Iaea General Conference Begins Annual Session

High-level governmental representatives from 103 Member States of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), including 19 ministers, are meeting in Vienna this week for the 39th regular session of the General Conference. The Conference opens today, 18 September, and is scheduled to last through 22 September 1995 at the Austria Center Vienna.

The opening session included a message from the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

The Conference's General Debate is scheduled to begin with statements by Ministers from Japan, Mr. Yasuoki Urano; United States, Ms. Hazel O'Leary; China, Mr. Zinxiong Jiang; Republic of Korea, Mr. Kun-Mo Chung; Russian Federation, Mr. V.N. Mikhailov; and Mauritius, Mr. Swalay Kasenally.

Delegates elected as President of the Conference H.E. Mr. Chuchai Kasemsarn, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the IAEA as well as the Republic of Austria. Delegates also elected H.E. Ms. Roberta Lajous Vargas, Ambassador for Mexico to the IAEA and the Republic of Austria, as Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole.

Among items on the Conference's provisional agenda, delegates will be asked to approve the Agency's 1996 regular budget which calls for total expenditures of US $219 million at an exchange rate of AS 12.70 per US$. This represents zero real growth. Additionally, the Conference will be asked to approve a target of US $64.5 million for voluntary contributions towards the Agency's technical co-operation fund for 1996.

The Conference additionally will consider a number of items related to strengthening technical co-operation activities; measures to strengthen international co- operation in nuclear safety, radiological protection, and radioactive waste management; strengthening the effectiveness and improving the efficiency of the safeguards system; measures against illicit trafficking in nuclear materials and other radioactive sources; implementation of the safeguards agreement with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions relating to nuclear inspections in Iraq; an African nuclear-weapon-free zone; and application of IAEA safeguards in the Middle East.

In conjunction with the General Conference, a special scientific programme is scheduled for 19 and 20 September. Three subjects are being examined: environmental restoration of radioactively contaminated sites (19 September, afternoon session); applications of accelerators (20 September, morning session); and new safeguards technologies (20 September, afternoon session). In connection with the scientific programme on environmental restoration, the United States Department of Energy is organizing an exhibit of a computer database system on Environmental Technologies for Remedial Actions Data Exchange. Under the scientific programme on new safeguards technologies, a demonstration of remote monitoring technology also will be held from 19-20 September in the Austria Center.

Information about the IAEA General Conference is globally on line through the IAEA's World Atom Internet service, which can be accessed at the World Wide Web address http://www.iaea.org