Disarmament

IAEA Board of Governors Meeting: 1 August

Agenda Item 1: Nuclear Verification: Conclusion of Safeguards Agreements and of Additional Protocols Draft Safeguards Agreement for India (GOV/2008/30)

Mr Chairman

New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.  As such, we are strong supporters of the non-proliferation regime and remain convinced that the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is the essential cornerstone of international action on nuclear non-proliferation.  We will continue to work with others to enhance its implementation, including in the lead-up to the 2010 Review Conference.

We appreciate the briefings that have been given concerning the proposed India/IAEA safeguards agreement.  The application of a robust, comprehensive safeguards system is central to the international non-proliferation regime and any proposal, therefore, outside of normal parameters requires extra scrutiny.

We recognise the potential value of bringing India’s unsafeguarded facilities within the Agency’s monitoring and inspection mechanisms, and would welcome the enhancement of the constructive relationship between the IAEA and India.

In this respect, the non-standard language contained in the draft still raises a number of questions about the manner in which it is to be implemented.  New Zealand would prefer to see greater clarity in a document of such significance.  In this regard, we note that a number of previous statements have raised similar concerns.

Mr Chairman, New Zealand is not currently a member of the Board, and as such will not participate formally in its deliberations today.  As a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, however, and a committed supporter of nuclear non-proliferation, we will continue to pay close attention to this matter in coming weeks.

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