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18. September 2017

REMARKS BY AMBASSADOR THEMBISILE C. MAJOLA, DEPUTY MINISTER OF ENERGY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY GENERAL CONFERENCE, UNVEILING OF THE RENUAL DONOR WALL, 18 SEPTEMBER 2017, VIENNA, AUSTRIA 

Director General Amano and your excellent team

Mr Thorsten Herdan, Director General from the Federal Republic of Germany

Co-Chairs of the Friends of ReNuAL

Members of the Board and the IAEA community of states

Friends of ReNuAL

It is indeed an honour for me to be here in Vienna, the Headquarters of this crucial international organization the IAEA, whose motto of “Atoms for Peace and Development” remains more relevant today, than ever before. Your invitation to my Delegation and I is highly appreciated. This unveiling ceremony of the ReNuAL Donor Wall is a fitting celebration of progress made since the launch of the modernization of the Nuclear Applications Laboratories at Seibersdorf in 2012. It further underscores how nuclear technology can be harness for endless possibilities in peaceful applications in the service of development. The attendance here today of all of you, highlights the significance your countries attach to this project.

As Co-Chairs of the Friends of ReNuAL together with Germany, we reiterate our commitment to the efforts to renovate and modernise the Nuclear Applications laboratories. Our commonly held beliefs are testimony to the ground-breaking work of these laboratories in building capacities within Member States, with numerous examples of these, that are contained in the DG’s reports. These are tangible proof of how many countries from different regions of the world have already benefitted from these facilities, including my continent, Africa.

Director General and fellow Distinguished Delegates

It is our view that the renovation of the Nuclear Applications Laboratories at Seibersdorf should continue to be one of the priorities at the core of our agenda as Member States of the Agency. My Delegation is eternally grateful for the support extended to ReNuAL including the financial and in-kind contributions already made by some Member States, international organizations and non-traditional donors. We know that more work still remains to be done to successfully complete the remaining elements of this project. We encourage other Member States to provide further similar support to enable us to meet our targets and milestones.

DG, Distinguished Delegations and Friends

ReNuAL is a fitting example of how the power of the atom can be an instrument not of destruction or harm but of peace and development. It sharply illustrates how the work of this Agency immensely contributes to the attainment of our socio-economic development needs including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. I cannot wait to undertake my first visit to Seibersdorf this coming Wednesday, to bear witness to what our scientists and technical experts are doing to assist us in mitigating the negative impact of some diseases in our countries and to see first-hand the new laboratory buildings that have already been completed.

It is our fervent hope that this Donor Wall will in due course be populated further as more Friends of ReNuAL and other equally committed Member States contribute to this noble cause.

Once again, thank you for this opportunity and for your attendance at this function.

Thank You.

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