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12. June 2017

STATEMENT BY DR JOHNNY THABO PITSWANE, DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, BOARD OF GOVERNORS, 12 JUNE 2017, VIENNA

AGENDA ITEM 4: STRENGTHENING OF THE AGENCY’S TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES, TECHNICAL COOPERATION REPORT FOR 2016.

Chairperson,

My delegation associates itself with the statements delivered on behalf of the G77 and China and the African Group respectively. I would like to make the following remarks in our national capacity.

Chairperson

The presentation of this Technical Cooperation Report comes a few days after the conclusion of the first International Conference on Technical Cooperation held here in Vienna, as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations of the IAEA. We believe that this conference was an ideal opportunity for Member States to collectively reflect on how the IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme continues to assist Member States through nuclear science and technology to address their socio-economic development needs. It is our wish that the TC conference should be regularised.

My delegation takes note of the Technical Cooperation Report for 2016 which provides an overview of the progress achieved in delivering the Technical Cooperation Programme. In our view, the Technical Cooperation Programme is an important delivery mechanism through which the Agency fulfils its statutory mandate to promote the peaceful uses of atomic energy, thus assisting Member States to realize their socio-economic development priorities.

South Africa has noted with appreciation that in 2016, the Agency continued to provide support to 45 African Member States, including 26 Least Developed Countries, to build human and institutional capacity for the sustainable application of nuclear technology for development and to strengthen regional cooperation. Despite challenges, my delegation welcomes the increase in the implementation rate in the TC Programme on the African Continent, which rose from 82.1% in 2015 to 85% in 2016.

Chairperson

The Technical Cooperation Report highlights that efforts continued throughout 2016 to further strengthen the role of the Country Programme Frameworks (CPFs) as the main strategic planning tool for the development of national TC programmes for Member States. In this regard, my delegation is pleased to note that out of the 20 CPFs signed by Member States last year, 8 were signed by Member States from Africa. In this regard, we are pleased to indicate that South Africa has submitted a draft CPF for review by the Secretariat. We trust that this process will be completed very soon.

Chairperson

Last year, South Africa implemented 7 active projects in the critical areas of human health, human resources development, water management, and nuclear safety and regulatory infrastructure. We also participated in several regional and interregional projects and continue to host 7 Regional Designated Centres (RDCs) to support the development of human resources in the African region.

My delegation is pleased to report to the Board that during the reporting period, South Africa recorded a number of achievements, including the successful hosting of our first Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission, which took place from 5 to 10 December last year. The mission, which consisted of an international team of 23 senior experts, focussed on strengthening and enhancing the effectiveness of our national regulatory infrastructure for nuclear, radiation, and transport safety, and radioactive waste, together with the security of radioactive sources. The South African Government partly funded the mission through a voluntary contribution amounting to 115 000 Euros.

This IRRS mission was the most comprehensive undertaken in our region and has highlighted the significance which the South African Government attaches to nuclear safety. Accordingly, we have taken note of the observations and recommendations of the IAEA team and will embark on efforts to close all the gaps identified, in the next three years.

Chairperson

My delegation wishes to remind Member States of our shared responsibility towards funding and enhancing the TC activities of the Agency and in ensuring that the Agency’s resources for TC activities are Sufficient, Assured and Predictable. In this regard, my delegation is of the view that timely and full payment of assessed contributions will alleviate challenges such as unallocated balances as highlighted during the recent Programme and Budget and TCF targets negotiations.

With these remarks, my delegation takes note of the Technical Cooperation Report for 2016 as contained in document GOV/2017/17.

Thank you, Chairperson

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