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GC-45 Daily Wrap: Monday, 17 September 2001
Reappointment of Director General
The General Conference approved by acclamation the reappointment of IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei, who has held the top position since December 1997. See the press releases on his reappointment and his comprehensive
statement to the Conference.
Tribute to Victims of Tragedy in USA
The Conference opened on a somber note with outgoing Conference President Mr. Ibrahim Othman, of Syria, calling for a moment of silence in honour of the victims of last week’s tragedy in the United States. The tribute was followed by a performance of the Vienna Boys Choir.
Conference Officers
Ambassador Tom C. E. Grönberg of Finland was elected as President of the General Conference. Elected to Chair the Committee of the Whole was Ambassador Helga Hernes of Norway.
IAEA Membership
The memberships of two States -- the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Botswana -- were approved by acclamation. Membership will take effect once the required legal instruments are deposited with the Agency, which presently has 132 Member States.
UN Secretary General Message
 In a message to the Conference, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan emphasized the growing importance of “ making progress in the areas of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament” in the aftermath of the US tragedy. The message, delivered by Mr. Steinar B. Bjornsson of the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention, noted the importance of continuing worldwide efforts to implement non-proliferation commitments already made and to identify further means of achieving nuclear disarmament as soon as possible. It also mentioned the importance of physical protection of nuclear material, the need to prevent and respond to illicit trafficking of nuclear materials, and the need to improve physical protection of nuclear facilities.
General Debate
The General Debate opened with statements from the United States, Japan, Republic of Korea, the European Union, China, Romania, Austria, Egypt, Italy, Sudan, Belarus, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Syrian Arab Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, and South Africa. Statements from other delegations are expected to be made over the next several days.
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Other Meetings & Side Events at the GC |
The work and role of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), located in Trieste, Italy, were highlighted at a special presentation. A particular focus was research and training for scientists from developing countries.
Safety meeting. At a traditional meeting, senior regulators from IAEA Member States began discussions of topics related to nuclear and radiation safety. The two-day meeting, which is chaired by Mr. John Loy of Australia, is scheduled to conclude 18 September. The opening day focused on the regulation of medical applications of radiation and the scope of radiation safety regulations.
 Verification of Ex-Military Material. IAEA Director General ElBaradei met with US Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham, and Russian Minister of Atomic Energy, Alexander Rumyantsev, to review progress on a verification initiative. See the press release. |
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