IAEA Board of Governors Meeting – Agenda Item 13 – Any Other Business
U.S. Statement as Delivered by Ambassador Laura S.H. Holgate
Vienna, Austria, September 16, 2022
Chair,
The United States strongly supports the nuclear safety and security standards and guidance championed by the IAEA and the continued collaboration between the Government of Japan and the IAEA so that all decommissioning efforts of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant — including the expected treated water disbursal — remain comprehensive, credible, and transparent. We acknowledge the efforts of the IAEA’s task force to independently review and report on Japan’s proposed activities and its assistance in monitoring the safe and transparent implementation of the plan.
The United States continues to believe that Japan’s approach is safe as it appears to be in accordance with globally accepted safety standards. We encourage Japan to continue its efforts to be transparent and to work in close coordination with the IAEA and the international community as it prepares to discharge the treated water into the sea in line with internationally accepted nuclear safety standards.
We look forward to contributions from other Member States to the Secretariat to help advance this project safely and successfully.
Chair,
The United States regrets that the issue of so-called “Israeli nuclear capabilities” has once again been raised in the Board, as Israel has not violated any agreements with the IAEA and is a significant contributor to the IAEA’s work. Divisive statements aimed at criticizing a state in good standing with the IAEA will not advance our shared goal of a Middle East free of all weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. Such statements seem increasingly out of touch with regional political and security realities and only serve to perpetuate the lack of trust among regional states. We urge the regional states concerned to refrain from politically motivated statements and to engage their neighbors directly in an inclusive, cooperative manner about their regional security concerns.
Chair,
Of the almost 150 States Parties present at the Tenth NPT Review Conference, only one blocked consensus to a Final Document. In doing so, that country put its narrow political interests ahead of all of our shared interests in supporting the NPT as foundational to the nonproliferation regime and pursuit of eventual nuclear disarmament. The fact that all the other remaining States Parties were prepared to support the draft final document speaks to the Treaty’s essential role in preventing nuclear proliferation and averting the risk of nuclear war. Amid a challenging international security environment, the extent to which NPT States Parties found common ground and were prepared to join consensus in support of preserving and strengthening the nuclear nonproliferation regime is remarkable. In particular, uncontested language on Article IV – on peaceful uses – highlighted the role of IAEA programs in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals and, for the first time, spotlighted the role of industry and civil society in promoting and implementing the peaceful uses of both power and non-power technologies.
The draft Final Document reflects our good faith efforts to reach consensus through a shared spirit of compromise. Notwithstanding the actions of one NPT state party – Russia – we will work to promote the aims and many good elements contained in the draft and, working cooperatively and through various fora, put them into practice. As we enter a new NPT review cycle, we affirm our commitment to the NPT, and we look forward to continuing to engage robustly with States Parties on the Treaty’s implementation.
Chair,
The United States is looking forward to hosting IAEA Member States and others at the fifth International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21st Century, which will be held in Washington, D.C from October 26-28, 2022. It is truly an honor for the United States, and we appreciate Member States’ trust and confidence in us to host the premier international event promoting the peaceful use of nuclear power.
This event will occur at a defining moment when NPT Member States are working together to unlock the full power and potential of safe, secure, reliable, and clean nuclear energy around the globe. U.S. Secretary of Energy Granholm and IAEA Director General Grossi highlighted this event during their meeting on the sidelines of last year’s General Conference, when they encouraged countries to send minister-level representatives.
We are looking forward to welcoming Member State delegations to Washington, D.C. this fall.
Thank you, Chair.