September 2022 India Statement Agenda 5 Nuclear Security

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International Atomic Energy Agency

Board of Governors’ Meetings

(September, 2022)

Agenda Item 5 :

Nuclear Security

Statement by the Governor for India

Ambassador Jaideep Mazumdar

Chairperson

While associating ourselves with the Statement delivered by thedistinguished Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco on behalf of G-77 and China wewould like to add the following additional remarks in our national capacity.

Chairperson

The threat of nuclear terrorism is one of the gravest challenges to theinternational community. While nuclear security is the domain of nationalsovereignty, this national prerogative demands national responsibility. AllStates must assume this responsibility and should abide by their respectiveinternational obligations to prevent the use of nuclear terrorism by nonstate actors. We appreciate and strongly support the Agency in its functionsto achieve nuclear security.

India accords high national priority to nuclear security through itsstrong institutional framework, independent regulatory agency, trainedand specialized human resources, and through development anddeployment of technology to deter defend and respond against nuclearterrorism.

The Nuclear Security Report this year underlines the Agency’s centralrole in strengthening the global nuclear security framework, by continuedimplementation of activities under the Nuclear Security plan 2018-2021,assisting member states to enhance their nuclear security regimes,developing comprehensive nuclear security guidance, physical protectionupgrades and promoting adherence & implementation of internationallegal instruments.

Chairperson

In the age of automation and remote monitoring, cyber and computersecurity threats and the use of drones pose new challenges. We encouragethe Agency to continue complementing the efforts of Member States inhandling these threats.

Chairperson

Physical protection against unauthorized removal of nuclear materialduring use, storage and transport and against the sabotage of nuclearmaterial and nuclear facilities has long been a matter of national andinternational concern. We appreciate the Agency’s continued assistance tomember states with physical protection upgrades.

India attaches high importance to the CPPNM and its Amendment asthe only international legally binding instrument to bolster physicalprotection of nuclear material. India appreciates the steps taken by theAgency to promote adherence to the amendment to the CPPNM amongvarious States, with the aim of its universalisation. We urge all those memberstates that have not yet joined or ratified the CPPNM and its Amendment todo so at the earliest.

Chairperson

We recognise the importance of skill development relevant to thenuclear sector. We note with appreciation the Agency’s efforts indeveloping nuclear security expertise through training, and educationunder the International Security Education Network (INSEN) which assiststhe member States in establishing and enhancing educational programmeson nuclear security based on international guidance and recommendations.We further appreciate the progress in establishing the specialized trainingfacility for the demonstration of equipment and technologies related tonuclear security at Seibersdorf, which I personally had the benefit of witnessing recently. We also welcome the Agency'sinitiative on promotion of workforce diversity including gender equalityand geographical diversity in nuclear security related activities.

The Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership(GCNEP), established by India in 2010, has steadily strengthened its scopeand has been successfully conducting, in cooperation with IAEA, severalprogrammes at regional and international level, covering important andemerging nuclear security topics like insider threat, vulnerabilityassessment, transportation security, cyber security, detection, preventionand response to radiological threats etc. India looks forward to a strongerpartnership between the IAEA and GCNEP, and with other member Statesin the field of Nuclear Security.

Chairperson

With these comments, my delegation takes note of the NuclearSecurity Report 2021 as contained in the document GOV/2022/31-GC(66)/8.

I thank you.