Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are low-lying coastal countries that share similar sustainable development challenges including small populations, limited resources, remoteness, susceptibility to natural disasters and vulnerability to external shocks. They are a recognised category of United Nations membership to address these specific needs. In this context, and over the last few years, the IAEA has seen an increased membership from SIDS.
Recognising the specific developmental challenges of being small in size and with common needs, as well as with specific needs in many of the IAEA’s programmatic areas, the Technical Cooperation Divisions of both Asia Pacific (TCAP) and Latin America and the Caribbean (TCLAC) hosted in Vienna a three-day meeting, between 27-30 June 2016, with the support of the Government of Australia.
We took time away from that meeting to speak with His Excellency, David Stuart, Ambassador of Australia to Austria and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations Office in Vienna.