66th Regular Session of the IAEA General Conference
National statement on the safety, security and safeguards implications of the situation in Ukraine
H.E Ambassador Richard Sadleir, Governor and Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
29 September 2022
President,
As Australia has said many times before, we condemn in the strongest possible terms the Russian Federation’s illegal and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. We remain deeply concerned by the nuclear safety, security and safeguards implications of Russia’s reckless actions in Ukraine.
We call on Russia to fully comply with the resolutions adopted by the Board of Governors on 3 March and 15 September.
Russia must immediately return control of all of Ukraine’s nuclear sites to Ukrainian authorities so they can independently undertake vital safety and operational functions and carry out their duties free of duress.
This is also critical to ensuring the IAEA and Ukraine can implement safeguards on all nuclear facilities in Ukraine, consistent with their commitments.
President,
Australia is pleased to have funded the IAEA to support its efforts to address nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine. We were one of the first countries to deliver radiation monitoring equipment and personal protective equipment for use by Ukrainian operators through the IAEA’s response mechanism.
We are committed to supporting the IAEA in its efforts to ensure the integrity of the ‘seven indispensable pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security during an armed conflict’.
We welcome the IAEA’s commitment to monitoring and responding to the situation at Ukraine’s nuclear facilities, including the recent establishment of a continuous presence at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
Australia endorses the recommendations of the Director General for the re-establishment of nuclear safety and security at Zaporizhzhia and we wish him every success in his endeavours, noting all steps should be consistent with Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
It is clear the most effective way to ensure the integrity of the Director General’s seven pillars for nuclear safety and security would be Russia’s immediate withdrawal from Ukraine consistent with the legally binding decision of the International Court of Justice.
President
Australia fully supports the joint statement that will be delivered by Canada on behalf of a number of states.
Thank you.