Here is the full text of his speech at the International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology:
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
PERMANENT MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
JAURÈSGASSE 3, 1030 VIENNA
Statement by H.E. Dr. Ali Akbar Salehi
Vice-President, Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran
It is a distinct pleasure for me to join all of you for this august event. Allow me, dear Chairpersons, to offer our sincere felicitations on your deserved election and wish you success in steering the deliberations of this high-level meeting towards a fruitful, forward-looking outcome.
Excellencies,
The importance of this meeting cannot be overstated; the world is at a critical juncture; the inevitable trend of rising demand for nuclear applications, along with the similar rising preference for increased reliance on clean and safe sources are all facts of our life; climatic challenges are on the rise as is the challenging diseases like cancer; hunger and malnutrition throughout the world are becoming acute as is the water reservoir and public health and safety. Overall, the appearance of challenges is outpacing the appearance of partnership to address them by utilizing the technological advances. There is a dire need for the international community to collectively take steps to address the emerging challenges.
Healthcare issues such as non-communicable diseases and new emerging symptoms do not recognize boundaries, nor the consequences of climate change; they spread like a fire and incur costs not on one, but on all of us. Turning blind eyes to these challenging issues is not a viable option for any country, but in the long run, it would progressively backfire on all of us.
Distinguished Delegates,
The Agency, as per its Statute, is mandated to assist Member States in developing the peaceful use of nuclear energy indiscriminately. The Agency has also undertakings in the area of technical cooperation with due consideration for member states’ needs and priorities, and as such, to help them achieve their Sustainable Development Goals through sharing of knowledge and experience and transfer of technology and equipment without any types of discrimination and political objectives. To this end, establishing a “Data Sharing and Collaboration Network” under the auspices of the IAEA, is of great significance as a suitable tool to meet the needs of the IAEA member States by increasing regional and international nuclear cooperation in various areas of peaceful nuclear technology.
Excellencies,
This Conference is entitled “Nuclear Science and Technology: Addressing Current and Emerging Development Challenges” in the field of peaceful uses of atomic energy. The world has been witnessing substantial scientific and technological progress in this field. The positive potentials, as well as the imperative for cooperation towards their effective realization, hardly need to be emphasized. Collective endeavors, such as our meeting here today, represent the common will and wish of all of us to take stock of the achievements, come to terms with developments, and explore common solutions for the existing and emerging challenges along the way.
In this regard, having a well-defined roadmap would be of great significance for identifying the needs and the challenges, and defining the necessary means of implementation. Here, I’d like to elaborate some of the relevant issues, as following:
Identifying the needs and priorities of member States;
Identifying the technical, legal and commercial challenges;
Transformational change of concepts from “restrictive concept of cooperation” to “synergetic one”;
Avoiding politicization of technical issues;
Disentangling issues related to Nuclear Safety from any binding threads and pre-conditions;
Development of International cooperation;
Facilitation of transfer of technology and knowhow to developing countries;
Strengthening the cooperative networks between the member States, especially with the developing countries;
Elimination of barriers for safe and cost-effective utilization of nuclear science and technology;
Establishment of an information platform about the needs;
Strengthening the resource allocation, i.e. financial, technical and human resources.
In light of the traditional reliance of my country on fossil fuels, it is an imperative in our policies and priorities to address the environmental concerns in line with the requirements of sustainable development, and to work on safe and clean energies. To this end, currently Iran has one unit of 1000 MW operable nuclear power plant, and in order to achieve the long term strategic target, two additional units of 1000 MW are under construction in Bushehr by the cooperation of the Russian company Rosatom. We have also been seriously thinking about increasing investment in Small Modular Reactors, especially for remote areas and the areas already facing water scarcity.
We believe the trend of the progress Iran has achieved thus far in the field of nuclear science and technology will help us make significant advances in these areas in the coming years, especially once supported by enhanced external cooperation, as addressed and emphasized in Annex III of JCPOA.
When we are talking about Annex III of JCPOA, it would be a remiss if there is no reference to its current situation. Our meeting here in Vienna on a matter of multilateral nature and of significance to the international community, is taking place under a quite peculiar international circumstance. The very foundation of multilateralism, as a deeply and widely cherished collective achievement of the international community, is under serious attack. Such an onslaught against the multilateral efforts and its respected norms, as manifested during the past two years, is as mistakable as it is even dangerous.
The Islamic Republic of Iran strongly believes that the status of implementation of the JCPOA is becoming a litmus test for the evaluation of the feasibility of implementation of the IAEA Statute, particularly its Articles II and III, not to name the credibility of the NPT.
It is noteworthy that, on areas of expected external cooperation, Iran, on its part, is willing and prepared to share its experience and achievements with other Member States, with emphasis on the neighboring countries.
Dear Chairpersons,
To conclude, let me wish you, dear Chairpersons, and the Ministerial Conference, utmost success in the days ahead.
Thank you for your attention.
LR/PR