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6.
THE THIRTIETH REGULAR SESSION OF THE IAEA GENERAL CONFERENCE WAS, IN CONTRAST, A LOW-KEY AFFAIR. THE CONFERENCE WAS DOMINATED BY TWO FAMILIAR POLITICAL ISSUES, ISRAEL AND SOUTH AFRICA. AFTER MUCH PROCEDURAL WRANGLING A G77
(NON-ALIGNED GROUP) RESOLUTION ON THE ISRAELI NUCLEAR THREAT
WAS WITHDRAWN. THE US HAD THREATENED TO WALK OUT OF THE
AGENCY IF THE RESOLUTION WAS PASSED SINCE IT PLACED CONSIDERABLE RESTRICTIONS ON ISRAEL'S RIGHTS AS AN IAEA MEMBER. SOUTH AFRICA'S MEMBERSHIP WAS PREDICTABLY THE OTHER MAJOR ISSUE.
THE UK JOINED THE GREAT MAJORITY OF OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES
IN OPPOSING A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR SOUTH AFRICA'S
EXPULSION IF SHE HAS NOT SIGNED A COMPREHENSIVE SAFEGUARDS
AGREEMENT WITH THE AGENCY IN TWELVE MONTHS' TIME. THE
PRINCIPLE OF UNIVERSALITY WAS CITED AS THE BASIS FOR THIS
OPPOSITION.
7.
MUCH OF THE AGENCY'S FUTURE WORK WILL NOW BE DESTINED
TO DEVELOPING INTERNATIONAL ASPECTS OF NUCLEAR SAFETY. SO FAR
DISCUSSIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE VERY MUCH IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF
EAST-WEST COOPERATION. WE EXPECT THIS TO CONTINUE. BOTH SIDES
HAVE A STRONG SHARED INTEREST IN WORKING FOR HIGHER SAFETY STANDARDS WORLDWIDE AND FOR INCREASED PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN
NUCLEAR POWER. THE UK WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY A FULL PART IN
THIS PROCESS. THE NEXT STEP WILL BE A MEETING. OF NUCLEAR
SAFETY EXPERTS IN VIENNA FROM 3 7 NOVEMBER FOLLOWED BY A
MEETING OF THE AGENCY'S BOARD OF GOVERNORS TO AGREE TO AN EXPANDED PROGRAMME ON 8 9 DECEMBER.
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