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

Item 5:
Strengthening the Agency’s activities related to nuclear science, technology and applications

 
Thank you, Madam Chair,
Japan would like to thank the Secretariat for preparing the Report by the Director General (GOV/2015/39-GC(59)/5) on this agenda item, which provides a useful overview of the Agency’s activities in the areas of nuclear science, technology and applications.
 
Madam Chair,
Japan attaches great importance to the Agency’s activities in the applications of nuclear technologies, particularly because the need and importance of its activities in those areas have been increasing recently. Japan acknowledges with satisfaction that tangible outcomes have been achieved through Director General Mr. Amano’s initiatives to promote peaceful uses of nuclear technology in the areas of human health and nutrition, including cancer control, food and agriculture, water management and the environment. Foreseeing the adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda at UN General Assembly in September this year, Japan hopes that the Agency will further strengthen activities in those areas based upon its unique technologies and capabilities, and will greatly contribute to the implementation of the Agenda. In this regard, Japan believes that it is timely for the Agency to hold the side event “Atoms for Peace and Development” in the margin of the 59^th General Conference next week. Japan looks forward to making an active contribution to the success of such an important event.
 
Madam Chair,
Japan believes that the Nuclear Applications Laboratories in Seibersdorf have been playing an important role in the promotion of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. Japan strongly supports the ReNuAL project and pledged an additional extra-budgetary contribution of two million USD to this project at the NPT Review Conference in May this year. Taking into account of the update given by the Secretariat on the progress of the project, Japan will shortly disburse the pledged contribution to encourage further progress of the project. It is important to implement the project expeditiously and smoothly. Japan is concerned that the project has yet to have a clear picture in terms of resource mobilization to achieve its completion. In order for all Member States to benefit from the project from 2018, I would like to re-emphasize the importance of financial contributions by Member States at the earliest date, including during the General Conference next week.
 
Madam Chair,
The Peaceful Uses Initiative (PUI) is an expedient and flexible financial support tool supplementing Technical Cooperation Fund for the promotion of peaceful uses of nuclear technology. Japan believes that the PUI has been making significant contributions to providing developing countries with access to broad areas of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. As significant international initiatives such as the Post 2015 Development Agenda, the COP 21, and the 2016 TICAD VI in Kenya are approaching, the Agency has an opportunity to increase its contributions to the world’s socio-economic development and demonstrate it to the world. In this regard, Japan will cooperate closely with the Agency’s Secretariat, relevant countries and regional organizations so that Japan’s PUI contribution of 25 million US dollars over the next five years, which Japan committed during the 2015 NPT Review Conference, can be used most effectively.
 
Madam Chair,
Japan attaches great importance to the Agency’s activities in the areas of human resources development and capacity building, as they enable Member States, especially developing countries, to benefit from peaceful　uses of nuclear science and technology in a sustainable manner. Japan　welcomes, in this regard, the successful conclusion of the fourth “Japan –　IAEA Joint Nuclear Energy Management School” held in June this year.　Japan has been hosting the school since 2012.
As for the “International Nuclear Energy Management Academy (INMA)”, which the Agency has developed in cooperation with major universities of Member States, Japan has provided financial and human resource support since its start-up. Japan welcomes that the Academy’s framework is now near completion. Since the Fukushima Daiichi accident, it has become increasingly important to strengthen management capacity in the fields of safety culture, corporate governance, and human and information management. In this regard, Japan continues to support the completion of the Academy’s framework, and its implementation in cooperation with other Member States.
Madam Chair,
With these comments, Japan takes note of the report contained in GOV/2015/39-GC(59)/5, and supports the request to the Director General to submit the report to the General Conference.
 
Thank you, Madam Chair,