At the annual Treaty Event on the sidelines of the 66th IAEA General Conference today, Cambodia, Mauritania, and Mozambique deposited legal instruments with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi expressing consent to be bound by two multilateral treaties and an amendment.
Multilateral treaties under IAEA auspices cover a range of subjects, including strengthening nuclear safety and security as well as developing nuclear science and technology. This year, Cambodia acceded to the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency, Mauritania accepted the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology, and Mozambique ratified the 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material.
"It is of key importance for me at each General Conference to highlight the countries that are taking concrete steps in their legal commitments that are critical in the areas of nuclear cooperation," said Mr Grossi. "We have legal instruments in many areas, such as nuclear safety and security but also technical cooperation, and this is a significant part of our work."
Cambodia accedes to Assistance Convention
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and Ung Eang, the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Mine and Energy of the Kingdom of Cambodia. (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)
The Secretary of State of the Ministry of Mine and Energy of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Ung Eang, deposited an instrument of accession to the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency.
The Convention, adopted in 1986 following the Chernobyl nuclear plant accident, sets out an international framework for co-operation among States Parties and with the IAEA to facilitate prompt assistance and support in the event of nuclear accidents or radiological emergencies. Cambodia is the 126th Party to the Convention.
Mauritania accepts Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and Mohamed Mahmoud Brahim Khlil, the Ambassador of Mauritania. (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)
The Ambassador of Mauritania, Mohamed Mahmoud Brahim Khlil, deposited an instrument of acceptance of the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA).
AFRA is an intergovernmental Agreement established by African Member States to strengthen and enlarge the contribution of nuclear science and technology to socioeconomic development on the African continent. AFRA, which entered into force in 1990, provides a framework for African Member States to intensify their collaboration through programmes and projects focused on the specific shared needs of its members. Its activities cover a wide range of peaceful applications of nuclear techniques that contribute to the achievement of national and regional development goals. AFRA now has 22 Parties.
Mozambique joins amended nuclear security treaty
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and Amadeu Paulo Da Conceição, The Ambassador of the Republic of Mozambique. (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)
The Ambassador of the Republic of Mozambique, Amadeu Paulo Da Conceição, deposited an instrument of ratification of the 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM). The CPPNM focuses on the physical protection of nuclear material used for peaceful purposes during international transport. Mozambique previously deposited an instrument of accession to the CPPNM in 2003. In 2005, the State Parties to the Convention adopted the Amendment to CPPNM to broaden its scope to also include physical protection requirements for nuclear facilities and nuclear material in domestic use, storage and transport. The Amendment entered into force on 8 May 2016. With Mozambique's ratification there will be 131 Parties to the Amendment.
The aim of the Treaty Event, convened annually by the IAEA's Office of Legal Affairs during the General Conference, is to promote universal adherence to the most important multilateral treaties for which the Director General of the IAEA is depositary. To learn more about the multilateral treaties that the IAEA has with its Member States, visit Treaties under IAEA auspices page.
