IAEA Board focuses on nuclear safety, radiological protection issues.

IAEA Board focuses on nuclear safety, radiological protection issues

The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which met in Vienna from 22 to 25 February, focused on issues related to nuclear safety and radiological protection, international safeguards, and technical cooperation activities for 1988.

IAEA Director General Hans Blix, welcoming the Board's strong support for IAEA programmes in these areas, also cautioned that financial problems caused by late payments of assessed contributions by Member States continued to threaten full implementation of those programmes in 1988.

Several measures considered by the Board related to IAEA responsibilities under the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency, both adopted in 1986. The Board noted with satisfaction the progress made in arranging for use of the Global Telecommunication System (GTS) of the World Meterological Organization (WMO)to rapidly notify responsible national authorities of nuclear accidents with potential transboundary consequences.

The GTS is regarded as the most appropriate mode of communication for rapid transmission of large amounts of recorded meteorological and radiological data to a large number of contact points.

The IAEA early notification system is expected to become fully operational later in 1988 following the issuance of a system manual and guidebook.

The Board, in February, also endorsed the text of a Joint Protocol establishing a link between the Paris and Vienna Conventions on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage, recommending that the Joint Protocol be adopted at an international conference held in conjunction with the IAEA General Conference in September 1988. Once in force, the Joint Protocol would expand and harmonize the existing liability regime by widening its protection and preventing possible conflicts of application. The Board further authorized the IAEA to continue studies on the question of State liability for transboundary damage to the environment in the event of nuclear accident.

In the area of safeguards and non-prolification, the Board authorized the Director General to conclude a safeguards agreement with Nigeria in connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.