Statement at the 60th IAEA General Conference delivered by Ambassador Foo Kok Jwee, Resident Representative of Singapore to the IAEA, 27 September 2016

Mr President

Excellencies

Distinguished Delegates

1        My delegation would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Ambassador Dato’ Adnan Othman of Malaysia on his election as President of the 60^th IAEA General Conference.  We are happy to see a fellow ASEAN member state preside over this esteemed conference, and express our full support to Dato’ Adnan.  We would also like to extend our warm welcome to the Islamic Republic of the Gambia, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as the newest members of the IAEA.

Mr President,

2        We have witnessed good progress over the past year in the strengthening of the global nuclear security framework and the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.  One significant milestone was the entry into force of the 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material or CPPNM, in May 2016.  Singapore is committed to implementing the amended CPPNM and fully supports the Agency’s efforts in implementing this convention.  

3        We also welcome the progress of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran’s nuclear programme.  We commend the sustained efforts and political will of all parties involved in honouring their undertakings thus far, and call on them to continue fulfilling their respective obligations in good faith. 

4        Despite these positive developments, Singapore is deeply concerned and extremely disappointed that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) had conducted yet another nuclear test on 9 September 2016 following its earlier nuclear test in January this year.  These actions, including the recent series of missile tests, are flagrant breaches of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, and in complete disregard of the international community’s concerns.  These deliberate and provocative acts seriously jeopardise the peace and stability of the region.

5        We strongly urge the DPRK to abide by its international obligations and commitments and to return immediately to dialogue on denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.  We also call on the DPRK to cooperate with the IAEA in the full implementation of safeguards under its IAEA Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, adhere to the relevant UNSC Resolutions and re-join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).  We stress that peaceful dialogue, and sharing in the peace and prosperity of the region, is the only way to reduce tensions in the Korean Peninsula and secure the DPRK’s security and economic interests.

Mr President

6        The NPT remains a cornerstone of the international nuclear legal framework.  Our work on the next review cycle begins with the first Preparatory Committee meeting held next year here in Vienna.  We should reflect on the disappointments of last year’s NPT Review Conference, and work collectively towards a positive outcome for the next Review Conference in 2020.  To this end, all NPT States Parties should reaffirm their commitment to uphold the NPT and fulfil their respective commitments and obligations.  Singapore will continue to support all efforts to advance global disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and the right of sovereign states to the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology in a safe, secure and safeguarded manner.

7        Singapore has consistently supported the IAEA’s role in nuclear verification and safeguards implementation.  We appreciate the Secretariat’s efforts in engaging Member States on safeguards issues in the past year.  We look forward to regular briefings and substantive dialogue with the Secretariat on the implementation of safeguards, in particular on the State Level Concept. 

8        Even as we deal with current challenges, we should also pay more attention to emerging threats to nuclear security.  Cyber-attacks pose significant risks to the critical information infrastructure of nuclear facilities, compromising the security of these facilities.  Nuclear terrorism is another plausible threat given that some extremist groups have openly proclaimed that this is one of their options.  We call on the Agency to monitor these evolving threats and work with Member States to proactively counter them.

Mr President,

9        The IAEA plays an indispensable role in ensuring a strong and sustainable nuclear safety framework worldwide.  Singapore has consistently argued that nuclear safety is an issue of concern to all states, not merely to states with nuclear installations.  We welcome the Director-General’s commitment to the Board of Governors last week that the Agency will pay greater attention to the safety aspects of issues related to the extension of the operating life of nuclear power plants, decommissioning, the disposal of high level radioactive waste and innovative technologies such as fast reactors and small and medium sized reactors. We also welcome the Agency’s commitment to strengthen IAEA safety standards and to assist Member States in building up necessary capabilities.  However, Member States themselves must invest in the never-ending endeavour of maintaining and strengthening nuclear safety.  

10        The 2011 IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety has been integrated into the Agency’s regular programme of work in 2016.  However, we would like the Agency to further elaborate its nuclear safety strategy.  This will help the Secretariat stay focused on nuclear safety, and ensure the timely implementation of dedicated projects under the Action Plan.  A clear strategy will also enable us to systematically apply lessons learned from completed Action Plan projects and the Fukushima Daiichi accident.  We look forward to substantive periodic updates from the Secretariat on its strategy to strengthen nuclear safety.  Singapore will cooperate with the IAEA and Member States to strengthen international and regional standards of nuclear safety where we can. 

Mr President,

11        We commend the sustained efforts of the Director-General and the Agency in making nuclear science and technology available to help Member States achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to overcome other challenges such as the spread of the Zika virus. 

12        Singapore and the IAEA have been collaborating to jointly provide technical assistance to developing Member States under the Singapore-IAEA Third Country Training Programme (TCTP) framework since 2000.  Since 2000 Singapore has organised 25 scientific visits, 106 fellowship attachments and 33 regional training events.  We have enhanced our cooperation with IAEA in this area via a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by Director General Mr Yukiya Amano during his visit to Singapore in January 2015. 

13        I am pleased to report that Singapore and the IAEA conducted two substantive regional workshops under this MOU in the past year – the first on the Sterile Insect Technique in November 2015 to help regional countries control their mosquito population, and the second on Nuclear Law in June 2016 to enhance the capacity of regional countries to strengthen regulatory frameworks for nuclear-related issues.  We have also continued to offer professional attachments in nuclear medicine.  

Mr President,

14        Please allow me to now update the Conference on some related developments from my region.  We were honoured to welcome Director General Amano to Singapore in August again this year as part of his regional tour of Asia.  During the visit, Mr Amano met our Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan and Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) Mr S. Iswaran.  Minister Balakrishnan and Mr Amano reaffirmed our commitment to provide joint technical assistance to other developing countries under the Singapore-IAEA TCTP MOU to promote the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies in areas such as nuclear medicine, nuclear safety, emergency preparedness and response, and the development of nuclear regulatory frameworks.  Mr Amano also visited the Protective, Analytical & Assessment Facility (PAAF) – our first border laboratory with the capability to conduct radiological and nuclear analysis to help us interdict illicit activities at the border.

15        Singapore continues to support regional capacity-building efforts in collaboration with the IAEA and other partners, as well as through the ASEAN Network of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies on Atomic Energy or ASEANTOM.  ASEANTOM is working closely with the IAEA in a Regional Technical Cooperation project to support the establishment of a regional environmental radioactivity database and an emergency preparedness and response framework.  The first activity under this project was the IAEA Regional Workshop on Project Coordination and Hazard Assessment held in Bangkok, in May 2016.  At the workshop, ASEAN Member States discussed and developed the work plan of activities to be carried out under this project over the next four years.  The ten ASEAN Member States will next embark on Group Scientific Visits to advanced countries to understand in detail how radiation monitoring networks are established and maintained.

16        ASEAN is also collaborating with the European Commission (EC) in this area. The EC is helping ASEAN Member States develop decision support tools to make sense of the data collected by radiation monitoring networks.  Such projects complements the IAEA’s efforts to enhance regional emergency preparedness and response.  

17        The establishment of nuclear weapon-free zones strengthens global peace and security.  However, these zones, when established, must be aligned with the object and purpose of the relevant treaties and their protocols.  We therefore reaffirm our commitment to continuously engage the Nuclear Weapon States and intensify the ongoing efforts of the States Parties to the SEANWFZ Treaty and Nuclear Weapon States to resolve all outstanding issues, in accordance with the objectives and principles of the SEANWFZ Treaty.    

Mr President,

18        This General Conference marks the start of year-long activities to commemorate the 60^th anniversary of the IAEA.  The IAEA is sometimes narrowly, and unfairly, caricatured as the “nuclear watchdog” or a forum where highly political and complex issues like the JCPOA are discussed.  Everyone in this hall knows that the IAEA is much more than that.  Our humble opinion is that we should capitalise on the IAEA’s 60^th anniversary, and build on Director-General Amano’s emphasis on “Atoms for Peace and Development”, to show the world the other positive contributions of the IAEA, in particular to development and the SDGs.  Singapore stands ready to provide our full cooperation and support to this endeavour.

19            Finally, let me also take this opportunity to pay tribute to Director-General Amano, his distinguished predecessors, and most importantly to the past and present staff of the IAEA for their dedication and professionalism in carrying out their duties.  For without them, we will not have the IAEA of today to help make our world a more secure, more prosperous and safer place.  We look forward to deepening our cooperation and engagement with the IAEA in the years to come.

20        Thank you, Mr President.

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