Vienna Chapter
Mr. Chairman,
At the outset the G-77 and China is pleased to see you chairing this
Board of Governors session and would like to assure you of its support and
cooperation. Allow me also on behalf of the G-77 and China to express its
thanks to the Director-General Mr. Mohamed ElBaradei for his comprehensive
introductory statement and to the Secretariat for producing the Annual
Report for 2003 as contained in the Agency document GOV/2004/26.
The Group of 77 and China appreciates the Report and finds it
informative and useful as it presents a systematic description of the work
carried out by the Agency during 2003 under the three pillars of its
activities, i.e., technical cooperation, safety and verification. The
overview at the beginning of the Report provides quick information on the
main areas of interest of the Member States. The Group has noted with
interest that the overview has indicated an expansion in the scope of
Agency's activities during 2003. The Group welcomes this trend and hopes
that the expanded scope of activities will be managed by ensuring a
balance between the promotional and other statutory activities of the
Agency.
The technical cooperation programme of the Agency is of high
importance to the membership of the G77 and China. The Group has noted
with great concern that the lower availability of TCF resources at the end
of 2003 had created problems for the Technical Cooperation programme. The
Group would appreciate if the Secretariat appraises the Group how it
addressed this problem when the situation improved in the first quarter of
2004. The Group would urge all concerned to ensure that such a stressful
situation for the Technical Cooperation does not repeat itself and that
sufficient, predictable and assured funds are made available for the
unimpeded delivery of the TC projects.
Mr. Chairman,
The Group would like to refer to the Package which was agreed in July
last year by the Board of Governors and which represented the
manifestation of cooperation and accommodation on the part of G77 and
China at the time when the regular budget was under strain. The Group
believes that the package provides adequate ground to move forward to
address the setbacks being encountered by the TC, given that the important
actions have been identified and the time frames agreed for such actions.
The Group urges the Secretariat and the IAEA Member States to ensure that
the spirit of this agreement is fully honoured while seeking the solutions
of various TC related problems. The Group will appreciate if the
Secretariat provides briefings on the activities being undertaken by it to
improve the management and strengthen the effectiveness of TC and to seek
resources to implement footnote a projects as envisaged in the package.
Such briefings will provide better understanding on the progress being
made by the Secretariat on the aforestated important issues.
With these remarks Mr. Chairman, the Group of 77 and China is pleased
to endorse the recommended action proposed by the Secretariat for the
Annual Report for 2003.
I thank you Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chairman,
On behalf of the Group of 77 and China I would like to express our
gratitude to Mrs. Ana María Cetto for her comprehensive
introductory statement. We would also like to thank the Secretariat for
the preparation of the report in front of us.
The G-77 and China notes with appreciation that besides an increase
in major contributors extrabudgetary contributions in 2003, government
cost-sharing surpassed expectations, reaching $4.3 million, in a clear
demonstration of Member States' increasing support for projects in their
own countries. In Africa alone, government cost-sharing amounted to more
than $1.5 million. In Latin America, substantial government cost-sharing
funds were received from many Member States according to the Technical
Cooperation Report of 2003. In addition to that, in-kind contributions
totaling some $935 000 were provided by 57 Member States and 5
international organizations in 2003.
As expressed on previous occasions, we note with great concern that
the actual resources as of 31 December 2003 were significantly below the
expected level and that, as a consequence, an exceptional overprogramming
rate of 20% had to be approved by the Board and the TC programme had to be
scaled back. The G-77 welcomes the fact that as of 31 March resources had
begun to stabilize and that the rate of attainment for 2003 now stands
above 86%, demonstrating a joint effort made by the membership of the
Agency. We cannot fail to point out, however, that the achieved RoA
continues to be below the level set out in resolution GC (44)/RES/8. The
Group therefore request Member States, in particular major contributors,
to pledge and pay their respective share of TCF targets in full, on time
and in a predictable manner.
The Group of 77 and China notes with concern that the current value
of footnote-a/ projects amounts to 51% of expected resources for the
2003-2004 technical cooperation programme, well beyond the requirements
for overprogramming. While noting the importance of identifying targeted
fundraising opportunities at the project formulation stage, the Group is
of the view that this procedure should not excessively limit the
presentation of projects, and that this process should not be based on
strictly financial factors. We believe that the TC programme requires
greater resources to achieve its objectives and that more efforts need to
be made to raise awareness about the contributions of nuclear technology
in the areas of sustainable development, especially in developing
countries. The Group looks forward to receiving additional information on
how the Secretariat is responding to paragraph 13 of the package approved
last year, which states "a more proactive role of the Secretariat is
needed to seek resources to implement footnote a projects, starting with
projects approved in the 2003-2004 technical co-operation programme".
The Group of 77 and China appreciates that, besides technology
transfer, the Technical Cooperation programme is now exploiting the source
of knowledge and expertise represented by developing countries, especially
those with self-reliant nuclear institutions. As stated in the report,
technical cooperation among developing countries (TCDC), which we strongly
support, continues to be a key area of emphasis because it strengthens the
sustainability of project activities by building self-reliance and mutual
interest among Member States. Furthermore, the document indicates an
enhancement in TCDC through the recognition of both infrastructure and
expertise in the region. While the Group notes that the Report mentioned
Latin America as a prime example on how a region uses TCDC, the Group
emphasizes the fact that TCDC activities are also successfully promoted
and implemented in the other regions. In this regard, the Group requests
that future documents present a broader reporting of TCDC activities in
all the regions. In addition, the Group requests the Secretariat to make
available information on actions taken by the Agency in support of all
TCDC activities.
The actions aimed at improving the technical cooperation programme's
effectiveness and efficiency are of utmost importance. The G-77 and China
wishes to praise the Department of Technical Cooperation for its
participation in a number of audits and evaluations during 2003. The Group
also requests the Secretariat to implement the recommendations derived
from evaluations.
We would like to commend the Secretariat for reviewing the Project
Request Form for technical cooperation activities to simplify it and
obtain more information from Member States regarding government
commitment, institutional frameworks, impact sustainability, and links to
national development programmes. In this context, considering that the
Secretariat will have at its disposal enhanced tools to register and
measure local resources, in kind contributions and financial inputs
contributed within "cost sharing" arrangements, the Group
requests that the TC Annual Report includes the status of all cash and in
kind contributions made by TC recipients, in addition to the Agency's
disbursements, towards the implementation of the Agency's TC projects. We
consider that this enhances the concrete application of the Central
Criterion and share the perception that this will improve programme
planning and thus increase the impact of the technical cooperation
programme.
The Group of 77 and China notes with interest that the Review of
Processes and Assessment of Workload of the Department of Technical
Cooperation, as contained in document GOV/INF/2004/5, conducted by the
Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), concluded that all posts
existing should be retained and that limited additional staff will be
needed after the efficiency measures that have been proposed in the review
are implemented. However, and in light of the fact that the workload in
the TC Department has significantly increased over the past years, the
G-77 and China would like to receive additional information from the TC
Department on the implementation of the proposed measures and on the
resulting need for human and material resources. The Group would like to
learn about the TC Department's assessment of the review at hand, of the
measures proposed and of how they will affect the provision of technical
cooperation, especially to developing countries.
The Group of 77 and China wishes to underline the efforts that the
Secretariat made to continue to pursue partnerships with other United
Nations and non-governmental organizations during 2003. The Group invites
the TC Department to further intensify its efforts related to partnering
for greater impact. We would also like to encourage the Agency both to
strengthen its role as a partner in the development community that
addresses Member States basic human needs and to increase its
collaboration on specific Millennium Development Goals where nuclear
science and technology can play a significant role.
As a final comment, allow me to emphasize that the obstacles faced by
the Agency in the implementation of Technical co-operation projects
because of the difficulty and high costs involved in the shipment of
radiation sources and the continued problems with travel and visa
restrictions imposed by a number of countries have a negative impact on
the sustainability of projects that have been implemented and need to be
resolved soon.
With these comments, the Group requests the Director General to
transmit the Report to the General Conference for information. I thank
you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chairman,
First of all I would like to commend the distinguished Permanent
Representative of India for the dynamic and wise manner in which he
conducted the consultations and that enabled the working Group to reach a
consensus on a transitional mechanism for APCs, which will become NPCs.
To achieve such consensus, our Group had to come a long way from a
demand of abolition to reinstatement with a prepayment obligation. I would
like to recall that during the negotiations process that led to the
adoption of a package on the Programme and Budget for 2004-2005, the G77
and China made it clear it had a preference for the abolition of the APCs,
as there was no need for any supplementary expression of commitment
towards Technical Cooperation in the light of the implementation of the
Central Criterion.
In that context, the Group considered that it was even more
appropriate to abolish APCs taking into account measures such as the "due
account mechanism" that have introduced a certain degree of
obligation to the payment of TCF contributions by developing Member
States, which were only encouraged to make symbolic payments at the time
of the establishment of APCs, and also in the light of the high and
disproportionate increase in the Budget and the de-shielding process which
will increase the financial burden of developing Member States.
We would like to underline that APCs or NPCs should not be considered
as a funding source for TCF nor a means for ensuring the stability of TC
financing; such stability can only be guaranteed through the improvement
of payment of contributions to the TCF. The last events showed clearly
that there is a possibility for such improvement.
Moreover, the Group would like to highlight that whilst NPCs are
mandatory for developing Member States, the payment of TCF shares remains
voluntary for developed Member States and no effective mechanism exists to
enforce payment by them. This issue should be examined with a view to
balancing obligations among all Member States.
Mr. Chairman,
Recognising that NPCs could be an improvement over the present
system, we regret that there was no agreement on recognising cost sharing
and in kind inputs made by concerned Member States to pay their NPCs, not
even at a certain limited proportion or under certain conditions.
Furthermore, we don't see any rationale for enlarging the scope of NPCs to
include collaborative Regional and Interregional projects, to which
participating Member States are making very important financial and non
financial contributions.
Underlining that the pre-payment obligation may pose difficulties to
some Member States, due to national fiscal year differences, the Group
insists on the need for early invoicing and flexibility for agreeing upon
feasible payment plans for the first instalment of NPCs in order to start
implementing projects, in line with article III.C of the Statute.
Finally, our Group looks forward to the evaluation and assessment
that will be made in 2006 and remains open for further dialogue on this
transitional mechanism.
Thank you Mr. Chairman
Mr. Chairman,
The Group of 77 and China takes note of the report of the Chairman of
the Working Group on the TCF led by H.E. Ambassador Pavel Vacek, Resident
Representative of the Czech Republic on the Rate of Attainment (RoA). The
Group expresses its appreciation of the efforts of the Chairman to find a
resolution of this issue.
The Group, however, recalls the General Conference resolution
GC(44)/RES/8 which inter-alia, requests the Board of Governors to review
the functioning of the Rate of Attainment mechanism in 2003 and if the 90%
"Rate of Attainment" was not achieved, to consider increasing
the TCF target. To this end, the Group requests that the TCF target be
increased. The Group also recalls that the Rate of Attainment Mechanism
was the other half of the agreement on the revised de-shielding
arrangements for the assessment of the members' contributions towards the
safeguards component.
For your information, Mr. Chairman, the Group has submitted a
non-paper which is still relevant for consideration by a future
deliberation on the Rate of Attainment.
Mr. Chairman,
The Group attaches importance to the issue of decommissioning of
nuclear facilities. To gauge the future magnitude of the problem and to
assign global priorities to allow proper resource planning a comprehensive
worldwide review is necessary. It is important to have a safety
requirement document on decommission. Safety assessment is an essential
tool for ensuring that decommissioning is conducted safely and
establishment of a forum for sharing and exchanging of national
information and experience would be beneficial to countries engaged in
planning and implementing decommissioning projects.
Decommissioning of Research Reactors is an important issue for
developing countries due to limitation of resources. For such countries,
as recognized at the Berlin Conference, the entombment option would be a
safe and economic solution. The Group therefore supports the recommended
action to develop international guidance on the Safety conditions which
must be complied with for the entombment option for the Research Reactors.
Exchange of information and experience on decommissioning is very
important and the Group appreciates the action taken by the Agency in
establishing a website devoted to the issue.
With these comments, we recommend the approval of this action plan by
the Board.
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chairman,
The Group of 77 and China welcomes the collaborative work that was
carried out by the Agency and its Member States, as well as competent
authorities of Parties to the Convention on Early Notification of a
Nuclear Accident and to the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a
Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency in order to develop a
consistent International Action Plan for Strengthening the International
Preparedness and Response System for Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies,
as presented in Annex 1 to document GOV/2004/40.
In the light of current additional challenges to the security of
nuclear and radiological material, the experience that has been gained in
reacting to past emergency situations or during drills and exercises, the
feedback received from competent authorities and the evidence of
significant weaknesses and gaps in the current arrangements and
capabilities to respond in a prompt, co-operative and efficient way to
nuclear and radiological emergencies, the Group considers that the three
main areas covered by the proposed Action Plan, the activities envisaged
and their timing are most pertinent and would like to highlight its
interest in participating in the conclusion of the arrangements envisaged
under paragraph 14, page 5.
On recommending the Board to approve this Action Plan, the Group
encourages Member States to support its implementation and the Secretariat
to optimise the use of resources that have been or will be allocated to
this effect.
Mr. Chairman,
For the Group of 77 and China, it is fundamental to strengthen the
Agency´s Transport Regulations in accordance with scientific and
technological developments that may impinge on radiological safety and
security. Within this framework the Group acknowledges the intensive
efforts deployed by the Secretariat and Member States that nominated
attending and corresponding officers to meetings of the IAEA Transport
Safety Standards Committee (TRANSSC) during the latest two-year revision
process that led to the changes proposed in document GOV/2004/41, which is
an important step towards implementing the International Action Plan for
the Safety of Transport of Radioactive Material that the Board approved
last March.
At the same time, the Group considers that the Agency still needs to
deploy further efforts in order to assure the timely translation of the
revised or amended regulations into the UN official languages, make them
widely known to international modal organizations, national competent
authorities and carriers so as to prevent arbitrary denials of transport
of certain material and equipment - in particular those that are used for
medical and industrial applications. Furthermore, the Group would like to
highlight the importance for the Agency to continue providing safety
assessment services, training courses including regional training courses
and facilitating by other appropriate means the requests of assistance by
Member States to put into effect such regulations, as mandated by the
Statute of the Agency.
With these comments, the Group would like to recommend that the Board
approves the proposed changes and their incorporation into the 2003
amended edition of the IAEA Transport Regulations.
Mr. Chairman,
The G77 and China wishes to thank the Director-General for presenting
the document GOV/2004/39 containing the "Programme of Action for
Cancer Therapy - PACT". The Group examined its content with attention
and would like to welcome this valuable initiative which has been
presented for the first time by the Agency.
There is no doubt that Cancer is a growing silent crisis, especially
in the developing world where almost 5 million people contract this
disease each year, and 3million of them are in need of radiotherapy
treatment. The available technology, know how and material covers only a
fraction of the needed radiation treatments facilities.
The Group does highly value the elements and ideas contained in the
document and the annexed proposal to launch PACT, especially that the
proposal encompasses a ten-year vision dealing with this issue with a
broad perspective, bearing in mind that the Agency is the only UN
organization promoting Radiotherapy within the context of cancer control.
Other important aspects like prevention and early diagnosis are the tasks
of WHO and its regional offices. PACT therefore compliments the
international efforts for cancer prevention and control.
The Group wishes to convey its full support to the Secretariat for
the implementation of this initiative in synergy with other organizations
and partners, and would encourage it to pursue expanding & multiplying
contacts with non-traditional donors to acquire the necessary resources
meeting the needs of PACT with a view to its implementation in the best
possible conditions.
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
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