08 Nov 2023
Mr President,
1 The IAEA is an important and steadfast partner of the international community. As a member of the IAEA’s Board of Governors from 2022 to 2024, Singapore reaffirms our full support for the mandate and work of the IAEA. We are pleased to continue our co-sponsorship of the draft resolution “Report of the IAEA” this year. The IAEA’s annual report highlights the agency’s key achievements across the core areas of nuclear verification, nuclear safety and security, and technical cooperation and capacity-building. Nevertheless, for the IAEA to continue carrying out its mandate effectively, all countries also have a responsibility to work closely and proactively with the agency. Allow me to make three points in this regard.
2 First, the IAEA plays a central role in upholding the international non-proliferation regime, as the sole competent authority responsible for verifying States’ fulfilment of their nuclear safeguards obligations. Singapore urges all NPT States Parties to honour the commitments under their respective Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements, and the Additional Protocol. We also call for the remaining Non-Nuclear Weapon States Parties to the NPT that have yet to bring into force comprehensive safeguards agreements to do so as soon as possible. These efforts towards building mutual trust and confidence are more crucial now than ever before.
3 Second, the IAEA has established rigorous global standards for nuclear safety and security, and actively supports Member States in implementing these standards. Singapore is committed to maintaining and strengthening our national regulatory frameworks for radiation safety, including on waste management, emergency preparedness and exposure control. The IAEA’s first Integrated Regulatory Review Service mission to Singapore was completed in October 2022 and we look forward to further cooperation under our Country Programme Framework 2021 to 2025. As nuclear scientific research and technologies continue to advance, we welcome the IAEA’s continued efforts to update its guidance documents to keep pace with emerging technologies. This is important support for Member States to harness the benefits of nuclear energy in a safe, secure and sustainable manner. We also welcome the official opening of the IAEA’s Nuclear Security Training and Demonstration Centre in Seibersdorf last month. We are confident that the Centre will provide valuable contributions to enhancing nuclear security training and tackling global nuclear terrorism.
4 At the same time, Singapore remains deeply concerned that the ongoing war in Ukraine has put the nuclear safety and security of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in peril and is compounding the risk of a nuclear accident with catastrophic consequences. We appreciate the IAEA’s independent and impartial assessment of the situation on the ground, and reiterate the importance of upholding the IAEA’s Seven Pillars of Nuclear Safety and Security which Director-General Rafael Grossi outlined in 2022, and the five concrete principles elaborated by the Director-General in his briefing to the UN Security Council on 30 May this year.
5 Third, the IAEA’s efforts in technical cooperation and capacity building are an integral contribution to helping developing Member States, especially Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, achieve their developmental goals. Singapore reaffirms the inalienable right of all States Parties to the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology, in accordance with Article IV of the NPT. As an active technical cooperation partner of the Agency, Singapore will continue to support the IAEA in ensuring the effectiveness of the Technical Cooperation Programme, including through renewing the Singapore-IAEA Third Country Training Programme and through the 2019 IAEA-ASEAN Practical Arrangements.
Mr President,
6 In conclusion, Singapore extends our deepest appreciation to Director-General Grossi and his staff for the continued professionalism, objectivity and technical competence they have brought in carrying out their duties in the past year. We also appreciate the active engagement of the IAEA’s Liaison Office in New York and Director of the New York Liaison Office Ambassador Vivian Okeke. Singapore stands ready to work with all Member States and the IAEA to ensure that the Agency remains fully able to discharge its mandate.
7 Thank you.
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