Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am very pleased to be your guest at the Institute of Diplomacy and International Relations.
Algeria has been a Member State of the International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 and works closely with us in all areas of our work.
A key role of the IAEA is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons by implementing safeguards to verify that all nuclear material and activities in a country are in peaceful purposes.
For example, the Agency played an important part in helping to bring about an agreement last year between Iran and six major powers plus the EU, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. We are now verifying and monitoring Iran’s implementation of its nuclear-related commitments under the agreement.
However, another key role of the IAEA is to make nuclear science and technology available to generate electricity, improve human and animal health, increase food production – and much more.
This is an extremely important part of our work, which I often summarise as Atoms for Peace and Development. And this will be the focus of my remarks to you today.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The IAEA has been contributing effectively to development for nearly 60 years.
I was in New York last September when world leaders adopted the Sustainable Development Goals. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals cover areas including poverty and hunger, human health, clean water, affordable and clean energy, and climate change.
We already work closely with our Member States in these areas, helping them to achieve their development goals through the use of relevant nuclear technology. Countries determine their own priorities and we provide the necessary assistance.
The Agency takes pride in being able to react quickly to emergencies. For example, during the outbreak of Ebola virus in West Africa in 2014, we quickly made available special diagnostic kits that enabled the affected countries to carry out rapid detection and diagnosis in the field.
Right now, we are making similar technology available to countries in Latin America to help them counter an outbreak of the Zika virus. This is a virus carried by mosquitoes. The World Health Organization believes it may be linked to microcephaly in the babies of women infected during pregnancy.
Here in Algeria, major fields of cooperation include human health, food and agriculture, management of water resources, nuclear energy and nuclear technology. Let me give you a few examples.
Algeria is collaborating with the IAEA on the use of nuclear techniques to combat degradation of farm land and make soil more productive.
Our experts are helping with the development of small-scale irrigation technologies for high-value crops to enhance farmers’ income.
We make nuclear techniques available to help develop new varieties of staple crops such as wheat and dates, which can thrive despite excessive heat and water shortages.
A recent project involved the use of isotopic techniques to monitor and manage underground water reserves, known as aquifers.
As you see, these are all very practical projects which make a real difference to the lives of many people.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to say a few words about our work in cancer control, which is a major issue for many countries in this region.
Many developing countries lack the capacity to provide radiotherapy, which is a vital element of cancer control. Patients often die of cancers which could be treated if they lived in a country with well-developed cancer facilities. This is a great human tragedy.
For more than 30 years, the IAEA has worked with Member States and international partners such as the World Health Organization to improve countries’ capacity in cancer detection, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care.
Our Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy – PACT – helps countries to use limited resources efficiently and effectively. The IAEA has invested nearly 300 million euros in cancer and radiotherapy projects throughout the world – more than a quarter of it in Africa.
Our mission is to transfer technologies to help save lives. We provide training for medical and technical personnel. Sometimes we help to make equipment available.
In 2011 and 2015, the Agency conducted what we call imPACT review missions in Algeria, requested by the government, to study what cancer services were available and advise on the development of a comprehensive national cancer plan.
Current IAEA projects include developing capacity in nuclear medicine, medical physics and radiotherapy in the new Cancer Centres, and strengthening clinical applications of new technologies.
Algeria, for its part, is sharing its expertise in human health with other countries in this region.
Your country has played an important role in several regional IAEA research projects, in particular in the field of nuclear cardiology, and helps to train professionals from other countries in Africa in nuclear medicine.
I very much appreciate this valuable contribution to improving medical care for millions of people throughout Africa.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The IAEA’s 168 Member States benefit from access to our nuclear applications laboratories near Vienna. These are unique within the UN system.
They offer training to scientists, support research in human health, food and other areas, and provide analytical services to national laboratories.
Algerian nationals have held fellowships or undertaken scientific visits to the laboratories. They work with other top international scientists in their fields and return home to share their expertise with their colleagues.
A comprehensive modernisation of the laboratories is now underway. I ask all IAEA Member States to contribute.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The best known peaceful application of nuclear technology is nuclear power.
Energy is indispensable for development. Many countries believe nuclear power can help them to address the twin challenges of ensuring reliable energy supplies while curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
Around 30 countries are using nuclear power today. Algeria is one of more than 30 other nations which are preparing, or considering, the introduction of nuclear power in the next few decades.
It is up to each country to decide whether or not to introduce nuclear power. The IAEA does not attempt to influence countries’ decisions. If they opt for nuclear power, our job is to help them use it safely, securely and sustainably.
In Algeria, the IAEA is providing technical support to national experts who are conducting an energy planning study on sustainable energy development and preparation for nuclear power.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I hope I have given you some insight into the remarkable work of the IAEA.
Let me conclude by saying that the Agency attaches great importance to its cooperation with Algeria. We look forward to deepening that cooperation in future.
I will stop here and will be happy to take your questions.
Thank you.