Agenda Item 4: Nuclear Security Report 2018
International Atomic Energy Agency
Board of Governors’ Meetings
(September, 2018)
Agenda Item 4: Nuclear Security Report 2018
Statement by the Governor for India
Ambassador Renu Pall
Mr. Chairman
We associate ourselves with the Statement made by the distinguished Ambassador of Ecuador on behalf of G-77 and China and would like to add the following additional remarks in our national capacity.
Mr. Chairman
The threat of nuclear terrorism is one of the most pressing challenges facing the international community. While nuclear security is the domain of national sovereignty, this national prerogative demands national responsibility. All States must assume this responsibility and should abide by their respective international obligations. Responsible national actions and effective international cooperation should be pursued together to prevent the use of nuclear terrorism by non-state actors.
India accords high national priority to nuclear security through its strong institutional framework, independent regulatory agency, trained and specialized human resources, and through development and deployment of technology to deter and defend against nuclear terrorism.
The Nuclear Security Report this year underlines the Agency’s central role in strengthening the global nuclear security framework, facilitating national efforts on nuclear security, fostering effective international cooperation, setting future goals and priorities and forging technical and policy guidance.
To facilitate international cooperation and coordination, it is important that there is universal adherence to existing legal instruments underpinning nuclear security, namely the International Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) and the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its 2005 amendment.
Universal adherence to the CPPNM and entry into force of its Amendment would go a long way in strengthening global efforts in the area of nuclear security. We note with appreciation, Agency’s efforts in promoting further adherence to the CPPNM and its Amendment. We urge all those member states that have not yet joined or ratified the CPPNM and its Amendment to do so at the earliest.
Physical protection against unauthorized removal of nuclear material during use, storage and transport and against the sabotage of nuclear material and nuclear facilities has long been a matter of national and international concern. We appreciate the Agency’s continued assistance to member states with physical protection upgrades. India applies IAEA’s guidance on physical protection of nuclear material as contained in the document INFCIRC/225/Rev 5.
Mr. Chairman
We recognise the importance of skill development relevant to the nuclear sector. We note with appreciation the Agency’s effort in developing nuclear security expertise through training, including e-learning modules.
The Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP), established by India in 2010, has been steadily strengthening its portfolio of programmes and has been conducting several international and regional programmes in cooperation with IAEA. The Centre is equipped to conduct programmes across specializations in advanced nuclear energy system studies, nuclear security studies, radiological safety studies, nuclear material characterization and on applications of radioisotopes and radiation technologies. At present the GCNEP has MoUs with the United States of America, United Kingdom, Russian Federation, France, Bangladesh, and Vietnam, with several others in the pipeline. In last one year, the Center has hosted various multilateral, bilateral training courses, technical meetings, workshops in the field of nuclear security, safety and other allied areas. In addition, the Center has developed various laboratories for facilitating training in topical areas e.g. model Emergency Response Center, Access Control Lab etc.
We look forward to the further strengthening of the partnership between the GCNEP, the IAEA and Member States.
Mr. Chairman
With these comments, my delegation takes note of the Nuclear Security Report 2018, as contained in the document GOV/2018/36-GC (62)/10.
Thank You, Mr. Chairman
