I declare open the Conference to Consider and Adopt Proposed Amendments to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material.
Ministers, Ambassadors, Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (the "CPPNM") currently has 111 States Parties, plus EURATOM; 91 are participating in this Conference. Also attending, as observers, are 17 States not yet Party to the Convention.
It´s my honour to welcome you all.
This is a most important occasion. The CPPNM, together with the recently adopted International Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, mark milestones in the international efforts to strengthen the physical protection of nuclear materials and facilities. And, not only are they essential to nuclear security, they also stand among the thirteen legal instruments that collectively embody the international legal framework for combatting, preventing, prosecuting and punishing terrorist offences generally.
But it has been acknowledged that the scope of the CPPNM is not sufficiently comprehensive for today´s world. Most fundamentally, it covers neither the physical protection of nuclear material in peaceful domestic use, storage and transport, nor nuclear facilities themselves.
The proposed amendments would remedy these shortcomings. They would also provide for expanded cooperation between and among States regarding rapid measures to locate and recover stolen or smuggled nuclear material, mitigate any radiological consequences of sabotage, and prevent and combat related offences.
In short, the amendments now before this Conference are vitally important and, if adopted, will take another significant step in reducing the vulnerability of States Parties, and, indeed, the entire world.
Ministers, Ambassadors, Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,
You will recall that the CPPNM was originally adopted in 1979 and entered into force in 1987. It was somewhat more than a decade later, in 1999, that a number of countries began expressing concern that, in their view, the Convention was incomplete and should be reviewed. Experts assembled by Director General ElBaradei reassessed the Convention and recommended that suitable amendments be prepared by a group of legal and technical experts.
The Director General convened such a group in early September 2001. And just a few days later, the IAEA Board of Governors was in session, discussing, by an irony of fate, the question of nuclear security, when the proceedings were interrupted by the projection on the Boardroom screen of the horrifying live coverage of what was happening in New York — an event that left no doubt regarding the increased vulnerability we all face.
In March 2004 the Group of Experts adopted by consensus its Final Report. And, subsequently, at the request of the Government of Austria and 24 co-sponsoring States, the Director General circulated the Group´s proposed amendments to all States Parties for their consideration and decision on whether to convene an Amendment Conference.
A majority of the States Parties, indeed, requested that he convene such a conference and, accordingly invitations to participate were issued.
Looking ahead, any amendments adopted this week by a two-thirds majority will, under Article 20 of the CPPNM, be circulated by the Director General to all States Parties. And, they will enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date on which two thirds of the States Parties have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval with the depositary.
As you are all aware, there are still some open issues before this conference. However, I trust — given the gravity of the subject and the determination of States Parties — that these issues will be resolved during the course of this week. There is an obligation to succeed.
Finally, I would be remiss not to take this opportunity to urge those non-States-Parties attending as observers to accede to the Convention just as soon as possible.
Thank you all for your active participation; I wish you every success.