being one of the most efficient and best managed organisations in the UN System.
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