Statement by H.E. Mr. Kazuo Kodama
Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan
on Agenda Item 87
“Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency”
8 November 2010

Mr. President,

Let me begin by thanking Director-General of the Agency, Mr. Yukiya Amano, for presenting the annual report of the IAEA.

（Japan’s Contribution to the IAEA）

This year the international community has embarked on a new stage of critical importance towards the realization of a “world without nuclear weapons.” In May the NPT Review Conference agreed on the "Action Plan," which was incorporated into the Final Document adopted by it. This agreement presented us all with an opportunity to restart nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation efforts based on the spirit of cooperative multilateralism. Japan believes that all the Member States of the IAEA should now make combined efforts for steady implementation of the "Action Plan” in concert with the Agency.

Japan is determined to act at the forefront of efforts of the international   community towards a world without nuclear weapons. To this end, Japan co-hosted　with Australia a Foreign Ministers' meeting on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation here in New York in September to discuss concrete and practical measures for a world of decreased nuclear risk as an interim milestone in our endeavors to realize our common goal. The participating states share this purpose and Japan, in cooperation with these countries, intends to lead international efforts in this regard.

Japan welcomed the visit of the Director General Amano to Hiroshima and Nagasaki this August, and regards it as a highly important step forward to contribute to the growth of the momentum being built towards a “world without nuclear weapons.” We are most looking forward to his follow-up efforts, as he indicated in a symposium in Nagasaki that the Agency would be able to contribute to nuclear disarmament in its implementing stages.

Japan, as a member of the Board of Governors since the foundation of the Agency, has been working jointly with the Agency for promotion of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, thus making significant contributions to the Agency’s activities. Japan will make further use of the knowledge and experience that it has acquired for the civilian use of nuclear energy as well as strengthening, and improving the efficiency of, the safeguards system, with a view to assisting developing countries through the Agency’s technical cooperation.

（Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy）

Mr. President,

The IAEA has been playing an essential role in the social and economic development of the world by applying the nuclear science and technology. Japan highly appreciates such a role of the Agency.

The Government of Japan made, in June of this year, a cabinet decision on “The New Growth Strategy: Blueprint for Revitalizing Japan”. As one of the main pillars of this strategy, Japan will actively promote “green innovation”, namely innovation in the environment and energy sectors, to create a low-carbon society in Japan. Japan is convinced that nuclear power is a key energy for fulfilling stable supply, environmental compatibility and economic efficiency at the same time and thus fueling this innovation.

In April of this year, the Nuclear Security Summit meeting was held successfully. Japan greatly welcomes this achievement and is now preparing for establishment of "the Integrated Support Center for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Nuclear Security" to follow up on its announcement in that Summit meeting. Through activities of this Center, Japan, in cooperation with the Agency, will contribute to the needs such as human resource development for strengthening nuclear security mainly in Asian countries.

(Technical cooperation and safeguard measures）

Mr. President,

Japan firmly believes that the technical cooperation should continue to be one of the core missions of the IAEA. Japan, taking advantage of its own long history and achievements that it has seen in the application of radiation technology such as medical application including cancer therapy, attaches importance to technical cooperation activities. There are needs of many Member States of the Agency, and Japan will continue to make technical and personnel contributions in these areas.

The worrisome reality is, however, the shortage of human resources for underpinning the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. While attaching importance to the Agency’s efforts for the development of such human resources, Japan will contribute to those efforts, being more mindful of the utilization of its own experts in the Agency.

Mr. President,

Needless to say, strengthening, and improving the efficiency of, the IAEA safeguards is especially vital for the enhancement of the non-proliferation regime. Japan believes that the most realistic and effective way to strengthen the IAEA safeguards is the universalization of the Additional Protocol which more than one hundred states have concluded with the Agency. Japan will, in concert with the Agency and its Member States concerned, further contribute to universalization of the Additional Protocol through activities such as hosting ASTOP or “the Asian Senior-level Talks on Non-Proliferation” meetings and making contributions to the Agency’s seminars.

( North Korea and Iran）

Mr. President,

North Korea’s nuclear issue remains to be posing a grave threat to the peace and security of East Asia and the international community as a whole, as well as a serious challenge to the NPT regime. Regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, it is imminent and indispensable that Iran should remove the concerns and gain confidence of the international community. Japan will continue to act, including the steady implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, towards settlement of these nuclear issues in concert with the international community.

(Closing remark)

Mr. President,

Today, the IAEA is expected to fully carry out its core missions under the Statute, while facing a pile of important challenges vis-à-vis both national security for each country and human security for each living person.

As I stated earlier, Japan will make further contributions to the Agency’s activities by utilizing its knowledge and experience on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy under international confidence in non-proliferation. On this occasion, Japan calls upon all the Member States of the Agency to give the highest priority to maximizing common interest and address the challenges through constructive cooperation.

I thank you, Mr. President, for your attention.