42nd IAEA General Conference

Argentina, Mr. Juan Carlos Kreckler, Resident Representative to the Agency :

He expressed Argentina’s opinion that the Agency continues to be of particular importance in promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and is playing a key role in the international regime of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. He reiterated Argentina’s commitment to the international safeguards regime applied by the Agency and the Agency’s work of promoting nuclear science and technology for peaceful purposes. In this context he emphasized the joint announcement by Argentina and Brazil made during the last Board of Governors indicating their readiness to start consultations with the Secretariat with a view to concluding an Additional Protocol to the Quadripartite Safeguards Agreement. Concerning verification he urged the Agency to assign the utmost priority to the genuine integration of safeguards measures. He also stated that Argentina has actively continued to support the strengthening integration of international safeguards with emphasis on the development of technologies of remote monitoring and environmental analysis. He also stressed the importance of achieving and maintaining high levels of nuclear security throughout the world. Argentina has actively participated in the first review meeting in the framework of the Nuclear Safety Convention, which took place last April. He underlined that due attention should also be given to other aspects of safety such as that pertaining to the transport of radioactive materials and radioactive sources. The National Atomic Energy Commission has given priority to three programmes concerning the completion of basic engineering for a pressurized passive safety reactor, uranium enrichment by gas diffusion and the development of a new fuel for reactors. The Commission has also launched a programme which will lead to a substantial increase in the production of cobalt 60, which will be sold on international markets, as well as other radioisotopes for medical applications. The Nuclear Regulatory Authority which is the organ responsible for regulating activities in the areas of radiological protection, nuclear safety, non-proliferation and physical protection have continued to develop its work in the past year with full independence. In this context and as part of the overall strategy for the Argentine nuclear regulatory system, this year saw the establishment of the first regional delegation of the regulatory authority in the South of the country, designed to enhance the permanent presence of the Agency in areas with important activities. He also underlined that Argentina continues to establish close bilateral and multilateral links of cooperation in the field of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, in particular maintaining the collaboration with the Agency’s technical cooperation programme, promoting courses, workshops and scientific meetings, carrying out training for the Agency of numerous fellows and visiting scientists from abroad and making available experts and lecturers. He also emphasized that Argentina gained considerable experience on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in areas such as radioisotopes and their application to human health, agriculture, industry and nuclear electric generation, including the production of nuclear fuel and heavy water. He also referred to Argentina’s recent signing of a new cooperation agreement with Romania and the approval of the start of mechanisms to give expression to the ARCAL agreement, which it signed up to last year. Concerning the expansion of the Board of Governors, he would like to underline the objective of equitable representation of all regions.

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Argentina, Mr. Juan Carlos Kreckler, Resident Representative to the Agency :



He expressed Argentina’s opinion that the Agency continues to be of particular importance in promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and is playing a key role in the international regime of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. He reiterated Argentina’s commitment to the international safeguards regime applied by the Agency and the Agency’s work of promoting nuclear science and technology for peaceful purposes. In this context he emphasized the joint announcement by Argentina and Brazil made during the last Board of Governors indicating their readiness to start consultations with the Secretariat with a view to concluding an Additional Protocol to the Quadripartite Safeguards Agreement. Concerning verification he urged the Agency to assign the utmost priority to the genuine integration of safeguards measures. He also stated that Argentina has actively continued to support the strengthening integration of international safeguards with emphasis on the development of technologies of remote monitoring and environmental analysis. He also stressed the importance of achieving and maintaining high levels of nuclear security throughout the world. Argentina has actively participated in the first review meeting in the framework of the Nuclear Safety Convention, which took place last April. He underlined that due attention should also be given to other aspects of safety such as that pertaining to the transport of radioactive materials and radioactive sources. The National Atomic Energy Commission has given priority to three programmes concerning the completion of basic engineering for a pressurized passive safety reactor, uranium enrichment by gas diffusion and the development of a new fuel for reactors. The Commission has also launched a programme which will lead to a substantial increase in the production of cobalt 60, which will be sold on international markets, as well as other radioisotopes for medical applications. The Nuclear Regulatory Authority which is the organ responsible for regulating activities in the areas of radiological protection, nuclear safety, non-proliferation and physical protection have continued to develop its work in the past year with full independence. In this context and as part of the overall strategy for the Argentine nuclear regulatory system, this year saw the establishment of the first regional delegation of the regulatory authority in the South of the country, designed to enhance the permanent presence of the Agency in areas with important activities. He also underlined that Argentina continues to establish close bilateral and multilateral links of cooperation in the field of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, in particular maintaining the collaboration with the Agency’s technical cooperation programme, promoting courses, workshops and scientific meetings, carrying out training for the Agency of numerous fellows and visiting scientists from abroad and making available experts and lecturers. He also emphasized that Argentina gained considerable experience on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in areas such as radioisotopes and their application to human health, agriculture, industry and nuclear electric generation, including the production of nuclear fuel and heavy water. He also referred to Argentina’s recent signing of a new cooperation agreement with Romania and the approval of the start of mechanisms to give expression to the ARCAL agreement, which it signed up to last year. Concerning the expansion of the Board of Governors, he would like to underline the objective of equitable representation of all regions.