Statement by Minister Hirotaka Matsuo at the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting starting on 4th June 2018 Item 2: Annual Report for 2017
2018/6/5
Thank you, Mr. Chair,
At the outset, Japan would like to express its sincere appreciation for the effort of the Secretariat to draft the Annual Report for 2017. The Report provides a useful overview of the wide range of activities carried out by the Agency in the past year. I would like to take this opportunity to make remarks on some of the activities by the IAEA.
Mr. Chair,
In April, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono participated in the second preparatory committee of the 2020 NPT Review Conference in Geneva. In his statement, Foreign Minister Kono emphasized that the NPT is the cornerstone of the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, and Japan is committed to achieving a successful 2020 Review Conference. In this connection, I wish to stress the important role of the IAEA in maintaining and strengthening the NPT regime, through its work in nuclear non-proliferation and promotion of peaceful use. We are fully committed to continue cooperating with the Agency.
Mr. Chair,
In the area of nuclear safety, Japan is continuously working with the IAEA in order to strengthen international cooperation, drawing on the lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi Accident.
Giving that the number of embarking countries is increasing, it is important that the experience and knowledge on Emergency Preparedness and Response are shared among the international community. Since its establishment, the Fukushima IAEA-CBC has played a significant role. This year, the CBC in Fukushima will host several international workshops, each focused on the RANET training, on the development of protection strategy for radiological emergencies, and on monitoring in emergency situations.
In addition, referring to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, the Japanese delegation actively participated in the peer review during the 6th review meeting. We acknowledge that the review meeting is a precious opportunity to share information and experience on the radioactive waste and spent fuel management among the Contracting Parties. Taking into account the possible increase in the number of Contracting Parties in future, ways for improvement of the peer review process was also discussed in the meeting. We would like to contribute to the further consultation.
Mr. Chair,
Last, but not least, Japan recognizes that nuclear security is important area where the IAEA is expected to play a central role in facilitating international cooperation. Japan has continued to provide funding for the Nuclear Security Fund in order to support the Agency’s activities in capacity building aiming at strengthening nuclear security worldwide. Together with the Permanent Mission of Brazil, Japan hosted a workshop on Nuclear Security last February. Japan hopes the positive linkage between nuclear security and peaceful uses of nuclear energy will be fostered, where the former activities enhance and facilitate the latter. We would like to continue our consultations with the Secretariat and interested Member States on this topic.
With these comments, Japan approves the Annual Report for 2017 contained in GOV/2018/14.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
At the outset, Japan would like to express its sincere appreciation for the effort of the Secretariat to draft the Annual Report for 2017. The Report provides a useful overview of the wide range of activities carried out by the Agency in the past year. I would like to take this opportunity to make remarks on some of the activities by the IAEA.
Mr. Chair,
In April, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono participated in the second preparatory committee of the 2020 NPT Review Conference in Geneva. In his statement, Foreign Minister Kono emphasized that the NPT is the cornerstone of the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, and Japan is committed to achieving a successful 2020 Review Conference. In this connection, I wish to stress the important role of the IAEA in maintaining and strengthening the NPT regime, through its work in nuclear non-proliferation and promotion of peaceful use. We are fully committed to continue cooperating with the Agency.
Mr. Chair,
In the area of nuclear safety, Japan is continuously working with the IAEA in order to strengthen international cooperation, drawing on the lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi Accident.
Giving that the number of embarking countries is increasing, it is important that the experience and knowledge on Emergency Preparedness and Response are shared among the international community. Since its establishment, the Fukushima IAEA-CBC has played a significant role. This year, the CBC in Fukushima will host several international workshops, each focused on the RANET training, on the development of protection strategy for radiological emergencies, and on monitoring in emergency situations.
In addition, referring to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, the Japanese delegation actively participated in the peer review during the 6th review meeting. We acknowledge that the review meeting is a precious opportunity to share information and experience on the radioactive waste and spent fuel management among the Contracting Parties. Taking into account the possible increase in the number of Contracting Parties in future, ways for improvement of the peer review process was also discussed in the meeting. We would like to contribute to the further consultation.
Mr. Chair,
Last, but not least, Japan recognizes that nuclear security is important area where the IAEA is expected to play a central role in facilitating international cooperation. Japan has continued to provide funding for the Nuclear Security Fund in order to support the Agency’s activities in capacity building aiming at strengthening nuclear security worldwide. Together with the Permanent Mission of Brazil, Japan hosted a workshop on Nuclear Security last February. Japan hopes the positive linkage between nuclear security and peaceful uses of nuclear energy will be fostered, where the former activities enhance and facilitate the latter. We would like to continue our consultations with the Secretariat and interested Member States on this topic.
With these comments, Japan approves the Annual Report for 2017 contained in GOV/2018/14.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.