World conference on peaceful uses of nuclear energy unable to agree on key political issues.

World conference on peaceful uses of nuclear energy unable to agree on key political issues

DESPITE EXTENSIVE EFFORTS to reach consensus, the first United Nations global meeting to promote peaceful uses of nuclear energy adjourned without reaching agreement on a set of "universally acceptable' principles for international co-operation in the field and ways and means to promote such co-operation. Delegates from 106 countries and numerous United Nations and other organizations discussed those issues, which were to have provided the basis for a final document of the United Nations Conference for the Promotion of International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, held at Geneva from 23 March to 10 April.

In its final report, the Conference stated that while its debates had reaffirmed that such matters were of importance and a major concern to participants, it "also showed that differences of opinion remained, and the Conference was not able to surmount those differences'.

Two major technical topics were also discussed at the three-week session-- the role of nuclear power for social and economic development and the role of other peaceful applications of nuclear energy. Some 165 reports from Member States, experts and international organizations containing a wealth of practical information on those subjects were also presented.

The Conference said its proceedings had highlighted issues of interest to developing and developed countries and the ways that nuclear energy could be useful to them--from the production of electricity--a major use of nuclear energy--to the various other applications of nuclear techniques in food and agriculture, health and medicine, hydrology, scientific research and industry.

Unprecedented advances'

Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar told the meeting that the splitting of the atom had opened access to a new and important source of energy, which could bring unprecedented advances in beneficial science and technology but could also cause unprecedented destruction. The United Nations, in the four decades of its existence, had "helped to assure that the world would not fall victim to the force of the atom and to encourage, in many ways, its peaceful utilization.

"New opportunities for co-operation amongst nations with different cultures, different values, different beliefs and different social and economic systems have been opened so that the benefits of modern science and technology could be available to all, serving the cause of much needed economic and social development throughout the world,' he said.

Each country must be free to choose for itself the energy sources suited to its national interests, needs and conditions. None should be deprived of access to the technology for peaceful and safe utilization of nuclear power.

However, in an increasingly interdependent world, as long as nuclear energy was in use, close international co-operation would be necessary to ensure, on the one hand, that nuclear technology is not abused or misused, and, on the other, that its benefits are made available in a safe and secure manner, he stated.

International co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy could reach its full potential, he concluded, only in a world from which its potentially destructive uses had been eliminated. It was only logical and wise to see the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons as necessary for the realization of the full peaceful benefits of the atom.

In a closing statement, Conference President Mohamed Shaker of Egypt noted that while there had been lack of agreement on acceptable principles, the intensive debate and wide-scale participation of States had provided irrefutable proof of the Conference's importance. It had also provided a high-level international forum for the expression of views and the exchange of experiences in the field.

States could now have much greater understanding of each other's positions, he said. They should make every endeavour, through the United Nations system, specialized agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to overcome their differences.

Conference Secretary-General Amrik Mehta said that the Conference had stimulated useful ideas and contacts and generated valuable information for participants, Governments and the public at large, and had resulted in "a better understanding of the complexities of the problems'.

At its opening session, he had told the assemblage that the course of human progress over the ages had shown that "energy and prosperity are twins that march together'. As long as nuclear energy was in use in some parts of the world, international co-operation was necessary (to ensure) that "nuclear technology is not abused or misused in any way, and . . . that its benefits are made available in a safe and secure manner'.

Hans Blix, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said a series of conferences initiated 30 years ago in Geneva, had enabled the whole world to partake of the new scientific and technical knowledge which had been gained in the peaceful use of the atom. These conferences marked the beginning of a new era. Energy was seen as a crucial element in evolution and nuclear energy promised to give it cheaply and abundantly. Since that time, nuclear techniques have found important applications in many fields, but the early optimism has been tempered by the difficulties and dangers in using nuclear energy.

Francisco Cuevas Cancino of Mexico and Nabil Fahmy of Egypt served as Chairman and Rapporteur of Committee I. Ilkka Makipentti of Finland and Ayodele Coker of Nigeria were Chairman and Rapporteur of Committee II.

Some 106 States participated in the Conference. Also attending were representatives of specialized agencies and the IAEA, other intergovernmental organizations, interested United Nations bodies and non-governmental organizations, and national liberation movements. Namibia was represented by the United Nations Council for Namibia.

Further mutual understanding

In its report (A/CONF.108/5 and Adds.1-6), the Conference recognized that nuclear energy could contribute to economic and social development and to the well-being of many countries.

It reviewed both the widespread and varied forms of international co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy that were already occurring and existing constraints on such co-operation, and urged that international peaceful nuclear co-operation be enhanced and broadened.

The Conference stated it hoped that its "active and comprehensive exchange of views will lead to a better appreciation of respective positions on these matters and to further mutual understanding', and it expressed the belief that the IAEA and other international organizations might benefit from those exchanges.

Technical reports presented to the conclave and ensuing discussions might be used in planning national programmes for development, use and safety of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, the report stated. Those reports should be made widely available, the Conference stressed.

Finally, citing the involvement of the IAEA in all fields of nuclear energy co-operation, the Conference said that the Agency, as the central organization for nuclear co-operation, should continue to play an important role in promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Preparatory Committee

The Conference Preparatory Committee at its final session (Vienna, 10-21 November 1986) had formulated an outline for a proposed "output document' of the Conference.

With regard to universal principles, it was recommended that the Conference final document should include: (a) an assessment of potential demand for nuclear energy in the next few decades and an introduction to the actions recommended to meet this demand, especially in the developing countries; (b) measures required to promote international co-operation, and the central role that the IAEA should play in that regard in line with its Statute; (c) the role of the specialized agencies and other United Nations organizations and recommended actions for promoting international co-operation; (d) actions for bilateral, multilateral, regional and inter-regional co-operation for exchange of information and technology in peaceful nuclear energy use; and (e) actions for co-operation among developing countries for contributing to the attainment of the objectives of resolution 32/52.

Another paper offered the Conference some possible recommendations on ways and means to promote international co-operation, including facilitation through international co-operation of comprehensive assessments of countries' existing energy and economic situation and detailed analyses and plans for future energy needs. To that end, IAEA programmes for developing energy planning systems and training in their use as an important contribution to such co-operation could be encouraged and supported.

Assistance could be given to design, production and maintenance, on a regional basis, of basic measuring equipment, including the establishment of appropriate standards, to facilitate promotion and co-ordination of nuclear activities relating to applications in biological sciences, medicine and food and agriculture.

International efforts under IAEA auspices could continue with a view to ensuring the highest standards of nuclear safety and radiological protection in the development of nuclear power and applications of radiation and radioisotopes in different fields such as biology, medicine, food and agriculture, industry and environment protection.

The paper also called for technical and financial support to assist in the development of indigenous capabilities for the assessment and planning, and in the design, construction, installation, operation, safety and maintenance of both nuclear power plants and for other nuclear applications.

Other possible recommendations concerned a flow of scientific knowledge and exchange of technical information in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, development of international co-operation through appropriate regional and international organizations and the development of small- and medium-sized power reactors.

The paper also referred to the importance of providing independent and objective information on nuclear energy and technology and the role of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in promoting international co-operation.

Despite lengthy discussions and much support for many of these recommendations, the Conference was unable to achieve a consensus, as required by its agreed procedures, on a package of recommendations acceptable to all countries.

Committees at work

The Conference conducted its business in plenary meetings, where the general debate took place, and in two Main Committees. Committee I was to complete work on the principles for international co-operation and ways and means to promote such co-operation. Committee II focused on the technical aspects: the role of nuclear power for social and economic development and the role of other peaceful applications of nuclear energy for social and economic development.

Committee I provided to the Conference consolidated negotiating texts on both the principles and on ways and means of international co-operation. However, many provisions remained in brackets, indicating that consensus was not achieved on the language used.

Chairman Cuevas Cancino towards the end of the Conference submitted two papers reflecting the numerous comments and suggestions made during discussions.

Committee I had discussed the universal principles within the framework of a draft set of principles submitted by the "Group of 77' developing countries, while taking into account all other documents before the Committee. Ways and means of promoting international co-operation were discussed in the context of a working paper developed by the Conference's Preparatory Committee.

Mr. Cuevas Cancino reported that the committee had focused on the interrelationship between international co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy; the sovereign rights of States; non-discrimination in access to nuclear materials; and assurances that nuclear materials and facilities would not be used for military purposes.

Some States supported the NPT as a means of ensuring reliable guarantees against such proliferation, while others questioned the efficiency of the Treaty and called for a stronger mechanism to ensure non-proliferation. Some nations stressed the need for nuclear disarmament as a condition for allowing the most efficient international co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Others stated that that principle was irrelevant with regard to the scope of the work of the Conference.

Committee II of the Conference also failed to reach consensus on recommendations based on its debates. Topics discussed related to: the role of nuclear power for economic and social development; development and perspectives in the field of nuclear energy production; the role of other peaceful applications of nuclear energy, such as food and agriculture, health and medicine, hydrology and industry for social and economic development; nuclear safety and radiological protection; spent fuel and radioactive waste management; practices and experiences in legal, administrative and regulatory aspects; and manpower training.

Photo: Conference President Mohamed Shaker of Egypt (right) addresses the meeting. Amrik Mehta, Secretary-General of the Conference, is at the left.

Photo: The use of nuclear reactors to generate power is increasing worldwide, with nuclear power plants in 1986 producing 30 per cent of total electricity in eight nations.

Photo: Atomic energy station in USSR.