MINISTER FOR

FOREIGN AFFAIRS NEWS RELEASE

No.  M52

Date THE HON. TONY STREET, M.P.

21 May 198.1

IP NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS AGREEMENT .  The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and  Resources, Mr Anthony and the Minister for Foreign Affairs,  . Mr Street, today welcomed the announcement in Brussels that the

Coucil of Ministers (Foreign Ministers) of the European Community  gave approval on 1.' May to the outcome of the negotiations on a  nuclear safeguards agreement between Australia and the European  Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM).  The announcement said that the

Council agreed that formal approval of the conclusion of the agreeÂ­  ment would be given in the next few weeks, after the texts had been  finalised. It is understood that this reference to finalisation of  the texts relates to their translation into all the community language

The Ministers recalled that the conclusion of a nuclear  safeguards agreement with EURATOM was a major objective of the  Government in the nuclear safeguards area. Entry into force of  such an agreement would open the way to exports of Australian

uranium to the European Community under new contracts.  These would  be subject to the requirements of the Government's nuclear  safeguards policy.

The Ministers looked forward to early signature of the  agreement,  as soon as the necessary formal procedures on both sides  had been completed.  In accordance with the practice established  by the Government for all Australian nuclear safeguards agreements,

the text of the agreement with EURATOM will be made public on  signature and then presented to Parliament at an early opportunity. At that time a further, more detailed, statement will be made. The  Ministers noted that the agreement had been negotiated in accordance  with the requirements of Australia's nucelar safeguards policy.

