States meeting at the annual conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have backed steps to reinforce the Agency’s three main pillars of work related to nuclear verification, safety, and technology. The Agency’s General Conference is scheduled to conclude later today.
Earlier today, States adopted a resolution on the physical protection of nuclear materials and facilities to strengthen programmes related to prevention of nuclear-related terrorism. (See IAEA Press Release issued earlier today. Full coverage of the General Conference and its concluding session is provided on the IAEA’s WorldAtom Web pages at http://www.iaea.org.)
Other major actions are highlighted below, grouped under the three main pillars. In addition, the Conference approved the Agency’s programme and budget for 2002, which allocates expenditures of $245 million and sets a target of $73 million for the Technical Cooperation Fund.
Verification
- Strengthening the IAEA Safeguards System. States reaffirmed their conviction that safeguards can promote greater confidence among States and thus contribute to strengthening their collective security. They backed measures being taken and planned to more fully integrate and modernize the system. States emphasized the importance of safeguards agreements and Additional Protocols which grant the Agency broader verification authority for detecting possible undeclared nuclear activities and materials.
- Nuclear Inspections in Iraq. States called upon Iraq to cooperate fully with the Agency for the implementation of nuclear monitoring and verification activities mandated by the United Nations Security Council. They welcomed the fact that the IAEA remains ready on short notice to resume its UN Security Council-mandated inspections in Iraq which were suspended in December 1998.
- Safeguards in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). States adopted a resolution backing the full implementation of IAEA verification responsibilities in the DPRK. The IAEA is continuing to monitor the "freeze" on facilities under the 1994 Agreed Framework between the United States and DPRK, but it remains unable to verify fully the DPRK’s initial 1992 declaration of its nuclear programme. States welcomed the IAEA’s proposal to the DPRK earlier this year of the first "concrete steps" required for the verification process and the Agency’s stated readiness to start this work without delay. They strongly encouraged the DPRK to respond positively.
Safety
- Strengthening International Cooperation in Nuclear, Radiation, and Waste Safety. Among other actions, States adopted a resolution encouraging the Agency to focus its efforts "where the need for improvement is greatest", and stressed the importance of education and training in establishing and maintaining an adequate infrastructure for radiation protection and nuclear safety. The resolution urges States to continue requesting IAEA safety services, including Integrated Safety Evaluations that help to identify needs and priorities. Among other activities, States welcomed steps for improving the safety of research reactors; plans to develop safety standards for nuclear fuel cycle facilities; assistance for the safe decommissioning of nuclear facilities; formulating an Action Plan for international work relating to radiological protection of patients in medical applications; strengthening the Action Plan for the safety and security of radiation sources; and actions for improving the safety of radioactive waste management. They emphasized the importance of the Agency’s corpus of safety standards and international safety conventions including the Convention on Nuclear Safety and the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, which entered into force earlier this year.
- Safety in the Transport of Radioactive Material. States urged improved national regulation that is in conformity with the Agency’s Transport Regulations, and the wider use of IAEA advisory services to raise levels of transport safety.
Technology
- Technical Cooperation Activities. States reaffirmed their support for efforts further strengthening the Agency’s technical cooperation programme. Among other actions, they requested the continuing formation of effective partnerships at the national, regional, and global levels to coordinate and optimize complementary activities; to promote activities supporting self-reliance and cooperative efforts of national nuclear entities; and to provide factual input to the World Summit on Sustainable Development, being held in September 2002 in South Africa.
- Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications. States adopted a resolution that addresses the use of nuclear science and technologies in fields of food and agriculture, water management and desalination; health; and energy production. Among its six parts, the resolution requests the IAEA to continue its support of the Organization of African Unity’s plan to eradicate the tsetse fly, which causes estimated annual losses of $4.5 billion; requests continued assistance, subject to availability of resources, to Central American countries affected by drought and famine in applying isotope hydrology techniques for preventing and avoiding such conditions; and highlights the Agency’s international collaboration for development of innovative nuclear reactors and fuel cycles