Vienna Chapter
Madam Chair,
Allow me, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, to thank the
Director-General for his comprehensive introductory statement and the DDG
for Technical Cooperation, Ms. Ana María Cetto, for presenting this
agenda item. I would also like to thank the TC Department for preparing
the documents under this agenda item.
Madam Chair,
The Group wishes to take this opportunity to extend its warm
congratulations to you and is confident that under your able guidance the
meeting will achieve significant results in advancing the Agency´s
technical cooperation programme.
The G-77 and China wishes to reiterate that it attaches great
importance to the Agency´s technical cooperation activities, as they
are the main statutory vehicle for transferring nuclear technology to
developing countries for their socio-economic uplift through the peaceful
application of atomic energy.
Last year, the G-77 and China proposed a number of actions which
translated the Group´s vision on the IAEA´s technical
cooperation programme. These proposals were not intended to replace the
unique efforts implemented by the Secretariat to improve the efficiency of
the technical cooperation programme, but, rather, to complement them. By
proposing those actions, developing countries sought to ensure that the
technical cooperation activities are strong, efficient and effective in
meeting their national needs in a sustainable manner and that TC
activities continue to match the growing needs of developing countries in
key areas for their sustainable development, such as the peaceful
applications of nuclear technology in power, water management, health,
industry and agriculture.
The proposals also aimed at enhancing the Agency's contribution to
the fulfillment of the Millennium Declaration goals and ensuring that the
Agency is really seen as an important partner for development. Other
actions proposed were the introduction of possible new sources of
financing and practical mechanisms allowing for the incorporation of
footnote a/ projects into the core technical cooperation activities, the
development of strong operational partnerships between the IAEA and other
international agencies and financial institutions, South-South cooperation
and increased efforts to improve the rate of implementation of the overall
programme. While recognizing that some of these actions are already being
implemented by the Agency, the Group of 77 and China would very much
appreciate being kept informed about the development of the
above-mentioned proposals.
Madam Chair,
Let me now turn specifically to this year´s agenda. In what
concerns document GOV/2004/80, on the Agency´s proposed technical
cooperation programme for 2005-2006, the G-77 and China takes note of the
initiatives undertaken by the Department of Technical Cooperation to
improve the preparation of the technical cooperation programme for the
next biennium, especially the increased reliance on Country Programme
Frameworks and the enhanced use of thematic planning. The Group hopes that
these and other management initiatives described in the document will help
improve the planning and delivery of the TC Programme in the interest of
developing countries. The Group of 77 and China stands ready to
participate more closely with the Secretariat in the preparation and
follow-up of such initiatives.
The Group notes with concern the presence of a large number of
footnote a/ projects in the proposal and urges the Secretariat to find out
concrete ways and means to seek financial resources for such projects.
As regards the application of the due account mechanism, the Group is
of the view that the Secretariat should engage in consultations with
concerned Member States prior to its application. The Group is also very
interested in receiving additional information on the application of the "due
account" to donor Member States, an integral part of the mechanism,
and trusts the Secretariat will develop additional ways to apply the
mechanism to those States.
The G-77 and China notes with satisfaction that the priority areas
selected by the department of TC in its one-year plan include promotion of
TCDC. In this context further efforts should be made to prepare the
guidance for using regional resource centres.
As for recommended action (f), contained in document GOV/2004/80, the
G-77 and China is of the view that the Secretariat should consult Member
States before adjusting the core programme if there is a shortfall of the
funds made available to the Technical Cooperation Fund.
Madam Chair,
Regarding document GOV/INF/2004/13, on the Implementation of the
Model Projects for Upgrading Radiation Protection Infrastructure, the
Group of 77 and China notes with satisfaction that "the Model
Projects have", inter-alia, "played a major role in the
Secretariat's activities aimed at facilitating Member States' compliance
with the BSS", that "they have been instrumental in introducing
effective and harmonized regulatory mechanisms contributing to
sustainability in all relevant areas of the safety of radiation sources,
and they have enhanced global and regional cooperation and helped to
promote the worldwide standardization, harmonization and implementation of
internationally adopted safety measures and procedures". The Group is
of the view that, when requested to do so, the IAEA must assist Member
States to overcome existing problems in this area and improve their safety
related capabilities, by providing the requested technical assistance.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Madame Chair,
I wish to express the appreciation of the Group of 77 and China to
Mr. Ibrahim Ali Zeekeh, Director, Office of Internal Oversight Services
for presenting the evaluation of technical cooperation activities in the
year 2004 as contained in document GOV/INF/2004/14.
The Group of 77 and China would like to express the importance it
attaches to evaluation processes as a means to enhance efficiency in the
implementation of the TC Programme. In order to achieve this purpose, it
is important that evaluations remain neutral and transparent, do not
prejudge a particular result and are as exhaustive as possible in terms of
the matter under evaluation, the countries and people interviewed and the
time frame to carry out such exercise.
In this context, the Group recognises the positive overview of
recommendations on two successful regional projects, the Model Project for
Upgrading Radiation Protection Infrastructure and Tissue Banking. As
regards Annex III the Group would like to recall that the evaluation
proposed last year to the Board was meant to review the Agency's role in
relation to regional agreements as complementary frameworks for the
Technical Co-operation Strategy, as well as their added value to the TC
programme and how efficiently and effectively regional agreements are at
achieving their intended results. Section 2 of Annex III gives a general
positive outlook about the objectives, priorities and commitment found in
projects reviewed, it acknowledges in kind contributions made under
regional agreement projects, as well as TCDC activities and outcomes
achieved. However, Section III contradicts Section II.
Madam Chair,
Instead of evaluating each modality of cooperation on its own merits,
one modality has been compared against the other resulting in the
recommendations that the Group does not share, given the methodology and
factual limitations of this particular evaluation process.
The Group would like to reaffirm that the two modalities of regional
cooperation are certainly required and have proven useful to promote the
transfer of nuclear science and technology for peaceful uses to and
amongst developing countries, including LDC's. The Group of 77 and China
wishes to emphasize that regional cooperative agreements, i.e., RCA, ARCAL
and AFRA, are primarily run by Member States, with Agency support. The
enhancement of such agreements should continue to be done within the
context of cooperation and dialogue between their members with the
valuable suggestions of the relevant Agency coordinators.
The Group rejects that recommendation 1a) become a guideline for the
Secretariat and urge it to carry out consultations with the Member States
of regional agreements in order to seek their detailed comments on Annex
III of document GOV/INF/2004/14 as well as the best way to implement
recommendations that in the long run could be truly beneficial to both
members of the agreements and the Agency.
Madam Chair,
Considering that recent chances to enhance regional cooperative
agreements and the implementation of accepted recommendations under Annex
III will bear concrete results in the medium term, it will be premature to
evaluate regional cooperative agreements again in 2005. For this reason,
the Group recommends that the Secretariat selects a cross cutting or
thematic area as a subject for its next evaluation process.
Thank you Madam Chair.
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