Agenda Item 4: Nuclear Security Report 2019
International Atomic Energy Agency
Board of Governors’ Meetings
(September, 2019
Agenda Item 4: Nuclear Security Report 2019
Statement by the Governor for India
Ambassador Renu Pall
Madam Chair
We associate ourselves with the Statement delivered by the distinguished Ambassador of Egypt on behalf of G-77 and China and would like to add the following additional remarks in our national capacity.
Madam Chair
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. We stand ready to support the Agency in its functions in this regard.
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, by continued implementation of activities under the Nuclear Security plan 2018-2021, assisting member states to enhance their nuclear security regimes, developing comprehensive nuclear security guidance, physical protection upgrades and promoting adherence & implementation of international legal instruments through effective international cooperation, setting goals and priorities and forging technical and policy guidance. We welcome the publication of five new guidance publications in the IAEA Nuclear Security Series during the reporting period.
We are also aware of the cyber and computer security threats and encourage the Agency to continue complementing the efforts of the member states in handling these threats
Madam Chair
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.
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 the steps taken by the Agency to encourage and promote adherence to the amendment to the CPPNM among various States including those without permanent representation in Vienna. We urge all those member states that have not yet joined or ratified the CPPNM and its Amendment to do so at the earliest.
Madam Chair
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, and education under the International Security Education Network (INSEN) which assists the member institutions and States in establishing and enhancing educational programmes on nuclear security based on international guidance and recommendations.
We note that the nuclear training courses conducted by the Agency covered wide variety of topics and hope that the training material developed by the agency would provide guidance to States and their competent authorities to further develop and enhance nuclear security. 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, covering important and emerging nuclear security topics like insider threat, vulnerability assessment, transportation security, cyber security, detection, prevention and response to radiological threats etc. have been covered in these programmes. India looks forward to a stronger partnership between the IAEA and GCNEP, in the field of Nuclear Security.
Madam Chair
We look forward to the International Conference on Nuclear Security in February next year. We believe this Conference would provide a forum for exchange of views on experiences and achievements, current approaches, future directions and priorities and express the consensus among Member states on the issue of nuclear security, and would provide renewed impetus to the Agency efforts, and strengthen international cooperation in this field.
Madam Chair
With these comments, my delegation takes note of the Nuclear Security Report 2018, as contained in the document under this Agenda item .
Thank You, Madam Chair
