Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic headed today, 18 September 2006, the Croatian delegation at the 50th session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), held in Vienna.
Zagreb, 18 September 2006
Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic headed today, 18 September 2006, the Croatian delegation at the 50th session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), held in Vienna, Austria.
Minister Grabar-Kitarovic held a speech, congratulating Director General Mohammed ElBardei and all IAEA members the 50th anniversary of a great contribution to peace, security, and development in the world. She stated the importance Croatia places on becoming for the first time a member of the IAEA Board of Governors.
In her speech, Minister Grabar-Kitarovic called on the implementation of the fundamental IAEA goals regarding the guarantee of using nuclear technologies for peaceful purposes. She pointed out Croatia's readiness and interest to contribute, as a responsible member of the international community, to the fight against the growing threat of proliferation and nuclear terrorism, and interest for a more intensive and successful implementation of IAEA activities, based on Croatia's rich experience through close technical co-operation with IAEA. She also mentioned the need for the strengthening of the Agency's role as a guardian of the process of the non-proliferation and verification of NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons), adding that the international community must receive clear guarantees that the nuclear activities are being conducted solely for peaceful purposes. She pointed out that Croatia believes there is no alternative for active co-operation, dialogue, and negotiations leading to sustainable non-proliferation. Minister Grabar-Kitarovic announced the implementation of the projects of bilateral co-operation in medicine, environmental protection, and human potential development.
Croatia has joined the European Union's statement stressing the importance of IAEA in spreading security around the globe and, among other things, invites countries to contribute to the Cancer Research Fund. It also expresses concern over the actions of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, reiterates requests for Iran to respect the Security Council's Resolution 1969 and the international obligations it has undertaken.
At the margins of the conference, Minister Grabar-Kitarovic met with Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CBTO), Tibor Toth. CBTO is an international organisation set up in 1996 to implement the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty, which is one of the most important treaties regarding the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear disarmament. The Treaty will come into effect once it is ratified in all of the member countries, especially those having at their disposal or leaning towards the development of nuclear programs. This year marked the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty. Minister Grabar-Kitarovic congratulated Executive Secretary Toth, pointing out that Croatia was one of the first to sign and ratify the Treaty. She also expressed her satisfaction over the excellent co-operation with the Provisional Technical Secretariat of CTBO.
Minister Grabar-Kitarovic also mentioned the successful implementation of the field inspection exercise held in Slunj entitled Directed Exercise 06, as well as the advanced training course entitled Experimental Advanced Training 7, and in the context of the implementation of the Treaty and the comprehensive nuclear test ban pointed out the importance of the exercise's results, which are vital for scientific purposes (seismological research).
Ivana Crnic
Spokesperson
Pressemitteilungen
