Vienna Chapter
Mr. Chairman,
1. I have the honour to make this statement on behalf of both the
Vienna Chapter of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Group of 77 &
China.
2. At the outset, allow me, on behalf of NAM and G-77 & China, to
express our deepest symphathies and condolences to the peoples and
governments of Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan for the loss of many lives
and properties due to the devastating earthquake. We would also wish to
express similar sentiments of sadness and condolences to the peoples and
governments of Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico for the tragic loss of
lives and properties caused by hurricane Stan.
Mr. Chairman,
3. I have pleasure in welcoming, on behalf of the NAM and G-77 &
China, the decision of the Norwegian Nobel Committee in awarding the Nobel
Peace Prize for 2005 to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and
its Director General, Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei. We wish to convey our
heartiest congratulations to the Agency and its Director General on the
outstanding achievement of being awarded the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize.
4. NAM and G-77 & China believe that the Nobel Peace award is
testimony and recognition of the great efforts carried out by both the
Agency and its Director General in ensuring the safe and peaceful
development and use of nuclear technologies. This award is also an
acknowledgement of the Agency's role in promoting atomic energy towards
peace, health and prosperity. We are confident that the award should be a
further impetus in drawing more support and in strengthening the Agency
and its Director General to further carry out their mandate and objectives
in promoting the peaceful uses of atomic energy.
Mr. Chairman,
5. NAM and G-77 & China strongly reiterates the basic and
inalienable right of all Member States to develop research, production and
use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes. While reiterating the
importance we attach to verification activities, we believe that
safeguards should be implemented in a manner designed to avoid hampering
economic or technological development of Member States or international
cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear activities, including the
international exchange of nuclear material and equipment for the
processing, use or production of nuclear material for peaceful purposes.
6. While fully supporting multilateral efforts that are in conformity
with international law towards nuclear disarmament, elimination of nuclear
weapons and nuclear non-proliferation, NAM and the G-77 & China
maintain the position that non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear
technology should be addressed in a balanced and non-discriminatory
manner. In this regard, we underline the importance of dialogue and
multilateral process. While ensuring Member States legitimate right to
peaceful uses of nuclear energy, the Agency should also continue its
efforts, in conformity with its Statute and within its legal authority, in
making sure that nuclear technology is not diverted to further any
military purpose.
7. We would also like to reiterate our position that the IAEA is the
sole competent authority for nuclear verification in the framework of the
Agency's safeguards system and that in this connection, it is important to
preserve the integrity of the Agency and continue with the professionalism
and impartiality that characterize the work of the Agency and its Director
General.
Mr. Chairman,
8. Besides nuclear verification, the Agency under its statutory
obligations pursues the goal of technical cooperation in peaceful
applications of atomic energy as one of the three pillars of its
activities. In order to meet the objectives of technical cooperation for
peaceful purposes as enshrined in the Agency's Statute, NAM and G-77 &
China urge the IAEA to maintain the balance between promotional and other
statutory activities. In this regard, we believe that the Board of
Governors should give due consideration for the Agency's monetary award
from the Nobel Committee to be used for funding development and practical
application of atomic energy for peaceful purposes for the needs of the
developing countries.
9. Finally, on behalf of NAM and the G-77 & China, I would like
to once again convey our heartiest felicitations and best wishes to the
Agency and the Director General, Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei for the well
deserved Nobel Peace Prize and we wish to assure of our continued support
to the Agency and the Director General in all of their work and
activities.
10. We support the recommended action as contained in document
GOV/2005/83.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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