Mr.
Chairman,
I
would like to address Japan's position on strengthening the IAEA safeguards
system, including the Additional Protocol and integrated safeguards, as well as
export controls, UN Security Council Resolution 1540, and nuclear-weapon-free
zones.
Mr.
Chairman,
The
IAEA is the competent authority responsible for verifying and assuring
non-diversion of nuclear material through application of safeguards. Japan
therefore attaches great importance to strengthening the effectiveness of the
IAEA safeguards by maximizing the IAEA's authority and capability.
The
IAEA, since its establishment fifty years ago, has performed its duties in a
responsible and impartial manner, and its achievements have been widely
commended by the international community, as evident in its receipt of Nobel
Peace Prize in 2005. Japan calls on all States to give their full and
continuing support to the IAEA in order to ensure that it is able to meet its
safeguards responsibilities.
We
are witnessing extremely regrettable challenges to the non-proliferation regime
such as the DPRK's missile launches and proclaimed nuclear test, and Iran's
continued nuclear activities without international community's confidence.
While the international community has recently taken steps to deal with such
challenges, States Parties have consistently endeavored to strengthen the IAEA
safeguards system which is a key and essential component of the NPT.
The
universalization of the Additional Protocol is the most realistic and effective
way to strengthen the current non-proliferation regime. It can play a pivotal
role in increasing the transparency of States' nuclear related activities by
providing the IAEA with the enhanced verification ability to assure not only the
non-diversion of declared nuclear material but also the absence of undeclared
nuclear material and activities. Japan believes that IAEA safeguards,
reinforced by universal adherence to the Additional Protocol, should constitute
the NPT safeguards standards as required by paragraph 1 of Article III of the
NPT. Japan therefore calls on all States Parties to the NPT that have not yet
done so to conclude additional protocols without further delay.
Japan
has been actively taking initiatives, in cooperation with the IAEA and
like-minded countries, to raise awareness of the importance of the Additional
Protocol. Japan's committed efforts toward this end include contribution to a
series of IAEA seminars and annually hosting the Asian Senior-level Talks on
Non-Proliferation (ASTOP) since 2003.
Such
efforts have led to the steady increase in the number of States that have
concluded an additional protocol. Japan highly commends, in particular, the
conclusion of the protocols by Ukraine and Libya last year. In this context,
Japan welcomes Libya's strategic decision to abandon its WMD program, which
provides a good precedent to follow. I also welcome the concrete steps taken in
recent years by a number of Asian countries, such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand
and Vietnam, to sign or ratify their protocols. Japan is ready to share our
experience of safeguards implementation with those countries determined to
achieve maximum transparency with respect to their nuclear activities.
Let
me briefly touch upon integrated safeguards. Given the limited safeguards
resources of the IAEA and ever-growing verification needs, Japan attaches
importance to wider application of integrated safeguards with a view to
maximizing the efficiency of the IAEA's safeguards activities. Japan hopes that
the application of integrated safeguards will start in as many States as
possible, leading to a significant reduction in the costs and burden for both
the IAEA and the States concerned. I would like to emphasize that the
introduction of integrated safeguards in a State requires sincere
implementation of its comprehensive safeguards agreement as well as its
additional protocol.
Mr.
Chairman,
The
role of export controls, as required by paragraph 2 of the Article III of the
NPT, is crucial to achieving nuclear non-proliferation. The multinational
export control regimes for nuclear related materials, equipment and technology,
namely the Zangger Committee and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), have played
an important role in this respect.
Japan
urges those States Parties that have not yet done so to establish and implement
appropriate effective national rules and regulations on export controls over
both nuclear and nuclear-related dual-use items, based on the Zangger Committee
Understandings and the NSG Guidelines.
As
called upon by the previous NPT Review Conferences, the Zangger Committee and
the NSG have been actively engaged in outreach activities to help States
Parties better understand the activities of these regimes and also establish
adequate domestic export control laws and regulations. The value of such
outreach activities was reaffirmed at the Plenary Meeting of the NSG held in
Cape Town two weeks ago.
As
a leading country in the area of export controls, Japan has been promoting
increased awareness about the importance of efficient and effective export
controls in Asia. We also work towards strengthening the existing export
control systems in our region, by dispatching experts, providing grant aid, and
holding seminars. In 2007, Japan successfully held the 14th Asian Export
Control Seminar with the participation of 25 countries and regions, the largest
number in its history of 14 years.
Mr.
Chairman,
Japan
would like to highlight that the UN Security Council Resolution 1540 has become
an important tool in support for the NPT regime. It is significant as it
provides the international community with a basis for responding to the growing
threats posed by non-State actors that may acquire, develop, traffic in or use
Weapons of Mass Destruction and their means of delivery. Japan has taken a lead
in ensuring the effective implementation of the resolution in the international
community. Our efforts include contribution to the work of the 1540 committee,
participation in various regional seminars and workshops, and provision of
capacity building assistance related to the implementation of this resolution.
We encourage other States Parties to do their best to implement this
resolution.
Mr.
Chairman,
Japan
supports establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of
arrangements freely arrived at by the States of the regions concerned and on
the condition that the establishment of such zones would contribute to regional
stability and security. From this point of view, Japan supports all the
relevant UN General Assembly resolutions concerning the nuclear-weapon-free
zone including the resolution on a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.
We
believe that the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia signed on
8 September last year is the manifestation of the efforts made by the countries
of Central Asia in strengthening peace and security in the region. Japan takes
note of the readiness expressed by the five Central Asian States to continue
consultations on a number of provisions of the Treaty and will pay close
attention to these future consultations among States directly concerned.
Thank
you very much.