42nd IAEA General Conference

Australia, Mr. Lance Louis Joseph, Ambassador to Austria:

The speaker referred to the importance of the CTBT Entry Into Force Conference (EIF) to be held next week as well as the NPT Review Conference next year. He also mentioned the absence of progress at the Conference on Disarmament regarding a treaty on fissile material production, expressing hope for an early commencement of negotiations in the Conference next year. The speaker welcomed the IAEA commitment to resume verification activities in Iraq as soon as possible; it also urged co-operation from the DPRK regarding fulfilling its safeguards responsibilities. The speaker expressed regret that the strengthened safeguards system is running behind schedule and noted that some fifty states that are party to the NPT have yet to comply with their legal obligation to conclude a classical safeguards agreement. Referring to the TCF program, he said that it is increasing demands on member states' resources. Australia, in recognition of the importance of the program, will be increasing its voluntary contribution this year to 1.5 million Australian dollars. It will continue its traditional in-kind technical support to the Agency and to neighbouring countries in various aspects of peaceful nuclear technology. He noted that also in the area of nuclear verification the Agency was facing financial constraints. He welcomed the new agreement reached by the Board of Governors for the close monitoring of accumulations and transfers of neptunium and americium, both now identified as of proliferation concern. Referring to Nuclear Safety he singled out the Agency’s Y2K activities at nuclear installations, and said that the Agency has played a pivotal role in facilitating information exchanges on compliance problems in the run-down to the millennium. Australia is one of the select group of countries contributing extrabudgetary resources to help fund IAEA activities in this area. With regard to the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS) he said that it is timely to begin exploring whether relevant aspects of the CNS review mechanism should be extended to research reactors as well. At present the convention covers only power reactors, while the safety of research reactors is not subject to similar international regulation and review. Transparency of their operations and vigilance in safety are equally necessary, especially since many are located in countries with less established regulatory infrastructure. In the area of Waste Australia’s policy prohibiting the importation and disposal of other countries' radioactive waste is absolute and will not be changed.

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Australia, Mr. Lance Louis Joseph, Ambassador to Austria:



The speaker referred to the importance of the CTBT Entry Into Force Conference (EIF) to be held next week as well as the NPT Review Conference next year. He also mentioned the absence of progress at the Conference on Disarmament regarding a treaty on fissile material production, expressing hope for an early commencement of negotiations in the Conference next year. The speaker welcomed the IAEA commitment to resume verification activities in Iraq as soon as possible; it also urged co-operation from the DPRK regarding fulfilling its safeguards responsibilities. The speaker expressed regret that the strengthened safeguards system is running behind schedule and noted that some fifty states that are party to the NPT have yet to comply with their legal obligation to conclude a classical safeguards agreement. Referring to the TCF program, he said that it is increasing demands on member states' resources. Australia, in recognition of the importance of the program, will be increasing its voluntary contribution this year to 1.5 million Australian dollars. It will continue its traditional in-kind technical support to the Agency and to neighbouring countries in various aspects of peaceful nuclear technology. He noted that also in the area of nuclear verification the Agency was facing financial constraints. He welcomed the new agreement reached by the Board of Governors for the close monitoring of accumulations and transfers of neptunium and americium, both now identified as of proliferation concern. Referring to Nuclear Safety he singled out the Agency’s Y2K activities at nuclear installations, and said that the Agency has played a pivotal role in facilitating information exchanges on compliance problems in the run-down to the millennium. Australia is one of the select group of countries contributing extrabudgetary resources to help fund IAEA activities in this area. With regard to the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS) he said that it is timely to begin exploring whether relevant aspects of the CNS review mechanism should be extended to research reactors as well. At present the convention covers only power reactors, while the safety of research reactors is not subject to similar international regulation and review. Transparency of their operations and vigilance in safety are equally necessary, especially since many are located in countries with less established regulatory infrastructure. In the area of Waste Australia’s policy prohibiting the importation and disposal of other countries' radioactive waste is absolute and will not be changed.