Statement of the Group of 77 and China during the IAEA Informal Programme and Budget Committee Meeting, on 4 February 2016, delivered by H.E. Ambassador Armin Andereya, PR of Chile
Mr. Chair,
The Group would like to thank the Secretariat for the Agency’s Draft Budget Update for 2017 contained in GOV/2016/1 and for the presentation provided today.
The Group maintains its principled position with regard to the Regular Budget, which calls for a balanced distribution of the budget so as to reflect the equal importance of the three pillars of the Agency, namely the promotion of peaceful uses of nuclear technology, including technical cooperation, safety and safeguards.
The Group recognizes that Safeguards is one of the statutory functions of the Agency, and supports the integration of €5.2 million, resulting from the implementation of the JCPOA, in the Regular Budget in a manner as gradual as possible that would not result in any undue financial burden on the developing countries.
In this context, the Group is ready to engage in further consultations with the Secretariat and other Member States to find consensus on the way forward.
