Topnews, Statements

17. Juni 2020

STATEMENT DELIVERED BY AMBASSADOR RAPULANE MOLEKANE, RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE/GOVERNOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, AT THE IAEA BOARD OF GOVERNORS, 17 JUNE 2020, VIENNA, AUSTRIA

AGENDA ITEM 6 (B): SAFEGUARDS IMPLEMENTATION REPORT

Madame Chair

South Africa takes note with appreciation of the Safeguards Implementation Report for 2019.

At the outset South Africa reiterates its unwavering support for the IAEA’s efforts in strengthening the international safeguards system, which is central to international peace and security efforts. We therefore welcome the Agency’s conclusion that based on its evaluation of all safeguards relevant information and its verification activities it did not find “any indication that, in its judgment, gave rise to proliferation concerns.”

We reiterate our principled position that all State Parties to the NPT and Member States with any form or size of nuclear facilities or material must sign and implement Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements (CSAs). Where applicable, we also urge full compliance with the Addition Protocol, which adds an extra layer of assurance that there is no undeclared - or diversion of nuclear material or other illegal nuclear activities taking place in a state.

The efficiency and effectiveness of the safeguards system rests on the accuracy of a state’s inventory lists and declarations under the Addition Protocol. We are therefore concerned that the IAEA again reports that it has experienced difficulty with the accuracy and timeliness of some state’s inventories, accounting list and declarations.  We have also noted that in most instances these difficulties emanate from a lack of capacity within some states. South Africa therefore calls for the further strengthening of the Agency’s training and capacity building initiatives to alleviate these challenges.

Analysis of safeguards-relevant information, which the report states is crucial for the Agency’s ability to draw safeguards conclusions is appreciated. South Africa has noted that the Report states that the Agency draws safeguards relevant information from a diverse range of open-source resources and trade information as well as its declaration that throughout 2019 the IAEA had expanded the available sources in this regard and worked at strengthening its methodology of analysis. While South Africa supports the use of “all safeguards-relevant information” we call on the Agency to continue to strengthen its efforts at ensuring the veracity of such information, especially in this day and age of “fake news”.

South Africa would appreciate further information from the IAEA on how it handles such information, including information provided by third party sources, especially on its methodology in testing the accuracy of such information.

Madam Chair

I conclude by reiterating South Africa’s unyielding support for this very important activity of the IAEA, while urging for flexibility and understanding as we tackle the Corona Pandemic and implement restrictions aimed at protecting our citizens.  

I thank you.

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