M73

Â©Ã’Ã’^ÃÂ^ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃ’ÃÂÃÂ ÃÂ Â© B  BÂ©B2B0@M]  ÃÂ^Ã’Ã’ÃÂÃÂÃÂ²Â©

N E W S  R E L E A S E

NQ D A T E

22 September 1977

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ON AUSTRALIA'S  ACCESSION TO THE ASIAN REGIONAL  CO-OPERATIVE AGREEMENT (RCA)

The Minister for Foreign Affairs,  Mr Andrew Peacock,  announced today that the Government has decided that  Australia will accede tb the Asian Regional Co-operative  Agreement (RCA) of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Mr Peacock said that this decision would give effect  to several major policy concerns of the Government. It is  a renewed demonstration of Australia's commitment to assist  the economic and social development of developing countries,   especially in our own neighbourhood. Beyond this, it  demonstrates the Government's commitment to its obligations  under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. One of the

essential bases of that Treaty is an undertaking amongst  parties to co-operate in the development and application  of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. The benefits  which this confers on parties to the Treaty are a direct

consequence of their acceptance of non-proliferation safeguards.

The Asian RCA was established in 1972 under the  auspices of the IAEA. It provides a framework for co-operative  research, development and training in-.nuclear science and  technology through national scientific institutions. The  present members of the Agreement are 11 developing countries  in Asia, including all of the members of the Association

of South East Asian Nations. Australia hopes that its  accession to the RCA will encourage otherrdeveloped countries  in the region to become members and developed countries  elsewhere to lend their financial support.

To date the RCA has undertaken six small projects,  mainly in the use of radio-isotopes in such fields as  fisheries, agriculture, environmental pollution control  and industry. Several more projects are being planned,^  notably in medicine and animal husbandry.

A distinguishing feature of the RCA is the flexibility  of its administrative arrangements. Under these arrangements,  Australia will be entirely free to choose the projects '  which it wishes to help and the recipient countries. Australia

can and will provide its assistance on a bilateral basis in  support of particular projects in particular countriesÂ·

. ../2

Ã¢ÂÂ¢ —  "  Â·Â· - ÃÂ  1 .  Â·;Â·Ã¢ÂÂ ' Â· .  ÃÂ ;  Ã¢ÂÂºÂ·. $ >* . Â· :

2.

Mr Peacock said that,  in participating in RCA  projects,  the Government would apply its general policy on  technical assistance in the nuclear area. This derives  from the Government's nuclear safeguards policy which was

announced by the Prime Minister on 24 May. The nuclear  technical assistance policy gives preference to countries  which are party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty in areas  of research and development which have no proliferation

implications such as the application of radio-isotopes in  agriculture or medicine.

Furthermore,  Mr Peacock noted that the policy precludes  nuclear co-operation with ÃÂ·ÃÂÃÂ·-NPT parties in fields which  are directly related to the nuclear fuel cycle. Australian  membership of the RCA will not therefore lead to the transfer

of sensitive nuclear technology to any non-NPT country.

Z

