Statements
06. May 2013
South Africa associates itself with the statement of the Group of 77 and China and wishes to thank the co-chairs for convening the first meeting of this Working Group, which has been established to reach an agreement on target figures for the Technical Cooperation Fund for the biennium 2014-2015 and to decide on indicative planning figures for 2016-2017.
South Africa has always supported the need for a realistic budget that not only takes into account the financial situations that we face, but a budget that would also enable the Agency to meet the growing demands for its services, and enable it to fulfill its mandate of promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy
Chairperson,
As we prepare ourselves to deliberate on the Budget Cycle for 2014-2015, South Africa would like to take this opportunity to again emphasize the importance we attach to the Agency’s Technical Cooperation Programme, as it contributes towards addressing socio-economic needs and development challenges in developing countries. Indeed the Agency’s TC projects are more than just political commitments, they constitute important building blocks to assist developing countries in their efforts to alleviate poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals. In this regard we support the proposed increase in the regular budget for the management of the TC Programme.
Our approach during these budget negotiations will be to determinedly address the lack of sufficient, assured and predictable funding that hampers full TC Programme implementation. As the membership of the Agency continues to grow, the TCF increases have been disproportionate to the increases of the regular budget, the bulk of which is devoted to non-promotional activities of the Agency. The declining rate of attainment is a further strain on resources. As we proceed in these negotiations we should be mindful of the fact that TCF , although perceived to be voluntary, is an obligation to all members of the Agency to make contributions to the fund as per their respective scales of assessed contributions in order to facilitate the effective implementation of one of the Agency’s statutory mandates.
Chairperson,
My delegation takes note of the proposed establishment of a Division for Nuclear Security under Major Programme 3 and wishes to reiterate that security, unlike safety is not a statutory responsibility of the Agency. Whilst South Africa appreciates the work of the Agency in supporting the activities of
the Member States to enhance nuclear security, my delegation is concerned by the significance of the establishment of such a division. The implied increase in responsibility by the Agency for Nuclear Security and the long-term implications for the budget, the bulk of which is already devoted to non- promotional activities, requires careful consideration.
My delegation recalls the concerns raised by the External Auditor in 2012 on the IAEA plans to install and operate an LEU Bank to ensure a supply of nuclear fuel for Member States. In our statement to the June Board my delegation took note of the Agency’s assurance that it is addressing these concerns in line with its established risk management and we asked for an update report on this matter. South Africa again requests such an update as well a projection of the future cost implications of the LEU bank for the regular budget.
Chairperson,
South Africa attaches great importance to the modernisation of the Seibersdorf Laboratories to support the valuable work of the Agency in the application of nuclear technology for development. We support the allocation to this project made in the regular budget and are cognisant of the efforts required, by Member States, to secure the necessary extra-budgetary funds to fully implement the project. My delegation reaffirms that the modernisation of the FAO/IAEA joint Division laboratories at Seibersdorf is a priority and deserves our full attention.
Keeping this in mind my delegation would request a breakdown of costs required for the inclusion of a cancer treatment training laboratory at Seibersdorf. We would like to better understand the utility and the associated costs involved in establishing, maintaining and sustaining a clinical training laboratory outside of a hospital environment. As the Agency is not an academic institution, we would appreciate an insight into the Secretariat’s plans regarding the appointment and funding of appropriate human resources to conduct the training and provide academic certification. Would it not be more cost effective to invest in the regional designated centers for the creation of sustainable institutions and the provision of technical backstopping for cancer treatment in Africa and elsewhere?
With these preliminary comments my delegations looks forward to working with the co-chairs and other Members States on achieving a realistic budget for 2014-2015 and address the lack of sufficient, assured and predictable funding for the Technical Cooperation Fund.