Statement at the 61st IAEA General Conference delivered by Ambassador Foo Kok Jwee, Governor and Resident Representative of Singapore to the IAEA, 20 September 2017

Madam President

Excellencies

Distinguished Delegates

                   Let me first congratulate Ambassador Maria Zeneida Angara Collinson of the Philippines on her election as President of this General Conference.  We support gender empowerment and gender equality and we are very happy with her election to this important post. We also thank Ambassador Dato Adnan Othman of Malaysia for his excellent work as the President of the 60^th General Conference. 

2                 My delegation warmly welcomes Grenada as the newest member of the IAEA. We would also like to congratulate Director General Yukiya Amano on his re-election for a third term.  He can count on Singapore’s full support and cooperation.

Madam President,

3                 2017 marks the 50^th anniversary of Singapore’s membership to the IAEA.  We joined the Agency in 1967 soon after our independence in 1965.  Singapore received valuable technical assistance from the IAEA in areas such as cancer treatment and food safety when we most needed it after independence, to boost our capabilities in important areas such as public health. 

4                 As Singapore developed, we started contributing to the IAEA in our own small way.  In particular, we worked with the IAEA to support fellow developing countries in achieving their development goals by providing technical assistance in areas where Singapore had built some expertise. 

5                 We continue to host medical professionals from developing countries at our hospitals on short-term IAEA fellowships, to share our experience in areas such as cancer treatment, nuclear diagnostics and imaging.  We also collaborate with the IAEA to jointly provide technical assistance on subjects such as nuclear regulatory frameworks and food safety.  Over the years, we have organised 35 workshops, hosted 111 training fellowships and 25 scientific visits.

6                 This long-standing partnership with the IAEA is now formalised under the enhanced Singapore-IAEA Third Country Training Programme Memorandum of Understanding (TCTP MOU), which was signed by DG Amano during his visit to Singapore in 2015.  We hope to do more under this TCTP MOU to enhance regional cooperation in areas such as Emergency Preparedness and Response, food safety, nuclear medicine and nuclear safety.

7                 The IAEA has also been helpful in supporting the work of our agencies such as the National Environment Agency (NEA). For example, in 2016, two NEA officials completed a 4-month fellowship at the IAEA Terrestrial Environment Laboratory in Seibersdorf, while two officials from NEA and PUB also received training at the IAEA Radiometrics Laboratory in Monaco.  In 2017, NEA officials also received training in areas such as emergency preparedness and response, sterile insect technique and drafting of regulations for radiation safety. The IAEA has also provided us with useful updates and information during major nuclear incidents, such as the Fukushima Daiichi accident in 2011.

8                 Singapore will build on this strong foundation of cooperation with the IAEA to support its work.  In particular, we will continue to support the efforts of developing countries in attaining the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and do our part to promote nuclear safety.

Madam President,

9                 The international security environment remains very challenging.  We are deeply concerned by the belligerent actions of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), including its recent missile launches and nuclear tests.  Singapore strongly condemns the sixth and latest nuclear test conducted by the DPRK on 3 September 2017 and the ballistic missile test on 15 September 2017 which flew over Japan.  These are clear violations of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2375 adopted on 11 September.  Such provocative acts severely threaten the peace and stability of the region and further raise tensions on the Korean Peninsula.  My delegation also reaffirms the statement by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers of 7 September 2017 on the latest nuclear test.

10               Singapore strongly urges the DPRK to desist from further provocative actions that threaten international peace and security, and undermine the nuclear non-proliferation regime.  We reiterate our long-standing call for the DPRK to abide by its international obligations, including abandoning its nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programme, returning to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and allowing the resumption of IAEA safeguards verification activities within the DPRK.

11               We have also witnessed several terrorist attacks across the world in the past year.  The threat of nuclear and radioactive terror attacks must be taken seriously even if they are not seen as the most imminent of threats.

12               Governments must adopt national measures and promote international cooperation to counter such threats.  Singapore passed the Terrorism (Suppression of Misuse of Radioactive Material) Bill in May this year, which paved the way for our ratification of the International Convention on the Suppression of Acts against Nuclear Terrorism in August this year. This Bill makes it an offence to use radioactive material to threaten, injure, or kill, or cause damage to property and the environment.  A mandatory death sentence will also be imposed on those who carry out a lethal radioactive attack. 

13               Singapore also supports the IAEA’s efforts in pursuing the universalisation of the amended Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material.  We encourage countries that have not already done so to become party to these two important conventions.

14               Many Member States have been victims of the major cyber-attacks on public institutions and businesses the past year, which caused severe disruption, and economic and data losses.  We are reminded that nuclear installations are not immune to cyber-attacks.  Singapore therefore supports the Agency’s work in developing additional nuclear security guidance on computer and information security for nuclear installations, and related training programmes.

Madam President,

15               On nuclear safety and security, two important meetings on this issue were held since the last General Conference – the International Conference on Nuclear Security and the 7^th Review Meeting of Contracting Parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS). 

16               The Ministerial Declaration adopted by consensus at the International Conference on Nuclear Security reflects the collective commitment of Member States to strengthen nuclear security in a comprehensive manner.

17               During the peer review of the 7^th Review Meeting of the CNS, we saw how some Contracting Parties of the CNS apply principles of the 2015 Vienna Declaration on Nuclear Safety to their national requirements. This was also an encouraging sign.

18               We should build on these positive developments and the lessons learnt from the Fukushima Daiichi accident to promote nuclear safety.  We call on all CNS Contracting Parties to apply the Vienna Declaration principles, and for the IAEA Secretariat to provide relevant technical guidance as soon as possible.

Madam President,

19               On the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran’s nuclear programme, Singapore commends the efforts of all parties involved in honouring their undertakings so far.  The effective implementation of the JCPOA is crucial to assure the international community that Iran’s nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.  To this end, Singapore urges all relevant parties to continue fulfilling their respective obligations under the JCPOA in good faith.  

Madam President,

20               My delegation would like to congratulate DG Amano and the Agency for successfully hosting the first ever International Conference on the IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme.  This is a timely initiative to showcase the IAEA’s contributions to development through peaceful uses of nuclear technology.  We hope that the IAEA will continue to host high-level conferences on nuclear applications and the technical cooperation programme, as this remains a relevant subject for many developing countries.

21               Singapore will continue to support the IAEA’s work in this area through the Singapore-IAEA TCTP, with a view to helping developing countries and the Least Developed Countries attain the SDGs.  Singapore has also pledged the full amount of our assessed contributions to the 2018 Technical Cooperation Fund, and will be making our payment in full and on time. 

 Madam President,

22               Singapore has enjoyed 50 years of fruitful cooperation with the IAEA.  I am confident that our mutual efforts to explore new areas of cooperation will ensure that this relationship continues to flourish for years to come. 

23               Thank you, Madam President.

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