STATEMENT BY MR LIM JUN KAI, DELEGATE TO THE 75TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA), PLENARY, 11 NOVEMBER 2020

Thank you, Mr President.

1 Singapore is pleased to continue our co-sponsorship of the draft resolution “Report of the IAEA” this year. We commend IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi for his efforts to continue the Agency’s important work in safeguards verification, capacity-building, and providing assistance to Member States, despite the challenges posed by COVID-19.

2 The IAEA plays a central role in maintaining nuclear safety and security, as well as ensuring that nuclear material is not diverted to non-peaceful uses. Its technical competence, professionalism, and impartiality have earned the Agency a high degree of trust from Member States.  Singapore will continue to fully support the Director General and the IAEA’s work in these areas. Allow me to make three brief points.

3  First, as new technologies emerge, such as for transportable nuclear power plants, small and medium-sized, or modular reactors, and advanced nuclear power reactors, the IAEA must be well-positioned to help Member States take advantage of these technologies for development, while implementing high standards of nuclear safety and security. It is also essential for States Parties to fulfil their obligations under international legal instruments such as the Convention on Nuclear Safety and the Amended Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material to ensure the safe, secure, and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

4  Second, as the sole competent authority responsible for verifying States’ fulfilment of their safeguards obligations, the IAEA’s work is a critical pillar for international confidence that nuclear material is used for peaceful applications. We commend the IAEA’s efforts in finding alternative ways to continue conducting safeguards verification effectively, even during the pandemic.

5  Third, technical cooperation remains an integral part of the IAEA’s work. Despite the pandemic, the IAEA has continued to assist Member States, including in building valuable capacities to detect viral pathogens. The ZODIAC initiative, which focuses on the early detection of zoonotic disease pathogens, will add to these efforts.

6 Singapore will continue to play an active and constructive role to support the Agency. We look forward to continuing our strong cooperation with the Agency, including through renewing Singapore’s Third Country Training Programme (TCTP) with the IAEA. We thank the IAEA for its continued support to strengthen ASEAN’s capabilities to handle radiation and nuclear technologies, and their associated materials and activities, in a safe and secure manner. We look forward to furthering our collaboration through the ASEAN-IAEA Practical Arrangements, which were concluded last year.

7 Above all, Singapore will continue to work with all Member States to build a culture of trust, collaboration, and open dialogue, towards a safer, more secure, and better future for all.

Thank you, Mr President.

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