Statement of the United States of America on agenda item 8(a): The Conclusion of Safeguards Agreements and of Additional Protocols
MR. CHAIRMAN,
THE UNITED STATES IS PLEASED TO JOIN CONSENSUS IN AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARIAT TO SIGN AND IMPLEMENT ADDITIONAL PROTOCOLS WITH ALGERIA, MAURITANIA, AND SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO. WE ENCOURAGE THOSE COUNTRIES TO SIGN THOSE PROTOCOLS AND BRING THEM INTO FORCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
MR. CHAIRMAN,
STRENGTHENING THE IAEA'S SAFEGUARDS SYSTEM IS A MATTER OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO THE UNITED STATES. WE SHOULD SPARE NO EFFORT IN SEEKING UNIVERSAL ADHERENCE TO STRENGTHENED IAEA SAFEGUARDS. I’M PLEASED TO NOTE THAT THE G-8 HAS BEGUN A WORLDWIDE DIPLOMATIC EFFORT TO PERSUADE STATES THAT HAVE NOT YET DONE SO TO SIGN AND BRING INTO FORCE SAFEGUARDS AGREEMENTS AND ADDITIONAL PROTOCOLS, FOLLOWING UP ON THE STATEMENT FROM THE SEA ISLAND SUMMIT IN JUNE THAT:
"WE SEEK UNIVERSAL ADHERENCE TO IAEA COMPREHENSIVE SAFEGUARDS AND THE ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL AND URGE ALL STATES TO RATIFY AND IMPLEMENT THESE AGREEMENTS PROMPTLY. WE ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN OUTREACH EFFORTS TOWARD THIS GOAL, AND ARE READY TO OFFER NECESSARY SUPPORT."
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE SECRETARIAT FOR MAKING WIDELY AVAILABLE THE INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF THOSE AGREEMENTS AND PROTOCOLS, AND OFFER OUR FULL SUPPORT TO THE SECRETARIAT’S OUTREACH EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE ADHERENCE TO STRENGTHENED IAEA SAFEGUARDS.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
