ITEM 14:
REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY

STATEMENT
BY

H. E. Mr. ANDRÉ ERDÕS
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE REPUBLIC OF HUNGARY
TO THE UNITED NATIONS

NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 12, 1997

Mr. President,

My delegation associates itself with the statement of the Ambassador of Luxemburg delivered on behalf of the European Union. The comprehensive overview of the International Atomic Energy Agency's activities presented by Director General Dr. Hans Blix elaborates another successful year in the 40 year-old history of the Agency. The IAEA has again demonstrated not only its benefits, but also the indispensable nature of this institution. Moreover, it has given an additional proof of its ability to adjust itself to the challenges of a new era. In doing so, the Agency has successfully fulfilled its role in the promotion and expansion of the peaceful use of nuclear energy, as well as in the implementation of the safeguards measures, in compliance with the objectives and provisions of the NPT.

Mr. President,

As we witness the expansion of the peaceful, both non-power and power applications of nuclear techniques, it is all the more important to put in place and upgrade, whenever possible, proper assurance mechanisms. On the one hand, they involve verification based on an enhanced safeguards regime, on the other, the adoption of high safety standards to be implemented in the framework of the safeguards agreements. While the Convention on Nuclear Safety, together with the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, provide additional instruments for the strengthening of the safety standards, the so-called Model Additional Protocol for safeguards agreements adopted in May constitutes the basis for the further improvement of the efficiency of the Agency in detecting possible undeclared activities and preempting any misappropriation of nuclear technologies. The Agency's authority in the verification process is not to be challenged. The international community should continue to show unwavering support for measures which further cement the ability of the Agency to enlarge the scope of its safety regime and to ensure the prompt and full implementation of its safety agreements. In this context, we endorse the measures designed to enhance the safe transport of radioactive materials and to combat illicit trafficking in nuclear materials.

Mr. President,

It is well known that Hungary continues to rely on energy generated by nuclear power plants. Consequently, it stand firm in its commitment to participate actively in the Agency's cooperation and education programmes and in its readiness to adopt the latest safety standards and to contribute to the prevention of any form of misappropriation of nuclear technologies. Hungary has thus concluded a comprehensive safeguards agreement with the Agency, joined the Convention on Nuclear Safety and, just recently, was among the first States to sign the latest legal instruments on spent fuel and radioactive waste management as well as on civil liability for nuclear damage. Hungary is also prepared to enter into an additional protocol complementing its safeguards agreement, in strict observance of the guidelines constituting the basis of the Model Protocol.

Mr. President,

Our sense of success should not overshadow the need for unrelenting vigilance. We should not shy away from voicing our concerns. The stakes are too high. In this context, we are troubled by the fact that the recognition of the organic interrelationship between, on the one hand, the benefits of cooperation and, on the other, readiness to implement safeguards arrangements is apparently not universally shared. Despite the efforts of the international community in general, and of the Agency in particular, there is still a way to go towards further enlarging the scope of the safeguards regime, both in depth and in geographical terms. Sadly, in a number of cases, serious doubts still linger with regard to the possible misappropriation of nuclear technologies.

In this context, Mr. President, we are concerned that the issue relating to Iraq's nuclear programme has not ceased to feature on our agenda. We are also concerned that the relevant Security Council resolutions could not have been implemented to the extent necessary for clarification of all remaining doubts associated with this programme. Regrettably, some recent developments have further complicated the situation. We join others to call upon the Iraqi authorities to cooperate with the Agency and the mandated international bodies and to furnish them with the information requested in full compliance with the relevant Security Council resolutions.

Another issue which has remained a prominent item on our agenda for years relates to the uncertainties surrounding the nuclear programme launched by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. We regret that repeated requests made by the Security Council urging the DPRK to cooperate fully with the Agency and to comply with the stipulations of its safeguards agreement have gone unheeded, and the answers provided have failed to help establish a sufficiently clear picture regarding this issue. We fully support the efforts and verification activities carried out by the Agency in order to clarify the situation in a reassuring manner.

Mr. President,

When speaking about the peaceful use of nuclear energy, one cannot circumvent the subject of Chernobyl. The event that took place there more than ten years ago sent literally shock-waves throughout a vast region where my country is also situated. The nuclear disaster in Chernobyl was and still is a vivid and graphic reminder of the vulnerability of our interdependent world. It sent the strongest message possible about the urgency of improving nuclear safety and security. In this context, Hungary is looking forward to the upcoming international meetings to be held in New York with the aim of mobilizing and coordinating the efforts by the international community in the respect.

Mr. President,

In his Statement to the 41st Session of the General Conference of the IAEA, the Director General was right in pointing out that, and I quote, "...An organization is not only Statute, records and decisions. It is also personalities, negotiations, tradition and atmosphere...." unquote. I wish, therefore, to take this occasion to extend our special thanks to Director General Dr. Hans Blix for his dedicated work and strenuous efforts that have constituted a steady and universally valued guidance for the Agency in the course of the last 16 years. We also wish to sincerely congratulate Dr. Mohamed El Baradei upon his appointment as new Director General of the Agency.

Finally, Mr. President, Hungary, as one of its co-sponsors, reccomends draft resolution A/52/L.13 for adoption by the General Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. President.