Topnews, Statements

04. Mai 2021

STATEMENT DELIVERED BY MS MASENOAMETSI LETLALA, FIRST SECRETARY, PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, AT THE IAEA BOARD OF GOVERNORS, 4 MAY 2021, VIENNA, AUSTRIA

AGENDA ITEM5: THE AGENCY’S DRAFT PROGRAMME AND BUDGET FOR 2022-2023

1.    South Africa thanks the Secretariat and the Co-Chairs of the Working Group on the Regular Budget and Technical Cooperation Fund (TCF) Targets for issuing the proposal for the IAEA Draft Programme and Budget 2022-2023, as contained in the Working Paper GOV/2021/25.  We also associate ourselves with the statements delivered by the G77 and China and the African Group and want to make the following additional comments.

2.    South Africa welcomes that the Agency’s Draft Programme and Budget, reflects the elements agreed upon in the Proposal to the Board of Governors by the Co-Chairs.

3.    South Africa maintains its principled position, which calls for a balanced distribution of the programme and budget to reflect the equal importance of the three pillars of the IAEA’s mandate as contained in its Statute. We stress the need to balance the Agency’s promotional and non-promotional activities.

4.    South Africa also acknowledges that the COVID-19 pandemic has limited the implementation of statutory activities of the IAEA, which is understandable. However, we request that further changes that may be required, especially in the implementation of Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) activities, be closely coordinated with the affected Member States through close consultation and engagement.

5.    Regarding the Technical Cooperation Fund (TCF) targets, we reiterate our position that in determining the TCF targets and Indicative Planning Figures going forward, the relevant and various factors detailed in the working paper should be taken into account. As the main delivery vehicle for the transfer of nuclear energy, science, technologies and applications for peaceful uses, the resources for the TCP must be sufficient, assured and predictable and we encourage all Member States to pay their contributions to the TCF in full and on time, including their National Participation Costs.

6.    In this regard, my delegation notes that the TCF targets still do not render the TCF to be sufficient, assured and predictable considering the large number of footnote-a/ projects.

7.    We further acknowledge that the current global financial circumstances have had an impact on the current Programme and Budget, as well as the TCF targets and therefore will join consensus with the explicit understanding that the targets and how they are derived, do not constitute a precedent.

8.    With these comments, Madam Chair, South Africa takes note of the Agency’s Programme and Budget 2022-2023, as contained in document GOV/2021/1 and GOV/2021/25.

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