Statement by Ambassador Abdul Samad Minty, Governor of the Republic of South Africa, at the Meeting of the IAEA Technical Assistance and Co-operation Committee, Vienna, 20 November 2006

Chairperson,

My personal congratulations to you in your role as Chair of the Board.

At the outset let me express my appreciation for the comprehensive introductory statements of the Director General and the Deputy Director General for Technical Cooperation, and commend the staff of the Agency's Department of Technical Cooperation for their committed work and the support provided to Member States.

My delegation fully associates itself with the statements made on behalf of the African Group as well as the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77 and China.

Chairperson,

Member States will recall the protracted discussions we had ahead of the September General Conference in order to achieve consensus on the Technical Cooperation Fund Allocation for the biennium 2007-2008 and the Indicative Planning Figures for 2009-2011. Once again we commend the Co-Chairs of the Open-Ended Working Group, Ambassador Johansen of Norway and Ambassador Wijewardane of Sri Lanka for their dedicated efforts that enabled the increased figures for technical co-operation to be agreed upon.

With regard to these figures, my delegation notes with concern the low rate of pledges regarding the voluntary contributions to the Technical Cooperation Fund (TCF) made by Member States so far. We should not be in any doubt that if not rectified, it will have an adverse effect on the full implementation of the planned technical cooperation projects in the next biennium.

Although some would argue that the resources available to technical cooperation are not sufficient, as evident by the large number of unfunded footnote (a) projects, it is nonetheless important that Member States should pledge their share of the target figure of the Technical Cooperation Fund, and achieve a payment level of 100% of such pledges. By achieving such a payment level and also making resources available for the footnote (a) projects, the Technical Cooperation Fund would then only start nearing parity with other programmes of the Agency, which currently it is not on par with.

This Fund is a statutory and political commitment that needs to be realised. All Member States are therefore called upon to honour this commitment and pay their target share to the Fund in full, on time and without pre-conditions.

Chairperson,

As we enter the 50th anniversary year of the Agency we should recall the address by President Dwight D. Eisenhower at the United Nations on 8 December 1953, wherein he outlined his vision of the important responsibility of the future International Atomic Energy Agency as follows, and I quote:

"The more important responsibility of this atomic energy agency would be to devise methods whereby this fissionable material would be allocated to serve the peaceful pursuits of mankind. Experts would be mobilized to apply atomic energy to the needs of agriculture, medicine and other peaceful activities. A special purpose would be to provide abundant electrical energy in the power-starved areas of the world."

Unquote

Chairperson,

Despite this clear explanation of the Statute of the Agency, we do not see much progress in its implementation. Notwithstanding our efforts, many in the poorer regions of the world have only become poorer, that in turn leads to conflict and the need to deal with costly conflicts and post-conflict normalization

The technical co-operation projects of the Agency are therefore more than just political commitments. They also constitute important building blocks to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Agency's projects address many of the MDGs especially in the areas of water, environmental sustainability, combating disease, hunger and poverty, maternal health and child health. To reach the goals set out in the Millennium Declaration by 2015, we must continue to expand the Agency's technical assistance programme to the benefit of developing, and in particular least developed countries.

Over the years, the developing countries have repeatedly stressed the need for the funding of the Agency's technical cooperation projects to be sufficient, predictable and assured. They have also stressed the need for the technical cooperation budget to be increased as it is clearly not sufficient.

Although it is acknowledged that contributions to the Technical Cooperation Fund is currently voluntary, my delegation reiterates its view that we need to allocate more resources that would enable the Agency to undertake its statutory mandate "to seek to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world".

In the context of ensuring sufficient funding for technical cooperation in adherence to the objective of the Agency, South Africa believes that it is imperative that we now consider how to incorporate the funding of technical cooperation projects into the regular budget of the Agency. The time has arrived to conclusively correct the mistakes of the past 50 years.

Consistent with resolution GC(50)/RES/12 adopted by the 50th Regular Session of the General Conference, which mandated the Secretariat to explore means to ensure that resources to the Technical Cooperation Programme are sufficient, assured and predictable, we look forward to the report by the Secretariat on the implementation of this important decision, including on options on how to incorporate such funding into the regular budget.

Chairperson,

South Africa, like many developing countries of the South, benefits from the Agency's technical cooperation projects on the national, regional and interregional level. The new TC programmes for South Africa have been developed in close co-operation with the relevant national stakeholders, based on the planning and priorities identified in the Country Programme Framework (CPF) for the period 2005-2010.

These projects are consistent with South Africa's priorities and policies as set out, amongst others, in the White Papers on Agriculture; Transformation of the South African Health System; National Water Policy for South Africa; Integrated Pollution Control and Waste Management; Science and Technology; and the White Paper on the Energy Policy of South Africa.

Chairperson,

South Africa's commitment to the Agency's technical cooperation programmes is especially due to their contribution towards development in Africa. The Agency's efforts in seeking cooperation areas with the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) are most welcome and could assist with the transfer of technology to African countries, with spin-offs for the benefit of the poorest and least developed of this world.

South Africa is actively participating in the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA). These projects include areas such as human health, in particular clinical radiotherapy and strengthening regional capability in medical physics, crop and livestock improvement, and water resource management in support of the African Union's development goals.

Chairperson,

Let me reiterate South Africa's view that the Agency's Technical Assistance Programme makes a valuable and indispensable contribution to the sustainable development of Member States and that we all should make every effort to meet our financial and in-kind obligations towards the full implementation of the proposed programmes.

Furthermore, it is imperative that such contributions should be made without any pre-conditions. We should not allow a situation to develop whereby we micromanage and interfere with the Agency in fulfilling its mandate under the Statute to provide technical assistance to Member States. If we should allow such a situation, we are surely reaching the beginning of the end of technical cooperation.

Chairperson,

My delegation has listened with great care to the comments made by some delegations and the concerns expressed by them on the technical assistance programme of one country. We have also heard a response to these concerns.

South Africa has the fullest confidence in the Secretariat and the Director General that they take decisions on issues such as the technical assistance programme in conformity with decisions of the Board of Governors as well as international law. It is therefore not appropriate that we question the integrity of the Secretariat in this regard. Such a vote of no-confidence in the Secretariat in this forum will have serious repercussions if a similar vote of no-confidence is expressed in the Secretariat by others in other fora, including on safeguards related issues. This will lead us to a situation where no one would emerge as winners and it is imperative that we guard against such action.

We hope that we shall reflect upon this, with all its serious implications, with a view to reach our common objective through consensus.

With these comments, my delegation would support that we receive the report and forward document, GOV/2006/59, to the Board of Governors.

Chairperson,

With reference to the evaluation of Technical Cooperation activities in 2006, my delegation notes from the report and Annexes as contained in document GOV/INF/2006/15 that only two of the three planned evaluations have been completed in 2006. South Africa commends the Agency for the in-depth evaluation of the TC programmes on human nutrition and food safety, which represent two major tools in the global efforts towards sustainable development and we acknowledge the importance thereof.

My delegation recognizes the importance of the effective and efficient implementation of TC projects related to human nutrition and food safety. South Africa firmly believes that "education, training and nuclear knowledge management" form an essential component of the Agency's TC programme. Such programmes contribute to the ultimate eradication of poverty, and contribute to sustainable development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Chairperson,

My delegation commends the Agency for its role in disseminating information and raising public awareness about the benefits derived from nuclear and related techniques in addressing important development needs.

We welcome the fact that many projects under evaluation were related to major national nutrition programmes in Member States, complementing their efforts in combating malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. It would seem highly desirable to improve information exchange and collaboration at project level among the beneficiaries and international or United Nations organisations, as well as multilateral development sponsors in order to avoid overlaps or duplication and to improve co-ordination.

My delegation takes note that out of a large number of projects started in 2001 fewer than 30 percent were completed and would encourage Member States to improve integration and harmonization of projects with national and regional programmes and action plans.

Chairperson,

South Africa commends the Agency for the sterling work done in the field of technical cooperation and takes note of the evaluation contained in GOV/INF/2006/15.

I thank you.