"4

Date 21  September 1987 EMBARGOED TO

MIDNIGHT 2 1 . 9 . 8 7

30TH ANNIVERSARY IAEA GENERAL CONFERENCE

The Mi n i s t e r  f o r  Forei gn A f f a i r s  and Trade,  Mr B i l l  Hayden, has pai d   t r i b u t e  t o the achievements of  the I n t e r n a t i o n a l  Atomic Energy Agency   (IAEA) at  i t s  30th Anni ver sar y Conference.

De l i v e r i n g  A u s t r a l i a ' s  gener al  debate statement on 21 September,  the   opening day of  the Conference i n Vi enna,  Mr Hayden h i g h l i g h t e d  the   b e n e f i t s  t o the i n t e r n a t i o n a l  community of the conti nued assurance   provi ded by the Agency' s saf eguards system t hat  no safeguarded nucl ear   ma t e r i a l  has been d i v e r t e d  t o m i l i t a r y  or expl osi ve purposes.

Mr Hayden r e c a l l e d  t ha t  when A u s t r a l i a  acceded to the Nucl ear   N o n - P r o l i f e r a t i o n  T r e a t y ,  i t  had t he s k i l l s  t o devel op a nucl ear  weapon   but r ej e c t e d t hat  pat h.  He r e a f f i r me d A u s t r a l i a ' s  l ong- st andi ng support   f o r  the NPT, descr i bi ng t he Tr e a t y  as the yar ds t i c k  of r esponsi bl e

i n t e r n a t i o n a l  behavi our .

Mr Hayden expressed deep concern t hat  a small mi nor i t y of  non- nucl ear   weapon st at es have chosen not t o make an i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y  bi ndi ng   commitment to the n o n - p r o l i f e r a t i o n  of nucl ear weapons. He mentioned   A u s t r a l i a ' s  p a r t i c u l a r  concern about the growing r i s k  of p r o l i f e r a t i o n  i n   South Asi a.

Re f e r r i ng t o the IAEA' s response t o the chal l enges presented by the   Chernobyl r eact or  acci dent  i n 1986,  Mr Hayden commended the rapi d   n e g o t i a t i o n  of two new convent i ons on Earl y N o t i f i c a t i o n  of a Nucl ear   Acci dent  and on Assi stance i n t he Case of a Nucl ear Accident or   Ra di ol ogi cal  Emergency.

He announced t hat  he would be deposi t i ng wi t h the IAEA A u s t r a l i a ' s   i nst rument s of r a t i f i c a t i o n  of the two t r e a t i e s  and t ha t  he would al so be   r a t i f y i n g  on behal f  of  A u s t r a l i a  the Convention on the Physi cal   Pr ot e c t i on of Nucl ear M a t e r i a l .

Mr Hayden al so r e f e r r e d  to A u s t r a l i a ' s  deci si on t o host i n Sydney next   year  a major IAEA Conference on Radi at i on Pr ot ect i on i n Nucl ear Energy.   Thi s deci si on r e f l e c t e d  the i mportance Au s t r a l i a  at t aches t o nucl ear   s a f e t y .

( At t ached i s an advance copy of  Mr Hayden's speech. )

COMMONWEALTH  PARLIAMENTARY library  C. L s.

IAEA 31 ST GENERAL CONFERENCE: GENERAL

DEBATE STATEMENT: AUSTRALIA

Mr P r e s i d e n t ,  I  c o n g r a t u l a t e  you on your e l e c t i o n  as P r e s i d e n t

o f  t h i s  3 0 t h  A n n i v e r s a r y  s e s s i o n  o f  t h e  IAEA G e n e r a l  C o n f e r e n c e

and a s s u r e  you o f  A u s t r a l i a ' s  c o o p e r a t i o n  i n  t he  d i s c h a r g e  o f

y o u r  d u t i e s .  Your e l e c t i o n  t o  t h i s  i m p o r t a n t  p o s t  a p t l y

r e f l e c t s  t he a c t i v e  and c l o s e  i n v o l v e m e n t  y o u r  c o u n t r y  has had

w i t h  t h e  IAEA s i n c e  i t s  i n c e p t i o n .

The Agency grew out of  a decade o f  momentous d e v e l o p me n t s  f o r

m a n k i n d .  I t  was a decade whi ch saw t he c o l l a p s e  o f  t he

e x i s t i n g  w o r l d  o r d e r  t h r o u g h  w o r l d  w a r ,  t h e  f i r s t

s e l f - s u s t a i n i n g  n u c l e a r  c h a i n  r e a c t i o n  a n d ,  l e s s  t ha n t h r e e

y e a r s  l a t e r ,  t he  t e s t i n g  and use of  n u c l e a r  weapons.  I t  was

w i t h  t h i s  t u r b u l e n t  p e r i o d  o f  h i s t o r y  v e r y  much a f r e s h  l e g a c y

t h a t  n a t i o n s  i n  t he  a f t e r m a t h  o f  Wor l d War I I  sought  t o a s s u r e

a new, p e a c e f u l  and s e c u r e  i n t e r n a t i o n a l  o r d e r  based on

c o o p e r a t i o n  bet ween s t a t e s .

A t t e n t i o n  i n t he newl y f or med U n i t e d  N a t i o n s  f o c u s s e d  q u i c k l y

and c l o s e l y  on ways of  e n s u r i n g  t h a t  t he p o t e n t i a l  b e n e f i t s  of

n u c l e a r  t e c h n o l o g y  be h a r n e s s e d  e f f e c t i v e l y  t h r o u g h

i n t e r n a t i o n a l  c o - o p e r a t i o n ,  and r e s t r i c t e d  t o p e a c e f u l  u s e .  I n

r e c a l l i n g  t h e s e  d e v e l o p m e n t s  i t  i s f i t t i n g  t h a t  we pay t r i b u t e

t o t he v i s i o n  and e n e r g y  of  t hos e  i n v o l v e d .  I n  1946 t he U n i t e d

S t a t e s  -  t h e n  t he o n l y  n u c l e a r  weapon s t a t e  -  i n t r o d u c e d

f a r - r e a c h i n g  p r o p o s a l s  t o e s t a b l i s h  an o r g a n i s a t i o n  " t o  whi ch

s h o u l d  be e n t r u s t e d  a l l  phases of t he  d e v e l o p me n t  and use of

at omi c e n e r g y " .  T h i s  was known as t h e  Baruch p l a n .  I n 1953

P r e s i d e n t  E i s e n h o w e r  p r o p o s e d  t he e s t a b l i s h m e n t  of  "an

i n t e r n a t i o n a l  a t o mi c  e n e r g y  agency t o  " d e v i s e  measures by whi ch

( t h i s )  f i s s i o n a b l e  m a t e r i a l  would be a l l o c a t e d  t o  s e r v e  t he

p e a c e f u l  p u r s u i t s  o f  m a n k i n d .  Thr ee y e a r s  l a t e r ,  i n  O c t o b e r

1956 t h e  S t a t u t e  of  t he I n t e r n a t i o n a l  At omi c Ener gy Agency was

opened f o r  s i g n a t u r e .  I t  e n t e r e d  i n t o  f o r c e  on 29 J u l y  1 9 5 7 .

2 . 01 56x

A u s t r a l i a  was one o f  t h e  group o f  e i g h t  c o u n t r i e s  ( l a t e r

expanded t o  t w e l v e )  which p a r t i c i p a t e d  i n  t h e  d r a f t i n g  of  the

t e x t .  We t a k e  p r i d e  i n  t h i s  f a c t  and i n  t h e  Ag e n c y ' s  c o n t i n u e d

v i t a l i t y ,  r e l e v a n c e  and p r o f e s s i o n a l i s m .

S h o r t l y  a f t e r  t h e  Agency was b o r n ,  n e g o t i a t i o n s  began on t h e

e s t a b l i s h m e n t  of  t h e  Ag e n c y ' s  n u c l e a r  s a f e g u a r d s  sys t e m,

d e s i g n e d  t o d e t e c t  any d i v e r s i o n  o f  s a f e g u a r d e d  n u c l e a r

m a t e r i a l  t o  any m i l i t a r y  p u r p o s e .  I t  was r e c o g n i s e d  t h a t  such

a s a f e g u a r d s  system would toe e s s e n t i a l  i f  t h e  Agency was t o

f u l f i l l  i t s  o b j e c t i v e  and i f ,  i n  t h e  f a c e  of  t h e  i n e v i t a b l y

g r o w i n g  a p p l i c a t i o n  o f  n u c l e a r  e n e r g y ,  t h e r e  was t o be any

chance of  r e s t r a i n i n g  t he p r o l i f e r a t i o n  o f  n u c l e a r  weapons.

He n c e ,  t h e  Ag e n c y ' s  m i s s i o n  i s  b a s i c a l l y  t w o f o l d :  t o e n c o u r a g e

t h e  c o n t r i b u t i o n  o f  at omi c en e r g y  t o  i n t e r n a t i o n a l  p e a c e ,

h e a l t h  and p r o s p e r t i y ;  and t o  v e r i f y ,  t h r o u g h  t h e  a p p l i c a t i o n

o f  i n t e r n a t i o n a l  s a f e g u a r d s  t h a t  n u c l e a r  f a c i l i t i e s  and

m a t e r i a l s  a r e  used e x c l u s i v e l y  f o r  p e a c e f u l  p u r p o s e s .

T h a t  r e s p o n s i b i l i t y  t ook on a new and i n c r e a s i n g l y  u n i v e r s a l

f oc us  i n  197 0 w i t h  t he e n t r y  i n t o  f o r c e  o f  t h e  N u c l e a r

N o n - P r o l i f e r a t i o n  T r e a t y .  T h i s  m i l e s t o n e  i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l

n o n - p r o l i f e r a t i o n  e f f o r t s  l ed t o  t h e  d e v e l o p me n t  by t he Agency

o f  i t s  system of  NPT s a f e g u a r d s .  The f i e l d  of  s a f e g u a r d s

a p p l i c a t i o n  and d e v e l o pme nt  i s a complex and c r u c i a l  Agency

a c t i v i t y .  I t  r e q u i r e s  c o n t i n u i n g  i n n o v a t i o n  i n sys t e ms ,

s t r u c t u r e s  and h a r d w a r e .  I t  a l s o  r e q u i r e s  c l o s e  c o n s u l t a t i o n ,

w i t h  t h e  Board of  Gov e r nor s  t o ens ur e t h a t  d i f f i c u l t i e s  are

q u i c k l y  d e a l t  w i t h  as t hey a r i s e ;  t h a t  f u t u r e  probl ems a r e

f o r e s e e n  and n e c e s s a r y  a c t i o n  t a k e n .  Wi t h t h e  g o o d w i l l  and

c o o p e r a t i o n  of  member s t a t e s ,  t h e  IAEA has pr ove d e qu a l  t o t he

t a s k  and has p r o v i d e d  the a s s u r a n c e  r e q u i r e d  of  i t  by the

i n t e r n a t i o n a l  communi t y:  t h a t  n u c l e a r  m a t e r i a l s  have not been

d i v e r t e d  t o  m i l i t a r y  or e x p l o s i v e  u s e .

3 . 01 56x

Mr P r e s i d e n t /  member s t a t e s  o f  t h e  Agency have a s p e c i a l

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y  t o  ens ur e t h a t  t he Agency has s u f f i c i e n t  human

and f i n a n c i a l  r e s o u r c e s  t o  c a r r y  out i t s  i n t e r n a t i o n a l  l e g a l

o b l i g a t i o n s  i n  s a f e g u a r d s .  Cost s of t he a p p l i c a t i o n  of

s a f e g u a r d s  a r e  i n e v i t a b l y  r i s i n g  as more m a t e r i a l  and

f a c i l i t i e s  a r e  b r o u g h t  u n d e r  t h e  system and as new methods and

t e c h n o l o g i e s  a r e  r e q u i r e d  t o  keep a b r e a s t  o f  d e v e l o p me n t s  i n

p l a n t  and equ i pme n t  d e s i g n .  Ne vet he l e s s ,  t h e s e  c o s t s  ar e

n e g l i g i b l e  compared w i t h  t h e  k i n d  of c o s t s  t h a t  would f o l l o w  i f

t h e  a f f a i r s ’ o f  n a t i o n s  hadÂ·  t o  be managed i n  a w o r l d  w i t h o u t  t h e

a s s u r a n c e s  p r o v i d e d  by IAEA s a f e g u a r d s .

The Agency a l s o  needs t h e  c o o p e r a t i o n  of  member s t a t e s  i n  t he

day t o day o p e r a t i o n  of  t h e  s a f e g u a r d s  s y s t e m .  P a r t i c u l a r l y

i m p o r t a n t  i s  c o o p e r a t i o n  i n  a s s i s t i n g  t h e  Agency t o  overcome

i d e n t i f i e d  s a f e g u a r d s  i m p l e m e n t a t i o n  pr obl ems and i n  t h e

d e s i g n a t i o n  of  i n s p e c t o r s .  . '

A u s t r a l i a  c o n t i n u e s  t o  be r e a s s u r e d  t h a t  no s a f e g u a r d e d

m a t e r i a l  has e v e r  been d i v e r t e d  t o m i l i t a r y  o r  e x p l o s i v e

p u r p o s e s .  T h a t  a s s u r a n c e  i s  of  maj or  i m p o r t a n c e  t o  a l l  members

of  t he i n t e r n a t i o n a l  c o mmu n i t y ,  members of  t h e  Agency or n o t ,

p a r t i e s  or n o n - p a r t i e s  t o  t he  NPT,  c o u n t r i e s  w i t h  or  w i t h o u t

n u c l e a r  p r o g r a m s . A l l  a r e  cus t ome r s  of  t he  p r o d u c t  of  t he

s a f e g u a r d s  s y s t e m.  A l l  have a r e s p o n s i b i l i t y  t o s u p p o r t  i t  i n

w h a t e v e r  way p o s s i b l e .

A u s t r a l i a  i s  a n a t i o n  whi ch a t  t he t i me  of  a c c e d i n g  t o  t he NPT

had t he s k i l l s  t o d e v e l o p  a n u c l e a r  weapon but  r e j e c t e d  t h a t

p a t h . I t  i s  a maj or  u r a n i u m  e x p o r t e r .  A u s t r a l i a  t h e r e f o r e

t a k e s  a p a r t i c u l a r  i n t e r e s t  i n  t he s a f e g u a r d s  s y s t e m.  We

c o n t i n u e  t o b e l i e v e  t h a t  t h e  b e s t  way t o make an

i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y  l e g a l l y  b i n d i n g  n o n - p r o l i f e r a t i o n  commi tment i s

by a d h e r i n g  t o  t he NPT and o p e n i n g  o n e ' s  n u c l e a r  a c t i v i t i e s  t o

v e r i f i c a t i o n  u n d e r  f u l l s c o p e  I AEA/ NPT s a f e g u a r d s .  The T r e a t y ,

w i t h  136 members,  soon t o  be j o i n e d  by S p a i n ,  has become t he

y a r d s t i c k  o f  r e s p o n s i b l e  i n t e r n a t i o n a l  n u c l e a r  b e h a v i o u r .

A 01 56x

A u s t r a l i a  has long  a d v o c a t e d  t h a t  n o n - p a r t i e s  t o  t h e  NPT

s h o u l d  a t  l e a s t  a c c e p t  f u 11scope s a f e g u a r d s  on a l l  t h e i r

n u c l e a r  a c t i v i t i e s  and t h a t  f u l l s c o p e  s a f e g u a r d s  s h o u l d  be t he

b a s i s  f o r  t h e  s u p p l y  o f  n u c l e a r  i t e ms  t o  a l l  n o n - n u c l e a r  weapon

s t a t e s .

I t  r e ma i n s  a m a t t e r  o f  deep concer n t o A u s t r a l i a  t h a t  a s ma l l

m i n o r i t y  o f  n o n - n u c l e a r  weapons s t a t e s  have chosen so f a r ,  f o r

t h e i r  own r e a s o n s ,  not  t o  make an i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y  l e g a l l y

b i n d i n g  commi tment  t o  t h e  n o n - p r o l i f e r a t i o n  of  n u c l e a r  weapons

or  o t h e r  n u c l e a r  e x p l o s i v e  d e v i c e s .  We a r e  p a r t i c u l a r l y

co n c e r n e d  a b o u t  t he  g r o w i n g  r i s k  of  p r o l i f e r a t i o n  i n  South As i a

and have put  our  v i ews d i r e c t l y  t o  t he s t a t e s  c o n c e r n e d .

Uppermost  i n  t h e  minds o f  t h o s e  who p a r t i c i p a t e d  i n  d r a f t i n g

t h e  IAEA S t a t u t e  was t h e  need t o  t a k e  e f f e c t i v e  a c c o u n t  o f  t he

humbl i ng and c h i l l i n g  f a c t  o f  t he d e s t r u c t i v e  p o t e n t i a l  of

n u c l e a r  t e c h n o l o g y  w h i l e  p r o mo t i n g  t he d e v e l o p m e n t  o f  i t s  _

p e a c e f u l  uses and a p p l i c a t i o n s .  The e s t a b l i s h m e n t  of  an

i n t e r n a t i o n a l  o r g a n i s a t i o n  w i t h  t h e  r e s p o n s i b i l i t y  o f  v e r i f y i n g

t h r o u g h  o n - s i t e  i n s p e c t i o n  c o mp l i a n c e  of  s t a t e s  w i t h  t r e a t y

o b l i g a t i o n s  was an u n t r i e d  u n d e r t a k i n g .  I t  was an u n d e r t a k i n g

t h a t  r e q u i r e d  an u n p r e c e d e n t e d  s u r r e n d e r  of  n a t i o n a l

s o v e r e i g n t y .  The e x p e r i m e n t  of  t he Ag e n c y ' s  s a f e g u a r d s  system

was and c o n t i n u e s  t o be an u n q u a l i f i e d  s u c c e s s .  I t  i s not

s u r p r i s i n g  t h a t  i n t e r n a t i o n a l  a t t e n t i o n  s ho ul d f o c u s  on whe t he r

t he p r i n c i p l e s  b e h i n d  t he system mi ght  have a p p l i c a t i o n s  i n

v e r i f y i n g  o t h e r  arms c o n t r o l  a r e a s .

Mr P r e s i d e n t ,  i n a c c o r d a n c e  w i t h  i t s  S t a t u t e  t h e  Agency i s a l s o

maki ng an i n c r e a s i n g l y  s i g n i f i c a n t  c o n t r i b u t i o n  i n  t he f i e l d  of

n u c l e a r  s a f e t y .

A few months ago,  t he  w o r l d  was r emi nded by t he a n n i v e r s a r y  of

t h e  C h e r n o b y l  r e a c t o r  a c c i d e n t  of  t he i m p o r t a n c e  we need t o

a t t a c h  t o  n u c l e a r  s a f e t y  and of  t he p e r i l  we f a c e  i f  we choose

t o u n d e r e s t i m a t e  i t .  The Agency has c o n t i n u e d  t o respond w e l l

o ve r  t he  p a s t  year t o  t he c h a l l e n g e s  p r e s e n t e d  by t he

5 01 5 6x

a c c i d e n t .  I  commend t he r a p i d  n e g o t i a t i o n  o f  two new

c o n v e n t i o n s ,  and t h e  A g e n c y ' s  i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n  of  work on s a f e t y

r e v i e w  teams and s a f e t y  s t a n d a r d s .  A u s t r a l i a  s i g n e d  b o t h  the

C o n v e n t i o n  on E a r l y  N o t i f i c a t i o n  of  a N u c l e a r  A c c i d e n t  and the

C o n v e n t i o n  on A s s i s t a n c e  i n  t h e  Case o f  a N u c l e a r  A c c i d e n t  or

R a d i o l o g i c a l  Emergency a t  l a s t  y e a r ' s  S p e c i a l  S e s s i o n  o f  the

G e n e r a l  C o n f e r e n c e .  D u r i n g  my s t a y  i n  Vi e n n a  I  w i l l  be

d e p o s i t i n g  w i t h  t h e  D i r e c t o r - G e n e r a l  A u s t r a l i a ' s  r a t i f i c a t i o n

o f  t h e  two c o n v e n t i o n s .  The i m p o r t a n c e  A u s t r a l i a  a t t a c h e s  t o

n u c l e a r  s a f e t y  i s  r e f l e c t e d  i n our d e c i s i o n  t o  c o - h o s t  w i t h  t he

Agency an IAEA Co n f e r e n c e  on R a d i a t i o n  P r o t e c t i o n  i n  N u c l e a r

E n e r g y .  The C o n f e r e n c e  w i l l  be h e l d  i n  Sydney i n A p r i l  1 9 8 8 ,

our b i c e n t e n n i a l  y e a r .  I  am s ur e  t he c o n f e r e n c e  w i l l  make a

m a j o r  c o n t r i b u t i o n  t o  f u r t h e r i n g  knowl edge and p r o c e d u r e s  in

t h i s  a r e a .

I  s h a l l  a l s o  be r a t i f y i n g  on b e h a l f  of  A u s t r a l i a  t h e  C o n v e n t i o n

on t h e  P h y s i c a l  P r o t e c t i o n  o f  N u c l e a r  M a t e r i a l .  T h i s

c o n v e n t i o n ,  which a r o s e  from one of t he r ecommendat i ons of  t he

f i r s t  NPT Review C o n f e r e n c e  and e n t e r e d  i n t o  f o r c e  t h i s  y e a r ,

w i l l  c r e a t e  a f u r t h e r  b a r r i e r  t o  t he misuse of  n u c l e a r  m a t e r i a l

and t o t he p o s s i b i l i t y  of  t e r r o r i s m  i n v o l v i n g  n u c l e a r  m a t e r i a l s .

I n  t h e  f i e l d  of t e c h n i c a l  a s s i s t a n c e  and c o - o p e r a t i o n ,  t he

I A E A ' s  d e l i v e r y  r e c o r d  i s ,one  of  s u s t a i n e d  and i m p r e s s i v e

a c h i e v e m e n t .  The t r a n s f e r  o f  p e a c e f u l  n u c l e a r  t e c h n o l o g y

t h r o u g h  t he A g e n c y ' s  pr ograms has p r o v i d e d  a range o f  b e n e f i t s

i n  power g e n e r a t i o n ,  i n d u s t r y ,  m e d i c i n e ,  a g r i c u l t u r e  and o t h e r ,

a p p l i c a t i o n s .  - Â·

A u s t r a l i a ,  i n a d d i t i o n  t o  i t s  c o n t r i b u t i o n s  t h r o u g h  t h e

t e c h n i c a l  a s s i s t a n c e  and c o o p e r a t i o n  f u n d ,  c o n t i n u e s  t o p r o v i d e

e x t r a - b u d g e t a r y  r e s o u r c e s  t o  p r o j e c t s  under  t h e  I AE A ' s

A s i a n / P a c i f i c  R e g i o n a l  C o o p e r a t i o n  A g r e e m e n t .  I n  J u n e ,

A u s t r a l i a  j o i n e d  t he T h i r d  E x t e n s i o n  a gr ee ment  o f  t h e  RCA,

whi ch has pr ov e d u n i q u e l y  s u c c e s s f u l  as a mechanism f o r

r e g i o n a l  n u c l e a r  c o o p e r a t i o n .

6 . 01 56x

I n  A u s t r a l i a  o v e r  the p a s t  y e a r  we have r e - m o d e l l e d  the

l e g i s l a t i v e  b a s i s  f o r  n u c l e a r  a c t i v i t i e s .  A N u c l e a r

N o n - P r o l i f e r a t i o n  ( S a f e g u a r d s )  Act has been i n t r o d u c e d .  I t

g i v e s  e f f e c t  to A u s t r a l i a ' s  i n t e r n a t i o n a l  o b l i g a t i o n s  under t he

NPT and T r e a t y  of  Ra r o t on ga and  e s t a b l i s h e s  s t r i c t  c o n t r o l s

o v e r  t he p o s s e s s i o n  and t r a n s f e r  of  n u c l e a r  m a t e r i a l s .

Our n a t i o n a l  n u c l e a r  r e s e a r c h  program has been s u b j e c t e d  t o a

r i g o r o u s  r e v i e w .  The f o r me r  A u s t r a l i a n  At omi c Energy

Commission has been r e p l a c e d  by t h e  A u s t r a l i a n  N u c l e a r  Sc i e n c e

and T e c h n o l o g y  O r g a n i s a t i o n  (known in A u s t r a l i a  as ANSTO) .  The

new body w i l l  f ocus on p r a c t i c a l  a p p l i c a t i o n s  of  n u c l e a r

t e c h n o l o g y  r e l e v a n t  t o  A u s t r a l i a ' s  s o c i a l  and economic

d e v e l o p m e n t .  The l e g i s l a t i o n  e s t a b l i s h i n g  ANSTO e x p r e s s l y

p r e c l u d e s  r e s e a r c h  and dev e l o pme nt  i n t o  t he d e s i g n  or

p r o d u c t i o n  o f  n u c l e a r  weapons or o t h e r  n u c l e a r  e x p l o s i v e

d e v i c e s .  Research and dev e l o pme nt  c o n t i n u e  on SYNROC, a

p r om i s i n g  second g e n e r a t i o n  n u c l e a r  wast e f o r m .  We hope, Mr

P r e s i d e n t ,  t h a t  A u s t r a l i a  and I t a l y  w i l l  soon c on cl u de

b i l a t e r a l  a r r a n g e m e n t s  f o r  c o - o p e r a t i o n  i n  r e s e a r c h  and

d e v e l o p m e n t .  ANSTO has s u c c e s s f u l l y  d e m o n s t r a t e d  i n a

n o n - r a d i o a c t i v e  p l a n t  t h e - f a b r i c a t i o n  of  c o m m e r c i a l - s c a l e

SYNROC s t o r a g e  c y c l i n d e r s .  Uranium p r o d u c t i o n  has c o n t i n u e d  to

expand and A u s t r a l i a  v a l u e s  i t s  r e p u t a t i o n  as a r e s p o n s i b l e ,

r e l i a b l e  s u p p l i e r  under l o n g - t e r m  c o n t r a c t s .

The IAEA has a proud r e c o r d  of a c h i e v e me n t  o v e r  t he p a s t  30

y e a r s  and a w e l l  de s e r v e d  r e p u t a t i o n  among  i n t e r n a t i o n a l

o r g a n i s a t i o n s .  I n t he f u t u r e ,  i t  w i l l  c o n t i n u e  t o c a r r y  a

heavy burden of  r e s p o n s i b i l i t y .  The Ag e n c y ,  l i k e  so many  o f

i t s  member s t a t e s ,  w i l l  have t o c o n t i n u e  t o f a c e  t he c h a l l e n g e s

ahead i n a c l i m a t e  of i n t e n s e  b u d g e t a r y  s t r i n g e n c y .  Hard

d e c i s i o n s  on p r i o r i t i e s  cannot  be a v o i d e d .  S a f e g u a r d s ,  s a f e t y

and t e c h n i c a l  a s s i s t a n c e  w i l l  r emai n key program a c t i v i t i e s

f u l f i l l i n g  i m p o r t a n t  r e q u i r e m e n t s  of  t he i n t e r n a t i o n a l

communi t y.  O t h e r  i s s u e s  such as p l u t o n i u m  h a n d l i n g  and use

a l s o  need t o be a d d r e s s e d .

7. 01 56x

j

i

L i k e  a l l  i n t e r n a t i o n a l  o r g a n i s a t i o n s ,  t h e  I A E A  i s  n o t  i mmu n e

f r o m  p o l i t i c a l  d i s p u t e s  b e t w e e n  i t s  me mb e r  s t a t e s .  T h i s

C o n f e r e n c e  i s  f a c e d  d i r e c t l y  b y  t h i s  p r o b l e m .  W h a t e v e r  o n e ' s

v i e w s  o n  t h e  p o l i t i c a l  i s s u e s  a t  s t a k e ,  a n d  o n  t h e  q u e s t i o n  o f

S o u t h  A f r i c a  A u s t r a l i a ' s  a b h o r r e n c e  o f  a p a r t h e i d  i s  w e l l - k n o w n

a n d  u n a m b i g u o u s ,  i t  d o e s  n o t  s e r v e  t h e  c ommon i n t e r e s t s  w h i c h

b r o u g h t  us  t o g e t h e r  a s  me mb e r s  o f  t h i s  i n s t i t u t i o n ,  t o  a l l o w

p o l i t i c a l  i s s u e s  t o  d i s r u p t  i t s  a c t i v i t i e s .  Mu c h  o f  t h e  r e c o r d

o f  t h e  I A E A  o f  w h i c h  we a r e  a l l  j u s t l y  p r o u d ,  i s  h e r e  f o r  us  t o

c e l e b r a t e  t o d a y  b e c a u s e  o f  o u r  j o i n t  d e d i c a t e d  o b s e r v a n c e  o f

t h e  p r i n c i p l e s  a n d  r u l e s  e m b o d i e d  i n  t h i s  o r g a n i a t i o n ' s

S t a t u t e .  O n l y  t h r o u g h  c o n t i n u e d  d e d i c a t i o n  t o  t h e  S t a t u t e  w i l l

t h e  I A E A  b e  a b l e  t o  c o n t i n u e  t o  ma k e  i t s  c r u c i a l  c o n t r i b u t i o n

i n  w o r l d  a f f a i r s .

Mr  P r e s i d e n t ,  a s  we b e g i n  t h e  n e x t  3 0  y e a r s  o f  t h e  A g e n c y ' s

e x i s t e n c e ,  we mu s t  n o t  f o r g e t  t h e  c r u c i a l  r o l e  t h i s

o r g a n i s a t i o n  p e r f o r m s  f o r  w o r l d  p e a c e  a n d  s e c u r i t y .  A b o v e  a l l

e l s e ,  i t  i s  t h a t  r o l e  w h i c h  c o r r e s p o n d s  t o  t h e  m o s t  b a s i c

y e a r n i n g  o f  a l l  p e o p l e s  o f  a l l  n a t i o n s .

