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Statements
 Bolivia:
The country commended the Agency’s approach to regional cooperation,
and noted that such horizontal arrangements are a good example of
how countries can create an effective system for addressing common
issues for development. The effectiveness of a technical cooperation
project on improving the reproduction of Andean cattle was singled
out, as was a project using nuclear medicine techniques to diagnose
Chagas disease, a serious health concern in the region. Support
was expressed for the need to increase funding for technical cooperation
programmest.
 Malta:
As a relatively new IAEA Member State, Malta is now planning legislation
to set up a central authority to control nuclear and radiation-related
activities. It hopes to benefit from the Agency’s support and guidance
to ensure safety of nuclear applications in the medical field and
regarding the transport of radioactive material and detection of
radioactive substances at the country’s ports. Appreciation was
expressed for the IAEA’s assistance in organizing training courses
for customs staff, police, and other authorities. Regarding verification,
Malta is working to ratify the NPT shortly.
 Libyan
Arab Jamahiriya:
Libya attaches high priority to technology transfer for peaceful
nuclear uses, particularly to assist developing countries to address
the challenges of basic human needs in such fields as agriculture,
medicine, and water development. High interest is placed on the
Agency’s work related to nuclear desalination projects and feasibility
studies. Safety and security issues related to radiation sources,
transport, waste and illicit trafficking are being strongly supported,
and Libya has acceded to the Convention on the Physical Protection
of Nuclear Material. Regarding verification, the country reiterated
its long-held view of the importance of a nuclear-weapon-free zone
in the Middle East region, and recalled the outcome of the NPT Review
Conference earlier this year in urging all States to accept full-scope
safeguards on all nuclear facilities.
 Sri
Lanka:
The country has invested considerably in its atomic energy authority,
with funds allocated to develop the infrastructure increased and
the scientific cadre expanded. A new laboratory has been built and
will open in early 2001. Assistance from the IAEA is being received
in the framework of the Model Project for strengthening radiation
safety infrastructures, which has contributed to improving the country’s
regulatory programme. New radiation protection regulations have
been approved; radioactive sources have been inventoried and procedures
put into place for their effective management; and two new projects
on radiation safety are planned through Agency programmes. Regarding
verification, the country is taking steps to sign and ratify the
Additional Protocol for strengthened safeguards as early as possible.
 Kenya:
The country has strengthened its radiation protection board and
assigns high priority to promoting public confidence in peaceful
nuclear uses. Support is requested in establishing a research reactor
for training purposes. The country places high priority on technical
cooperation, and is active in regional arrangements through the
AFRA programmes. With the IAEA’s support, Kenya is looking to combat
the tsetse fly through an eradication campaign. The country also
is applying non-destructive testing techniques in industry, and
applying nuclear techniques for medical diagnosis and treatment.
Major interests include the development of energy and water resources.
 Estonia:
Though it has no nuclear facilities, the country is working to ensure
the safe storage of relatively large amounts of radioactive waste
in the country left behind from the legacy of the Cold War. A new
law on imports and exports of strategic goods was enacted in 1999,
and early next year, the Estonian Radiation Protection Centre expects
to present a new draft of the radiation protection act to Parliament.
The country took over responsibility for a former Soviet nuclear
submarine centre in Paldiski in 1995, and has conditioned all solid
radioactive waste left on the site, while progressing with the conditioning
of liquid wastes, a job expected to take two more years. Appreciation
was expressed for IAEA support in establishing a national calibration
laboratory for ionizing radiation. Regarding verification, the country
signed its Additional Protocol with the IAEA earlier this year.
 Mongolia:
The country expressed particular support for the Agency’s technical
cooperation work and underlined the value of global and regional
cooperation to achieving the goals of sustainable development. It
looks forward to carrying out a national programme related to research
reactors, and is realizing important results from projects in areas
of health and agriculture. Regarding non-proliferation issues, the
country regards safeguards as a crucial element for the prevention
of nuclear weapons proliferation, and is now making all necessary
preparations to conclude its Additional Protocol for strengthened
safeguards with the Agency. The country further has taken legal
steps with respect to establishing its status as a nuclear-weapon-free
zone, which was established by the Mongolian Parliament earlier
this year, and appreciates the IAEA’s assistance in this area
 Jordan:
Nuclear and radiation techniques have long been used in Jordan,
notably in the medical field. The country now is working to set
up a new atomic energy authority for peaceful uses, and appreciates
the Agency’s support through technical and research cooperative
programmes. The country also places high value on the Agency’s role
in the fight against illicit trafficking of nuclear materials and
radioactive sources. It further emphasized the urgency and need
for the application of comprehensive IAEA safeguards throughout
the Middle East region and called upon Israel to adhere to the NPT.
 Yemen:
The country commended the Agency’s efforts to promote nuclear applications
and cooperative projects through its programmes and services, actions
which it considers of vital importance to developing countries.
Yemen is moving ahead with establishing the legislative framework
for safe and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. It is further working
toward the conclusion of safeguards agreements with the IAEA and
underlines the importance of universal and comprehensive application
of safeguards for global peace and security.
 Uzbekistan:
The country is taking steps to improve its radiation and nuclear
safety infrastructure, and legislation has been drafted in this
connection for the Parliament’s approval. Appreciation was expressed
to the IAEA and Nuclear Energy Agency for their expert assistance
and guidance. The country places a high value on nuclear applications
and has set up a number of enterprises that apply isotope and nuclear
techniques and provide associated technical and scientific training.
Of special importance to Uzbekistan are Agency-supported activities
related to ensuring the safety of research reactors and for environmental
restoration of former uranium mining sites and other areas.
The
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia:
A new national law on Ionizing Radiation Protection has been drafted
and the preparations for its promulgation and establishing of a
National Regulatory Body are well underway. The National Country
Programme consists of projects in the fields of nuclear medicine,
animal production, water irrigation to improve nutrition, and non-destructive
testing in industry. The projects for the forthcoming cycle were
defined with the assistance of IAEA pre-project formulation mission.
The country underlined the importance of measures to strengthen
regional cooperation through such initiatives as the Regional Project
on Prespa Lake Phenomenon, which was recently approved by the Agency,
and is being implemented along with Albania and Greece. Appreciation
was expressed to the Agency for training of experts through fellowships
and training courses, and for efforts to build national capacity
for organizing training courses for radiation protection. Regarding
verification, earlier this month the IAEA Board of Governors authorized
the Director General to conclude and implement with the Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia a Safeguards Agreement and Associated Protocol.
Once the Safeguard Agreement is concluded, the country expressed
its readiness to take up the issue of the Additional Protocol.
 Luxembourg:
The Convention on Physical Protection is some 20 years old and does
not include storage, use and national transport of nuclear material.
Luxembourg has been involved in an expert group considering whether
or not this Convention should be revised. The work is quite advanced,
and it is now clear, in Luxembourg’s view that a revision and extension
of the Convention to other areas is imperative. As a State not having
yet concluded an Additional Protocol, Luxembourg is making efforts
for the necessary steps to conclude an agreement. Luxembourg is
convinced that the IAEA must put in place its system of integrated
safeguards and gives its support to the DG to achieve this goal
in 2001.
 Romania:
The Cernavoda nuclear plant unit 2 is now about 30% completed and
is expected to be done by 2005. At the request of the Romanian Regulatory
Body, the Agency recently performed a safety review mission of the
latest developments. Romania appreciates the usefulness of this
mission, whose recommendations and findings are in a process of
being incorporated into the Romanian process to increase the safe
operation of the plant. High importance is attached to the nuclear
liability regime. Romania has ratified the Protocol to Amend Vienna
Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage and the Convention
on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage. A national draft
law on civil liability which closely follows these instruments is
under consideration in the Romanian Parliament. The National Commission
for Nuclear Activities Control is updating its nuclear regulatory
framework. For example. the Fundamental Norms on Radiological Safety
have recently entered into force. Recently a public information
seminar "National Public Information Symposium on Peaceful Uses
of Nuclear Energy, was held and included topics related to radioactive
waste management and site restoration in the uranium industry. Regarding
verification, the Romanian Parliament ratified the Addition Protocol
with the Agency on 7 July 2000. Romania has been invited to join
the Coordinated Technical Support Programme for the Newly Independent
States and will be able to perform an effective self-assessment
of the National System of Accounting for and Control of Nuclear
Materials which should facilitate the implementation of the Additional
Protocol.
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