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Key Resolutions Adopted as IAEA General Conference Draws to a Close

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voting at the plenary

Ai its concluding session, delegates to the IAEA 59th annual General Conference adopted resolutions further strengthening the IAEA’s work in the areas of nuclear science and technology, safety, security, safeguards and technical cooperation. (Photo: D.Calma/IAEA)

At its concluding session today, the IAEA General Conference adopted resolutions further strengthening the IAEA’s work in the areas of nuclear science and technology, safety, security, safeguards and technical cooperation. Delegates also approved the IAEA’s budget for 2016-2017.

The General Conference consists of all Member States and holds regular sessions annually. The resolutions and decisions adopted by the General Conference guide the implementation of IAEA activities by its Member States and the Secretariat for the coming year.  

In its session of the afternoon, the Conference adopted a resolution on the implementation of the safeguards agreement between the IAEA and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

They additionally adopted a resolution on nuclear security which, among others, calls on the IAEA to continue to implement the Nuclear Security Plan 2014-2017.

Delegates also adopted a resolution on strengthening the Agency’s activities related to nuclear science, technology and applications covering both power and non-power applications.  Under the same umbrella, delegates adopted another resolution inviting States to make financial commitments and contributions so as to complete the Renovation of the Nuclear Applications Laboratories (ReNuAL) by 2017. Read more on the status of ReNuAL.

A resolution on strengthening the effectiveness and improving the efficiency of IAEA safeguards calls on all Member States to give their full and continuing support to the Agency in order to ensure that it is able to meet its safeguards responsibilities.

The adopted resolutions will be posted on the Resolutions page of the General Conference website as they become available.

Other Highlights from the General Conference

More than 3 000 delegates from 165 IAEA Member States, international organizations, NGO's and the media attended the week-long event in Vienna from 14-18 September 2015. They participated in the general debate and considered matters related to the IAEA’s work, budget and priorities for the coming year.

Delegates also attended numerous side-events, including the two-day Scientific Forum focusing on ways in which nuclear applications are being used in industry, particularly in making production cleaner safer and more effective.

Following are selected highlights from the week-long event:

The General Conference approved the applications of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and Turkmenistan for membership in the IAEA. Membership will take effect once the appropriate legal instruments are deposited with the Agency.

The opening statement of IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano highlighted the importance of science and technology for development and the clear links between the work of the IAEA and many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that are expected to be adopted by governments in New York next week. Read more about the side events discussing the IAEA’s support for the SDGs, including its role in the fight against cancer.

Other notable side events included a presentation of the recently published IAEA report on the Fukushima Daiichi Accident, and a Nuclear Olympiad, at which students presented their research about the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology. 

On 17 September, the General Conference also elected 11 new IAEA Board Members to serve for two years. These are: Belarus, Ghana, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Namibia, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Spain, Turkey and Uruguay.

The 60th IAEA General Conference is due to be held from 26-30 September 2016 at the Agency's headquarters in Vienna.

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