Foreword
Protecting Against
Radiation Risks
Safeguarding Nuclear Materials
Assisting Developing Countries
Nuclear Technologies
Solving Problems
Foreword: Dr. ElBaradei, Director General
As the agency in the UN family responsible for the peaceful uses of atomic energy, the IAEA faces new realities and challenges as it approaches the 21st Century. One such challenge is the role nuclear energy can play in supporting sustainable development. This embraces a broad set of issues including technology transfer, nuclear and radiation safety, physical protection of nuclear materials and measures to halt illicit trafficking.
In fostering applications of nuclear energy in health, agriculture, hydrology and many other fields, the Agency will focus its work on those areas where nuclear techniques offer a special advantage over others in specified needs. An equal challenge is bolstering the Agency's ability to credibly verify States' non-proliferation pledges, and its role in verifying future nuclear arms control measures.
Taking account of economics, protection of the environment and security of supply, nuclear power will continue to be harnessed to meet existing and rapidly growing energy demand. The Agency's role will be adjusted to focus on key areas such as comparative energy assessment and advanced nuclear power developments. The key to using any form of nuclear energy is safety. New safety-related conventions have been put in place and are ready for implementation at the national level. Further practical assistance to States is needed from the IAEA in the realms of regulation and legislation, infrastructures for radiation protection and proper management and disposal of radioactive waste.
Verification by the Agency of nuclear energy's exclusively peaceful uses contributes to international security in many parts of the world. States have offered wide support in recent efforts to strengthen the IAEA's Safeguards System with the goal of providing more comprehensive security assurances in a more cost-effective manner. By becoming parties at the earliest possible date to a new protocol designed to strengthen the IAEA safeguards system, countries will cement that progress. In addition, the emergence of nuclear-weapons-free-zones and possible Agency verification of nuclear disarmament signal new ways in which the IAEA is being further challenged to contribute to global security goals.
Like the rest of the UN system, the IAEA must continue to operate within limited financial resources. With few new resources expected, programmes must concentrate on the Agency's core competencies, where comparative advantages are clearly established.
The overriding task ahead is to making the IAEA more effective, efficient and responsive to the needs of its Member States. This can be achieved by equal commitment by all Members to the Agency's twin objectives: international co-operation for progress, and consolidation of international security. These are lofty goals, affording many opportunities and much effort in the years ahead for their attainment.
