42nd IAEA General Conference

Austria, B. Ferrero-Waldner, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs.

She said that Austria clearly associated itself with the statement made by Finland on behalf of the EU, and focused on the points of particular importance to Austria: nuclear safety and safeguards. She noted Austria's appreciation of the additional protocols to existing safeguards agreements already concluded, and referred to nuclear safety events of particular importance, the 1st Meeting of States Parties to the Nuclear Safety Convention, and the Conference on Nuclear Safety in Eastern Europe. The delegate went on to express Austria's view that existing international nuclear liability conventions are far from satisfactory, and encouraged constructive co-operation to ensure maximum levels of nuclear safety worldwide, noting that Austria considers nuclear safety a main feature for negotiations on EU enlargement. She noted Austria's wish for the creation of a legal instrument on safety of nuclear research reactors, which would be applicable in all countries - among them Austria - not operating nuclear power plants. She said that nuclear safety and safeguards are the main challenges for the work of the IAEA in the future, and noted that the IAEA would be called on to provide unbiased information on nuclear energy, but not to actively promote it. In closing, she noted possible future IAEA functions in nuclear disarmament and arms control, which would involve further work for the IAEA. Once a treaty on fissile material cut-off has been established, she continued, the IAEA may well be called on to act as the central body of verification. She commended the DG for his review of all programmes and activities in order to maintain zero growth, recognising that it might not always be possible to maintain this restriction. Creation of a special fund for IAEA activities in arms control and disarmament may well be an option, she noted.

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Austria, B. Ferrero-Waldner, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs.



She said that Austria clearly associated itself with the statement made by Finland on behalf of the EU, and focused on the points of particular importance to Austria: nuclear safety and safeguards. She noted Austria's appreciation of the additional protocols to existing safeguards agreements already concluded, and referred to nuclear safety events of particular importance, the 1st Meeting of States Parties to the Nuclear Safety Convention, and the Conference on Nuclear Safety in Eastern Europe. The delegate went on to express Austria's view that existing international nuclear liability conventions are far from satisfactory, and encouraged constructive co-operation to ensure maximum levels of nuclear safety worldwide, noting that Austria considers nuclear safety a main feature for negotiations on EU enlargement. She noted Austria's wish for the creation of a legal instrument on safety of nuclear research reactors, which would be applicable in all countries - among them Austria - not operating nuclear power plants. She said that nuclear safety and safeguards are the main challenges for the work of the IAEA in the future, and noted that the IAEA would be called on to provide unbiased information on nuclear energy, but not to actively promote it. In closing, she noted possible future IAEA functions in nuclear disarmament and arms control, which would involve further work for the IAEA. Once a treaty on fissile material cut-off has been established, she continued, the IAEA may well be called on to act as the central body of verification. She commended the DG for his review of all programmes and activities in order to maintain zero growth, recognising that it might not always be possible to maintain this restriction. Creation of a special fund for IAEA activities in arms control and disarmament may well be an option, she noted.