International Atomic Energy Agency Information Circular (Unofficial electronic edition)

INFCIRC/532/Mod.1 August 1997 GENERAL Distr. Original: ENGLISH

Agreement Between the Government of Belize and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards in Connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

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An agreement by exchange of letters with Belize in connection with the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean

1. The text of the Exchange of Letters is reproduced in this document for the information of all Members. This Exchange of Letters constitutes an agreement confirming that:
   • the Safeguards Agreement^1/ concluded between the Government of Belize and the IAEA pursuant to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) satisfies the obligation of Belize under Article 13 of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (the Tlatelolco Treaty) to conclude a safeguards agreement with the IAEA;

   • the safeguards set forth in the Safeguards Agreement shall also apply, as regards Belize, in connection with the Tlatelolco Treaty;

   • the provisions of the Safeguards Agreement shall apply as long as Belize is party to the NPT or the Tlatelolco Treaty or both.

2. The agreement reflected in the Exchange of Letters was approved by the Board of Governors on 18 March 1997, and pursuant to its terms, entered into force on that date.

INFCIRC/532/Mod. 1
Attachment

1997-01-09

I have the honour to refer to the decision of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency of 15 June 1995 which authorised the Secretariat of the IAEA to confirm, through an exchange of letters with the relevant States of the Latin American and Caribbean region that, inter alia, the comprehensive safeguards agreements which these States have concluded with the IAEA pursuant to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons ("the NPT") satisfy the requirement of Contracting Parties to the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean ("the Tlatelolco Treaty") to conclude safeguards agreements with the IAEA

Belize is a party to the Tlatelolco Treaty, article 13 of which provides, inter alia, that "each Contracting Party shall negotiate multilateral or bilateral agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency for the application of its safeguards to its nuclear activities ...". Belize is also party to the NPT and on 13 August 1992 signed an agreement with the IAEA for the application of safeguards in connection with that Treaty (hereinafter called " the Safeguards Agreement"). That Agreement has not yet entered into force.

Against that background, I should like to propose the following:

1. Belize and the IAEA consider that the Safeguards Agreement which Belize has signed pursuant to the NPT will, when in force, also satisfy the obligation of Belize under article 13 of the Tlatelolco Treaty;

2. Belize and the IAEA agree that the safeguards set forth in the Safeguards Agreement which Belize has signed pursuant to the NPT shall also apply, as regards Belize, in connection with the Tlatelolco Treaty;

3. The provisions of the Safeguards Agreements shall apply as long as Belize is party to the NPT or the Tlatelolco Treaty or both.

The Right Honourable Mr. Manuel Esquivel
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development
c/o Permanent Mission of Belize to the United Nations
820 Second Avenue, Suite 922
New York, N.Y. 10017

It is the Secretariat's understanding that the Government of Belize concurs with the statements in paragraphs 1 to 3 above. In that case, this letter and your affirmative reply shall, subject to approval by the Board of Governors of the IAEA, constitute an agreement between the Government of Belize and the IAEA, which shall enter into force on the date of approval of this exchange of letters by the Board of Governors of the IAEA

Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Hans Blix
Director General

24th January, 1997

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 9th January, 1997 which reads as follows:

"I have the honour to refer to the decision of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency of 15 June 1995 which authorized the Secretariat of the IAEA to confirm, through an exchange of letters with the relevant States of the Latin American and Caribbean region that, inter alia, the comprehensive safeguards agreements which these States have concluded with the IAEA pursuant to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons ("the NPT") satisfy the requirement of the Contracting Parties to the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean ("the Tlatelolco Treaty") to conclude safeguards agreements with the IAEA.

Belize is a party to the Tlatelolco Treaty, article 13 of the which provides, inter alia, that "each Contracting Party shall negotiate multilateral or bilateral agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency for the application of its safeguards to its nuclear activities...." (Belize) is also party to the NPT and on 20th December, 1996 concluded an agreement with the IAEA for the application of safeguards in connection with that Treaty (hereinafter called "the Safeguards Agreement").

Against that background, I should like to propose the following:

1. Belize and the IAEA consider that the Safeguards Agreement satisfies the obligation of Belize under Article 13 of the Tlatelolco Treaty.

2. Belize and the IAEA agree that the safeguards set forth in the Safeguards Agreement shall also apply, as regards Belize, in connection with the Tlatelolco Treaty.

3. The provisions of the Safeguards Agreement shall apply as long as Belize is party to the NPT or the Tlatelolco Treaty or both.

It is the Secretariat's understanding that the Government of Belize concurs with the statements in paragraphs 1 to 3 above. In that case, this letter and your affirmative reply shall, subject to approval by the Board of Governors of the IAEA, constitute an agreement between the Government of Belize and the IAEA, which shall enter into force on the date of approval of this exchange of letters by the Board of Governors of the IAEA".

I have the honour to inform you, on behalf of my Government, that the terms of your letter of 9th January, 1997 are acceptable and shall constitute an agreement between the Government of Belize and the IAEA which shall enter into force on the date of its approval by the Board of Governors of the IAEA.

Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Manuel Esquivel
Prime Minister