Category: IAEA

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

(As prepared for delivery)

Madam President,

Let me begin by expressing my regret that I cannot be present for this 73rd Regular Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

There have been important developments in many areas of the IAEA’s activities since I last had the honour of addressing the General Assembly. Many of these are covered by the IAEA Annual Report 2017, which has been distributed.

The Agency now implements safeguards in 181 countries, helping to ensure that nuclear materials are not diverted from peaceful purposes. This is an important, and unique, contribution to international peace and security.

We have continued to verify and monitor the implementation by Iran of its nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Iran is implementing its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA. It is essential that Iran continues to fully implement those commitments.

The Agency continues to verify the non-diversion of nuclear material declared by Iran under its Safeguards Agreement. Evaluations regarding the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran continue.

As far as the nuclear programme of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is concerned, the DPRK’s nuclear activities are clear violations of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and are deeply regrettable.

The Agency continues to enhance its readiness to play an essential role in verifying the DPRK’s nuclear programme if a political agreement is reached among countries concerned.

I again call upon the DPRK to comply fully with its obligations under relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and of the IAEA Board of Governors, to cooperate promptly with the Agency and to resolve all outstanding issues.

Madam President,

Through our technical cooperation programme, the Agency helps to improve the health and prosperity of millions of people by making nuclear science and technology available in health care, food and agriculture, industry and many other areas.

I see the enormous difference our work makes in my many visits to developing countries.

Capacity-building is a core element of the TC programme.

The Agency has supported nearly 50,000 fellowships since 1956, helping scientists from developing countries to significantly improve their skills. In a recent survey of former fellows, almost 90% of respondents said their placements fully met their professional expectations and the needs of their home institutes.

The modernisation of our nuclear applications laboratories at Seibersdorf, near Vienna, continues to make excellent progress.

When the modernisation is completed, we will be able to deliver improved services to Member States to make food safer, improve control of harmful insect pests, and maximize the benefits of new radiation technology for cancer treatment – to name just a few examples.

Major construction work on all new laboratory buildings at Seibersdorf is nearly complete. I am very grateful for the generous contributions received so far. I encourage all Member States in a position to do so to contribute to the costs of equipping the new buildings.

Last month, we marked the 20th anniversary of the IAEA Environment Laboratories at their present location in Monaco with a celebration attended by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II.

The Environment Laboratories make nuclear and isotopic science available to help countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, not least SDG 14 on conservation of the oceans.

They monitor environmental radioactivity in the seas and oceans. They also help to address issues such as the impact of climate change, marine plastics, heavy metals and organic pollutants on our seas and oceans.

I was pleased to note, Madam President, that you included the problem of plastics pollution as one of seven priority themes for this session.

Helping countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, using relevant nuclear technology, is an important part of our work.

In fact, the IAEA helps countries to use nuclear science and technology to meet at least nine of the 17 SDGs directly, including those aimed at ending hunger, improving human health, increasing the availability of clean water, and, of course, energy.

The Agency continues to participate in the annual High-Level Political Forum on monitoring implementation of the SDGs. Member States encouraged our participation in a resolution at our General Conference in September.

We also actively support South-South cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear technology. There are many excellent examples of such cooperation, such as the training of radiation oncologists and medical physicists to help improve access to effective cancer treatment in developing countries.

The IAEA Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology will take place in Vienna from November 28 to 30. It will focus on the many ways in which nuclear science and technology help countries to address current and emerging development challenges. I encourage all Member States to participate at ministerial level.

Madam President,

The Agency’s latest annual projections show that nuclear power will continue to play a key role in the world’s low-carbon energy mix.

However, without significant progress on using the full potential of nuclear power, it will be difficult for the world to secure sufficient energy to achieve sustainable development and to mitigate climate change.

Regarding the IAEA Low Enriched Uranium Bank in Kazakhstan, I expect that the procurement process will be completed in 2018 and that the LEU will be delivered to the Storage Facility in 2019.

Madam President,

Due attention to safety and security is essential in all uses of nuclear and radiation technologies. Nuclear safety and security are national responsibilities, but the IAEA plays the central role in ensuring effective international cooperation.

We continue to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of Agency peer review and advisory services in nuclear safety and security so that they can better support Member States in the application of IAEA safety standards and security guidance.

We have begun preparations for the next IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Security, which will take place at ministerial level in Vienna in February 2020.

Madam President,

We continuously implement efficiency measures in order to make optimal use of the resources entrusted to us by Member States. But demand for Agency support is steadily increasing. It is essential that Member States make available the resources we need to provide the services they expect.

I am working hard to increase the proportion of women on the Agency’s staff, especially in more senior positions. My goal is to achieve gender parity among the most senior officials by 2021.

Finally, Madam President, I thank the staff of the Agency for their commitment and dedication to delivering on our important mandate.

I am grateful to all IAEA Member States for their active support for the Agency and for me personally and to Austria for being an exemplary host country.

Thank you.

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

(As prepared for delivery)

Dear friends and colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Happy New Year!

2018 was another productive year for the Agency. We faced challenges in many areas of our work. But thanks to the steadfast support of our Member States, we can take pride in many concrete achievements.

The nuclear programmes of Iran and the DPRK remain among the top items on the Agency’s agenda.

We continue to verify and monitor the implementation by Iran of its nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Iran is implementing its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA. As I have said many times, it is essential that Iran continues to fully implement those commitments.

As far as the nuclear programme of the DPRK is concerned, we remain ready to play an essential verification role if a political agreement is reached among countries concerned.

The IAEA is the only international organization that can verify the nuclear programme of the DPRK.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I wish to make some observations about the Agency’s work, including in nuclear verification generally.

The credibility of the Agency as a whole is our biggest asset. Independent, impartial and factual safeguards implementation is essential to maintain that credibility. If our credibility is thrown into question, and, in particular, if attempts are made to micro-manage or put pressure on the Agency in nuclear verification, that is counter-productive and extremely harmful.

For more than 60 years, the IAEA has made an important contribution to international peace and security by providing assurances that non-nuclear-weapon States are not developing nuclear weapons.

We use our considerable technical expertise to arrive at an independent assessment of all safeguards-relevant information available to us. We have a duty to protect confidential information, but when we have any concerns about a particular case, we report them to the Board of Governors for their consideration.

I have constantly reminded Member States and Agency staff that we are a technical, not a political, organization. We have refrained from getting involved in political issues.

For six decades, a clear division of responsibility between the Secretariat and Member States has been respected. Member States have had the political role of establishing the safeguards system. They trusted the Agency to implement safeguards independently, objectively and impartially. Let us all continue to respect the wisdom of that approach. The Agency’s independence must not be undermined. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Supporting the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology is core Agency business. It is just as important as nuclear verification. This is explicitly recognised in our Atoms for Peace and Development motto, to which we are firmly committed.

Our capacity for assisting countries through the technical cooperation programme has improved over the years, but more needs to be done – by the Agency itself and by Member States.

I believe we should be more assertive in reminding the world of the great benefits of nuclear applications in energy, health, agriculture, industry and other areas. The contribution which nuclear power can make to mitigating the impact of climate change deserves more recognition.

The next Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power will be held in autumn 2021. One country has formally notified us of its willingness to host that Conference, for which I am very grateful. If other countries are also interested, it would be helpful if they could inform us by this summer so that a timely decision can be made.  

As far as the IAEA LEU Bank in Kazakhstan is concerned, we expect to have the LEU delivered to the IAEA Storage Facility this year.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

One of the highlights of 2018 was our first ever ministerial-level conference on nuclear science and technology in November. Participation exceeded expectations.

The Ministerial Declaration recognised the importance of science and technology for development. It welcomed the modernisation of our nuclear applications laboratories in Seibersdorf, which is one of the most important projects ever undertaken by the Agency.

As many of you have seen for yourselves, great progress has been made at Seibersdorf. I look forward to formally opening the new Linear Accelerator facility at the Dosimetry Laboratory in the coming months. 

I am very grateful to seven countries which responded to my urgent appeal in November for 3.75 million euros to equip the new facilities. Their pledges total more than 2.5 million euros.  I urge Member States in a position to do so to contribute towards the 1.25 million euros still needed to achieve our funding goal.  

We will soon begin detailed planning for the final phase of the Seibersdorf renovation, which involves the laboratories that will remain in existing buildings. I know I can count on your continued commitment to making our shared vision for the laboratories a reality. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Cancer control in developing countries remains a high priority for the Agency.

Following our review of the Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT), a Coordination Group led by my office will take charge of our work to deliver a unified, one-house approach on cancer, starting next month. I will circulate a report before the March Board.

As we consider our cancer activities, let us not lose sight of the fact that our ultimate goal is to save lives – to ensure that the remarkable benefits of radiotherapy and nuclear medicine are made available to as many of our fellow human beings as possible.

The 2019 Scientific Forum in September will take stock of our contribution to cancer control in the last decade.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Nuclear security is growing in importance as a priority issue for the Agency. We will soon finalize the process for nominating co-Chairs for the 2020 ministerial conference on nuclear security. A new nuclear security plan will be established by autumn 2020.

Preparations for the 2021 Conference of the Parties to the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material are already underway.

I believe these events will help to shape the global nuclear security agenda for the coming years.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Strong management is essential for producing concrete results.

I work hard to ensure that the resources you entrust to us are used as effectively as possible. I count on you to ensure that we have the funding we need to maintain the high standards of service which you expect.

The Draft Programme and Budget 2020–2021 has been circulated. I remain very conscious of the financial constraints in many Member States and have instructed managers to seek maximum budget efficiencies. Nevertheless, growing demand from Member States for Agency services means that a modest increase in our Budget is necessary.

We are working on a more thorough application of the results-based management approach. Coordination is being strengthened and staff are being trained on applying results-based management from planning and implementing activities to monitoring and reporting on outcomes.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Increasing the proportion of women on the Agency’s staff, especially at senior levels, remains a priority for me. Women now represent 30.3% of staff at P level and above, and 33% at DDG level. I will continue my efforts to increase women’s representation and aim to achieve gender parity among DDsG by 2021 or earlier.

A restructuring of our human resources activities has been completed, aimed at delivering a more efficient professional HR service to support the substantive work of the Departments.

The new Chief of Ethics and OIOS Director are now fully on board, working closely with MTHR and OLA. This is helping us to make significant progress in addressing harassment and wrongdoing, as well as promoting the highest ethical standards.

Following the successful launch of mandatory training on a respectful workplace for all staff last year, a new training programme for senior managers will start this year. As part of our efforts to promote a healthy work-life balance, more flexible working hours were introduced from this month.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

2019 is likely to be another busy and eventful year for the IAEA.

Our objective is to promote peace and development through the use of nuclear science and technology. Strong management is essential for the Agency to continue delivering concrete results. I, for my part, remain fit for work and committed to discharging my responsibilities as Director General.

I know I can continue to count on your support, and on the dedication of the Agency’s excellent staff, in ensuring that we maintain the delivery of high-quality services for the benefit of all our Member States.

Thank you.

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

The Agency implements safeguards in accordance with its rights and obligations deriving from the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements and the Additional Protocols concluded between the Agency and States, relevant IAEA Board of Governors and UN Security Council decisions and resolutions, and based on the Agency’s established safeguards practices. It should be noted that under the existing verification framework the Agency sends inspectors to sites and locations only when needed.

The Agency uses all safeguards relevant information available to it but it does not take any information at face value. In line with established safeguards practices, all information obtained, including from third parties, is subject to rigorous review and assessed together with other available information to arrive at an independent assessment based on the Agency’s own expertise. It is not the practice of the Agency to publicly discuss issues related to any such information.

The Agency’s work related to nuclear verification is and must always be impartial, factual, and professional. In order to maintain credibility, the Agency’s independence in relation to the implementation of verification activities is of paramount importance.

The Agency’s verification activities in Iran are being carried out based on the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA) concluded with Iran and the Additional Protocol, that Iran is provisionally implementing. In addition, the Agency is also carrying out verification and monitoring of Iran’s nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). These activities will continue to be carried out within the parameters of the relevant decisions and resolutions of the IAEA Board of Governors and the UN Security Council as appropriate.

As I stated in my reports to the IAEA Board of Governors, evaluations regarding the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities for Iran remain ongoing. The Agency continues to evaluate Iran’s declarations under the Additional Protocol, and has conducted complementary accesses under the Additional Protocol to all the sites and locations in Iran which it needed to visit.

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Mrs Amano, Distinguished Guests, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Colleagues,

I would like first to acknowledge the presence of former President Fischer of Austria, Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg, Deputy Foreign Minister Suzuki of Japan, UNOV Director General Fedotov, CTBTO Executive Secretary Zerbo, Wassenaar Arrangement Head Griffiths, OECD/NEA Director General Magwood, as well as of the senior officials representing other organizations and ambassadors and diplomats of our Member States. Some present today came from afar and we appreciate your effort. We are humbled by your solidarity with the IAEA family.

It is barely  a month since we were shaken by the death of Director General Amano.

His loss is irreplaceable. Our deepest sympathy is with you and your family, Mrs. Amano.

I hope that the many tributes to DG Amano – from world leaders, from his many friends and from colleagues who knew him throughout his distinguished career – are a source of at least some consolation for you.

For those of us who worked with DG Amano, it is still very hard to grasp that the man who led the IAEA so effectively for nearly 10 years is no longer with us.

We are greatly saddened by his loss. But we have many happy memories of the time we worked together.

DG Amano was a highly skilled diplomat. We all know that. He possessed absolute integrity. He was a man of shrewd judgement. He had an analytical mind. He was a strategic thinker who thought deeply about issues. He could see several moves ahead and often correctly anticipated how a complex issue might develop. That is a rare gift.

 But the man whom I was privileged to work closely with for six years was also warm, quick-witted and funny. Even at the most stressful moments, he could lighten the atmosphere with a humorous remark.

He took his work very seriously indeed. But he did not take himself too seriously. He was without self-importance.

DG Amano related easily to people at all levels, regardless of their seniority. Staff remember him queuing for lunch in the cafeteria and chatting to colleagues at the table.

He especially liked meeting students and young people and often spoke at universities around the world. He enjoyed talking to IAEA interns and made them laugh with self-deprecating stories about his student days and his early career as a young diplomat.

I am sure all of us remember him dancing happily at the IAEA Ball with you, Mrs Amano – and what an elegant couple you made!

He was fascinated by nuclear science and technology, which he believed could make a great contribution to development. Doctors, engineers and scientists were often very impressed by the depth of his technical understanding and his wish to learn more.

DG Amano believed strongly in the benefits of nuclear science and technology.

When he met government leaders, he could explain the great value of nuclear applications with tremendous passion and energy. I remember his eyes lighting up as he saw people take a real interest in the subject for the first time.

The impact of the IAEA’s work on ordinary people always came first for DG Amano. He spoke with feeling about meeting farmers and fishermen and cancer patients whose lives had been changed for the better by the IAEA. It was important to him that the Agency brought real improvements to people’s lives. His decision to change the IAEA motto to Atoms for Peace and Development will be part of his legacy – and ours, too.

Among DG Amano’s many achievements in the last 10 years, I will single out just three.

First, the way he handled the Fukushima Daiichi accident. Despite the immense sadness he felt at the disaster in his homeland caused by the tsunami, he acted quickly to ensure effective international assistance to Japan and convened a ministerial conference, which agreed significant enhancements to global nuclear safety.

 Second, the modernisation of the IAEA nuclear applications laboratories at Seibersdorf. This was a project very dear to DG Amano’s heart. It was very much his idea and he worked tirelessly to ensure the necessary funding was raised. The new laboratories now taking shape in Seibersdorf will serve as a monument to his memory.

Third, in the area of safeguards and verification. International confidence in the credibility and impartiality of IAEA safeguards increased further under DG Amano’s leadership. During his tenure, the number of Additional Protocols in force increased from 94 to 134. That is a major achievement. On the specific issue of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran, the  Agency was not a party to the 2015 agreement, but DG Amano’s close involvement – often behind the scenes – and his presence at key meetings, helped to build confidence among the parties.

Mrs Amano, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, we pay tribute to a great IAEA Director General.

We mourn his loss. We miss his leadership and his wise counsel. 

But amidst the sadness, we are grateful for DG Amano’s example of dedicated public service, and of a full life, well-lived. He was proud to lead the Agency, proud of its excellent staff, and proud of its ability to make a real and lasting difference to the lives of the people of the world.

We, for our part, were proud to have him as our Director General.

The IAEA will honour his legacy in the way he would have wished – by remaining an organisation of excellence that contributes in a very concrete way to international peace and security, and to the well-being and prosperity of the world.

Thank you.