20 September 2010 – More than 100 nations now allow the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) greater access to information regarding their nuclear programmes, the head of the body announced today, urging countries still outside the process to join.
Rwanda and Swaziland were the 101st and 102nd nations in which additional protocols have gone into force, and IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano called reaching this milestone an “encouraging development.”
The protocol, he said, is an “essential tool
for the Agency to be able to provide credible assurance, not only that declared nuclear material is not being diverted from peaceful uses, but also that there are no undeclared nuclear material and activities in States with comprehensive safeguards agreements.”
Addressing the IAEA’s annual General Conference, which kicked off today in Vienna, Mr. Amano also urged the 18 countries not party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to join without delay.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/un/un-100920-unnews01.htm
