The IAEA´s 52nd General Conference of Member States concluded today in Vienna. More than 130 IAEA Member States and over 1400 delegates attended the five-day event held at the Austria Center, Vienna from 29 September-4 October.
At its concluding session, the General Conference adopted resolutions backing the IAEA´s work and setting future directions in key areas. These included nuclear safety, nuclear applications, technology transfer and safeguards implementation. The full texts of adopted resolutions will be posted on the IAEA.org website as they become available.
During the General Conference, a two-day Scientific Forum looking at the nature and scope of the IAEA´s programme to 2020 and beyond was also held alongside several briefings on the Agency´s work in areas such as nuclear energy, safety and security and technical cooperation.
Other events included a forum held by the International Safety Advisory Group (INSAG) focusing on the infrastructure needed for nuclear safety, and include the perspectives of five nuclear "newcomers" in Asia, the Middle East and Europe, and an exhibit highlighting the work of the IAEA in various areas, as well as special exhibits organized by Member States.
On 3 October, the General Conference also elected 11 new IAEA Board Members to serve for two years. These are: Afghanistan, Argentina, Burkina Faso, Cuba, Egypt, Malaysia, New Zealand, Romania, Spain, Turkey and Uruguay.
The 53rd IAEA General Conference is due to be held from 14-18 September 2009 at the Austria Center, Vienna.