The International Atomic Energy Agency began its meeting on 4 March 2013. The Hungarian delegation was led by Mr. Pál Kovács, Secretary of State for Climate Change and Energy Affairs, who is also the vice chair of the meeting.
The agenda of the meeting included the nuclear safety action plan, progress report on the implementation of the Nuclear Technology Review as well as nuclear non-proliferation in Iran, Syria and North Korea.
In the absence of candidates for the Director General post of the IAEA, the Boards is expected to nominate the reelection of current Director General, Mr. Yukiya Amano for a second term.This decision will be approved at the September General Conference.
In his opening statement, Mr. Amano confirmed that the 2013 International Conference on Nuclear Safety and Security will be chaired by H.E. Mr. János Martonyi, Foreign Minister of Hungary. The Working Group responsible for drafting the Ministerial Declaration will be chaired by Ambassador Csuday, Permanent Representative of the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Vienna and Ambassador Laercio Vinhas-run from the Permanent Mission of Brazil.
Member States of the IAEA will begin deliberations on the 2014-2015 budget at the end of March this year. Hungary, along with South Africa will co-chair the Technical Cooperation Fund, dealing with promoting peaceful uses of nuclear technology in developing countries (such as cancer research, water resource management and agricultural applications).
The Director General also stressed that despite the accident in 2011 at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, the global nuclear power capacity continuted to increae in 2012. The increase was mainly due to expansions in the Far East.
State Secretary Mr. Pál Kovács, in his statement stressed that Hungary is committed to supporting those states that are pursuing the use of nuclear energy in a safe and transparent manner.
Mr. Kovács stressed, that Hungary is committed to the expansion of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant and the tender is expected to be published in the near future.