Statement by Ambassador Mitsuru Kitano at the Board of Governors Meeting starting on 8 June 2015 Item 2 : The Annual Report for 2014
2015/6/8
Thank you, Madame Chair.
Japan would like to thank the Secretariat for preparing the “The Annual Report for 2014” (GOV/2015/27), which provides a useful overview of the
wide range of activities carried out by the Agency in the past year. We would also like to thank the Secretariat, including the respective DDGs, for
giving us valuable presentations on this document at the briefing.
I would like to take this opportunity to make some remarks on the topics included in this report which are of particular interest to Japan.
Madame Chair,
The importance of the Agency’s various roles and activities were reaffirmed and stressed during the discussion at the 2015 NPT Review
Conference, particularly in the context of nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Although, regrettably its final document was not adopted at the Review Conference, a significant number of states expressed their firm support to
the central role of the Agency in peaceful uses of nuclear energy, both in power and non-power applications, technical cooperation, nuclear safety
and security, and safeguards. We are convinced that there was a common understanding among the states on the importance of the Agency in this
regard.
Madame Chair,
Japan has been fully supporting the wide range of Agency’s activities, and actively contributed to the discussion in New York. Regarding peaceful
uses of nuclear energy, in particular, Japan recognizes that nuclear science and technology has been making important contributions in
addressing global challenges such as sustainable development, and these contributions should be continuously enhanced.
In further promoting peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology, we emphasize the importance of enhancing access to nuclear science and
technology for the benefit of developing countries, through various measures including capacity-building, provision of equipment, and
strengthening regional cooperation.
We also emphasize the importance of broadening areas for nuclear applications to enable States to meet their fundamental needs for
socioeconomic developments in wide-ranging areas such as human health including cancer therapy, nutrition, food security and safety, agriculture,
water management, environmental protection, industrial application and energy production.
In this context, I would like to reiterate our latest commitments announced at the NPT Review Conference.
Firstly, Japan will contribute a total of 25 million US dollars over the next 5 years to the IAEA Peaceful Uses Initiative (PUI). With this contribution, we
will support implementation of a variety of activities by the Agency in promoting peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology, including its
technical cooperation activities in a manner that effectively supplements its Technical Cooperation Fund (TCF). We welcome, in this regard, the
announcement made by Australia and the United States for their latest contributions, and encourage other Member States to consider contribution
to the PUI.
Secondly, Japan has decided to provide 2 million US dollars from our PUI contribution to the Renovation of IAEA’s Nuclear Applications Laboratories
in Seibersdorf, or ReNuAL project, in order to assist the Agency in starting construction of new the laboratories expeditiously, and in completing the
project as scheduled. We recognize the significant importance of the ReNuAL project, which we believe will contribute to the expansion of the
Agency’s capacity of research and development of nuclear applications and in providing further opportunities of technology transfer to the Member
States. We encourage other Member States to make contributions towards this important project.
Madame Chair,
Strengthening nuclear safety and radiation protection constitutes a vital element for the development of nuclear science and technology, both in
nuclear power and non-power applications. We would like to stress the importance for the Member States to continue maintaining and improving
national and international infrastructure for nuclear safety, through steady implementation of IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety and strengthening
relevant international legal frameworks, including the Convention on Nuclear Safety.
In this context, we welcome that CSS has entered into force which represents a step forward to establishment of an international legal
framework in this area.
We also place importance on the transport safety. We were pleased to discuss the importance of dialogue between coastal and shipping states
with many interested states at the NPT Review Conference, and very much encouraged by positive discussions there. We would like to reiterate
our commitments in conducting the transport of nuclear materials in strict conformity with international standards established by the relevant
international organizations and based on the right of freedom of maritime navigation as provided for in international law. We would also like to
reiterate our commitment in continuing dialogue between coastal and shipping states, including implementation of the guidelines on best
practices for Voluntary and Confidential Government-to-Government Communications. In this context, I would like to refer to the Tabletop
Exercise that will be held among relevant States on June 17 to confirm effectiveness of Government-to-Government Communications, and
appreciate all the support by the Secretariat for this exercise.
On other key issues, namely, technical cooperation, safeguards and Fukushima related issues, we would like to offer our comments, under the
respective agenda items.
With these comments, my delegation wishes to approve the document contained in GOV/2015/27.
Thank you, Madame, Chair.
Japan would like to thank the Secretariat for preparing the “The Annual Report for 2014” (GOV/2015/27), which provides a useful overview of the
wide range of activities carried out by the Agency in the past year. We would also like to thank the Secretariat, including the respective DDGs, for
giving us valuable presentations on this document at the briefing.
I would like to take this opportunity to make some remarks on the topics included in this report which are of particular interest to Japan.
Madame Chair,
The importance of the Agency’s various roles and activities were reaffirmed and stressed during the discussion at the 2015 NPT Review
Conference, particularly in the context of nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Although, regrettably its final document was not adopted at the Review Conference, a significant number of states expressed their firm support to
the central role of the Agency in peaceful uses of nuclear energy, both in power and non-power applications, technical cooperation, nuclear safety
and security, and safeguards. We are convinced that there was a common understanding among the states on the importance of the Agency in this
regard.
Madame Chair,
Japan has been fully supporting the wide range of Agency’s activities, and actively contributed to the discussion in New York. Regarding peaceful
uses of nuclear energy, in particular, Japan recognizes that nuclear science and technology has been making important contributions in
addressing global challenges such as sustainable development, and these contributions should be continuously enhanced.
In further promoting peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology, we emphasize the importance of enhancing access to nuclear science and
technology for the benefit of developing countries, through various measures including capacity-building, provision of equipment, and
strengthening regional cooperation.
We also emphasize the importance of broadening areas for nuclear applications to enable States to meet their fundamental needs for
socioeconomic developments in wide-ranging areas such as human health including cancer therapy, nutrition, food security and safety, agriculture,
water management, environmental protection, industrial application and energy production.
In this context, I would like to reiterate our latest commitments announced at the NPT Review Conference.
Firstly, Japan will contribute a total of 25 million US dollars over the next 5 years to the IAEA Peaceful Uses Initiative (PUI). With this contribution, we
will support implementation of a variety of activities by the Agency in promoting peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology, including its
technical cooperation activities in a manner that effectively supplements its Technical Cooperation Fund (TCF). We welcome, in this regard, the
announcement made by Australia and the United States for their latest contributions, and encourage other Member States to consider contribution
to the PUI.
Secondly, Japan has decided to provide 2 million US dollars from our PUI contribution to the Renovation of IAEA’s Nuclear Applications Laboratories
in Seibersdorf, or ReNuAL project, in order to assist the Agency in starting construction of new the laboratories expeditiously, and in completing the
project as scheduled. We recognize the significant importance of the ReNuAL project, which we believe will contribute to the expansion of the
Agency’s capacity of research and development of nuclear applications and in providing further opportunities of technology transfer to the Member
States. We encourage other Member States to make contributions towards this important project.
Madame Chair,
Strengthening nuclear safety and radiation protection constitutes a vital element for the development of nuclear science and technology, both in
nuclear power and non-power applications. We would like to stress the importance for the Member States to continue maintaining and improving
national and international infrastructure for nuclear safety, through steady implementation of IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety and strengthening
relevant international legal frameworks, including the Convention on Nuclear Safety.
In this context, we welcome that CSS has entered into force which represents a step forward to establishment of an international legal
framework in this area.
We also place importance on the transport safety. We were pleased to discuss the importance of dialogue between coastal and shipping states
with many interested states at the NPT Review Conference, and very much encouraged by positive discussions there. We would like to reiterate
our commitments in conducting the transport of nuclear materials in strict conformity with international standards established by the relevant
international organizations and based on the right of freedom of maritime navigation as provided for in international law. We would also like to
reiterate our commitment in continuing dialogue between coastal and shipping states, including implementation of the guidelines on best
practices for Voluntary and Confidential Government-to-Government Communications. In this context, I would like to refer to the Tabletop
Exercise that will be held among relevant States on June 17 to confirm effectiveness of Government-to-Government Communications, and
appreciate all the support by the Secretariat for this exercise.
On other key issues, namely, technical cooperation, safeguards and Fukushima related issues, we would like to offer our comments, under the
respective agenda items.
With these comments, my delegation wishes to approve the document contained in GOV/2015/27.
Thank you, Madame, Chair.