42nd IAEA General Conference

Delegations of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Mr. Edward Kiener, Director Federal Office of Energy:

The speaker emphasized the importance of non-proliferation, citing in particular the fundamental significance of the NPT. He expressed concerns regarding the refusal of DPRK and Iraq to fulfil their obligations and commitments under the global non-proliferation regime. Switzerland calls upon all member States to conclude as soon as possible a treaty to ban the production of fissile material. Switzerland also intends to sign and ratify the Additional Protocol. However, new constraints on non-nuclear states are acceptable only if they are balanced by further progress in nuclear disarmament. With regard to the CTBT, Switzerland has nearly completed the process of ratification. The speaker then informed the meeting that the Swiss parliament was currently in the process of ratifying the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. Ratification is expected sometime next spring. The Swiss government declared in March 1999 at a parliamentary debate that three conditions would have to be fulfilled in order for it to authorize the export of nuclear waste: adequate security requirements would need to be applied in the recipient state; the final site of deposit should already exist and the safety standards must correspond with the latest scientific and technological developments; and, the transfer of waste would need to be carried out within the framework of an agreement based on international law. The speaker then elaborated on the situation in Switzerland as regards energy needs and consumption, mentioning that the issue of nuclear energy is still a big stumbling block in the country. The speaker concluded by reiterating the Swiss Government’s view that a budget of zero nominal growth, applied flexibly, would be desirable for the Agency.

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Delegations of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Mr. Edward Kiener, Director Federal Office of Energy:



The speaker emphasized the importance of non-proliferation, citing in particular the fundamental significance of the NPT. He expressed concerns regarding the refusal of DPRK and Iraq to fulfil their obligations and commitments under the global non-proliferation regime. Switzerland calls upon all member States to conclude as soon as possible a treaty to ban the production of fissile material. Switzerland also intends to sign and ratify the Additional Protocol. However, new constraints on non-nuclear states are acceptable only if they are balanced by further progress in nuclear disarmament. With regard to the CTBT, Switzerland has nearly completed the process of ratification. The speaker then informed the meeting that the Swiss parliament was currently in the process of ratifying the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. Ratification is expected sometime next spring. The Swiss government declared in March 1999 at a parliamentary debate that three conditions would have to be fulfilled in order for it to authorize the export of nuclear waste: adequate security requirements would need to be applied in the recipient state; the final site of deposit should already exist and the safety standards must correspond with the latest scientific and technological developments; and, the transfer of waste would need to be carried out within the framework of an agreement based on international law. The speaker then elaborated on the situation in Switzerland as regards energy needs and consumption, mentioning that the issue of nuclear energy is still a big stumbling block in the country. The speaker concluded by reiterating the Swiss Government’s view that a budget of zero nominal growth, applied flexibly, would be desirable for the Agency.