STATEMENT AT THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, PLENARY, 12 DECEMBER 2016

Mr President,

1        On behalf of my delegation, I thank Director-General Yukiya Amano for the IAEA’s comprehensive annual report.  Singapore has consistently supported the three pillars of the IAEA’s work – safety and security; science and technology; and safeguards and verification.  We are pleased to co-sponsor the draft resolution on the Report of the IAEA again this year.  Mr President, allow me to make three brief points on the work of the IAEA.

2        First, Singapore reaffirms the IAEA’s indispensable role in ensuring a strong and sustainable nuclear safety framework worldwide.  Nuclear safety is an issue of concern to all states, not merely to states with nuclear installations, because nuclear accidents know no boundaries.  We therefore 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 also invest in the never-ending endeavour of maintaining and strengthening nuclear safety.  Singapore will cooperate with the IAEA and Member States, where we can, towards this end.

3        Second, Singapore supports the IAEA’s central role in fostering international cooperation to enhance nuclear security.  We welcome the good progress over the past year in strengthening the global nuclear security framework and the international 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 (CPPNM) in May 2016.  Singapore is committed to fully implementing the amended CPPNM.  We also support the IAEA’s efforts in implementing the amended convention.  We are committed to supporting international counter-proliferation efforts.  We opened our first border laboratory – the Protective, Analytical & Assessment Facility (PAAF) – in July this year.  The Facility conducts radiological and nuclear detection analysis to strengthen our capability to interdict illicit activities at our border.  Director General Amano was among the first visitors to the facility during his working visit to Singapore in August this year.

4        We also welcome the progress of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).  We encourage all parties to continue fulfilling their respective obligations in good faith because the full and effective implementation of the JCPOA for the entire duration of the agreement is critical not just for the signatories but for the entire international community.  We also reiterate our full support to the IAEA in its monitoring and verification of Iran’s nuclear commitments set out in the JCPOA and UN Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015). 

5        Third, Singapore values the IAEA’s activities in delivering technical assistance in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology in a safe, secure and safeguarded manner, in particular to developing countries and LDCs.  We commend the IAEA’s sustained efforts in making nuclear science and technology available to help Member States achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and overcome challenges such as the spread of the Zika virus.  Singapore supports the IAEA’s efforts through the enhanced Singapore-IAEA Third Country Training Programme (TCTP) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by Director General Amano in 2015.  We have hosted two regional workshops since the signing of the enhanced MOU.  The first workshop was on the Sterile Insect Technique in November 2015 to help regional countries control mosquito populations.  The second workshop was held on Nuclear Law in June 2016 to enhance the capacity of regional countries to strengthen regulatory frameworks for nuclear-related issues. 

6        We also welcome the continued technical cooperation between the IAEA and the ASEAN Network of Regulatory Bodies on Atomic Energy (ASEANTOM).  ASEANTOM is working closely with the IAEA on a Regional Technical Cooperation project to support the establishment of a regional environmental radioactivity database and an emergency preparedness and response framework.  Singapore looks forward to making further contributions to capacity-building activities in the region in areas such as nuclear safety and emergency preparedness and response, including through regional training events hosted under our TCTP MOU.

Mr President,

7        Sixty years have passed since the formation of the IAEA.  The IAEA is sometimes unfairly pigeonholed into a “nuclear watchdog” role.  But the IAEA is much more than that.  We should capitalise on the 60^th anniversary of the IAEA to build on Director General Amano’s emphasis on “Atoms for Peace and Development”, and advance the positive contributions of the IAEA, in particular to development and the SDGs.  Singapore stands ready to deepen our cooperation and engagement with the IAEA to help achieve this goal.

8        I thank you Mr President. 

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