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16 September 2019, 14:23

IAEA participants urged to stay committed to Non-Proliferation Treaty

VIENNA, 16 September (BelTA) – The IAEA participants need to stay committed to the Treaty of Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a message to the participants of the 63rd session of the IAEA General Conference. The message was read out by UN Under-Secretary-General, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Yury Fedotov, BelTA has learned.

Next year the Treaty of Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons will mark its 50th anniversary. This important agreement remains a cornerstone for nuclear non-proliferation. “The IAEA plays an important role in verifying the implementation of the treaty. The Agency's safeguards are necessary to ensure only peaceful uses of nuclear energy. I call for the member-states to use this General Conference to reaffirm the importance of three areas of the treaty: disarmament, non-proliferation and a peaceful use of nuclear energy,” Antonio Guterres said.

IAEA Acting Director General Cornel Feruta stated that the Agency contributes to international peace and security by verifying that nuclear material remains in peaceful uses. No other international organization offers the range of services related to nuclear science and technology that the IAEA does. The Agency contributes directly to the achievement of nine of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and indirectly to several more. The Agency serves as the global platform for cooperation in safety and security, helping countries to keep nuclear and radioactive material and technologies safe. According to the IAEA acting director general, nuclear power will continue to play a key role in the world's low-carbon energy mix.. The great benefits of nuclear technologies are sustainable only if they are used safely and securely.

According to Cornel Feruta, it is more than 10 years since IAEA inspectors were required to leave the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The Agency continues to monitor the DPRK's nuclear program, including through satellite imagery. “The DPRK's nuclear activities remain a cause for serious concern. The Agency remains ready to play an essential role in verifying the DPRK's nuclear program if a political agreement is reached among countries concerned. I call upon the DPRK to comply fully with its obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions, to cooperate promptly with the Agency and to resolve all outstanding issues,” the IAEA acting director general said.

Representatives of about 170 states are taking part in the 63rd session of the IAEA General Conference. The Belarusian delegation is led by Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk.

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