Working Paper Submitted by South Africa

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Conference on Disarmament

General Assembly First Committee

UN Disarmament Commission

Special Session on Disarmament

Peaceful uses of nuclear energy

Working paper submitted by South Africa

I. Introduction

1. In paragraph 7 of decision 1 adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference, on strengthening the review process for the Treaty, the Conference tasked future review conferences to look forward as well as back, to evaluate the results of the period they were reviewing, including the implementation of undertakings of the States parties under the Treaty, and to identify the areas in which, and the means through which, progress should be sought in the future.1

2. Paragraphs 14-20 of decision 2, on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, address the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Several of those paragraphs deal with issues that have already been addressed in the intervening period, and others deal with issues where the wording can be strengthened.2

II. Proposals for forward-looking language on the safeguards issue

3. The content of paragraphs 14, 15 and 16 of decision 2 is of continuing importance as a restatement of article IV of the Treaty in any outcome/product of the 2000 Review Conference. The content of paragraph 20 should also be taken up in any outcome/product of the 2000 Review Conference.
4. The language proposed for paragraph 17 is as follows:

Transparency in nuclear-related export controls should be maintained and enhanced within the framework of dialogue and cooperation among all interested States party to the Treaty.3

5. The language proposed for paragraph 18 is as follows:

All States should, through rigorous national measures and international cooperation, maintain the highest practicable levels of nuclear and radiation safety, including safety in waste management, and implement international standards and guidelines in nuclear materials accounting, physical protection and transport of nuclear materials. Special efforts should be made and sustained in increasing awareness in these fields through appropriate training.4

6. The language proposed for paragraph 19 is as follows:

Every effort should be made to ensure that the International Atomic Energy Agency has the financial and human resources necessary to meet effectively the increasing responsibilities and needs and new roles relating to its statutory obligations. In particular, the Secretariat and the members of the Agency should be encouraged to intensify efforts aimed at finding ways and means for funding technical assistance through predictable and assured resources.5

Notes

1 NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I).

2 Ibid.

3 Since 1995 the Zangger Committee and Nuclear Suppliers Group have made efforts to increase transparency through information published, seminars held etc. This should be recognized in para. 17.

4 IAEA is increasingly focusing on the implementation of safety standards and guidelines, whereas the focus at an earlier stage was on the establishment/creation of those standards and guidelines. recent nuclear accidents have underlined the importance of promoting awareness of the dangers which may be associated with work in the nuclear area through appropriate training.

5 In 1995 emphasis was placed on the statutory responsibility of IAEA and the responsibility of the secretariat as well as the member States of IAEA to solve the issues with respect to financing. The increasing activities and new roles of IAEA should also be emphasized in this regard.