UN Transcripts — https://transcripts.un.org/en/ga/80/23
General Assembly: 23rd plenary meeting, 80th session — General Assembly — 29 October 2025
Language: en
Automatically generated transcript — may contain errors. Not an official United Nations record.

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GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [0:00]:

Good afternoon. The 23rd Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly is called to order. The Assembly will consider Agenda Item 89, entitled Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The documentation under this item is listed in the Journal of the United Nations. I will now make a statement as the President of the General Assembly. Excellencies, Director-General Grossi, ladies and gentlemen, this year marks not only the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, but also 80 years since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. —a devastating beginning to the nuclear age. As the IAEA has constantly warned us, the memories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki remind us this day that the nuclear danger is not an abstraction. It is a real and persistent danger. And the IAEA also remains essential in ensuring the nuclear science technology and research serve humanity while preventing harm. Yet its mission is becoming more difficult as conflict, mistrust and geopolitical competition erode the systems of cooperation, verification and safeguards on which global nuclear stability depends. At the Ukrainian nuclear power plant of Saporizhzhia,— the largest in Europe— reactors have repeatedly lost external power due to the Russian invasion and been forced to rely on emergency generators. In East Asia, the Agency has been unable to verify North Korean nuclear activities for more than a decade, leaving a critical gap in global oversight. And there's a constant nuclear threat in the Middle East as essential monitoring of Iranian nuclear sites remains suspended and comprehensive safeguards are still absent. As the integrity of the global non-proliferation architecture is undermined, it is essential we strengthen verification and nuclear safeguards. Progress is still possible. As one recent example, a temporary ceasefire brokered by the IAEA recently allowed technicians to restore power at Saporischschja. This demonstrates that diplomacy can succeed and affirms the indispensable role of the Agency, even— or especially— in areas of war. But progress must be sustained. Engagement cannot be short-lived when the risks are permanent. This applies not only to the military domain but also to the safety and supervision of civil nuclear facilities. With over 30 countries using nuclear plants to generate power, the protection of civilian nuclear infrastructure cannot be treated as secondary. We are also witnessing a deeply concerning trend in which peaceful nuclear installations are increasingly at risk of being targeted during armed conflict in violation of international law or being potential target for terrorist attacks. The world will not receive advance warning before the next nuclear disaster may strike. And we need to remain vigilant. Yet nuclear technology in its broad diversity is a force for human advancement. It can strengthen climate resilience, improve food security, and expand access to life-saving medical care. The IAEA's Rays of Hope program, which expands access to radiotherapy in low- and middle-income countries, stands as a clear proof thereof. Our task, as the IAEA has constantly underlined, is twofold. To unlock the benefits of nuclear technology for civilian purposes while rigorously minimizing its risks. This requires unwavering adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter and to key international instruments such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the treaties establishing nuclear-free zones. These remain binding obligations under international law, reaffirmed by all member states when they adopted the Pact for the Future. Transparency, cooperation and accountability must remain the standard for all who possess or seek nuclear capability. And in this domain, risk does not stop at borders. A failure in one place will have consequences everywhere. That is why the EIA's role is not peripheral. It remains the anchor of global trust and the first line of assurance that standards are upheld. In this regard, I thank you, Director General, for your and your agency's ongoing work, and I look forward to your report. Please, Mr. Grossi, the floor is yours. Mr. Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, to introduce the report of the agency.


IAEA · Director General · Rafael Grossi [6:08]:

Please. Thank you very much, Madame President. Dear Anna-Lena, thank you. It's a pleasure to be working under your guidance. We have been working for a long time together on many of the issues you referred in your past capacity and now, of course, even more so as President of the General Assembly of the United Nations. Our presence here today, of course, is for us very important. We are presenting to you our annual report, a report that tries to describe for all of you how we are trying to address many of the issues that the President just described, issues that by virtue of the mission and the scope of the work of the IAEA ranges from matters dealing with international peace and security to developmental matters dealing with life-saving technologies water, food, and many others. And let me try to describe how is it that we are trying to do this. I want then to start with one of the important aspects, one that perhaps attracts the attention of the international community and, of course, the United Nations, and that has to do with the nonproliferation and the nuclear watchdog, as we are known function. At the center of the preoccupations of the international community, of course, has been the issue of the nuclear program in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Here, the use of force this year reminded us of how important it is that the IAEA is always able to get a grip to know exactly the situation with regards to the nuclear material and the activities in a country. Ever since this, we have been trying to continue and working very— I would say in a very dedicated way on trying to restore the indispensable dialogue that we must have with Iran in order to facilitate an encompassing diplomatic solution to the situation here. We have been having conversations with Iran. Inspections are proceeding in Iran, but there's still some way to go to restore the work that the agency has there. I want to thank in particular those who have been supporting us very effectively. You may have seen that in last July I went to Cairo, and here Under the auspices of President Sisi and my good friend, the Foreign Minister, Badr Abdel-Atti, we were able to have an understanding—a technical understanding, I would say—that is aimed at facilitating the restoration of inspections there. Now it's up to us—Iran and ourselves—to carry on, to continue with this work so we can, as I was saying, facilitate the restoration of— in full of the non-proliferation regime in Iran, which is indispensable for Iran and in a region that, of course, has seen enough suffering. And, of course, nobody wants to see a nuclear dimension to this problem. In this regard, I want to refer to a positive— positive developments that are happening when it comes to Syria, where we have been able, after my visit to Damascus earlier in the year and my very positive conversations with President Bashar al-Assad, we are restoring our inspection work there, hopefully to clarify definitely and once and for all some complex aspects of the past nuclear activities there, and while solving that, being able to facilitate also from our perspective the complete reintegration and positive, constructive engagement of Syria with the world and the world with Syria. We hope that this is going to continue. This, in terms of non-proliferation, of course we are trying to see that will gel into a successful review conference of the NPT. As we can see, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty continues to be one of those instruments that provide stability and certainty security in a world that badly needs that these days. So this is our work. We are the operational arm, if you want, of the NPT, and we assume this work responsibly. Clearly, the conflict, the war between Russia and Ukraine has been at the center of our preoccupations because of the situation in and around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, where the IAEA is conducting an independent operation for more than 3 years now. And this has— and I thank you, Madame President, for having recalled the fact that thanks to mediation that we were able to conduct, we have been able to restore a very dangerous situation that we were seeing in Saporishchia, where the electrical outside power supply had been interrupted, hence the cooling function of the reactors was not— no longer there. With the collaboration of both countries, the IAEA monitoring this, we have been able to redress the situation. Of course, the whole thing is far more complicated than that, and we all want to see peace and we all want to see stability there, but I think— and I invite you as General Assembly of the UN to think about how an international organization can help, can build bridges, can solve concrete problems when it comes to that. And we will continue doing this work for sure. These things that are closer to the headlines and to the political preoccupations should not make us forget that in a very strategic area of our economies, nuclear is having a very, very important role, because of the convergence of a number of factors, including energy security, development, and others, there is a very clear growth of nuclear activity, peaceful nuclear activity in the world. In Africa, in Asia, in Latin America, of course in Europe and here in North America, we see countries having nuclear activities, redoubling on it, countries heretofore doubting or not wanting to continue reversing those decisions. And in any case, what is important is that the IAEA is there to make sure that this activity is going to take place within safe and secure conditions, and that also, in particular when it comes to developing countries, that they are not going to be left behind. This is why we have been— training, giving capacity, capacity building, facilitating the access to new technologies, in particular at a very important and exciting moment where new technologies, the small modular reactors, bring closer for many countries that could not imagine that nuclear energy could be part of their energy mix as a reality. And the IAEA is, of course, working with them, very closely with them, to try to open up the doors for them in this important aspect as well. So nuclear energy is there, and the IAEA will be doing its job. Less known, perhaps, by many is our developmental work, is the work that we carry out making sure that nuclear science and applications get to many, get to all. President has referred to oncology, radiotherapy, medicine. Through the program Race of Hope, we are bringing technology, we are saving lives, we are even constructing nuclear— sorry, cancer hospitals using nuclear technology in parts of the world, in Africa, where none existed. Can you imagine that I was in an African country a few months ago where I introduced the first mammography unit, one mammography unit. They didn't have even one in this country. So when we talk about putting money for development and helping countries, I think there is a lot, a lot to do in terms of walking the walk instead of talking the talk. And this is what we are trying to do in terms of Race to Food. But this is not the only thing. Of course, when it comes to food, we're still— and you know it very well here at the UN— 700 million people go to bed hungry every day. With the FAO, we brought together our capacities and we launched a program called Atoms for Food. And Atoms for Food is about using nuclear technology to develop drought-resistant crops, to check the use of water so we can have more crop per drop, as we say, to manage the aquifers, to open possibilities for countries to control pests and insects that are ravaging their cattle and their economic activities. So this is what we do with atoms of food. The environment, through New Tech Plastics, for example, in an area where the UN is trying also to make strides and efforts, nuclear technologies against plastic pollution are moving. I will be in a few days in the ASEAN region working with colleagues there in this very important work. COVID-19 was a reminder of the need to work together and to share information. The Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action Programme, Zodiac that we introduced is helping more than 100 laboratories in the developing world have nuclear capabilities for the early detection of pathogens. So, dear friends, as you can see, when we look at all this range of problems, for those— from those dealing with war and peace to those that having— that have to do with saving lives, with strengthening our economies to make us a better world, the IEA is staying present. Of course, also as an institution, we are trying to make sure that as one we are trying to reflect the technological capacities and helping countries get up to speed. Also, internally. When I started at the IEA as Director General, 28%, only 28% of my professional staff were women. Today, 52% of my staff, including at the highest positions, are women, and we have created programs that make sure that more and more women have access to leading positions through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship, and later in mid-career with the Lise Meitner program, we are opening doors so that the IEA reflects our society as it really is and not as it used to be. So as you can see, Madam President, dear friends, the IEA continues its work. The report— that you have before you is a proof of that, an international organization that really delivers for all. Thank you very much.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [18:30]:

I thank the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency and I thank the agency for the report. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Australia to introduce draft resolution A/A.


Australia · Chair of the Board of Governors [18:55]:

A/AT/L7. Thank you, President, and I acknowledge Director-General Grossi and thank him very much indeed for his presentation of the report. In Australia's capacity as chair of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, I have the honor to present to the General Assembly draft Resolution A/AT/L7, entitled "Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency." This resolution is submitted in accordance with the provisions of the IAEA statute and the 1957 agreement governing the relationship between the United Nations and the agency. It serves as the formal instrument through which the General Assembly acknowledges and considers the agency's contributions to international peace, security, and development. This year's text builds on Resolution A/79 adopted last year and incorporates updates reflecting the resolutions and decisions adopted by the IAEA General Conference at its 69th Regular Session. I would like to mention that one member state noted it had the same reservation related to the 2024 annual report— it expressed and circulated for the 22nd Annual Report. Some IAEA Member States noted that four of the resolutions referenced in footnote 2 were adopted by a vote. The President of the 69th Regular Session of the General Conference stated that the provisions of the resolutions of GC68/RES10, GC68/RES11, and GC68/RES12 GC68 Res. 12 remain valid, and that the Director-General will report as appropriate on the implementation of those resolutions to the 70th Regular Session of the General Conference. And one member state noted the progress made in the implementation of Resolution GC67 Res. 15, with a reduction in the number of member states not able to participate in a geographical area group. In closing, the draft resolution reflects the steadfast commitment of United Nations member states to the International Atomic Energy Agency and the important responsibilities it undertakes in support of international peace and security. The text before us has benefited from inclusive and constructive consultations held in Vienna, culminating in its unanimous endorsement for submission. We wish to convey our sincere gratitude to all co-sponsors for their valuable contributions and continued support. I would also like to invite all other member states that are yet to co-sponsor the resolution to consider doing so before its adoption. It's our hope that the General Assembly will adopt draft resolution A/AT without a vote, thereby reaffirming the broad consensus of the indispensable role of the agency and the significance of its work across its diverse mandate. Thank you. Thank you, President.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [22:12]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Australia to introduce draft resolution A/80/L.7. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ukraine on behalf of a group of member states, followed by Costa Rica and Mexico.


Ukraine [22:42]:

Madam President Baerbock, Director General Grossi, I have the honor to speak on behalf of Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and my own country, Ukraine. We welcome today's consensus on the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which reaffirms strong support for the indispensable role role of the Agency in encouraging and assisting the development and practical application of atomic energy for peaceful uses, in technical cooperation and in nuclear safety, verification, security and safeguards. Madam President, we condemn in the strongest terms the war of aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine in violation of international law, including the UN Charter. Underlining due priority to nuclear safety, we also strongly condemn Russia's continued indiscriminate attacks, killing civilians and destroying civilian objects, including critical energy infrastructure and other objects. We recall the IAEA Director General's 7 indispensable pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security in an armed conflict, and his 5 concrete principles for protecting the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Russia's continued seizure and control of Ukraine's power plant in Zaporizhzhia, including the presence of armed troops and military equipment,, as reported by this Agency, compromises the IAEA Director General's 7 indispensable pillars and puts the implementation of the 5 concrete principles for protecting the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant at risk. It has led to the plant's ongoing technical degradation and continues to present serious nuclear safety and security risks to the broader region. We are deeply concerned by the nuclear safety and security risks posed to all Ukraine's nuclear power plants by the vulnerabilities in Ukraine's electricity grid resulting from Russia's attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. This includes disconnection of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant from its last external power supply, which lasted for a month until October 23rd, posing a significant challenge for nuclear safety. We are also alarmed by the damage arising from the February 14th, 2025 drone strike against the New Safe containment at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, built with international effort to prevent the release of radioactive contaminants in the environment. We firmly reject any attempts to consider the restart of the reactors at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, which would be inconsistent with well-established nuclear safety principles. Moreover, any attempt by the Russian Federation to restart the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant would contradict the relevant resolutions of the IAEA Board of Governors and the General Conference and the UN Assembly— General Assembly— and would be wholly unacceptable. Any restart of the reactors at the Zaporizhzhia Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant can only take place once this facility has been returned to the legitimate control and oversight of Ukraine's competent regulatory authority. Madam President, we support the continued physical presence of IAEA experts at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in full respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The safety and security of the agency staff remain of paramount importance. We commend the courage and professionalism of the IAEA staff operating under unprecedented challenges and reiterate the importance of allowing the safe passage of IAEA experts to and from Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant duly on time. We reiterate our demand that the Russian Federation urgently withdraw its military and other personnel from Ukraine's power plant in Zaporizhzhia and immediately return the plant to the full control of the sovereign and competent authorities of Ukraine to ensure its safety and security. This will enable the IAEA to conduct safe, efficient, and effective safeguards implementation in accordance with Ukraine's Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol, consistent with the calls by the UN General Assembly, IAEA General Conference, and Board of Governors resolutions. We reiterate that the release of the unlawfully detained Ukrainian personnel at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant by the occupying Russian authorities remains not only a humanitarian imperative, it is a precondition for restoring basic trust and operational safety at the site. We express our support for the agency's continued provision of technical assistance to Ukraine to help ensure the safe and secure operation of nuclear facilities, including the continued physical presence of IAEA technical experts at the Chernobyl, Rivne, Khmelnytskyi, and South Ukraine nuclear power plants. We reaffirm our commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial the territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters. We urge the Russian Federation to immediately cease its aggression against Ukraine and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces and other personnel from the sovereign territory of Ukraine. We reiterate our unwavering support for a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in Ukraine based on international law, including the UN Charter. Thank you. Madam President, Director General, Ukraine's delegation would also like to make some additional remarks in our national capacity. Nuclear facilities must never be instruments of aggression. They must never be occupied, weaponized, or used for coercion. Russia's ongoing seizure and militarization of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is the most dangerous, the most dangerous violation of these principles in the nuclear age. Under occupation and military pressure, this power plant has been forced into single point of failure conditions. The plant has endured repeated total losses of offsite power most recently on 23rd of September, '25. Although this line, 750-kilowatt line, was restored just a few days ago, real safety requires redundancy across all damaged connections, verified access for repairs, and predictable windows free from attack. Madam President, Ukraine has consistently met its obligations under nuclear safety, nuclear security, and safeguards at all sites under our control, including full cooperation with the IAEA and a permanent agency presence at Ukrainian facilities. We're grateful for the IAEA's continuous work on the ground and for the technical assistance and political support from many member states. Ukraine's vision Ukraine remains a modern and resilient nuclear sector that supports recovery and clean growth, including new builds and small modular reactors once full security is restored. But none of this is possible while a nuclear power plant is occupied and weaponized. With strong ambition to tackle this problem as soon as possible, with the instruments at hand, Ukraine has Ukraine recently presented a detailed roadmap for the temporary transfer of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant under international control. The roadmap is based on the IAEA's 5 principles. It is realistic and technically sound and offers the only credible framework to mitigate immediate nuclear risks while remaining fully aligned with international legal standards. What we propose is temporary IAEA stewardship of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. It will shape a transitional arrangement to have all Russian military and unauthorized personnel leave the site and the IAEA take temporary technical and physical control of the plant. Our appeal to this Assembly is direct and forward-looking: together, we shall move from reacting to acting. There will be no safe future where Russia permanently runs a Ukrainian nuclear power plant, taking by force and outside proper regulation. Between an impossible instant handback and the reckless wait-and-hope, the Agency stewardship is the only workable bridge. Until that happens, all member states must refuse recognition of any licenses, data, declarations, or operating decisions issued under occupation and refrain from any technical or commercial engagement with Rosatom related to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. This is a necessary measure to uphold the integrity of the safeguards system and to deter further violations. Madam President, Ukraine stands ready to do its part. We will continue to facilitate the IAEA's presence. We will continue to meet our obligations under international law. We will continue to work with partners to build a safer, cleaner, and more resilient nuclear future for our people and for all who rely on the credibility of the global non-proliferation regime. What prevents the same assurances at the nuclear power station plant in Zaporizhzhia is the occupation itself. The sooner this occupation ends, the faster the world eliminates the risk. Thank you, Madam President.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [34:50]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Ukraine. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Costa Rica, followed by Mexico and China.


CRC [35:12]:

Madam President, Costa Rica is grateful for the presentation of the annual report of the IAEA covering 2024. That report reflects the work done by the agency in an international context which is increasingly complex— one in which geopolitical tensions and the very confines of multilateral non-proliferation architecture are such that we are seeing a challenge to the international order. Allow me to underscore four points in this regard. First, the agency remains a key actor in international cooperation for sustainable development, and it remains an example of how science and nuclear science and technology can serve human well-being. During 2024, the agency launched technical cooperation projects in countries across the region and demonstrated that peaceful applications of nuclear energy offer verifiable responses to critical challenges such as cancer treatment, food security, the prevention of pandemics, and the fight against plastic pollution. Today we can affirm beyond a shadow of a doubt that Rays of Hope saves lives, Atoms for Food feeds people, NewTek Plastics protects ecosystems, and Zodiac prevents pandemics. The IAEA's laboratory— from IAEA's laboratories to hospitals, from fields to early warning systems, there is nuclear energy. It's nuclear energy protecting and preventing. We support the agency's cooperation with the FAO. In our country, that has strengthened food safety through nuclear techniques and their application, and we are marking the Anniversary of ARCEL as an example of solidarity and specific results being delivered in Latin America and the Caribbean. With that in mind, the sustainable and predictable financing of these programmes guarantees that the Agency is able to discharge its two-pronged mandate, that is, on the one hand to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and, on the other, to verify compliance with non-proliferation obligations. Secondly, the report also invites us to contemplate the challenges being faced by international governance of nuclear energy and the gradual erosion of consensus around principles that for decades have stood as the basis of the non-proliferation regime. We are concerned that the General Conference of 2025 that was held last month failed to adopt any of its traditional resolutions. That lays bare the growing difficulties being encountered in terms of garnering consensus, even in— on technical matters. The growing politicization of fora which which historically have been governed by science and tech— scientific and technical criteria poses a direct threat to the credibility and effectiveness of the agency. This impasse is a warning sign regarding the urgent need to revitalize fora for dialogue and to rebuild mutual trust between member states. The weakening of bilateral and multilateral frameworks for arms control, in addition to worrying signs of the resumption of the nuclear arms race, means that it is of paramount importance to preserve the technical integrity and the universal nature of the agency as a fundamental pillar of the NPT. On nuclear issues, politics must serve science. Science must not serve politics. My third point now. The safeguards system of the agency constitutes the most effective instrument we have to guarantee transparency, accountability, and trust between states. In nuclear matters. Safeguards are the very cornerstone of the international verification regime and the essential mechanism to prevent states from diverting nuclear materials or technologies that have been declared towards arms programs. During 2024, through agreements with states from, from all regions, and through thousands of verification activities, the agency confirmed the exclusively peaceful use of nuclear material in the vast majority of states. This work includes in situ inspections, nuclear accounting, monitoring, through advanced systems and sample analysis. Verif— multilateral verification turns declarations into provable facts and promises into verified security and safety. Declared material is verified material, and that is safe material. Verification transforms the sovereignty of an abstract principle into a tangible guarantee before the international community. Without credible verification, disarmament has no basis and non-proliferation loses its credibility. What is verified is made safe. What is hidden is a source of suspicion. The IAEA must continue to act with technical independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor. Member states must cooperate with the Secretariat, facilitate access, and honor their verification commitments. Costa Rica urges the universalization of the Additional Protocol. That is an instrument that significantly strengthens the agency's detection capabilities and represents the current international verification standards. We moreover appeal to all states to sign the CSA agreements in line with Article 3 of the NPT. Fourthly, the agency is facing operational challenges which are worthy of sustained attention on the part of member states. Budgetary limitations mean that the agency is forced to increasingly depend on voluntary contributions to discharge its verification mandate at a time in which the global expansion of nuclear energy and the emergence of the new designs of advanced reactors demand a safeguards-based approach that is more sophisticated and additional resources. At that moment, we cannot ask the agency to do more with less. We cannot do that when international security is at stake. Moreover, we are concerned by the fact that certain states are limiting the agency's access. They refuse to explain the presence of uranium particles in undeclared sites, or they unilaterally suspend the provisions of their safeguards agreements. These actions violate legally binding obligations and weaken the international non-proliferation architecture. The international community must demand full, immediate, and technically verifiable cooperation with the IAEA In nuclear matters, transparency which is late to arrive is as dangerous as permanent opacity. President, the strength of the IAEA lies in the collective will of its members to guarantee that the agency remains a technical forum, one which is impartial and universal when it and one that serves peace and development. The International Atomic Energy Agency demonstrates that multilateralism based in science, law, and good faith generates tangible results for humankind as a whole. Thank you.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [44:41]:

I thank the distinguished delegation of Costa Rica. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegation of Mexico.


Mexico [44:56]:

President, we thank Director General Rafael Grossi for the presentation of the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency for 2024. And we thank him for his lucid statement this afternoon. Mexico takes this opportunity to reiterate its staunch support for the IAEA and for the work of the Director General and his team in promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy, the verification of compliance with non-proliferation commitments, and their work to bolster nuclear safety and security. We recognize the invaluable work done done by the IAEA to protect nuclear facilities in areas of conflict, and we hail the fact that technical missions of the agency have remained on the ground as a concrete preventive and transparency measure. Mexico reaffirms its full support for the 5 principles and 7 pillars outlined by the Director General to guarantee technical and physical nuclear safety and security during an armed conflict. Mexico also reiterates that attacks on nuclear facilities run counter to international humanitarian law and to the United Nations Charter, in view of the threat that— threat posed by radiological risks to human health and the environment, with potentially global consequences. President, Mexico recognizes the positive impact of the IAEA's technical cooperation program in sectors such as health, energy, water, and the environment. As such, our country has strengthened its national infrastructure to— for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and that has broadened access to nuclear medicine service, and that has directly benefited our people. We have also made progress with research into radiopharmaceuticals, with pest controls by using the sterile insect technique, and we've made progress with building national capacities through programs such as New Tech Plastics and the ARCEL Regional Agreement. My country continues to strengthen its nuclear regulatory framework in coordination with the National Commission for Nuclear Safety and Security and Safeguards. An example of that work was the recent holding in Mexico of the advanced training course in nuclear law. That course sought to build national and regional capacities in this field. President, in 2024, the IAEA launched and championed many initiatives designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its services. These included the integration of artificial intelligence tools into, into areas such as nuclear medicine. It also included the design of innovative reactors and verification through safeguards. Mexico underscores the importance of ensuring that these technologies are applied safely, ethically, and in full transparency. We also encourage the International Atomic Energy Agency to continue encouraging the creation of partnerships between member states, the various bodies of the UN system, the private sector, and civil society in order to ensure that nuclear science and technology contribute to sustainable development. To conclude, Mexico underscores the importance of mainstreaming gender into the nuclear field and the importance of promoting the participation of women in leadership positions. We are delighted by the very important steps that the IAEA has taken in this regard, and we reaffirm our resolve to continue to work closely with the agency and all member states to guarantee that nuclear energy is used safely, transparently, and for exclusively peaceful purposes. This for the benefit of humankind and sustainable development. Thank you.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [48:58]:

I thank the distinguished delegation of Mexico.

I now give the floor to the distinguished delegation of China.


China [49:18]:

Chinese. President, China thanks Director General Grossi for his briefing and his presentation. In the last year, guided by the mission of Atoms for Peace and Development, the IAEA has advanced its work in safeguards nuclear safety and security, nuclear energy cooperation, and sustainable development, among other areas, and has made positive efforts and played an important role in preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy. China recognizes this. As the most important intergovernmental international organization in the nuclear field, the IAEA should adhere to its objective, impartial, and independent technical character, and discharge its functions in strict accordance with its mandate. China hopes that the Director-General and the Secretariat will attach great importance to the differing views and concerns of all parties on major sensitive issues bearing on the common interests of member states, and facilitate in-depth discussions and consensus-building efforts among all parties, and carry out its work in a steady fashion. I will touch upon 3 issues. First, the agency should play a constructive role in promoting a political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue and provide support and assistance to parties concerned in meeting each other halfway and properly resolving differences through dialogue and negotiations. Recently, China, Russia, and Iran circulated a joint letter in New York and Vienna regarding U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231, emphasizing that the resolution has expired and terminated, and calling on all parties to engage in dialogue and contact and abandon sanctions and pressure so as to create favorable conditions for a political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue. China calls on the IAEA to cease deliberations on matters related to the resolution and for the DG to halt the submission of relevant quarterly reports. Second, the agency should unequivocally oppose armed attacks peaceful nuclear facilities, resolutely prevent human-caused nuclear accidents, and continue to play a constructive role in addressing the safety and security of Ukraine's nuclear facilities by providing technical support and assistance to relevant parties. China supports the 7 pillars and 5 principles proposed by the agency for ensuring the safety and security of Ukraine's nuclear facilities and calls upon all parties concerned to cooperate with the agency's work and create necessary necessary conditions for it to fulfill its mandate. Third, the agency should, on the basis of equality and mutual respect, continue to engage in open, inclusive, democratic, and transparent discussions on the AUKUS nuclear submarine cooperation. The AUKUS nuclear submarine cooperation violates the purposes and objectives of the NPT, poses serious nuclear proliferation risks, and constitutes a severe challenge to the treaty and the agency's safeguards system. China expects that the relevant discussions will enhance the Secretariat and member states' understanding of the complexity and sensitivity of the issue, with a focus on differing views, divergences among parties, and outstanding issues to jointly seek appropriate solutions. President, since joining the IAEA over 40 years ago, China has always been committed to supporting the agency's work through concrete actions and contributing to the global governance and development of nuclear energy. The comprehensive cooperation among the two sides have achieved great results. Not long ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Governance Initiative and highlighted five core concepts, namely adhering to sovereign equality, abiding by international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating the people-centered approach and focusing on taking real actions, which has contributed Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions towards a more just and reasonable global governance system. This initiative serves as an important inspiration for advancing global nuclear energy governance. China stands ready to further strengthen cooperation with the IAEA and other member states to jointly promote more equitable and reasonable global nuclear energy governance, more inclusive and beneficial nuclear energy development, and more open and orderly nuclear energy cooperation, thereby making greater contributions to advancing the global nuclear energy cause. Thank you.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [53:54]:

I thank the distinguished delegation of China. I now give the floor to to the distinguished delegation of Luxembourg.


Luxembourg [54:11]:

Mr. President, Luxembourg aligns itself fully with the statement of the European Union. I wish to take the opportunity to highlight the following points in my national capacity. I wish to thank the distinguished representative of Australia for the presentation of the draft resolution on the report of the IAEA. Luxembourg has co-sponsored the draft resolution, and we welcome its adoption in advance. I wish to thank Mr. Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, for the presentation of the annual report on the activities of the agency. I wish to take this opportunity to reaffirm Luxembourg's— steadfast commitment to the independent, professional, and impartial operations of the IAEA. Nuclear facilities are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, to human error, and to armed conflict. We remain profoundly concerned by the critical situation in terms of the nuclear safety and security situation in Ukraine and the illegal seizure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant by the Russian Federation in flagrant breach of the Charter of the United Nations, international law, and the fundamental principles of the IAEA statute. Repeated large-scale strikes carried out by the Russian Federation targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure gravely undermine the necessary conditions for the safe and secure operation of nuclear facilities. We will continuously reiterate that respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine is a prerequisite for international peace and security. We stress the importance of the IAEA Seven Pillars and the Five Principles as set out by the Director General, and we underscore the need for all of the reactors of the Zaporizhzhia plant to remain in cold shutdown so long as the necessary safety conditions are not met or restored. The IAEA needs to have full, free, and immediate access to the nuclear site. We wish to extend our deep recognition for the professionalism and unwavering commitment that has been demonstrated by the agency personnel. We also applaud the signing of the MOU between the IAEA and Ukraine in Rome This is a milestone and a solid foundation for rebuilding Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Mr. President, Luxembourg remains profoundly concerned by the persistent uncertainty surrounding the nuclear program of Iran. We take note of the reimposition of all of the nuclear-related sanctions and restrictions of the Security Council vis-à-vis Iran. In this context, we urge Iran to promptly resume full comprehensive cooperation with the IAEA in accordance with its international obligations, particularly under the NPT and its safeguards agreement. It is critical for Iran to allow the agency to immediately, without obstruction, resume all of its verification operations in accordance with its international obligations. Without the full implementation of the safeguards agreement, IAEA will be unable to perform the necessary oversight vis-à-vis the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program. We are also very much concerned by the ongoing nuclear and ballistic programs of the DPRK. In violation of Security Council resolutions. The full, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula remains a priority. We urge the DPRK to allow the return of IAEA inspectors and to honor its obligations under the NPT and the Safeguards Agreement, and to ratify without delay the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. We are very much concerned by the stepped-up military cooperation between the Russian Federation and the DPRK, as well as by attempts to legitimize the North Korean nuclear program. We voice— we wish to voice our support for the engagement of Mr. Grossi vis-à-vis Syria, and we applaud the process which is geared towards clarifying pending issues related to the safeguards. Recent exchanges between Syria and the IAEA are steps in the right direction. We reaffirm our commitment to the inalienable right of each state to use nuclear power for peaceful purposes in accordance with Article 4 of the NPT. And yet our position is clear. We believe that nuclear energy is not a sustainable path towards climate neutrality. The generation of such —energy generates indeed radioactive waste whose long-term management remains an unresolved issue, thereby posing an inexorable burden for succeeding generations. So long as states opt to use this technology, they need to respect the most stringent norms in terms of nuclear safety and security. As a member of the Board of Governors since 2024, we welcome the opportunity to enhance our commitment— our contribution to the work of the agency. We reaffirm our commitment to nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation. Thank you.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [59:58]:

I thank the distinguished delegation of Luxembourg. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegation of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.


Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) [1:00:14]:

President, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela recognizes the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, to provide technical assistance to developing countries following requests made by them, and their verification work. President, the technical assistance of the IAEA is crucial to contribute to the development and prosperity while peace peoples. That technical assistance must not be subject to political economic conditions or conditions of any other type which are incompatible with the provisions of the agency statute and with the overarching principles of international law. Moreover, our country recognizes the role of nuclear science and technology in the implementation of national development strategies designed to achieve the SDGs. In this vein, and in accordance— with the provisions of the NPT. Venezuela supports the use of nuclear energy with peaceful purposes, and we demand the inalienable rights of states to research, produce, and peacefully use nuclear energy. At the same time, we condemn the implementation of unilateral coercive measures and their imposition on states who have taken the sovereign decision in stringent compliance with international law to use this tool for the comprehensive development of their people. In this context, we should say that the IAEA is the only authority with a mandate to verify compliance with safeguards obligations entered into by States Parties pursuant to the Treaty. As such, we encourage States to support international cooperation activities launched by the Agency without double standards or politicization. President, one of the most pressing issues before for the international community in terms of the peaceful use of nuclear energy is related to the interests and the right to development of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In this regard, in spite of the fact that this is one of the nuclear programmes under the greatest degree of scrutiny globally and one subject to the IAEA safeguards regime, the peaceful nuclear facilities of Iran were criminally bombed by the— United States government and the Israeli Zionist regime last June. As such, we reiterate our categorical repudiation of this irresponsible attack. Justification for that attack was sought in pretexts and concepts which have no basis whatsoever in international law. In this vein, we emphasize the importance of guaranteeing that the IAEA play a proactive, responsible role and one free of any political agenda. Issuing reports documenting a supposed increase in the levels of uranium enrichment to then, days later, acknowledge that there is no evidence whatsoever of systematic efforts being made to use the Iranian nuclear programme for purposes other than those declared is a dangerous conduct which, as facts on the ground demonstrate, has consequences even on international peace and security. We appeal for reflection in order to preserve the credibility and integrity of the IAEA and the objectiveness and independence of its Director General. This year we marked a decade of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the JCPOA, endorsed by the Security Council in Resolution 2231. That JCPOA enjoyed the support of our delegation in 2015. It's true that it is a milestone in international diplomacy. It laid the foundations for closer cooperation between the IAEA and Iran. It established a clear roadmap for the lift lifting of all sanctions that had previously been imposed on this brotherly country. Venezuela supports cooperation between Iran and the Agency. We value Tehran's commitment to the exclusively peaceful use of nuclear energy and to the safeguards regime in accordance with its international obligations and particularly in accordance with the provisions of the NPT. We recognize the the demonstrated will of the Iranian government to continue to cooperate in a transparent and constructive way with the IAEA, this in accordance with its commitments as a party to the JCPOA, and this in spite of the external pressure systematically exerted on this nation. Against this backdrop, we categorically reject the attempts made by the United States of America and the E3 to invoke the so-called a snapback mechanism with the goal of reimposing a set of sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran. This when they themselves previously had cast aside their obligations under the JCPOA, and that was demonstrated by the unilateral withdrawal of the United States government from the agreement in 2018. Moreover, we've seen the resumption of their maximum pressure strategy, including their unilateral coercive measures. And we've also seen the wavering, stuttering position of the E3 countries. Consequently, we insist here that when we broach all of these issues, we need to use a process characterized by good faith, one that respects international law, one that recognizes and respects the sovereign rights of states, including pursuant to the NPT, and one which at the, at the same time casts aside the illegal imposition of sanctions sanctions as an instrument of coercion and blackmail. President, allow me now to turn to the draft resolution that will soon be considered under this agenda item. My delegation wishes to place on the record its position on that proposal contained in document A/80/L7 and the reasons that mean that we cannot support that text. As regards items 15, 16, and 17, referred to in operative paragraph 2 of the resolution in question, it is important to recall that the 69th General Conference of the IAEA did not achieve consensus on those issues and instead decided inter alia to extend the mandate of the resolutions adopted in 2024 under these agenda items. On this— in this regard, it's It's also important to emphasize that this was a decision of the General Conference as a whole, a whole, and what was adopted was not a declaration of the President of the General Conference. And so at the very least, this runs counter to what's erroneously reflected in the text that we'll take action on soon. We categorically reject efforts whose aim is to to sow deliberate confusion regarding what happened in Vienna, and the aim, on the other hand, is to set a dangerous precedent which seeks to undermine and reduce the decision-making powers of states. Finally, we wish to indicate that our country will continue to actively and constructively work, both in New York and in Vienna, to make tangible progress which will allow us to improve the working methods of the IAEA General Conference and to resume good practices previously used, including the constant search for consensus. At all times, we seek to preserve the delicate balance between all the pillars of this important agency, including when it comes to technical cooperation. Thank you, President.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [1:08:06]:

I thank the distinguished delegation of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela I now give the floor to the distinguished delegation of Japan.


Japan [1:08:26]:

Mr. President, looking at the global situation, divisions are deepening and the security environment is becoming increasingly difficult. Against this background, the IAEA's role in nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful use of nuclear energy has grown larger and become more important than ever. Nevertheless, the divisions among member states are affecting the work of the IAEA as well. At the recent General Conference of the IAEA, member states could not reach consensus on certain resolutions regarding the core mandates of the IAEA, such as safeguard measures, technical cooperation, and nuclear science, technology, and applications, as well as the urgent nonproliferation issue of North Korea. Japan is seriously alarmed by this situation. What we need now is to overcome the divisions and promote cooperation. Cooperation. Japan will continue to support the agency and dialogue with member states in the IAEA arena. Mr. President, today the world is facing pressing nuclear nonproliferation challenges. Let me highlight three in particular. First, North Korea. This year, the largest number of cosponsors supported the IAEA's resolution on this issue. This shows the robust determination of member states. Japan strongly urges the DPRK to take concrete steps towards achieving complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement of its nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs. Japan also urges North Korea to fully comply with the NPT and to cooperate cooperate promptly with the agency in the full and effective implementation of the agency's comprehensive safeguards. In this context, it is obligation of all member states to fully implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Japan once again expresses its grave concern over the increasing military cooperation between Russia and the DPRK. Which is blatantly violating U.N.— UNSC resolutions and also undermining the international nonproliferation regime. Second, Iran. The IAEA's continued engagement is essential in verifying the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program. Japan calls on Iran to urgently resume its full cooperation the IAEA. Japan will spare no diplomatic efforts to resolve Iran's nuclear issue through dialogue. Third, Ukraine. The safety and security of nuclear facilities in Ukraine, including Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, remains our deep concern. Japan continues to support the IAEA's efforts to ensure the safety and security security of the facilities and emphasizes the importance of adhering to the IAEA Director General's 7 indispensable pillars and 5 concrete principles. Mr. President, in promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy, Japan has been contributing to the IAEA's initiatives such as Rays of Hope for Cancer Care and Atoms of Atoms for Food, for food security. At the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development held in August this year, we reaffirmed the agency's important role in this field together with partners from Africa. Japan will continue to contribute to the promotion of nuclear science and technology all over the world. Lastly, regarding the discharge of ARP's treated water. Its safety has been continuously confirmed through the agency's ongoing reviews as well as robust monitoring with the enhanced participation of analytical laboratories and international experts, including those from neighboring countries. Japan appreciates and respects the IAEA's commitment to this issue and will continue to provide science-based and transparent information and full explanations to the international community and cooperate fully the agency's reviews and monitoring. I thank you.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [1:13:11]:

I thank the distinguished delegation of Japan. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegation of Egypt.


Egypt [1:13:28]:

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, Egypt expresses its appreciation to the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Ambassador Rafael Mariano Grossi, for his comprehensive report and commends the Secretariat for their dedicated efforts in implementing the Agency's mandate as set out in its statute and in the resolutions of its policymaking organs. We commend also the Director-General's leadership and constructive engagement with member states, including through his fruitful visit to Cairo in 2025, which reaffirmed the depth of cooperation between Egypt and the Agency across all areas of its mandate. And witnessed the signature of the Cairo Agreement between Iran and the agency, with a view of resuming cooperation and contributing to de-escalation and reducing of tensions. Mr. President, Egypt reaffirms the inalienable right of all states parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to develop and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination and in conformity with their safeguards obligations. Obligations. The three pillars of the NPT—disarmament, non-proliferation, and peaceful uses—must be pursued and implemented in a balanced, integrated, and non-selective manner. Any attempt to offset this balance undermines the credibility and sustainability of the entire non-proliferation regime. In this context, Egypt attaches the highest importance to the IAEA's Technical Cooperation Program. Which represents the main statutory vehicle for promoting the peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology, with an attainment rate exceeding 95% and an implementation rate of 86% in 2024. The TCP continues to demonstrate its efficiency, relevance, and developmental impact. Egypt reiterates that the program must be provided with adequate predictable, and sustainable resources, and that inclusion of the TCP within the regular budget merits serious consideration to ensure equitable financing of all statutory functions of the agency. Egypt commends the agency's continued work under Major Programs 1 and 2, particularly in advancing nuclear energy safety and applications in health, agriculture, food security, and water management. Egypt values the Director-General's flagship initiatives, including Rays of Hope, Atoms for Food, New Tech Plastics, and Atoms for Net Zero, which reflect the growing contribution of nuclear science and technology to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Egypt stands ready to contribute its expertise and infrastructure to the implementation of these initiatives, notably through triangular and south-south cooperation that benefits African and other developing countries. Mr. President, the agency's work in the areas of nuclear safeguards, safety, and security must continue to be guided strictly by the statute, relevant General Conference and Board of Governors decisions, and respective legally binding obligations of member states. Egypt reaffirms that the primary responsibility for safety and security rests with each state, and that international cooperation in this area should aim to strengthen national infrastructures and capacity, not to impose uniform standards or new conditionalities. Egypt's national nuclear program, anchored in El Dabaa nuclear power plant, embodies this commitment, implementing the highest safety standards and benefiting from close coordination with with the IAEA. The recent progress in the installation of the core catchers for Units 3 and 4 and the licensing of the spent fuel storage facility are relevant examples. Moreover, Egypt's status as regional center for nuclear security capacity building in Africa and the Middle East reflects its longstanding commitment to strengthening regional resilience— resilience and capabilities. Egypt stresses that the IAEA remains the sole competent authority responsible for verifying compliance of states with their safeguards obligations. The system's credibility rests equally on its technical integrity and on the preservation of the inalienable right of all states to peaceful nuclear uses and activities. While bearing in mind that the comprehensive safeguards agreements constitute the universal standard for verification, Egypt reiterates its firm position that the Additional Protocol is a voluntary instrument and that the application of safeguards must remain within the relevant obligations of member states and remain technical, impartial, and free from politicization or double standards. Mr. President, Egypt reiterates its categorical condemnation of any armed attacks or threat of attack against nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes and under agency safeguards. Such acts represent grave violation of international law, the UN Charter, the statute of the agency, and threaten regional and international peace and security. The only legitimate path to address proliferation challenges is through dialogue, diplomacy, mutual respect, and adherence to international law. We reiterate our consistent call for achieving the universality of the NPT and the implementation of the objective of establishing a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East and ensure that all nuclear facilities in our region are under comprehensive safeguards agreements. Egypt emphasizes that the sovereign equality of member states enshrined in Article 4 of the IAEA statute remains a cornerstone— cornerstone of the agency's functioning. The amendment of Article VI of the Agency's statute provides the opportunity to address the issue of the size and composition of the Board. Moreover, the principle of sovereign equality requires that all States fulfill in good faith their obligations and respect the established procedures and prerogatives of regional groups, which are essential to the legitimacy and balance of the Agency's policymaking organs. Undermining these frameworks risks eroding the unity of the membership and the integrity of the agency's institutional system. Mr. President, Egypt regrets the divisiveness that marked the last IAEA General Conference. The erosion of consensus and disregard for established practices stand in stark contrast to the Vienna spirit of dialogue and inclusivity that has long underpinned the agency's work. Egypt calls upon all member states to recommit to consensus-based decision-making to uphold institutional integrity and to approach sensitive issues in a constructive spirit. Mr. President, Egypt appreciates the efforts of Australia in tabling the draft resolution on the IAEA report before this Assembly and trusts that it will remain procedural in nature, consistent with the longstanding practice on this matter. We highlight the 69th IAEA General Conference adopted a decision to extend last year's resolutions on technical cooperation, nuclear applications, and safeguards, in addition to other resolutions including on nuclear safety, security, and nuclear power, demonstrating the collective will of the membership to preserve balance, equity, cooperation—all pillars of the agency's mandate. Mr. President, to conclude, Egypt renews its unwavering support for the indispensable role of the International Atomic Energy Agency Agency in advancing the safe, secure, and peaceful uses of atomic energy, strengthening international cooperation, and contributing to sustainable development. And contrib— we reaffirm our conviction that upholding the principles of legality, balance among the NPT pillars, and consensus among member states remain vital to ensuring that the agency continues to serve as a beacon of science, trust, and multilateralism. I thank you, Mr. President.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [1:21:43]:

I thank the distinguished delegation of Egypt. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegation of Mauritania.


Mauritania [1:22:05]:

Thank you, Mr. President. At the outset, we would like to thank Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director-General of the IEA, for— and his team— for the report which reflects and presents the results of the agency's ongoing efforts to achieve the objectives of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. This is done through a review of its activities in the fields of nuclear technology, technical cooperation, nuclear safety and security, and safeguards. It is also an occasion to commend those efforts and to reaffirm my country's position on the necessity for all countries to continue fulfilling their obligations under the comprehensive safeguards agreements with the agency. Without compromising the requirements of Article 3, Paragraph 3 of the TNP— NPT, sorry— which stipulates that the implementation of safeguards measures should not hinder international cooperation in the field of peaceful uses. This also reflects my country's principal position on the inalienable right of states to the peaceful use of nuclear energy as one of the pillars of nuclear nonproliferation. We value and appreciate the fruitful cooperation we had established with the agency since 2004 through technical cooperation programs. These programs have enabled it to benefit from nuclear technology in a safe, effective, and cost-efficient manner, using it to combat pests, monitor and measure radiation levels, and protect the environment and the population, but especially for the workers in the health sector. And their protection from radiation. This cooperation was further strengthened by the signing for the first time of the National Country Programme Framework for cooperation between Mauritania and the Agency in September 2009. This framework enabled the structured use of nuclear technology to achieve national development goals. Its second phase was signed for the period 2014 to 2018, followed by a third phase for the period 2020 to 2025. Several cooperation priorities were identified, including enhancing capacities in cancer treatment and increasing public access to quality diagnostics and treatments, improving capabilities in food safety monitoring, reducing environment pollution, increasing safety and security from nuclear radiation. At the continental level, in 2022, Mauritania, deposited its instrument of accession to the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development, and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology, AFRA. This was done to enhance the benefits of peaceful applications of nuclear technologies as determined by the agreement and to contribute to achieving national and regional development goals for African countries. Recognizing the important role played by the agency in enabling member states to benefit from the vast developmental potential of nuclear technology and energy, we see a need for the agency to actively contribute to nuclear non-proliferation. This includes implementing its mandate under the resolution titled Application of IAEA Safeguards in the Middle East. And thereby contributing to the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, as stipulated in the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference, relevant UN resolutions, and particularly UN General Assembly Resolution 73/546 of 2018. This is especially important in light of the failure of the 9th and 10th NPT review conferences in 2015 and 2022, respectively, to reach an outcome document supporting the direction toward peaceful uses. This casts a negative shadow over the disarmament and non-proliferation regime at the international level. This is compounded by the ongoing brutal— and genocidal war waged by Israel against innocent civilians in Gaza for over a year, accompanied by inhumane calls, especially the repeated and irresponsible rhetoric advocating the use of nuclear bombs against the population of Gaza Strip. In conclusion, while we continue to actively contribute to efforts aimed at establishing a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, as demonstrated by its presidency of the 5th session of the Conference on the Establishment of Such a Zone that was held here in New York last November. My country looks forward and encourages the active participation of IAEA in the aforementioned conference. This would contribute to meaningful discussions aimed at adding a new building block to the foundation of disarmament, peaceful uses, and international security. Thank you, Mr. President.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [1:27:29]:

I thank the distinguished delegation of Mauritania. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegation of Thailand.


Thailand · Prime Minister · Yingluck Shinawatra [1:27:44]:

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra: Mr. President, I thank the IAEA's Director-General Mr. Grossi for his report and commend Australia for the draft resolution which Thailand is pleased to co-sponsor. Amid growing global challenges, the IAEA's role is more indispensable than ever. As a member of the Board of Governors, Thailand reaffirms its commitment to strengthening nuclear safety, security, and safeguards, and promoting sustainable development through nuclear science and technology. Mr. President, Thailand is deeply concerned by the ongoing situation in Ukraine. We commend the IAEA's continued efforts to ensure nuclear safety and security. And call on all parties to uphold the Director-General's 7 indispensable pillars and 5 concrete principles to prevent any escalation of nuclear risk. We are also concerned by the situation in the Middle East. We welcome the signing of the practical modalities of the implementation of safeguards in Iran. We underscore the critical need to revitalize the JCPOA and call on all relevant parties to engage in constructive dialogue to achieve a lasting diplomatic solution. The situation on the Korean Peninsula continues to demand our attention. Thailand urged the DPRK to fully comply with the relevant UNSCE resolutions and call on all sides to refrain from actions that may escalate tension. We commend the IAEA for its continued monitoring and readiness to resume its verification mandate. Mr. President, Thailand marked a milestone with the inauguration of Southeast Asia's first Race of Hope Anchor Center in Bangkok, a testament to our commitment to equitable access to safe and secure cancer care. In 2024, Thailand also co-hosts a regional workshop on small modular reactor suitability studies and continues to work closely with the IAEA through missions such as the Occupational Radiation Protection Appraisal Service and Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review for a research reactor to strengthen safety and capacity building. At the regional level, Thailand supports efforts to strengthen the RCN-IAEA practical arrangements and leads the development of an RCN procedure on coordination of public communication during a radiological or a nuclear emergency, a key initiative to bolster our collective preparedness. Mr. President, Thailand reiterates its readiness to cooperate with the IAEA Nuclear Security Agency and its member states to advance the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology for development and sustainable peace. I thank you.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [1:30:56]:

I thank the distinguished delegation of Thailand. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegation of Kuwait.


Kuwait [1:31:20]:

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Salaam alaikum.

In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate. Mr. President, on behalf of the State of Kuwait, I wish to voice our deep gratitude to the Director General of the IAEA, Mr. Grossi, for his valuable report and for his ongoing efforts which are geared towards promoting the peaceful use of nuclear power and to upholding the highest norms of nuclear safety and security throughout the world. We reaffirm our full support for the vital role of the agency, which allows member states to benefit from nuclear science and technology for the advancement of sustainable development in accordance with the Atom for Peace and Development slogan. Kuwait reiterates our steadfast commitment to working closely with the agency. Since we joined the agency in 1964, this cooperation has become a key pillar for development of our national capacities in the area of health, agriculture, water, and energy. Our National Technical Cooperation Program for the period 2020 to 2025 has facilitated the implementation of qualitative projects which help to support the national development plans. The Kuwaiti competent authorities are presently working alongside the agency for the implementation of a new programmatic framework for 2026 to 2025— to 2035. And this is in accordance with the priorities of the development plan and the Kuwait 2035 vision. Mr. President, there has been rapid progress which has demonstrated that the maintenance of the global nuclear security regime is not a political luxury. This is a necessity to ensure the stability of the international system. In light of escalating tensions and the erosion of trust in multi-party mechanisms, it is of paramount importance that we remain committed to transparency and technical independent role of the agency. In this regard, we applaud IAEA's efforts towards developing its monitoring verification mechanisms. And we highlight the importance of providing it with the necessary resources and expertise to preserve its neutrality and its independence, shielding it from any politicization or selectivity. On that basis, we stress that the agency implement its mandate through the nonproliferation regime, including the NPT— the NPT, which is a cornerstone We stress the need for compliance with the obligations emanating from the treaty and other agreements, and this is the cornerstone of the nuclear— international nuclear safety and security system. We call upon those states who have not joined the Additional Protocol to do so. This protocol is a key tool when it comes to broadening the agency's access to information and sites thereby enhancing trust and confidence and dispelling uncertainties related to undeclared activities. Kuwait has been closely monitoring the developments in the Iranian nuclear file, specifically the reimposition of United Nations sanctions against Iran in September 2025 and the Iranian declaration which followed up, according to which the Cairo Agreement on cooperation with the IAEA is no longer valid. Uh, uh, Iran's declaration dating October 18th, 2025, on non-implication— implementation of, of the 2015 resolution 2254 enhances uncertainty about the future of Iran's nuclear commitment and exacerbates regional tensions. We highlight the importance of restoring transparent cooperation with the IAEA in order to safeguard regional safety and security. Mr. President, nuclear weapons-free zones are a key pillar of the collective security system and a critical step towards a safer, more secure, more stable world, particularly in areas which endure persistent tensions, including the Middle East, our region.— the Middle East continues to be plagued by conflicts and their profound humanitarian repercussions. We reaffirm our commitment to the goal of creating a nuclear weapons-free and WMD-free zone in the Middle East in accordance with the resolution of the NPT Review Conference dating 1995 on the Middle East and what was reaffirmed during the 2000 and 2010 conferences. We applaud progress made by the Conference on the Establishment of a Nuclear and WMD-Free Zone in the Middle East during the 5 sessions of said conference in accordance with Resolution 73/546 of the General Assembly and the invitation of the UN Secretary-General. Kuwait recalls with pride our chairmanship of the Second Session, during which the internal rules, procedure, and intersessional document were adopted, thereby laying the institutional framework for this United Nations process. We cherish the hope that the Sixth Session, under the chairmanship of the Kingdom of Morocco, a fraternal state will facilitate progress towards the goal of a Middle East free of all WMDs, thereby enhancing regional security and enshrining the principle of equality and collective commitment in settlement of nuclear questions. Mr. President, we wish to take this opportunity, this international forum, to launch a clear call for the international community to urge Israel the occupying power to join the NPT as a non-nuclear weapon state and to bring all of its nuclear facilities under the safeguards regime of the IAEA. Israel is the only regional actor to refuse to join the treaty and to keep its facilities outside of international oversight. Which poses a constant threat to regional and global security. The nuclear scourge emanating from Israel heightens risks of regional escalation and compromises the prospects of a just and lasting peace. The occupying power, which brand— which is brandishing the threat of nuclear weapon, is clearly not seeking to be a partner fostering stability, but rather is looking to be actor for tensions threatening all of international security, the security of the entire international community, the future of the upcoming 11th review conference for the NPT scheduled to take place in April of 2026. In light of that, we cherish the hope that the conference will be a turning point in the wake of the failures of the 2015 and 2022 conferences. We hope that this conference will result in the adoption of a consensus-based outcome document. The success of this conference requires that the causes of previous deadlocks be dealt with, specifically the question of Middle East and regional security. There's an important need to establish a link between its agenda and the new emerging challenges such as the militarization of cyberspace, growing nuclear risks in armed conflict and the erosion of confidence in the disarmament regime. Balanced, applicable results would breathe new life in disarmament— disarmament and nonproliferation and would strengthen the role of the IAEA in its polarized international— extremely polarized international context. By way of conclusion, we wish to reaffirm that surmounting present-day nuclear challenges requires that the multilateral framework be enhanced, that for there to be respect for— full respect for transparency and international obligations, far from any politicization or selectivity. We highlight the central role of the IAEA in preserving the credibility of the nonproliferation regime and in guaranteeing peaceful and safe use of nuclear energy for the benefit of sustainable development. We call upon all states to support the independence of the agency and its technical capabilities, and to pursue constructive dialogue to provide for safety and security based on international cooperation and respect for international law. Thank you.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [1:40:19]:

I thank the distinguished delegation of Kuwait. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegation of the United Kingdom.


United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [1:40:39]:

Mr. President, Director General Grossi, Excellencies, colleagues. The United Kingdom reaffirms its commitment to the IAEA, and I would like to offer my particular thanks to the agency's staff who continue to operate under some of the most challenging circumstances. The agency plays an essential role in our collective non-proliferation and peaceful uses efforts. Its work on nuclear safety, security, and safeguards remains essential for global stability.

Mr.

President, the passage of key resolutions which the chair of the Board of Governors referenced host in his 20 October letter, allows the agency to conduct work, conduct work on nuclear safety, security, and safeguards. This year's General Conference took key decisions on Ukraine, the DPRK, extending technical cooperation to the State of Palestine, and on the role and efficiency of the IAEA Secretariat. These resolutions and decisions give clear direction to the agency for the year ahead. Mr. President, the world faces a growing number of proliferation challenges. Allow me to raise three. Firstly, Ukraine. The United Kingdom stands in unwavering support of Ukraine, of the IAEA, We welcomed the passage of a fourth General Conference Resolution on nuclear safety, security, and safeguards in Ukraine. We condemn in the strongest terms Russia's reckless actions, which have impacted on the safety of Ukraine's nuclear facilities, from their seizure of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to their targeting of Ukraine's energy infrastructure. And the resulting impact on external power supply to Ukraine's nuclear power plants. Any plans to restart reactors at ZNPP or to connect the plant to the Russian grid are deeply irresponsible. We call again for the facility to be returned to the competent Ukrainian authorities without delay. We fully support the IAEA's work across Ukraine's nuclear sites and reject any attempts to politicize or delegitimize these efforts by the Russian Federation. Nuclear safety and security in Ukraine cannot be achieved while Russia continues its aggression. Mr. President, we note with concern that it was not impossible to reach consensus on the annual DPRK resolution. The overwhelming support it received reflects a broad international consensus on core NPT issues and a shared commitment to addressing proliferation challenges. We therefore reject the Russian Federation's assertion that DPRK is a closed non-proliferation issue. The UK remains fully committed to upholding the integrity of the nonproliferation regime and ensuring accountability. Chair, Iran's nuclear program remains a threat to international security. It must remain on the IAEA's agenda. Iran's noncompliance with its safeguards obligations Its lack of serious cooperation with the agency is of grave concern. We remain committed to achieving a diplomatic solution that addresses concerns around Iran's nuclear program. Mr. President, the AUKUS partnership is a critical part of the UK's efforts to ensure the security of our people and those of our allies and partners in a rapidly evolving and increasingly unstable world. It is entirely consistent with our non-proliferation commitments under the NPT. We are resolutely committed to ensuring that we set the highest non-proliferation standard in supporting Australia's acquisition of nuclear-powered conventionally armed submarines. With the U.S. and Australia, the UK has maintained open and transparent engagement with the IAEA, and we will continue to do so. Mr. President, the UK is committed to removing barriers to nuclear technologies for peaceful purposes. This remains a priority for us in our work with the IAEA. We are longstanding supporters of the IAEA's work. Including its program to support research, development, and transfer of peaceful nuclear technologies. We are proud to have provided funding for projects to monitor changes in atmospheric processes as evidence of climate change, for research to assess the impacts of climate change on food security, and for projects to address marine plastic pollution. We look forward to continuing our cooperation with the IAEA on these vital issues in the years ahead. Thank you, Mr. President.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [1:46:24]:

I thank the distinguished delegation of the United Kingdom. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegation of Indonesia.


Indonesia [1:46:48]:

Mr. President, Indonesia appreciates the Director-General for the comprehensive report and Australia for presenting the draft resolution. In light of the challenging global security landscape, We are reminded of the importance of international cooperation and the critical role that multilateral institutions play in safeguarding peace, security, and sustainable development. Among these institutions, the International Atomic Energy Agency remains a key pillar in ensuring nuclear safety, security, and safeguard. Indonesia appreciates the agency's efforts in fulfilling its statutory mandates and pleased to continue the co-sponsorship of the draft resolutions. In this occasion, Indonesia wishes to highlight 3 points. First, increasing support for the IAEA's critical missions. The agency will continue to face critical challenges in light of the declining commitment towards nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. We observed during the last General Conference, it has become more difficult for countries to reach consensus agreements. We need to ensure that the Agency receives strong support in discharging its mandate in assisting member states fulfilling their obligations. The strength of the Agency lies in the unity of its member states. It is therefore incumbent upon us to make the efforts to overcome divisions and finding common ground to to safeguard the effectiveness of the agency in fulfilling its mandate. Second, strengthening the IAEA's work in promoting the peaceful uses of atomic energy. Indonesia greatly appreciates the ongoing effort and unwavering support from the agency to the developing countries. We acknowledge that the agency plays a pivotal role in helping to advance sustainable development goals. Particularly in the areas of energy, health, environment, as well as food security through its initiative programs. We continue to urge the agency to strengthen its work in the sustainable developments to ensure all countries enjoys the benefit of nuclear technology without impediment. Third, enhancing cooperation with regional organizations. Regional disarmament and nonproliferation cooperations are vital building blocks for global security. In this context, we continue to encourage the agency to strengthen cooperation with nuclear regulatory bodies in different regions, including in ASEAN. This is to enhance capabilities in promoting peaceful uses of nuclear technology and strengthening practices and standards of nuclear safety, security, and safeguards. Mr. President, We believe that the path to global peace and security lies in multilateralism, where the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect guide our actions. The current challenges we face are not insurmountable, but only if we remain committed to dialogue, mutual understanding, and consensus building. Indonesia therefore reaffirms its commitment to the spirit of multilateralism and its unwavering support to the EIA's vital roles in ensuring nuclear safety, security, and safeguards. Thank you, Mr. President.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [1:50:15]:

I thank the distinguished delegation of Indonesia. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegation of Namibia.


Namibia [1:50:43]:

Mr. President, Namibia welcomes Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and takes note of the agency's report before us. Namibia has been a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency for well over 3 decades now. Namibia has served 3 times on the board of the agency and continues to play an active role in the agency's mandate of peaceful uses, safeguards and nuclear safety. Since our independence, the IAEA has supported the country's capacity building in a number of areas, including healthcare, marine, research, agriculture, and environment, specifically in the context of nuclear safety, security, and applications for sustainable development. Mr. President, Namibia acknowledges the technical assistance rendered to us to support our development efforts. Namibia is the largest producer of uranium in Africa at the moment, providing about 10% of the world's output. This abundant natural resource has made Namibia a key global player in the nuclear sector. We have therefore considered it necessary to participate in the Nuclear Suppliers Group to promote and strengthen the non-proliferation regime and to access nuclear technology for sustainable development. We have thus submitted our dossier for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and look forward to a positive outcomes. As a state party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and the Pelindaba Treaty, Namibia is fully committed to the principles of disarmament, non-proliferation, and peaceful uses, and stands ready to work with other countries in furthering the disarmament agenda. Namibia's national— Namibia's national blueprint for sustainable development is encapsulated in the country's Vision 2030, implemented since 2004 through 5-year national development plans. Through the 6th national development plan, our country aims to have increased local power generation and transmission capacity for improved electricity access and affordability. The majority of our local electricity production is from hydropower. Our plans are for Namibia to have a sustainable mix of locally generated energy capacity by increasing installed generation capacity. We further aim to improve the nuclear industry's contribution to sustainable socio-economic development. We want to develop our uranium value chain, including through the development of a responsive governance framework for the nuclear industry, the development and commissioning of feasible flagship nuclear industry projects, the strengthening of human resources for development of nuclear industry. These goals are to be achieved through smart partnerships, including for resource mobilization. Mr. President, as Namibia seeks assistance from the IAEA and partners for potential nuclear power plant development, we welcome open, fair, and transparent collaborations in all relevant forums and platforms to strengthen our national capacity towards nuclear power generation. Coupled with the green hydrogen production, which is well underway in Namibia, and the establishment of the oil and gas industry in our country, there are many opportunities in the energy sector, including nuclear energy, for long-term win-win and smart partnerships. Through these partnerships, Namibia will stand ready to meet the growing demand for electricity and energy security, not just for local consumption but for the SADC region and Africa as well as beyond. I thank you.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [1:55:35]:

I thank the distinguished delegation of Namibia. I now give the floor to the Distinguished delegation of India.


India [1:55:58]:

Mr. President, I thank you for giving me the floor. We thank Australia for tabling the resolution on report of the International Atomic Energy Agency. India values the essential role of IAEA in assisting countries to build human institutional capacities, including regulatory capabilities, for the safe, secure, and peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology. The role of nuclear science and technology has been crucial in the implementation of national development strategies technologies and recovering from the COVID pandemic while ensuring the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and in the achievement of climate goals in the context of the 2015 Paris Agreement. IAEA's activities in the field of technical cooperation and nuclear applications contribute in an important way to meeting energy needs improving human and animal health, developing agriculture, managing the use of water resources, optimizing industrial processes, thus helping to improve the quality and— of life and well-being of people across the world. India welcomes the agency's flagship initiatives cutting across different areas of nuclear science and technology technology, such as Rays of Hope for cancer control, Zodiac for strengthening capacities to respond to zoonotic disease outbreaks, and New Tech Plastics for addressing plastic marine pollution. We also support and appreciate the support extended by AIEA to member states in response to natural disasters outbreaks, as well as emergency situations. Mr. President, India has made significant achievements in the area of nuclear power and research applications. Indian nuclear power reactors have been setting records in uninterrupted continuous operations. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, NPCIL, have been operating continuously for a duration of more than a year on 53 occasions and more than 2 years on 4 occasions. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, BARC, has continued to be at the forefront in advancing the non-power applications of nuclear science and technology to improve the quality of life of our citizens and contribute to the societal economical development of the nation. India's Heavy Water Board, or HWB, which is the largest global producer of heavy water, has exported heavy water to various countries around the world for non-nuclear applications. Closed fuel cycle being the cornerstone of Indian nuclear power program, the country's own first prototype 500-megawatt fast breeder reactor at Bhavani is undergoing fuel loading, thus paving the way for first approach to criticality. Tata Memorial Center has initiated indigenous chimeric antigen receptor, or CAR, T-cell therapy in India, which brought down the cost of cancer treatment from half a million dollars to $30,000. The National Cancer Grid, or NCG, is now a 310-member network across the country which treats approximately 60% of the country's total cancer load in an effect— cost-effective manner. India has also contributed to the agency's technical cooperation programs by seconding experts, offering training in our reputed institutions for experts from other member states. We have also supported the R&D of IAEA in participating and hosting technical meetings and coordinated research projects. We will continue to provide this support to the agency's programs. Mr. President, let me conclude by appreciating the dynamic role played by IAEA in guiding peaceful uses of nuclear, energy, and ensuring nuclear safety and security. We look forward to the agency's continued support to member states for providing a conducive atmosphere for growth of nuclear science and technology. As a responsible nuclear power with advanced technology, India remains committed to expand peaceful applications of nuclear technology both in power and non-power sector while ensuring the security of nuclear and radiological materials. India has a robust nuclear safety culture and an impeccable safety record. India will continue to support the agency in its efforts to provide a robust, sustainable, and visible global nuclear safety and security framework. Thank you.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [2:01:18]:

Agradezco a la distinguished delegation of India. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegation of Argentina.


Argentina [2:01:42]:

Mr. President, at the outset, allow me to thank Australia in their capacity as chair of the IAEA Board of Governors for the work done to facilitate this resolution. Argentina's co-sponsorship of this draft resolution must be understood as yet another demonstration of my country's staunch support for the professional and impartial work done by the International Atomic Energy Agency and its Director General, Rafael Mariano Grossi. In a world in which geopolitical tensions often cloud the horizon, the IAEA stands as a beacon of objectivity, technical rigor, and constructive dialogue. It makes concrete contributions to the United Nations, upholding the central mandate of its charter, that is to protect international peace and security. President, Argentina is a country with a large and— long and widely recognized track record in terms of nuclear development for exclusively peaceful purposes, understands more than most the value and relevance of this agency. International cooperation has played a key role in the development of our nuclear program, and we see in the IAEA a key stakeholder to guarantee equitable access to nuclear science and technology. This statutory function of the agency is pivotal to guarantee that the benefits of nuclear energy and of its manifold peaceful applications are broadened for the benefit of all peoples. President, for Argentina, nuclear technology is a source of energy sovereignty. It is a public health tool through— nuclear medicine, which saves lives, and it is a tool for scientific research, which fosters national development. Consequently, supporting IAEA is not simply a manifestation of our foreign policy, it's also a reaffirmation of our commitment to a safer world and to the application of science in such a way as to serve the well-being of humankind. Moreover, we wish to underscore the revitalization of a a core part of the agency's founding mission. We're seeing the championing of nuclear applications to serve the needs of member states, the fight against cancer through the program Rays of Hope, the improvement of food security through Atoms for Food, and NewTek and Zodiac— NewTek for plastic pollution. For Argentina, the— this approach is crucially important, as demonstrated by the participation of Argentine experts and institutions in the aforementioned initiatives. We wish to point to Argentina's support for the central role played by the IAEA in terms of nuclear safety and security, as well as what it does in coordinating international activities in this sphere. Since the beginning of its nuclear program, Argentina has staunchly promoted legally binding international agreements in nuclear safety and security. We have also championed non-binding initiatives which complement the aforementioned instruments. Finally, at a time in which trust in the international system is eroded, Argentina reiterates its full support for the professional, impartial and transparent work done by the IAEA and its Director General in the field of nuclear verification. Member States' commitments to, and the sustaining of, the IAEA's safeguards A robust system is essential to strengthen the non-proliferation regime, which is a cornerstone of efforts to ensure the world is safer for everybody. Against that backdrop, Argentina wishes to point to the intense cooperation that exists between the IAEA and the Brazilian-Argentine Agency for Accounting and Control of Nuclear Materials in implementation of the Quadripartite Agreement. This unique framework of Joint Safeguards stands as an example of transparency, mutual trust, and commitment to nuclear non-proliferation. It has proven to be an effective model of regional cooperation which enjoys international renown. Thank you.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [2:05:50]:

I thank the distinguished delegation of Argentina. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegation of Morocco.


Morocco [2:06:19]:

Mr. President, I wish to first and foremost voice my sincere appreciation to Australia for the presentation of the draft resolution and the report of the IAEA. Morocco fully supports the adoption of this resolution. We wish to take this opportunity to reaffirm our unstinting commitment to the central and critical role of the IAEA in the promotion of the peaceful use of nuclear energy, in the enhancement of nuclear safety and security, and the implementation of nonproliferation guarantees. Mr. President, the 2024 report of the IAEA is a striking testimony of the exceptional progress made by the agency under the remarkable, brilliant leadership of Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. This document sheds light on the tireless commitment of the agency in the delivery of its fundamental mission, and it also reflects Mr. Grossi's ability to mobilize resources and the necessary expertise to surmount the challenges faced by the international community, particularly developing countries. We attribute particular importance to the transformative initiative launched by Director-General Mr. Grossi. The plastic— the initiative raised the zodiac for Zoonotic Disease, Rays of Hope for Cancer Research, and Atoms for Food for food security. These are all programs which are not merely concepts. They are already generating tangible results, particularly in Africa where the needs are tremendous. Moreover, the resolution adopted during the 69th General Conference held in Vienna in September of 2025 reflects our shared commitment to surmount the emerging challenges related to nuclear safety and security and nuclear applications and technical cooperation. Mr. President, the Kingdom of Morocco takes pride in actively contributing to the implementation of IAEA's mission, inter alia through South-South enhanced cooperation with our partners including in Africa. This approach is part of the enlightened vision of His Majesty the King for African solidarity, sharing of expertise, and best practices. In 2024, more than 370 African experts from more than 40 member states had training, academic programs, and other opportunities in Morocco. We had contributed to various areas of nuclear application, and nearly 770 samples using nuclear techniques for a number of African partner states was carried out. Our National Moroccan Center for National Science is a national center based on the research reactor, and it is— is the first center in Africa to receive this distinction From the IAEA, the Moroccan Nuclear Safety and Security and Radiological Agency hosts the African Framework for Radio Protection Regulators, which trains regulators for the continent as part of the Race of Hope initiative. Our National Oncology Institute, which designated as an anchor center, already is hosting African interns. And is sharing expertise through training and regional workshops. For ZODIAC, the Scientific and Technical Research Initiative, we organized the first regional meeting on the implementation in Africa with the participation of 31 member states from Africa. Mr. President, Morocco fully aligns itself with the principle according to which the main responsibility for nuclear safety and security is entirely— falls entirely to member states. In this respect, we will continue to enhance our regular national framework in accordance with the IAEA safeguard procedures. We voluntarily host the IRSS centers, which have seen significant— recognized significant progress achieved by our kingdom. We stand ready to share experience with interested member states on the process for the conduct of these missions, their organizational modalities, as well as lessons drawn. To conclude, the Kingdom of Morocco reiterates our steadfast support for the technical cooperation program of the IAEA, which requires adequate sustainable support to continue to build member states' capabilities, particularly in developing states. We urge all member states to continue to support the agency's operations and to accede to relevant international legal instruments in the area of nuclear safety and security and nuclear assurances and safeguards. We have also adopted a commitment to pursue our active commitment to and contribution to multilateral efforts into the motion of initiatives which embody our common shared slogan of a time for peace and development. Thank you.


President [2:11:52]:

I thank the distinguished delegation of Morocco. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegation of Ecuador.


Ecuador [2:12:11]:

Thank you, Mr. President. I thank Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, for his presentation of the annual report to the General Assembly. I also thank him for his leadership at the helm of the agency and his work to promote peace, security, and development. Ecuador also wishes to thank the delegation of Australia for presenting the draft resolution, which once again my country is co-sponsoring as a demonstration of the value we attach to the work of the IAEA as it strives unwaveringly to guarantee the exclusively peaceful use of nuclear energy. Mr. President, my country firmly supports the IAEA's verification and safeguard system. We support all efforts aimed to bring about nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, including efforts focused on reducing arsenals and establishing nuclear weapons-free zones. Ecuador underscores the importance of achieving the universal and rigorous implementation of the safeguards system without exception. We remain firmly in favor of the full implementation of the three pillars of the non-proliferation Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, including and particularly the defense of the inalienable rights of all states to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. As has been underscored in myriad opportunities, my country recognizes the importance of the IAEA's work in guaranteeing nuclear safety and security. As such, we value the agency's efforts to protect the new— the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and to avoid a potential nuclear accident. These 7 pillars which underpin the agency's safety and security norms, including the 7 pillars and others, are the basis for an impartial and independent evaluation of the situation. Consequently, the IAEA must enjoy full support as necessary for their implementation. Ecuador underscores the role played by the IAEA's technical cooperation. We recognize the measures undertaken to build a more effective program and one which is aligned with the program— the priorities, rather, and needs of member states. For my country, this cooperation is of particular importance because it has made an invaluable contribution to the economic, social, and environmental development of Ecuador. President, distinguished colleagues, I wish to conclude by once again expressing my country's full and unwavering support for the International International Atomic Energy Agency and for its fundamental mission, that is guaranteeing that nuclear energy is increasingly safe, efficient, and truly beneficial for humankind as a whole. Thank you.


President [2:15:03]:

I thank the distinguished delegation of Ecuador. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegation of Guatemala.


Guatemala [2:15:21]:

Thank you, President. My delegation is grateful for the presentation of the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency. We recognize the work of the Director-General and his team to provide a detailed account of the work done. Moreover, we are grateful to the delegation of Australia for presenting the resolution to adopt that report. Guatemala reiterates its staunch commitment to the goals and principles of the IAEA. They are designed to promote the safe and peaceful use of nuclear energy for the benefit of sustainable development. Our country deeply values the technical support and the cooperation that the agency provides through its various programs. These have made a significant contribution to building our national capacities in areas such as health, agriculture, the management of water resources, and radiological safety and security. In this context, our country particularly appreciates the initiative Rays of Hope that champions high-impact sustainable interventions to improve equitable access to cancer therapy, radio— radiation— radiotherapy technologies, rather, and nuclear medicine. This initiative is a tangible contribution to the strengthening of health systems in developing countries, in particular when it comes to combating cancer. Moreover, Guatemala is delighted following the mission to assess The IMPACT initiative that took place last year, that mission to our country was held in coordination with national health authorities and that has allowed us to establish strategic priorities for cancer management in Guatemala and to guide technical cooperation in such a way as to bolster efforts that promote fairer and more effective access to diagnosis and treatment services. We recognize the importance of the ATOMS Food Initiatives and its sterile insect technique to provide expeditious and coordinated responses to protect public health, the country's agriculture sector, and to avoid the spread of parasitosis. President Guatemala closely follows the development in and advancements made with nuclear, with nuclear research and nuclear applications to tackle nuclear energy needs, environmental restoration, human health, agriculture, food, isotope hydrology, and the marine environment. We hope to make more extensive use of nuclear applications in areas that require that work. We reiterate the importance therefore of maintaining an appropriate balance between the promotional and non-promotional activities of the organization, the allocation of resources must reflect the statutory mandate of the agency. Its activities in science, technology, and nuclear applications must have sufficient and sustainable financing both through the regular budget and through the technical cooperation programs. Given the difficult global situation and the economic landscape, my delegation is gravely concerned that resources available for the technical cooperation program are neither are not sufficient, predictable, or guaranteed. The financing of this programme must not depend excessively on extra-budgetary contributions. Neither should its financing be tied to conditions which could compromise its purpose. On the contrary, financing the Technical Cooperation Programme should be seen as a manifestation of collective commitment to the common good and to the strengthening of institutions institutions for everybody's benefit. We reaffirm our commitment to upholding our safeguards and nuclear safety and security obligations. We will continue to champion initiatives which promote transparency, radiation protection, and the strengthening of national regulatory infrastructure. President— Guatemala reaffirms its conviction that international instruments in Sphere of Disarmament and Non— and Nuclear Nonproliferation. These include the NPT, the CTBT, and the TPNW. They are fundamental pillars which all complement one goal, that is achieving a world free of nuclear weapons and guaranteeing that nuclear energy be used exclusively for peaceful purposes. With this in mind, Guatemala is of the view that the IAEA's work is a crucial component of endeavors to effectively implement these commitments because it provides technical verification, it promotes international cooperation, strengthens trust between states. Consequently, we reiterate our support for the agency and its director general. Guatemala is committed to continuing to support initiatives which strengthen the agency's mandate, its technical independence, and its central role in the international security and development architecture. Thank you.


President [2:20:39]:

Agradezco a la— I thank the distinguished delegation of Guatemala. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegation of Canada.


Canada [2:21:06]:

Mr. President, thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to participate in this important annual debate. Perhaps I could begin my remarks by just commenting briefly on Canada's history as a country that has been in the forefront of developments of nuclear power and of nuclear technology. It should be no surprise to anyone that as a country that was deeply engaged in the effort to defeat Nazism in the Second World War. Canadian scientists, and in particular the well-known laboratory in Chalk River, Ontario, was at the forefront of the debate and development of a nuclear option with respect to developing a weapon to deal with the impact of a potential victory by fascism at a global level. It's also important to remember that the impact of the dropping of the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were a powerful moment in the history of the world. Enforcing everyone to reflect on the nature of the potential of nuclear energy for good and for bad. And Canada made a decision as a country that, unlike others, we would not become a nuclear weapon power, but we would still remain very active in the development of nuclear technology and applying that technology to the production of energy, to dealing with the health and other opportunities that nuclear technology provides us with, and that we would remain as a country in the forefront of the development of this technology. I had the honour several iterations of my life before this one of being the Premier of the province of Ontario, which was at the time 60% dependent on nuclear power for our energy generation. And that continues. It continues to be the case that nuclear power is a significant part of the energy model that Ontario has developed. And in the course of that, I had the opportunity to see the evolution taking place in the industry Already then, which was over 35 years ago, we were dealing with the question of can we develop smaller nuclear reactors? Can we make the cost of developing nuclear technology less expensive? Can we allow it to function in a way that's more flexible and more responsive to the needs of smaller communities rather than in these large central, uh, plants which are the place around the world. And that continues to be the case. Canadian companies continue to be very involved in looking at this, and we continue to discuss with other countries the potential for co-developing nuclear power around the world. Indeed, I see my colleagues here from Romania and from other countries with which Canada has had a long relationship in the nuclear industry. When I say nuclear industry, I mean the development of electricity by means of nuclear power. So for that reason, we have always attached a great deal of importance to the work of the IAEA. Uh, it is, uh, an agency, while small in comparison to some of the other agencies in our constellation of a— agencies in the UN, it is this very significant, um, player in the global stage because providing providing for standards, providing for regulation, providing for safety, insisting on the globalization of safety standards and the harmonization of standards around the world is a fundamental test, it seems to me, of our ability to understand the impact that nuclear energy can have, as I said, for good, and it's important for us to stress the opportunities where this appears. I would also add that the potential for not just nuclear fission but nuclear fusion presents us with tremendous opportunities for moving even further and more safely with respect to the development of nuclear power, nuclear technology, and we look forward to working closely with other partners in the development of this scientific breakthrough.

Alors, Monsieur le Président. Mr. President, Canada thanks the Australian delegation, which is presently presiding over the Board of Governors of the agency. We thank the Australian delegation for having coordinated the preparation of this resolution and for having worked towards its adoption by consensus here in New York. Canada is pleased, as has always been the case, to co-sponsor this resolution and to join the consensus for its adoption. Canada is firmly determined to supporting the agency in the implementation of its mandate, specifically through the promotion of nuclear technology, energy, and nuclear applications to support the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in such areas as healthcare, nutrition, agriculture, and the environment, by improving nuclear safety and security at the global level and by implementing safeguards to buttress the global non-proliferation regime. I personally had an opportunity to meet with Mr. Grossi when I was president of ECOSOC and we had discussions on work and opportunities for energy for the future of this industry and the tremendous challenges which exist due to the fact that there are countries who fail to accept accept the principle of non-proliferation, and this remains a challenge faced by the world as well as by the agency.

To the content of this resolution and what I know to have been recent deliberations on the text in Vienna, Canada would like to underscore three core points. First, we remind all member states that resolutions of the IAEA General Conference, whether adopted by consensus or vote, are equally formal decisions of the Conference, and they're applicable to take— to the activities of the Secretariat as well as all Member States, as appropriate. Second, we take note that the General Conference has considered an annual resolution on the issue of nonproliferation against nuclear proliferation, safeguards in the DPRK since 1993, and we have done that without a vote. It is very unfortunate, unfortunate consensus was broken this year with the politically motivated vote called by the Russian Federation. We are grateful to all 64 co-sponsors of this resolution and to all those who voted in favor. From this, we believe a strong signal continues to be sent by the General Conference regarding the continued non-proliferation and safeguards challenges that are posed by the DPRK's nuclear program, which as far as we are concerned is a program that exists outside the current framework of law. It is also— this vote is a strong indicator of our collective support for the agency's work in this regard. Put it simply, we don't take the vote that was— that took place as any indication of a lack of universality of the resolutions and decisions that are made by the IAEA. We fully reject any attempts by Russia to use its reservation on the 2024 annual report to further its illegal and illegitimate claims of ownership over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The ZNPP is and will remain a Ukrainian nuclear facility, in line with repeated decisions of this Assembly, which have called for the return of the plant to the full control of the sovereign and competent authorities of Ukraine. It is critically important for the international rule of law that Russia recognize that no nuclear facility, and indeed no nuclear developments of any kind, should take place outside the frame of law, outside the frame of what is legitimate. And in this case, as in all others with respect to Russia's behavior in Ukraine, Might does not make right. Right makes right. And what Russia is doing in this instance is clearly wrong. We once again thank Australia for its efforts in delivering this resolution, which we know was a challenge, and we stand ready to work with all delegations to support the critical activities of the agency. Thank you very much, Mr. President.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [2:31:19]:

I thank the distinguished delegation of Canada. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegation of Singapore.


Singapore [2:31:26]:

Thank you, Mr. President.

The IAEA performs an important mission in helping states navigate the rapidly evolving nuclear landscape and harness nuclear applications to meet healthcare demands, climate goals, and achieve sustainable development. To safely harness the full potential of nuclear science and technology, regulations and guidelines must keep pace with advancing technologies. The agency therefore plays an indispensable role in upholding global standards on nuclear safety, security, and safeguards. We commend the agency's many achievements in its annual report, from nuclear verification to improving access to cancer care and tackling plastics pollution, to providing technical cooperation and capacity building for development. We thank Director-General Rafael Grossi and IAEA staff for their steadfast commitment to carrying out the agency's mandate amidst difficult geopolitical circumstances. We were honored to welcome Director-General Grossi to Singapore under the SR Nathan Fellowship Program earlier this year. Allow me to make 4 points. First, the IAEA's support for states' efforts to strengthen nuclear safety and security is vital, especially as interest in nuclear power grows. Singapore is strongly committed to nuclear safety. In July 2025, we launched the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute to enhance our national capabilities to understand and assess nuclear technologies and safety. At the regional level, Singapore engages with the IAEA through the ASEAN Network of Regulatory Bodies on Atomic Energy to strengthen regulatory knowledge, share good practices, and build technical capacity in Southeast Asia. In that regard, we are pleased that the renewal of the ASEAN IAEA Practical Arrangements from 2024 to 2029 will elevate regional cooperation in a number of areas, including nuclear safety and security. Second, as the global nuclear nonproliferation architecture faces mounting pressure, The IAEA is instrumental as the sole competent authority responsible for verifying states' fulfillment of their non-proliferation obligations. Singapore urges all states parties to fully implement their obligations under their respective Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements and the Additional Protocol. We call on all NPT states parties that have not yet done so to conclude an IAEA the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement or Additional Protocol without delay. Third, Singapore commends the IAEA for its commitment to upholding nuclear safety and security and safeguards in Ukraine. We remain deeply concerned that the nuclear safety and security situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remains precarious. We urge all parties to uphold the 7 indispensable pillars at all nuclear power plants and 5 concrete principles at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and to work towards the immediate cessation of military action and a peaceful settlement of this conflict in accordance with the UN Charter and international law. Fourth, Singapore supports the inalienable right of all states parties to peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology under Article 4 of the MPT. The IAEA's Technical Cooperation Programme has been crucial in helping developing States, especially Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, achieve the SDGs. Initiatives such as Race of Hope, New Tech Plastics, ZODIAC, and Atoms for Food continue to support States' efforts in radiation medicine, combating marine plastic pollution, and ensuring food security. Singapore is pleased to have renewed our MOU on cooperation in the area of capacity building with the IAEA in July 2025, which will assist developing countries in leveraging, inter alia, nuclear applications in human health, food and agriculture, environmental monitoring, and nuclear and radiation safety. Mr. President, Singapore reaffirms our support for the work of the IAEA and is committed to working with all Member States to ensure that the Agency can continue to discharge its mandate effectively, impartially, and for the benefit of all. Singapore is therefore pleased to once again co-sponsor the draft resolution report of the IAEA. Thank you.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [2:36:21]:

I thank the distinguished delegation of Singapore Thank you, Mr. Paul. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegation of Romania.


Romania · Vice-President of the Board of Governors [2:36:39]:

Romania welcomes the consensus on the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency. As Vice President of the IAEA Board of Governors, Romania reaffirms its unwavering support for the Agency's indispensable role in support of peace and development. We have fully aligned with the EU statement, and I would like to make the following remarks in my national capacity. Mr. President, the different crises that we face today highlight an increasingly complex and demanding environment in which the IAEA operates. Proliferation challenges continue to pressure the international regime established by the NPT, while expectations are building up that nuclear energy could play a more significant role in boosting development if managed responsibly. I want to echo the comments made by my colleague from Canada just earlier, also indicating the way Romania works and cooperates with responsible members of the non-proliferation community to advance the important goals of the peaceful uses of nuclear, energy and nuclear applications. And that's why Romania will continue to invest in nuclear safety and regulatory excellence. We just hosted in June this year the global IAEA full-scale CONVEX-3 exercise, which is designed to test the readiness for a nuclear or radiological emergency with cross-border consequences. We will also continue to pay close attention to the development and deployment of advanced reactors. SMRs. Romania is one of the first countries in Europe that has the potential to deploy small modular reactors in Europe and become a catalyst for SMRs in the region. We are committed to ensuring nuclear safety and security during the design, development, and deployment phases of SMRs, and we are supporting the nuclear harmonization and standardization initiative launched by the IAEA Director General. The international security environment is marked by increasing tensions, wars, and conflicts, and is further challenging the tasks ahead of us. In particular, as it was mentioned by previous speakers during this session, Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine continues to put at risk the safety and security of nuclear facilities, with continued attacks on the Ukrainian critical energy infrastructure increasing the risk of a nuclear accident or incident with potential severe consequences for the region and beyond. Romania remains seriously concerned about the situation at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and the latest report presented by the Director-General of the IAEA assesses it again as precarious, with 6 of the 7 indispensable pillars for nuclear safety and security being compromised either fully or partially. We reiterate the calls on Russia to heed the resolution of the UN General Assembly and the IAEA Board of Governors and the General Conferences as well, and to withdraw from the ZNPP without delay and fully respect Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. We remain grateful to the IAEA for its tireless efforts to ensure nuclear safety and security at all Ukraine's nuclear power plants. Romania reiterates its condemnation of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and supports a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in accordance with international law and the UN Charter. Mr. President, the IAEA's work in safeguarding the non-proliferation regime remains particularly important to my country. IAEA's safeguards system is a fundamental component of the nuclear non-proliferation regime plays an indispensable role in the implementation of the NPT. Romania reaffirms its commitment to the fundamental principles of the NPT and commends the agency and its efforts in verification activities. We fully support the IAEA's independent verification role and call for the universalization of the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements and additional protocols. At the same time, we all have a shared interest in the responsible and sustainable use of nuclear nuclear science and technology for the benefit of all. And Romania will continue to support the agency's mission in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. We believe that international cooperation, scientific, scientific research, institutional transparency must guide our collective efforts to ensure a safe, secure, and sustainable future of nuclear energy. We encourage the use of the IAEA's technical assistance mechanisms to support responsible nuclear development, and we reaffirm Romania's appreciation for the longstanding commitment to the IAEA's Technical Cooperation Programme, including through national voluntary contributions. President, in concluding, Romania remains committed to the IAEA's critical mission and to a balanced approach between the three fundamental pillars of the IAEA work: nuclear safety and security, nuclear science and technology, and safeguards. On proliferation. We reaffirm our strong support for the mission mandate and the activity of the IAEA, and thank the Director-General of the IAEA and the staff for their dedication and professionalism. Thank you, Mr. President.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [2:41:56]:

Agradezco. I thank the distinguished delegation of Romania. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegation of Malaysia.


Malaysia [2:42:16]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Malaysia records its appreciation to the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, for the comprehensive 2024 report and updates on key developments in 2025. Malaysia also thanks Australia for introducing the draft resolution titled "Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency" and for its leadership in facilitating consensus. We welcome the agency's multifaceted initiatives and take note of the resolutions adopted at the 69th IAEA General Conference. Malaysia reaffirms the importance of the continued implementation of GC69/RES/9, strengthening the agency's activities related to nuclear science, technology, and applications, which encompasses the agency's work in nuclear science, technology, safeguards, and technical cooperation. Malaysia remains steadfast in its commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and recognizes the IAEA as the sole competent competent authority for verifying safeguards obligations under Article 3 of the treaty. In this regard, Malaysia underscores the agency's impartial and technical role in promoting the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear technology, particularly amid current geopolitical tensions that threaten global peace and security. We appreciate the IAEA's continued updates on the democratic Democratic People's Republic of Korea and fully support the related resolution adopted at the General Conference, which Malaysia co-sponsored. We remain deeply concerned over DPRK's ongoing ballistic missile launches, which violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions. Malaysia calls on all parties to resume peaceful dialogue towards the realization of lasting peace and stability in a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. Malaysia further stresses the importance of nuclear weapon-free zones in advancing disarmament and non-proliferation. We reaffirm our commitment to the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty and our support for the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. As ASEAN Chair and Chair of the ASEAN Network of Regulatory Bodies on Atomic Energy, ASEANTOM. Malaysia continues to promote regional cooperation, including through the recent Multilateral Nuclear Security Detection Exercise Malaysia-Indonesia-Thailand-Singapore 2025, MITSATOM 2025, which has strengthened cooperation in addressing potential nuclear security incidents and radiological emergencies. Malaysia values the IAEA's Technical Cooperation Program, particularly in supporting developing member states, and looks forward to sustained engagement under this initiative. We emphasize the need to ensure the full implementation of Resolution GC69/RES10, extending the Technical Cooperation Program for the State of Palestine to the Gaza Strip., which Malaysia co-sponsored. Mr. President, as an IAEA Collaborating Centre, Malaysia remains committed to advancing the peaceful use of nuclear technology for sustainable socio-economic development. We recognize the agency's cooperation and contribution in areas such as healthcare, agriculture, food security, and environmental protection. The sustainable development of nuclear energy must be underpinned by the highest standards of safety, security, and safeguards. Malaysia commends the IAEA's role in assisting member states in upholding these standards and strengthening global nuclear safety and security governance. Thank you.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [2:46:08]:

Agradezco. I thank the distinguished delegation of Malaysia. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegation of Pakistan.


Pakistan [2:46:28]:

I thank Director-General Rafael Grossi for his annual report on the activities of the IAEA. We acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of the agency and Director-General in advancing the use of peaceful nuclear energy for sustainable development and Resilient economies. As a founding member of the IAEA, Pakistan has a longstanding relationship with the agency. Pakistan has been working closely with the agency for effective employment of nuclear science and technology in various sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, power generation, industry, and environmental protection. Director General Grossi's visit to Pakistan earlier this year further bolstered the ongoing collaboration between Pakistan and the agency, which has been mutually beneficial and enduring. We aim to further enhance this cooperation in applications of nuclear energy in various sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, and industry. President— at present, at present, Pakistan has 6 nuclear power plants in operation with installed capacity of 3,500 megawatts. During the last one year, the total nuclear energy generation contributed to 18% of the overall energy mix, which translates to 34% of our low-carbon energy production, preventing approximately 15 million tons of CO2 CO2 emissions every year. Pakistan's vast experience in operating a safe, secure, and fully safeguarded nuclear power program speaks volumes of our capabilities and commitment. Pakistan emphasizes the need for unrestricted collaboration and fair access to civil nuclear technologies particularly for those nations that are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. President, given the potential positive impact of nuclear science and technology in achieving sustainable development goals, the IAEA's role as a torchbearer in leading strategic initiatives such as Atom for Net Zero, Rays of Hope, Atoms for Food, Zodiac, and NewTech is highly valued and supported. The application of nuclear technology in the healthcare sector remains a top priority for our country. Pakistan is providing affordable diagnostic and therapeutic services through a network of 20 cancer hospitals. Annually, over 1 million diagnostics and therapeutic procedures are carried out, serving over 80% of the total cancer patients. Nuri, one of our cancer hospitals, is an IAEA anchor centre and has provided training to a batch of IAEA fellows under the Rays of Hope. In the agriculture sector, using nuclear techniques, our 4 agriculture institutes have developed more than 150 high-yield, disease-resistant crop varieties. Pakistan's Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, as an IAEA collaborating center, has been working to develop improved varieties of cotton, wheat, and rice. President, water security is an essential priority for Pakistan, and through isotope hydrology, Pakistan has improved groundwater mapping enabling better resource allocation and sustainable usage. In this sector, our institute, PENSTEC, is designated as an IAEA Collaborating Center. Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, another IAEA Collaborating Center, is playing a vital role in nuclear education. This institute has offered 20 fully funded international scholarships at all levels and fields, including nuclear science and technology. Technical Cooperation Program remains a cornerstone of Pakistan's collaboration with the IAEA. Under its practical arrangement with the TC department, Pakistan is sharing its technical expertise with fellow member states by offering specialized training courses across diverse fields of nuclear science and its applications. Pakistan upholds the highest standards of nuclear safety and security, which are in line with the IAEA standards. The Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority stands as an independent national regulatory authority with the critical mandate to uphold nuclear and radiation safety as well as nuclear security. We stand ready to share our experience in designing and implementing comprehensive technical cooperation projects with fellow members of the Global South. President, international cooperation and dialogue are of central importance in fostering an enabling environment to unlock the full potential of nuclear power. We underscore that removal of barriers for gaining equitable and non-discriminatory access to civil nuclear cooperation is of fundamental importance. There is a need to establish— there is a need to eliminate discrimination inherent in existing non-proliferation arrangements and establish a framework for promoting peaceful nuclear energy under appropriate international safeguards, in line with international obligations of states, and on a non-discriminatory basis. We share the view that all states should fully comply with their respective safeguards obligations. At the same time, the agency safeguards should not be used to serve partisan political objectives. Its verification regime will remain credible only if it is applied on a non-discriminatory basis, as stipulated in the agency's statute. Pakistan firmly believes that attacks on safeguarded nuclear facilities undermine the IAEA safeguards mechanism, contravene international law, the Charter of the UN, statute of the IAEA, and relevant General Conference resolutions on the issue. Pakistan stands ready to further strengthen partnership with the IAEA and member states in promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy to realize our collective objectives, including Sustainable Development Goals. I thank you, Mr. President.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [2:53:44]:

I thank the distinguished delegation of Pakistan. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegation of Uruguay.


Uruguay [2:54:00]:

Muchas gracias, señor presidente. Thank you, Mr. President. Uruguay wishes to thank the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Ambassador Rafael Mariano Grossi for the presentation of the 2024 Annual Report. We thank him for his exemplary leadership in a global situation characterized by acute challenges. IAEA's work in terms of nuclear safety and security, verification, cooperation, and education proves itself every day to be a crucial pillar of peaceful coexistence and sustainable development. Development, we recognize that the IAEA plays a crucial role as a custodian in the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons. This through its safeguard mechanisms and its staunch commitment to international security. President, we sincerely thank the IAEA for the cooperation provided to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to heighten its positive impact on the lives of people. We are delighted to underscore the progress made with the IAEA's programs such as ZODIAC, New Tech Plastics, Rays of Hope, and Atoms for Food. These programs strengthen the agency's work and foster sustainable development through technical cooperation. Uruguay wishes to underscore the IAEA's commitment to also promoting gender equality and to encouraging the participation of women in nuclear science. In this vein, we think it's particularly relevant to point to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme and to mention the Lise Meitner Programme. Both contribute to broadening opportunities and to building a more inclusive scientific community. We are convinced that this cooperation is the most appropriate way to see and enhance nuclear technology as a peaceful resource, one which serves the, the well-being of all humankind in line with SDGs 7 and 11. PGs. Therefore, we are grateful for support provided in crucial areas such as strengthening regulatory infrastructure for radiological and nuclear safety and security, capacity building in nuclear security, the management of radioactive waste, medical applications, and the integration of new technologies, including when it comes to the control of disease-carrying insects. Uruguay has implemented many national projects within the framework of the Technical Cooperation Programme. As things stand, we are focusing our efforts on the adoption of genetic tracing technology to improve food safety. We're also focusing on access to diagnostic radiology services and nuclear imaging to allow the early detection of cancer. We're working on evaluating the hydrological behavior of wetlands using isotopic and hydrochemical techniques, and we are strengthening our national radiological safety and security infrastructure and promoting the use of nuclear applications in the, in industry. We also pay particular attention to regional projects, particularly the Cooperation Agreement for the Promotion of Nuclear Science and Technology in Latin America and the Caribbean, known under the acronym ARCAL. That program has proven to be an invaluable instrument to strengthen cooperation between our countries. Finally, we reaffirm our commitment to the IAEA and its guiding principles. We encourage member states to fully comply with and uphold their obligations to further arms control, disarmament, and nonproliferation as fundamental pillars for international peace and security. Thank you.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [2:57:34]:

Thank you, thank you, thank you, distinguished delegation of Uruguay. We have heard the last speaker in the discussion on this agenda item for this meeting. We will hear the remaining speakers at a date to be confirmed. The exercise of the right of reply has been requested. May I remind delegations that statements in the exercise of the right of reply are limited to 10 minutes to 5 minutes for the second intervention. Delegations should make the statements from their seats. I give the floor to the delegation of Australia.


Australia [2:58:13]:

President, I take the floor on behalf of the delegations of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States to address some misleading assertions which have been made by one member state regarding AUKUS cooperation. Australia's naval nuclear propulsion program is proceeding in full compliance with AUKUS partners' respective international obligations, including under the NPT, Australia's Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, and Additional Protocol. Naval nuclear propulsion was foreseen by the drafters of the NPT and remains aligned with the treaty. Australia is continuing its engagement with the IAEA to develop a safeguards and verification approach for its NMP program within the framework of Australia's CSA and additional protocol, including an Article 14 arrangement. We regret efforts by some to cast doubt on the agency's clear authority, authority to negotiate directly and in confidence with member states on safeguards and verification arrangements. Including for naval nuclear propulsion under comprehensive safeguards agreements. As confirmed by the Director-General's clear statements on this topic, the Agency's engagement with Australia in this regard is entirely within its mandate under its statute and safeguards agreements approved by the Board of Governors. It is important that member states continue to reject all attempts to undermine politicize the IAEA's independent technical mandate on which we all rely. I thank you.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [2:59:57]:

I now give the floor to the delegation of China.


China [3:00:08]:

Thank you, Mr. President. The Chinese delegation did not wish to reiterate our position on AUKUS. Just now, the UK delegation and Australia delegation have propelled us to make our— to exercise our reply— to give a reply. We wish to point out that The AUKUS submarine cooperation is the first time in history a cooperation which involves the transfer of massive amount of weapons-grade nuclear materials from a nuclear weapon country to a non-nuclear weapon country. It poses severe proliferation risks. Secondly, The statute of the IAEA prohibits the agency from providing assistance on military cooperation— to military cooperation. Thirdly, the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, including its Article 14, provides on the transfer of nuclear— nuclear materials of non-nuclear weapon countries. It does not provide on the transfer of nuclear materials from nuclear weapon countries to non-nuclear weapon countries. As this is a highly sensitive and complicated cooperation, project and in light of its severe impact on the NPT. We have consistently proposed and advocated that parties of the agency, within the framework of international discussions, should have serious, earnest, and comprehensive deliberations on this matter. On the basis of consensus, parties should make proper decisions on how the agency carries out its oversight functions on the corporation. Such corporation is not to be resolved— or the questions on such cooperation are not to be resolved by a simple sentence saying— claiming that the highest standards of nonproliferation are upheld, so as to avoid a vicious precedent. Thank you, Mr. President.


GA · PGA · Anna-Lena Baerbock [3:03:14]:

The General Assembly has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of Agenda Item 89. The meeting is adjourned.