Embassy of the United States

Mr. Chairman,

The United States is pleased to join consensus in authorizing the Secretariat to sign and implement an Additional Protocol with the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.  We welcome Libya's decision to act in accordance with the terms of the protocol pending ratification, and encourage Libya to sign the protocol and bring it into force as soon as possible.  As I noted earlier, we believe this is a major step forward for Libya in correcting its past safeguards failures.

The United States also welcomes the Additional Protocol with Niger.  It is important for states that have significant nuclear fuel cycle activities to bring into force the Additional Protocol.  This is particularly true for activities that precede the normal starting point of safeguards.  I take note of the fact that Niger has signed but not yet ratified a comprehensive safeguards agreement, and thus is one of 44 states that have not yet met this requirement.  I therefore encourage Niger to bring both its safeguards agreement and its Additional Protocol into force as soon as possible.

Mr. Chairman, allow me to reiterate my government's call on the Islamic Republic of Iran to end its delays and promptly bring its Additional Protocol into force.

Mr. Chairman, strengthening the IAEA's safeguards system is a matter of utmost importance to the United States.  The most important thing each of us can do to accomplish that end is to bring the Additional Protocol into force.

Mr. Chairman, we should spare no effort to encourage more states to sign and bring into force the Additional Protocol.  Progress to date has been slower than we had hoped when the Board approved the Model Additional Protocol almost seven years ago.  There have been some encouraging signs; the IAEA's outreach efforts have persuaded a number of states to adopt the Additional Protocol.  And most states with significant nuclear activities have at least signed the protocol.

But we cannot be satisfied with the current rate of progress.  I encourage the Secretariat to elevate the political profile of its efforts, and I offer the assistance and cooperation of my government to that end.  We intend to work with the Secretariat and with like-minded states to persuade others to adhere to the Additional Protocol.  We are prepared to provide assistance as needed to enable states to meet their responsibilities under the Protocol.

Finally, Mr. Chairman, we must not let off the hook those states that have not yet fulfilled their obligations under the NPT to bring into force comprehensive safeguards agreements.  There are still forty-four states that have not yet done so.  Although we have no indication that any of these states harbors secret nuclear ambitions, without a safeguards agreement the IAEA cannot provide any assurance of their compliance with their NPT obligations.  We therefore urge these states to conclude safeguards agreements and Additional Protocols at the earliest possible date.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.