ElBaradei reports on IAEA's activities in 2007
Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), gave a review of the agency's work in 2007 to its board of governors, who met today in Vienna. He summarised IAEA cooperation efforts with new nuclear countries as well as its non-proliferation headaches.
Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), gave a review of the agency's work in 2007 to its board of governors, who met today in Vienna. He summarised IAEA cooperation efforts with new nuclear countries as well as its non-proliferation headaches.
ElBaradei noted the expansion of his agency's workload in the area of nuclear power as a result of the increasing number of member states wanting to add nuclear to their energy mix. World Nuclear News understands that the IAEA has responded to around 50 appeals for assistance by various countries and regional groupings, although the agency operates a code of silence on the matter.
There are now 61 contracting parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety, including all countries with operating nuclear power plants, ElBaradei reported, adding: "I urge every member state considering the
"I reiterate my call
IAEA director general
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Every country in the world except for Pakistan, India, Israel and North Korea has signed the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty, allowing the IAEA to safeguard their use of radioactive and nuclear fuel materials. However, ElBaradei said, "Events of recent years have placed the nuclear non-proliferation regime under stress on multiple fronts and made it clear that concrete steps to strengthen the regime are urgently required." He said that 163 countries had safeguards agreements in force, but that 30 still did not.
On a positive note, ElBaradei said that 88 states have now added the Additional Protocol to their safeguards agreements, allowing the IAEA to conduct snap inspections anywhere apart from the declared nuclear weapons facilities of the five nuclear weapons states (China, France, Russia, the UK and the USA). He said, "This positive trend needs to be maintained as such protocols are central to the agency's ability to verify the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities. I reiterate my call on all states that have not yet done so to bring additional protocols into force without delay."
ElBaradei gave a summary of some of the IAEA's most high-profile work - that concerning countries that have admitted or are accused of covert military nuclear programs.
North Korea
Regarding North Korea, ElBaradei said that the IAEA has been verifying and monitoring the shutting down and sealing of the Yongbyon nuclear facilities since July 2007. He reported that just over one-third of the used fuel rods had been removed from the 5 MWe reactor.
Iran
The IAEA has been able to continue to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran. However, ElBaradei said, "It is regrettable that we have not made the progress we had hoped for with respect to the one remaining major issue, namely clarification of the cluster of allegations and secretariat questions relevant to possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear program."
He added, "The secretariat is continuing to assess the information and explanations provided by Iran, including additional information received on 23 May. However, Iran has not yet agreed to implement all the transparency measures required to clarify this cluster of allegations and questions." ElBaradei said that Iran "needs to implement the Additional Protocol to enable the agency to confirm the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities."
ElBaradei presented a report on Iran's nuclear activities to the IAEA's board. The report has already been forwarded to the UN Security Council and made available at its request.
Libya
"Libya has continued to be transparent and to provide the agency unrestricted access, beyond what is required under its comprehensive safeguards agreement and the Additional Protocol, to those locations, information and individuals deemed necessary by the agency," ElBaradei reported.
Syria
Regarding the reported bombing by Israel of a nuclear reactor in Syria in September 2007, he said: "It is deeply regrettable that information concerning this installation was not provided to the agency in a timely manner and that force was resorted to unilaterally before the agency was given an opportunity to establish the facts, in accordance with its responsibilities under the NPT and Syria's Safeguards Agreement." He added that it had now been agreed that an IAEA team will visit Syria between 22 and 24 June. ElBaradei said, "I look forward to Syria's full cooperation in this matter."
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