IAEA Board of Governors Meeting, Agenda Item 2: Report of the Technical Assistance and Cooperation Committee

U.S. statement as delivered by Ambassador Jackie Wolcott
Vienna, Austria

Madam Chair,

I would like to commend the Secretariat and the staff members of the Technical Cooperation Department for their continued efforts to ensure that the TC Program effectively responds to Member States’ needs. I would also like to thank Brazil for serving as chair of the Friends of the Rapporteur group and laying a strong foundation for efficient negotiations under these exceptional circumstances.

The United States remains fully committed to supporting the work of the IAEA in research, development, and deployment of nuclear energy, science, and technology for peaceful uses, consistent with Article IV of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty. For over 60 years, we have been a leading supporter of IAEA TC activities to facilitate worldwide access to peaceful uses assistance, consistent with the highest standards of safety, security, and nonproliferation.

Madam Chair,

The United States is pleased to remain the largest individual contributor to IAEA TC activities. Since 2010, we have contributed over $240 million to the TC Fund. Furthermore, we have contributed over $117 million to the Peaceful Uses Initiative. It was our great pleasure to participate in the Agency’s virtual event last week marking the 10th Anniversary of the PUI. At that event, we announced a new five-year pledge of $10 million per year to the PUI, starting this year, for a total new pledge of $50 million.

The United States is further pleased to announce several projects that we are supporting with our PUI contributions, noting that the IAEA nuclear applications laboratories provide significant technical expertise for the transfer of nuclear technology through the TC program. The United States is allocating €294,000 in PUI funds to the IAEA’s Monaco laboratories to investigate land-based causes of coastal dead zones, and a further €560,000 to continue our support of the Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre. In addition, the United States will provide an allocation of €850,000 from our PUI funds to the Office of Legal Affairs legislative assistance project, which promotes the development of national legal infrastructures critical to achieving the full benefits of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, science, and technology.

Our strong commitment to the TC Program and peaceful uses is grounded in the positive impacts that they have on Member States. That is why we also underscore the importance of improved results-based management as well as transparency in strategic planning and the long-term implementation of the TC Program. We encourage the Secretariat to develop additional metrics to evaluate TC projects in order to more fully document the tangible results of the TC Program. We stand ready to assist the Secretariat in this regard.

Madam Chair,

The United States wishes to underscore the relevance of the September 20 snapback of UN sanctions and provisions that were terminated in January 2016 to the IAEA’s technical cooperation with Iran. The provisions that now apply again include an obligation for all UN Member States under UN Security Council resolution 1737 to ensure that technical cooperation provided to Iran by the IAEA or under its auspices shall only be for food, agricultural, medical, safety, or other humanitarian purposes, or for TC that is necessary for projects directly related to certain equipment and assembled fuel elements for light water reactors. It is our hope and expectation that Member States will comply with these renewed, common-sense provisions, which will support efforts to maintain peace and security. While the United States joins consensus in supporting the final year of this TC Program cycle, we note that the implementation of this and future TC Program cycles must be fully consistent with all relevant Security Council obligations.

Madam Chair,

With these comments, the United States is pleased to join consensus in approving the report.

Thank you.