Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and on my own behalf, this is a proud moment for me to be able to address the second Ministerial Meeting of ITER, and to acknowledge the achievements of the six ITER partners, the European Union, the People's Republic of China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the USA. Their collective decision opens an exciting new chapter in nuclear sciences and applications.
In signing the joint declaration the representatives of the parties to the ITER negotiations acknowledge the significance of fusion science and technology and advance its development for energy production. The IAEA is pleased, in the last 15 years, to have assisted in providing support for the ITER process as it was in transit towards this important stage of implementation, and also to have supported recent complex negotiations. The IAEA offers its continuing support for the forthcoming transition period. Our mandate is to advance both nuclear science and energy development that furthers human peace and prosperity and we shall be constructively helpful in expanding the circle of talent that contributes to, and benefits from ITER's progress. We stand ready to assist the many other IAEA member States who may wish to become part of this endeavour.
Fusion has the potential for socio-economic progress as great as the technological achievement of humans mastering flight. The fusion milestone reached today has had auspicious antecedents en route. The step we are taking in Moscow occurs on the centenary of the magic year of physics, 100 years after Einstein´s publications in 1905 opened the door to harnessing the energy of the atom.
It is a further nuclear coincidence that this event is taking place in Moscow. Our hosts, the Russian Federation, can be proud of other significant achievements in nuclear history: 51 years ago at Obninsk, Russia built the world's first power producing fission reactor; the first Tokamak fusion test reactor, which can be seen as the precursor of ITER, was built in this country.
Much work lies ahead, and it will challenge our scientists and engineers as did the dawn of the nuclear fission age. The Agency is confident that those challenges will be met with success, and sends its best wishes to the ITER community worldwide in their efforts towards harnessing fusion for sustainable development.