Statement by Ambassador Mitsuru Kitano at the Board of Governors Meeting starting on 7 September 2015

Item 4: Nuclear Security
 
Thank you, Madam Chair,
 
Japan welcomes the Director General’s report entitled “Nuclear Security Report 2015” (GOV/2015/42-GC(59)/12) and highly appreciates that the Secretariat has been proactively conducting a number of activities in a broad range of areas based on the “Nuclear Security Plan 2014-2017” (GOV/2013/42-GC(57)/19).
 
Madam Chair,
 
Japan has been consistently supporting the activities of the IAEA which plays the central role in the area of nuclear security.  The recent successful International Conference on Computer Security in June was another example of the important contribution of the Agency.  The next IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Security in December 2016 will be a milestone in determining the future direction of the IAEA’s efforts in the area of nuclear security.  Japan looks forward to making an active contribution towards the success of the Conference.
 
Madam Chair,
 
Japan received its first International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) mission in February this year.  I would like to reiterate Japan’s deep appreciation for the strenuous efforts made by relevant participants to the mission.  The outcome of the IPPAS mission review has been highly useful for Japan in further improving our nuclear security regime, and my government will strive to take the necessary follow-up measures.
 
Fostering and maintaining a nuclear security culture is a task for all stakeholders engaged in nuclear energy activities.  From this standpoint, the Nuclear Regulation Authority of Japan adopted an action guideline for nuclear security culture in January this year.  The Integrated Support Center for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Nuclear Security (ISCN) has been conducting a variety of national as well as international training courses and capacity-building activities in cooperation with the IAEA.  We will further strengthen our collaboration with the IAEA and other organizations while enhancing our networking with the Center of Excellences (CoEs) in other countries.
 
Madam Chair,
 
Japan highly appreciates the activities of the Nuclear Security Guidance Committee (NSGC) and Advisory Group on Nuclear Security (AdSec).  We hope　these bodies will make further progress in developing the Nuclear Security Series documents while addressing emerging challenges in the area of nuclear security.
 
Madam Chair,
 
For the entry into force of the 2005 Amendment to the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM), the ratification of fourteen additional countries is required.  Japan fully associates with the Joint Statement previously delivered by the US delegation, and calls upon all States which have not ratified the Amendment to do so as early as possible.  We support the statement by the Director General, which stated that entry into force of the Amendment is the single most important step which the international community can take in strengthening nuclear security globally.  Japan intends to contribute outreach efforts for the entry into force of the Amendment in close cooperation with other ratifiers and the Secretariat.  In this context, we welcome the first CPPNM Points of Contact meeting to be held in December this year to promote exchange of information among State Parties.
 
With these comments, Japan supports the actions recommended to the Board of Governors contained in the “Nuclear Security Report 2015” (GOV/2015/42-GC(59)/12).
 
Thank you, Madam Chair.