42nd IAEA General Conference

Pakistan, Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad, Chairman, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission:

The speaker began by noting some of the technical achievements of the past century. According to speaker, it is time to heed the call of the Kyoto Conference for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and to make the Clean Development Mechanisms more effective by adopting nuclear power as the preferred energy option. The speaker asserted that the development of fresh groundwater should be a high priority item on the agenda of Member States. Nuclear desalination may become a necessity in several regions and areas. The Agency may extend its interest beyond planning in order to develop, together with industry, prototype units suitable for developing countries. On safety, the speaker reported that Pakistan had submitted its National Safety Report for peer review priority the Review Meeting on the Convention on Nuclear Safety; the safety of Pakistan’s installations was found to be exemplary. The success of the Convention on Nuclear Safety will facilitate the universal introduction of strict safety measures in nuclear installations in Member States. As regards nuclear safeguards and verification, Pakistan appreciates the efforts of the Agency. However, the Agency’s work in this area cannot be undertaken at the expense of the Agency’s promotional role regarding nuclear power. The speaker strongly urged the IAEA to continue its support to the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics at Trieste. The speaker then provided an overview of the past year’s activities of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. On non-proliferation and disarmament, the speaker referred to the nuclear tests last year, and reminded the conference that Pakistan had since announced a unilateral moratorium on further testing and emphasized the need to prevent a nuclear arms race in its region. Pakistan believes that the objectives of non-proliferation and disarmament can be achieved through non-discriminatory, equitable and verifiable global measures with demonstrable confidence building measures and technological cooperation between advanced and developing countries; coercive restrictions and embargoes on scientific knowledge and technology will be counterproductive. With regard to the budget, the speaker expressed the view of Pakistan that, if growth in the Agency’s resources is not possible, then the Agency’s budget should go below the zero real growth figure. He also expressed regret that the Indicative Planning Figures for 1999 have been increased on a zero real growth basis and that for 2000 there is no increase. The speaker also expressed hope that the conference would resolve the matter of expanding membership of the Board.

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Pakistan, Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad, Chairman, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission:



The speaker began by noting some of the technical achievements of the past century. According to speaker, it is time to heed the call of the Kyoto Conference for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and to make the Clean Development Mechanisms more effective by adopting nuclear power as the preferred energy option. The speaker asserted that the development of fresh groundwater should be a high priority item on the agenda of Member States. Nuclear desalination may become a necessity in several regions and areas. The Agency may extend its interest beyond planning in order to develop, together with industry, prototype units suitable for developing countries. On safety, the speaker reported that Pakistan had submitted its National Safety Report for peer review priority the Review Meeting on the Convention on Nuclear Safety; the safety of Pakistan’s installations was found to be exemplary. The success of the Convention on Nuclear Safety will facilitate the universal introduction of strict safety measures in nuclear installations in Member States. As regards nuclear safeguards and verification, Pakistan appreciates the efforts of the Agency. However, the Agency’s work in this area cannot be undertaken at the expense of the Agency’s promotional role regarding nuclear power. The speaker strongly urged the IAEA to continue its support to the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics at Trieste. The speaker then provided an overview of the past year’s activities of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. On non-proliferation and disarmament, the speaker referred to the nuclear tests last year, and reminded the conference that Pakistan had since announced a unilateral moratorium on further testing and emphasized the need to prevent a nuclear arms race in its region. Pakistan believes that the objectives of non-proliferation and disarmament can be achieved through non-discriminatory, equitable and verifiable global measures with demonstrable confidence building measures and technological cooperation between advanced and developing countries; coercive restrictions and embargoes on scientific knowledge and technology will be counterproductive. With regard to the budget, the speaker expressed the view of Pakistan that, if growth in the Agency’s resources is not possible, then the Agency’s budget should go below the zero real growth figure. He also expressed regret that the Indicative Planning Figures for 1999 have been increased on a zero real growth basis and that for 2000 there is no increase. The speaker also expressed hope that the conference would resolve the matter of expanding membership of the Board.