42nd IAEA General Conference

Latvia, Mr. Rolands Bebris, Director of the Environmental Protection Department, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development:

This year Latvia saw significant changes in its institutional framework, which is presently rather complex and comprises a number of ministries. For the first time Latvia went through the peer-review process of the Convention on Nuclear Safety and learned how to assess activities to meet high safety standards. The speaker said that his country also recognised the need to improve its emergency preparedness system and realises the need to establish a single nuclear regulatory authority. Noting the importance of safeguards, he noted his country’s plans to sign and ratify the Protocol Additional to Safeguards Agreement this year. Latvia also plans to ratify other international agreements, such as the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. He urged the Agency to expedite the development of comprehensive safety standards and guides for radioactive waste management. In particular, the concept for disposal of small amounts of long-lived radioactive waste should be elaborated, which could be useful for small countries. He added that Latvia is presently also working in close co-operation with neighbouring states — Sweden and Norway — on the draft strategy to combat illicit trafficking in the region. He noted the importance of the Agency's technical cooperation activities to promote sustainable development in radiation and nuclear safety sector. He welcomed the utilisation of the model project concept and the regional approach.

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Latvia, Mr. Rolands Bebris, Director of the Environmental Protection Department, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development:



This year Latvia saw significant changes in its institutional framework, which is presently rather complex and comprises a number of ministries. For the first time Latvia went through the peer-review process of the Convention on Nuclear Safety and learned how to assess activities to meet high safety standards. The speaker said that his country also recognised the need to improve its emergency preparedness system and realises the need to establish a single nuclear regulatory authority. Noting the importance of safeguards, he noted his country’s plans to sign and ratify the Protocol Additional to Safeguards Agreement this year. Latvia also plans to ratify other international agreements, such as the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. He urged the Agency to expedite the development of comprehensive safety standards and guides for radioactive waste management. In particular, the concept for disposal of small amounts of long-lived radioactive waste should be elaborated, which could be useful for small countries. He added that Latvia is presently also working in close co-operation with neighbouring states — Sweden and Norway — on the draft strategy to combat illicit trafficking in the region. He noted the importance of the Agency's technical cooperation activities to promote sustainable development in radiation and nuclear safety sector. He welcomed the utilisation of the model project concept and the regional approach.