42nd IAEA General Conference

Thailand, Dr. Manoon Aramrattana, Deputy Secretary-General, Office of Atomic Energy for Peace:

The delegate congratulated Angola and Honduras on their membership to the Agency. In reporting progress since last year on implementing the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Bangkok), he reported that the Executive Committee will meet next week in Bangkok. He noted that China had become the first Nuclear Weapon State to sign the Protocol of the Treaty and urged all other Nuclear Weapon States to give their due consideration to signing the Protocol. Turning to Technical Co-operation, he reported on several initiatives which have made significant contributions to social and economic development in Thailand, including a neonatal screening model project, a project on establishing a new nuclear research centre, and a regional co-operative agreement for research, development and training in nuclear science and technology. The delegate noted that Thailand s energy policy considers nuclear power development to be part of the energy mix for future development. Closely monitoring technological advancements, last November, Thailand and the Agency jointly organized the National Public Information Seminar on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy with cooperation from the Government of Japan. As a result of the success of this first public information exchange on the risks and benefits of nuclear power, Thailand will jointly host a Regional Public Information Seminar on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century in February 2000. The delegate urged the Agency to continue its support for the regional project on Measuring the Effectiveness of Multi-Nutrient Supplementation, as this project was found to have great potential in identifying malnutrition in mothers and newborns, and to consider enhancing and expanding its public information, nuclear safety, and waste management programmes, and possibly to include non-governmental agencies. He re-iterated his country s commitment to its contribution to both the regular budget and the Technical Co-operation Fund for the year 2000. In referring to the financing of the IAEA Verification of Nuclear Arms Control and Reduction Measures, he noted that the issue needs a thorough examination and that a balance between promotional activities and verification functions of the Agency must be achieved. On the principle raised during the Board meeting that the possessor pays, he emphasized that if one decides to remain with the special status, one needs to bear the commensurate responsibility. He expressed optimism that the revision to Article VI of the Agency Statute would be finalized during this conference. The delegate stated that Thailand was ready to accept a six-seat expansion, but would consider further negotiation on the eight seat proposal, provided that the distribution of the seats was acceptable to all regional groups. ÿ

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Thailand, Dr. Manoon Aramrattana, Deputy Secretary-General, Office of Atomic Energy for Peace:



The delegate congratulated Angola and Honduras on their membership to the Agency. In reporting progress since last year on implementing the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Bangkok), he reported that the Executive Committee will meet next week in Bangkok. He noted that China had become the first Nuclear Weapon State to sign the Protocol of the Treaty and urged all other Nuclear Weapon States to give their due consideration to signing the Protocol. Turning to Technical Co-operation, he reported on several initiatives which have made significant contributions to social and economic development in Thailand, including a neonatal screening model project, a project on establishing a new nuclear research centre, and a regional co-operative agreement for research, development and training in nuclear science and technology. The delegate noted that Thailand s energy policy considers nuclear power development to be part of the energy mix for future development. Closely monitoring technological advancements, last November, Thailand and the Agency jointly organized the National Public Information Seminar on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy with cooperation from the Government of Japan. As a result of the success of this first public information exchange on the risks and benefits of nuclear power, Thailand will jointly host a Regional Public Information Seminar on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century in February 2000. The delegate urged the Agency to continue its support for the regional project on Measuring the Effectiveness of Multi-Nutrient Supplementation, as this project was found to have great potential in identifying malnutrition in mothers and newborns, and to consider enhancing and expanding its public information, nuclear safety, and waste management programmes, and possibly to include non-governmental agencies. He re-iterated his country s commitment to its contribution to both the regular budget and the Technical Co-operation Fund for the year 2000. In referring to the financing of the IAEA Verification of Nuclear Arms Control and Reduction Measures, he noted that the issue needs a thorough examination and that a balance between promotional activities and verification functions of the Agency must be achieved. On the principle raised during the Board meeting that the possessor pays, he emphasized that if one decides to remain with the special status, one needs to bear the commensurate responsibility. He expressed optimism that the revision to Article VI of the Agency Statute would be finalized during this conference. The delegate stated that Thailand was ready to accept a six-seat expansion, but would consider further negotiation on the eight seat proposal, provided that the distribution of the seats was acceptable to all regional groups. ÿ