Plenary

STATEMENT BY MS AISHAH KARIM, DELEGATE TO THE 66th SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON AGENDA ITEM 86, REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, 1 NOVEMBER 2011 

Mr President,

The Singapore delegation would like to thank the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mr Yukiya Amano, and his Secretariat for the IAEA's comprehensive annual report.

2 As the global focal point for nuclear cooperation, the IAEA continues to play a crucial role in promoting the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology. Its mission of safety and security, safeguards and verification, and science and technology constitute a comprehensive regime, each pillar of which is equally essential. Singapore strongly supports the IAEA's important work and is pleased to co-sponsor the draft resolution on the Report of the IAEA.

Mr President,

3 Nuclear safety came into the spotlight this year with the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in March. The Fukushima accident demonstrated the grave dangers of low-probability high-impact accidents that are difficult to predict and fully guard against. We must therefore work together to further strengthen the global nuclear safety framework, and the global emergency preparedness and response mechanisms for nuclear emergencies. Singapore believes that the IAEA should drive this process. We thank the Director-General for convening the Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety in Vienna in June 2011, to learn from the experiences of the Fukushima accident. The Conference and the adoption of the 12-point Action Plan at the IAEA General Conference in September was a first step forward towards a comprehensive review of the global nuclear safety framework. The process is a continuing one. There unfortunately remain some who insist that the current global nuclear safety infrastructure is fine as it currently stands and that all that is required is better adherence and implementation of current practices. My delegation urges all parties to keep an open mind in engaging in an honest and open review of the global nuclear safety framework, and to accord the highest consideration to ensuring the safety of nuclear installations. Although the primary responsibility for nuclear safety rests with individual states, we must not forget that any accident would have far-reaching and potentially devastating transboundary impact. If we were to do less, the potential grave consequences would be unforgiveable, as we have had a chance to do better but did not because of narrow interests.

Mr President,

4 Nuclear non-proliferation remains a core aspect of the IAEA's mission. Singapore firmly believes that all States have the right to develop and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. At the same time, the IAEA has the vital task of ensuring that nuclear material and technology meant for peaceful purposes are not diverted for non-civilian uses that could threaten regional and international peace and stability. The IAEA's safeguards and verification regimes provide credible assurance that declared nuclear material and facilities are for peaceful uses. It is therefore both in the interests and the responsibility of all States to comply with these regimes. In this connection, Singapore strongly urges all States which have not done so to accede to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the IAEA's Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements and Additional Protocols. Those States that have done so should fully implement these agreements. As the number of nuclear power reactors is likely to increase by at least 90, and up to 350, by the year 2030, it is crucial that countries enforce and step up their individual measures to ensure security against theft of nuclear material for illicit purposes and malicious attacks against nuclear facilities.

5 A peaceful and secure world free of nuclear weapons is one that we all aspire to. The IAEA has a unique and important mission to fulfil in the promotion of peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology, and ensuring that these benefit as many citizens of the world as possible. Some important areas that come to mind include the fields of cancer treatment, food security and water management. This is all the more pertinent given that the world population continues to grow and the competition for resources is getting increasingly tighter.

Mr President,

6 As a member of the IAEA Board of Governors, Singapore would like to reiterate our continued support for the Agency's vital role and tasks. Singapore's cooperation with the IAEA focuses on the applications of nuclear technology in areas such as industry, health and radiation protection. Over the past decade, we have hosted 22 scientific visits, 83 fellowship attachments and 24 regional training events with the IAEA, including most recently, the Regional Seminar on the Agency's Safeguards System for Southeast Asian States with Significant Nuclear Activities that was held in March this year. In our remaining year on the Board, we will continue to exert our utmost efforts for the advancement of the IAEA's mission.

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