VIENNA / AMANO GENERAL CONFERENCE OPENER

IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano says that "no progress could be achieved" on the application of full-scope agency safeguards on all nuclear activities in the Middle East, as well as the model safeguard agreements that are necessary to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region. IAEA

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:41
• Production Date: 20 September 2010
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY - IAEA
• Subject Topical: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; PEACE AND SECURITY
• Geographic Subject: MIDDLE EAST
• MAMS Id: U100920d

Description

STORY: VIENNA / AMANO GENERAL CONFERENCE OPENER
TRT: 1:41
SOURCE: UNAMA
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 20 SEPTEMBER 2010, VIENNA, AUSTRIA

Shotlist

1. Various shots, IAEA headquarters
2. Wide shot, conference
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Yukiya Amano, Director-General, International Atomic Energy Agency:
“It is not an exaggeration to say that we have entered a new era. Some 60 countries are considering introducing nuclear energy.”
4. Cutaway, delegates
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Yukiya Amano, Director-General, International Atomic Energy Agency:
“The nuclear programme of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea remains a matter of serious concern. The Agency has had no inspectors in the country since April last year, and I therefore have nothing to report on any activities of the IAEA in relation to the DPRK.”
6. Cutaway, delegates
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Yukiya Amano, Director-General, International Atomic Energy Agency:
“On the application of full-scope Agency safeguards on all nuclear activities in the Middle East, and on the development of model safeguards agreements as a necessary step towards establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region, I regret to report that no progress could be achieved.”
8. Cutaway, delegates

Storyline

Representatives from 151 Member States of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) met today (20 September) in Vienna to attend the Agency’s General Conference.

At the meeting, IAEA announced that more than 100 nations now allow the Agency greater access to information regarding their nuclear programmes.

IAEA’s chief Yukiya Amano added that “some 60 countries are considering introducing nuclear energy.”

The nuclear programme of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), which ordered IAEA inspectors to leave last year, “remains a matter of serious concern,” he said.
The country has not allowed the agency to implement safeguards since late 2002, Amano pointed out, calling for the resumption of the Six-Party talks bringing together the DPRK, the Republic of Korea, Japan, China, Russia and the United States.

In his address, the Director General also spotlighted his desire to change the widespread perception of the IAEA as the world’s nuclear watchdog because it does not do justice to our extensive activities in other areas, especially in nuclear energy, nuclear applications and technical cooperation.

This year, he pointed out, the body is focusing on cancer, which claims 665 lives in developing countries every hour, nearly three times as many as in richer countries.

On the Middle East, Amano said that “no progress could be achieved” on the application of full-scope agency safeguards on all nuclear activities in the Middle East, as well as the model safeguard agreements that are necessary to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region.

At the week-long meeting, participants are set to take up issues ranging from the IAEA’s budget and plan of work for the coming year to resolutions on development and security issues.