UN Nuclear Energy Chief Urges Compliance with Non-Proliferation Treaty

Strategic Insights -

The head of the United Nations nuclear agency, Yukiya Amano, has emphasized the importance of compliance with the international nuclear weapons non-proliferation treaty. He named Iran, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and Syria as countries that are not in full compliance with their obligations. Amano urged these countries to move towards full implementation of all relevant obligations to build international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of their nuclear programs.

Key Takeaways:

  • Yukiya Amano, Director General of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stressed that all States must comply with their obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
  • Iran is not providing the necessary cooperation to enable the IAEA to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities.
  • The nuclear program of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea remains a matter of serious concern, with the agency unable to implement any safeguards measures in the country since April 2009.
  • Syria has been found to be in non-compliance with its safeguards obligations, with the IAEA concluding that it is "very likely" that a building destroyed at the Dair Alzour site in 2007 was a nuclear reactor.
  • Amano called for the creation of new nuclear weapons-free zones and the implementation of existing ones, including in the Middle East.
  • The IAEA continues to support the development of nuclear techniques for healthcare, nutrition, food security, the environment, and water resource management.

Statistics:

  • More than 60 delegates representing governments, academia, think tanks, and international organizations attended the 23rd UN Conference on Disarmament Issues in Matsumoto, Japan.
  • The conference theme was "Urgent and United Action towards a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World".
  • Since 2009, the DPKR has not allowed the IAEA to implement any safeguards measures.

Sources:

  • "UN nuclear energy chief urges compliance with non-proliferation treaty", M2 PressWIRE, July 27, 2011
  • "My approach to nuclear verification since taking up office in December 2009 has been very straightforward - all safeguards agreements between Member States and the Agency, and other relevant obligations such as UN Security Council resolutions, should be implemented fully," Yukiya Amano, 2011
  • "The nuclear program of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea remains a matter of serious concern," Yukiya Amano, 2011
  • "Last year's reports about the construction of a new uranium enrichment facility and a light water reactor in the DPRK are deeply troubling," Yukiya Amano, 2011
  • "The IAEA had come to the conclusion that it is 'very likely' that a building destroyed at the Dair Alzour site in 2007 was a nuclear reactor which should have been declared to the agency," Yukiya Amano, 2011