Statement of the G77 and China during the final meeting
of the Informal open-ended process of Member States to discuss the future of the
IAEA, delivered by Ms. Moira Wilkinson on behalf of H.E. Ambassador Eugenio María
Curia, Permanent Representative of Argentina on 19 November 2009
Mr. Chairman,
The
Group expresses its highest appreciation for the outstanding and dedicated efforts
of both Ambassador Kaupi of Finland and Ambassador Guerreiro of Brazil in chairing
this Working Group.
The Group recalls that the terms of reference for
establishing this Working Group included that it will be an informal process of
the Member States, with open-ended participation and no predetermined outcomes;
and that any recommendations will be made by consensus, including on how to deal
with the draft informal report prepared by the Chair at the end of the discussions.
Coming over to any outstanding issues of the Agency's activities, the
Group of 77 and China believes that any future vision for the Agency will be incomplete
without considering the composition of the IAEA Board of Governors. Despite an
expansion in the membership of the Agency, and relative advancement in the field
of nuclear science and technology by various Member States, the composition of
the Board of Governors has remained constant. It is much below other comparable
organizations like OPCW, which has a 65 member Executive Council and the CTBTO,
which envisages a 51 member Executive Council. There is a need to make the Board
more representative by increasing its membership, with a view to reflect the concerns
of all Member States.
