M51 l'jM-ay 1995

MR JOHN CARLSON

REAPPOINTMENT AS DIRECTOR OF SAFEGUARDS  AUSTRALIAN SAFEGUARDS OFFICE

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Gareth Evans, today announced the reappointment  of Mr John Carlson as Director of Safeguards for a five-year term. The appointment was  approved by Executive Council on 11 May 1995. Mr Carlson was first appointed to the  position in 1989 for three years and was subsequently reappointed for a further three years in

1992.

Mr Carlson brings a strong mix of policy, management and leadership experience to the  position. He has played a key role, both within Australia and internationally, in developing  new safeguards approaches, including improved operational methods and verification  techniques. He has been instrumental in fostering closer ties with counterpart organisations  with a particular emphasis on regional collaboration, notably with Japan, the Republic of  Korea and Indonesia. He has also worked directly in further developing Australia's network  of bilateral nuclear safeguards agreements.

The principal objective of the Australian Safeguards Office (ASO) is to ensure that nuclear  materials remain exclusively in peaceful use. ASO applies safeguards to nuclear materials  and technology in Australia, accounts for uranium exported under Australia's 14 bilateral  safeguards agreements covering 24 countries, and works closely with the International  Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Action against the spread of nuclear weapons is a key issue  for the 1990s, and IAEA safeguards are central to this effort. Ã¢Â‘

The ASO was transferred to the Foreign Affairs portfolio in June 1994 reflecting the  increasing importance of international safeguards developments, including measures under  consideration by the IAEA to strengthen IAEA safeguards following the Gulf War. The  decision taken on 11 Ma y by the international community meeting at the United Nations in  New York to extend the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty indefinitely, further reinforces the

importance of the role of safeguards in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.

Mr Carlson is also the Director of the Chemical Weapons Convention Office, established in  March 1995 to monitor compliance under th~ Chemical Weapons Convention which is  expected to come into force in 1996. It is envisaged that ASO will assume responsibility for  other arms control verification functions, including the Biological Weapons Convention, and

for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty currently being negotiated in the Conference on  Disarmament.

Mr Carlson's reappointment will take effect from 29 May 1995.

CANBERRA

