Vienna Chapter
Mr. Chairman,
On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, I would like to express
appreciation to the Director-General for his detailed introductory
statement touching upon the issues under consideration during this Board
meeting. I also extend our appreciation to the Secretariat for its efforts
in the preparation of the document GOV/2001/13 Annual Report for 2000. We
have noted from the Annual Report that there are no significant changes in
the presentation and format compared to last year.
We have offered detailed comments during the Programme and Budget
Committee meeting on the Agency's Accounts and Programme and Budgetary
performances for 2000 and will not repeat these here. We have, however, a
few additional comments to offer:
Before I proceed further I would like to bring to your attention the
difficulties faced by the members of the Group in making adequate
preparations for the Board meeting. During the period between the
Programme and Budget Committee Meeting and this meeting the members had to
attend various meetings of the regional groups and those of the G-77 and
China itself, had to participate in various consultations on the Agency's
draft Programme and Budget committee's proposals etc. This meeting of the
Board covers many important issues for which documentation totaling about
450 pages has been issued and includes three reports. It is therefore,
proposed that in future, an adequate gap be provided between two major
meetings of the Agency and a balanced distribution of agenda items be made
within the Board Meetings. In addition, the papers for each meeting should
be as concise as possible and should be made available well in advance.
Mr. Chairman,
Coming now to the present report, the Group notes that Nuclear Energy
continued to contribute to the World's electricity needs and in 2000
supplied about 16% of global electricity. Six new power reactors with a
total 3050 MW(e), were connected to their respective national electricity
grid in 2000. We note that no new plants are being built or have been
ordered in North America and Western Europe. However, increase in the
licensed reactor lifetime to 60 years by the US Nuclear Regulatory
Commission is a positive aspect for the Nuclear Energy Programme. As most
of the development in nuclear power is taking place in many developing
countries, assistance of the Agency to them in nuclear power planning is
thus necessary so that they may make the correct choices as regards their
energy mix. Further help may also be provided to these countries for the
development of cost efficient and safe nuclear power plants, should they
opt for this choice.
We appreciate the Agency's participation in the global climate change
debate particularly in COP-6 and CSD-9. The Agency may continue providing
information to the interested Member States on the potential role of
nuclear power in the Clean Development Mechanism and orchestrate support
for achieving this goals. While respecting the right of each State to
choose its projects under the CDM, the Group feels that it is necessary to
promote greater innovation, leading to new reactor types and fuel cycle
designs that offer enhanced safety features, are proliferation resistant
and are economically competitive. In this regard, the Agency's effort in
initiating an International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and
Fuel Cycles (INPRO) and actively pursuing several programmes pertaining to
innovative reactors and fuel cycles is laudable. At present it is an extra
budgetary effort. This has to be part of the Agency's Regular Budget
activity. The Group also believes that nuclear technology also plays an
important role in mitigating gases produced by the use of fossile fuels in
power generation. The Agency is requested to highlight this activity in
future COPs and CSDs.
The G-77 acknowledges the importance of activities of the Agency in
the use of nuclear techniques in the field of food and agriculture, human
health and environment. The Group is glad to note that continued
importance is given to coordinated Research Projects in 2000.
The Group appreciates the Agency for focusing on the validation of
new nuclear tools for diagnosing drug resistant strains of malaria and
tuberculosis and also the use of stable isotopes in malnutrition studies
to track the intake of vitamins and other nutritients which are the main
health problems of developing countries. The Group is also of the opinion
that the Agency should continue to support the radio immuno assay (RIA)
activities in Member States particularly in its use in diagnosing and
managing hormonal disorders.
An area of crucial importance is that of development and management
of increasingly scarce water resources. The emphasis of the Agency on the
use of the ideally suited isotopic techniques for this purpose is
appreciated. The Group also appreciates the coordination of the Agency
with UNESCO in the launching of the joint International Isotopes in
Hydrology programme.
The Group attaches great significance to the efforts of the Agency in
strengthening nuclear and radiation safety around the world. The
development and updating of safety standards and guides and preparing
technical documents providing review services, enhancing the capabilities
of regulatory bodies, conducting training courses, providing assistance to
certain countries to upgrade radiation and waste safety infrastructure
etc.
The Group notes with appreciation the Agency's outreach policy to
engage both traditional and non-traditional partners.
On the whole the Annual Report brings out clearly the excellent work
being carried out by the Agency. Furthermore, the Group encourages the
Secretariat to continue making its utmost effort to assist members of the
Group toward sustainability in three main pillars of national nuclear
development, namely, Nuclear and Radiation Safety Programme, Nuclear
Technology Application Programme, and Nuclear Power Programme.
With these remarks the Group of 77 and China approves the report for
onward transmission to the General Conference.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chairman,
The Group of 77 and China would like to express its appreciation to
the Secretariat for the preparation of the document on the Technical
Co-operation Report for 2000 and the strengthening of the Agency's
technical cooperation activities. We have taken note that the formal and
structure of the Technical Co-operation report has been changed using data
and information produced through a new information technology tool.
The Group expresses its satisfaction for the successful achievements
and the progress made in 2000 during the implementation of the TC
Strategy. The Group also notes that the appropriate use of the key
elements of the strategy., i.e. Country Programme Framework, Thematic
Planning and Model Projects have contributed positively to the
implementation of the Programme.
Mr. Chairman,
We note that the programme for 2001-2002 had been finalized in
consultation with the concerned Member States. Group commitment ensures
successful project implementation.
The Group once again reiterates its support to the Model Project
Concept. Identification of performance indicators for all model projects
will enable the Agency to monitor more effectively the progress in
achieving project objectives.
We note with appreciation that efforts have been made to continue the
partnership with other international organizations and the Agency is in
the process of amending relevant rules for accepting the contributions
from other inter-governmental organizations and non-governmental
organization.
The Group agrees that the introduction of Regional Resource Centres
has significantly enhanced Technical Co-operation among developing
countries; increased the sustainability of nuclear science and technology
at a regional level; as well as promoted greater "ownership" of
projects by Member States.
Mr. Chairman,
The Group appreciates the Agency's effort in creating awareness among
the Member States of the need to be more self-reliant in order to sustain
the relevance of the nuclear institutions to national development and
re-orienting their policies and re-organizing technical and managerial
structures. In this regard, the Regional Seminar on "Strategies and
Approaches toward self-reliance and sustainability of National
Institutions" in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was very useful to the Member
States.
The Group takes note that the Agency has established a Steering
Committee on Clean Development mechanism in the context of mitigating
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for assisting interested Member States in
carrying out national case studies. The Group finds the new section on the
Technical Co-operation Programme - TC Web and the Technical Co-operation
Project Information Dissemination Environment - TC PRIDE very useful.
The Group welcomes the slight increase in the number of assignments
of various types by 6% over 1999. The increase in the number of
assignments of national experts is highly appreciated. The Group expresses
its satisfaction for the effort made to select experts and lecturers from
a given region to another country in the same region. The marginal
increase in the number of purchase orders was observed in 2000, although
the actual disbursements for equipment went down by approximately 5%.
The Group notes that the "rate of attainment" to the
Technical Co-operation Fund (TCF) for the year 2000 was only 78.4%. We
urge all Member States, specially major donors to make every effort to pay
their voluntary contributions to the TCF in full and on time. It is
unfortunate that UNDP funding and internal resources have been reduced. It
may be worthwhile for the Agency to find out the reasons for this
reduction. The Group expresses concern for the increased pressure on the
human resources faced by the Department of Technical Co-operation. We
request that the amount of 1 million dollars required to finance
additional human resources to assist in managing the TC programme to be
approved in the framework of the regular budget.
Mr. Chairman,
The Group takes note of the Technical Cooperation report for the year
2000.
Mr. Chairman,
Following the conclusion of the PBC meeting last May, the Group of 77
and China has conducted intensive consultations on the draft programme and
budget for 2002-2003, including ideas for identifying means to finance the
proposed extra expenditure.
The Group takes note of the Secretariat's efforts in identifying
additional areas for savings. However, the Group is of the view that any
proposed savings and cuts should not adversely affect the implementation
of Agency's core activities, especially statutory activities addressing
developmental needs of members of the Group.
Mr. Chairman,
The Group is of the view that the current situation is an unfortunate
one, which raises a lot of concerns and could endanger the future of the
whole principle of implementing the mandate of the Agency. Resorting to
exceptional solutions do not represent a secure long term option for the
Agency.
In the same vein, the Group re-emphasizes the necessity to preserve
the equitable balance between the different statutory activities of the
Agency in the fields of technology transfer, verification and safety. By
examining the evolution of the Agency's budget specially in the years when
it overshot ZRG and considering the 2002 budget, we have come to the
alarming conclusion that the balance was seriously upset on those
occasions. This is a matter of great concern. In this respect the Group
reiterates that it is necessary that all future budgets should properly
address this important issue, so as to preserve the delicate balance
between different statutory activities of the Agency. Statutory
activities, such as technical cooperation and technology transfer of
peaceful uses of atomic energy are essential activities which the Agency
is mandated to carry out in accordance with its Statute. The Group will
thus closely monitor the implementation of such a balance, with a view to
ensuring its satisfactory observance.
In the usual spirit constantly manifested by the G-77 and China
aiming at consolidating and enhancing the different activities of the
Agency, the Group has expressed its flexibility in reaching an acceptable
solution to the proposed budget of 2002.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, the Group wishes to express its appreciation
to you and the Secretariat for the consultations conducted on this vital
issue.
Mr. Chairman,
The Group of 77 and China has noted with satisfaction the wealth of
experience of Dr. Elbaradei, acquired over the years in the Agency,
dealing with nuclear and management issues. These experiences have been
brought to bear on the conduct of the affairs of the Agency, since his
assumption of the leadership of the Agency.
In particular, the Group commends his innovative and efficient style
of management, as well as his leadership skills, and therefore, supports
his appointment for a second term, in order to continue to benefit from
these qualities in the future.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman
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