Mr President,
\nI am honoured to address the General Assembly for the first time since I became Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency last December.
\nThis year has been unprecedented for all of us.
\nThe IAEA spent several months in lockdown from March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We were able to begin a phased return to our offices in May, but things are still far from normal.
\nMany of our activities, such as training scientists, doctors and engineers in developing countries in the use of relevant nuclear technology, have been moved online.
\nWe have continued to implement safeguards throughout the world to prevent the diversion of nuclear material from peaceful activities.
\nAnd we launched the largest operation in the Agency\u2019s history to help countries confront the coronavirus. Nearly 1,500 consignments of equipment for virus detection and diagnosis, and other supplies, have been delivered to some 125 countries.
\nAn IAEA survey of nuclear medicine services around the world showed that the pandemic is disrupting the diagnosis and treatment of chronic conditions such as cancer and heart disease, potentially putting many lives at risk.
\nDiagnostic procedures fell on average by more than half in the 72 countries surveyed. Low-income countries are particularly at risk.
\nThe IAEA helps countries to use nuclear and radiation medicine to detect and treat cancers, and to manage cardiovascular diseases and other serious conditions.
\nWhile tackling COVID-19 remains a global priority, non-communicable diseases such as cancer continue to afflict millions and their incidence is growing. The IAEA will continue to do everything it can so that this situation does not get worse.
\nThe Declaration on the commemoration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations adopted by the General Assembly on September 21st stated:
\n\u201cThe COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us in the most powerful way that we are closely interconnected and only as strong as our weakest link.\u201d
\nI strongly agree. That is why I have proposed a new IAEA Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action project, known as ZODIAC, to help the world prepare for future pandemics, which will surely come.
\nZODIAC will establish a global network of national diagnostic laboratories for the monitoring, surveillance, early detection and control of zoonotic diseases, which are transmitted from animals to humans.
\nMember States will have access to nuclear or nuclear-derived equipment, technology packages, expertise, guidance and training. Decision-makers will receive up-to-date, user-friendly information that will enable them to act quickly. We will work closely with partners such as the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Organisation for Animal Health.
\nI encourage all countries to support this important initiative.
\nThe IAEA assisted 147 countries and territories last year through our technical cooperation programme, 35 of which were least developed countries. The main focus of our work was on health and nutrition, nuclear safety and security, and food and agriculture.
\nAs far as safeguards implementation is concerned, we continued to carry out all of our most time-critical in-field verification work, while rescheduling some less urgent activities, such as equipment installation and maintenance. For the first time, we chartered aircraft to enable our inspectors to reach their destinations. I am grateful for the support of Member States that made this possible.
\nThe number of countries with safeguards agreements in force stands at 184, 136 of whom have brought additional protocols into force.
\nI report regularly to the IAEA Board of Governors on Iran\u2019s implementation of its nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
\nThe Agency continues to verify the non-diversion of nuclear material declared by Iran under its Safeguards Agreement. Evaluations regarding the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities for Iran continue.
\nIn August, I went to Tehran for discussions with President Rouhani and other senior officials. We reached agreement on the resolution of some safeguards implementation issues, including access by our inspectors to two locations in Iran of interest to the Agency.
\nInspections have since taken place at both locations. Environmental samples taken by our inspectors are being analysed.
\nI welcome the agreement between the Agency and Iran, which I hope will reinforce cooperation and enhance mutual trust.
\nThe Agency continues to monitor the nuclear programme of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, using open source information including satellite imagery.
\nThe DPRK\u2019s nuclear activities remain a cause for serious concern. The continuation of the country\u2019s nuclear programme is a clear violation of relevant Security Council resolutions and is deeply regrettable.
\nI call upon the DPRK to comply fully with its obligations under Security Council resolutions, to cooperate promptly with the Agency in the full and effective implementation of its NPT Safeguards Agreement, and to resolve all outstanding issues, especially those that have arisen during the absence of Agency inspectors from the country.
\nThe Agency is intensifying its readiness to play its essential role in verifying the DPRK\u2019s nuclear programme.
\nThe modernisation of the IAEA nuclear applications laboratories is one of the most exciting and ambitious projects ever undertaken by the Agency.
\nThanks to the generous support of Member States, four of the eight laboratories now occupy brand new facilities.
\nI have proposed a final phase comprising the construction of a new building to house the remaining three labs, the refurbishment of the Dosimetry Laboratory, and the replacement of our ageing greenhouses. These are essential for our work on climate-smart agriculture, resource management and food security.
\nI thank all Member States, and especially Germany and South Africa as co-Chairs of the informal group of Friends of this project, for their tireless efforts to mobilise support.
\nMy first trip outside of Austria as Director General was to the COP 25 climate change conference in Madrid last December. I wanted to send a very clear message \u2014 that nuclear power is part of the solution to the climate crisis. I am keen to ensure that the Agency\u2019s voice is heard on the great benefits of nuclear power.
\nThe 443 nuclear power reactors operating in 32 countries today provide approximately 390 gigawatts of installed capacity. They supply over 10% of the world\u2019s electricity, but around one third of all low-carbon electricity. Without nuclear power, global CO2 emissions would be considerably higher. There are 54 reactors under construction in 19 countries, which are expected to provide 57 gigawatts of additional capacity.
\nThe latest IAEA annual projections show that nuclear power will continue to play a key role in the world\u2019s low-carbon energy mix, with global nuclear electrical capacity seen nearly doubling by 2050 in our high case scenario. Climate change mitigation remains a key potential driver for the use of nuclear power.
\nThe great benefits of nuclear technologies are sustainable only if they are used safely and securely.
\nIAEA Safety Standards are used voluntarily by almost all countries to protect people and the environment from harmful effects of ionizing radiation.
\nMember States also make extensive use of IAEA expert peer review and advisory services to help them continuously enhance nuclear safety and security.
\nThe IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Security was held at ministerial level in February. It was a great success, with a record 54 ministers and 141 countries participating.
\nA Ministerial Declaration reaffirmed support for the central role of the Agency in international cooperation to ensure that nuclear and other radioactive material is properly protected.
\nI attach great importance to increasing the proportion of women who work for the Agency. When I took up office, I set a goal of reaching gender parity in the Professional and higher categories of our staff by 2025. We can already report a significant increase in the proportion of women appointed to senior positions.
\nIn order to encourage more women to study nuclear subjects and pursue careers in this field, I launched the IAEA Marie Sklodowska Curie Fellowship Programme. It will support women studying for master\u2019s degrees in nuclear science and technology, safety, security or non-proliferation.
\nI am pleased to inform you that the Programme attracted considerable interest and the first 100 successful candidates will be named soon.
\nI am committed to managing the resources which Member States entrust to us wisely and productively and I am very conscious of the financial constraints in many countries. I count on all Member States to provide the support we need in order to serve them well.
\nFinally, I warmly thank Austria, our wonderfully supportive host country, for doing everything possible to facilitate our work.
\nAnd I am most grateful to Agency staff for their hard work and commitment, especially in these very challenging times.
\nThank you, Mr President.
\nSource: United Nation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"