Vienna Chapter
Madam Chairperson,
The Group of 77 and China wishes to thank the Secretariat for
preparing the Draft Programme and Budget for 2004 - 2005, as contained in
document GOV/2003/1, and appreciates the process of consultations which
reflects a relevant effort by the Secretariat to facilitate Member States
to define the work of the Agency.
Madam Chairperson,
The Group has reviewed the aforementioned document and wishes to make
the following preliminary comments:
1- The budget proposals for 2004 - 2005 envisage increases over 2003
of the $27.1 million in 2004, and $30.1 million in 2005, these figures
represent an overall increase of approximately 11 - 12 %.
2- The Group has noticed that the proposed increase has been driven
primarily by the requirements of safeguards activities and that less
consideration has been given to other statutory activities. In this
context, the Group would like to express its serious concern over these
increases, and remains strongly convinced that any budget proposal should
preserve the balance between all statutory activities as outlined in the
major programmes of the budget.
3- In addition, the Group believes that the following factors should
be recalled:
- The target for the TCF was kept frozen at US$ 73 million from 1999
to 2002. The TCF was set at US$ 74.75 million for 2003 and 2004, an amount
that represents an adjustment of less than the average inflation rate for
each year.
- The Group endorsed the rate of attainment mechanism established by
resolution GC(44)/RES/8 on the understanding that such mechanism would
lead to a substantive increase in the actual payment of contributions to
the TCF. However, the rate of attainment of 85% for 2002 may not be
achieved, a prospect that is not encouraging and that indicates the need
for an early review of the rate of attainment mechanism.
- The Group would like to note that the removal of the shielding
mechanism (resolution GC(44)/RES/9) was based on the understanding that
this would facilitate the timely payment of the full share of the
contributions of major donors to the TCF. The results of these financing
arrangements, however, do not seem to correspond to the Group's
expectations. In addition, developing Member States are now faced with the
prospect of sharing a larger increase in the safeguards budget (about US$
20 million per year in the biennium 2004-2005, as proposed by the
Secretariat), which would represent a considerable extra burden in the
individual contributions to the regular budget.
- All these elements point out to the fact that the necessary balance
between promotional and verification activities of the IAEA may be
seriously impaired in the near future, which is a matter of great concern
for the G- 77 and China.
- The Group thus once again stresses the need for adequate,
predictable and assured resources for the TCF by bringing it in line with
the principles relating to the regular budget.
Having highlighted the aforementioned factors, the Group is not in a
position, at this stage, to recommend the proposed programme and budget.
Thank you Madam Chairperson.
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