MFA Press Statement: Meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo and IAEA Director-General Dr Mohamed ElBaradei, 7 April 2008

Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo, who is in Vienna on his first official visit to the Republic of Austria, has taken the opportunity to meet the Director-General of the IAEA, Dr Mohamed ElBaradei.

Noting that Singapore had recently concluded its agreement with the IAEA to amend the Small Quantities Protocol and ratified the protocol additional to the comprehensive safeguards agreement (commonly referred to as the Additional Protocol), Minister Yeo reaffirmed Singapore's commitment to support the important work of the IAEA. He stressed that Singapore shares the IAEA's interests in promoting the safe and secure peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Minister Yeo and Dr ElBaradei discussed the rising global energy demands, which will entail greater usage of nuclear energy as a source of electric power generation around the world. In this regard, Minister Yeo briefed Dr ElBaradei on the ASEAN Leaders' agreement at the 12th ASEAN Summit in Manila in January 2008, to pay close attention to the security, environment, health and safety dimensions of the energy sector and their decision to look into a regional nuclear safety regime. Dr ElBaradei indicated the IAEA's readiness to work with ASEAN to realise the regime.

Minister Yeo and Dr ElBaradei also discussed shared concerns over the risks of nuclear proliferation, and they had an exchange of views on Iran's and the DPRK's nuclear questions.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
7 APRIL 2008