Dear friends and colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me begin by expressing the shock and outrage which we all share over the appalling terrorist attacks that took place in Paris last week.
On behalf of the IAEA, I offer my deepest sympathy to the people and Government of France.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I feel confident in predicting that 2015 will be another busy year for the Agency. We can expect important developments, and continued challenges, in all areas of our work.
2014 was a very busy year, but also a very fruitful one.
Among the highlights from my perspective were our efforts to improve understanding of the state-level safeguards concept. I believe the intensive consultations with all of you on this important issue were very productive.
Progress was made on the Iran nuclear issue, but much more remains to be done. I will say more about this in a moment.
We formally launched the ReNuAL project to modernise the nuclear applications laboratories in Seibersdorf.
We held a very successful Scientific Forum on the subject of radioactive waste. We are still considering the subject of this year’s Scientific Forum, but nuclear applications in industry are one interesting possibility.
We provided rapid assistance to countries affected by the EBOLA virus, sending them specialised equipment for rapid diagnosis. This demonstrated once again the Agency's ability to react swiftly to unpredicted events which have a serious impact on Member States.
On the management front, the third phase of AIPS, the Agency's enterprise resource planning system, went live. It covers human resources and payroll and is the largest and most complex of the project's four phases.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As far as the year ahead is concerned, let me briefly single out a number of key issues.
2015 will be a significant year for the Iran nuclear issue. The future will depend very much on the outcome of the negotiations between the E3+3 countries and Iran.
As the only multilateral nuclear verification organisation, the Agency has been playing a crucial role in verifying Iran's nuclear programme. We have worked methodically to try to resolve all outstanding issues. In 2009, we provided a clear assessment of the situation. In 2011, we spelled out the outstanding issues that needed to be clarified by Iran. And, in 2013, we reached agreement with Iran on the Framework for Cooperation to resolve all the outstanding issues, past and present.
In addressing the Iran nuclear issue, two things are important. First, with the cooperation of Iran, the Agency needs to clarify issues with possible military dimensions to the satisfaction of Member States. Also, Iran needs to implement the additional protocol so that the Agency can provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran.
The Agency will continue to play an essential role in the future, including in verifying nuclear-related measures to be implemented by Iran if – as we all hope – a comprehensive agreement is reached between the E3+3 and Iran.
An equally important part of the IAEA's mandate is to make nuclear technologies available for development. As I have said many times, the IAEA should not be defined merely as the world's nuclear watchdog.
We have an important role to play in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and of the post-2015 development agenda. I would like to see the IAEA recognised as a unique stakeholder which promotes development through the use of nuclear technology.
Last year, as I mentioned, we provided assistance to Ebola-affected countries. We reorganised the PACT office and launched the ReNuAL project. The goal in each case was to better serve the interests of Member States.
ReNuAL is a very important project for the Agency. The laboratories provide assistance to almost all Member States. We need new buildings as well as new equipment. If the project is to remain on schedule, it is imperative that we receive extrabudgetary funding for the buildings so that construction can begin in the next few months. I again appeal to all countries to contribute generously, and I thank those that have already done so.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Since I assumed my post in 2009, the Agency has been operating with modest real growth in the budget. Efficiency gains and extra-budgetary contributions were the main sources of funding for new needs such as the Action Plan on Nuclear Safety, as well as in nuclear security, safeguards and technical cooperation.
However, the number of Member States continues to grow and demand for Agency services is rising steadily. We are now coming to the limits of what can realistically be achieved through efficiencies and savings. For 2016-2017, we will submit budget estimates with very modest real growth. If the E3+3 and Iran talks lead to an agreement, the Agency will play an essential role – as I mentioned – and the workload of the Department of Safeguards will increase. It will not be possible to fund the extra work through a budget which shows only modest real growth. We will, of course, consult with Member States in an appropriate and timely manner.
As you know, the Diplomatic Conference of Parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety opens in less than one month. This is to be financed through extrabudgetary funding. Thanks to a quick response from one Contracting Party to our latest appeal for funding, we now have the resources for a two-day conference with full services. If the Conference were to last longer than two days, additional funding would be needed. I would ask Contracting Parties to make resources available as soon as possible, as they deem necessary.
This year, we will complete the Agency report on the Fukushima Daiichi accident and move ahead on developing our approach to nuclear safety in the post-Fukushima period. We are doing all we can to help secure the entry into force – at long last – of the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials.
We also expect to make progress on both the MOSAIC project to modernise the safeguards IT systems, and the IAEA LEU Bank. We hope to submit a host state agreement for the LEU Bank to the Board.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Progress has been made in all areas of the IAEA's work in recent years, but there is still much to be done.
It is important to maintain the momentum and ensure that the Agency continues to deliver concrete results that make a real difference to the lives of the people of the world, in the coming year and beyond.
I thank you warmly for your support and look forward to working closely with you all in 2015.
And I wish you all a very happy new year.
Thank you.