Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency, G.A. res. 48/14, 48 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 49) at 18, U.N. Doc. A/48/49 (1993).


The General Assembly,

Having received the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency to the General Assembly for the year 1992,

Noting the statement of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency of 1 November 1993, in which he provided additional information on the main developments in the activities of the Agency during 1993,

Recognizing the importance of the work of the Agency in promoting the further application of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, as envisaged in its statute,

Also recognizing the special needs of the developing countries for technical assistance from the Agency in order to benefit effectively from the application of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes as well as from the contribution of nuclear energy to their economic development,

Conscious of the importance of the work of the Agency in the implementation of the safeguards provisions of the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and other international treaties, conventions and agreements designed to achieve similar objectives, as well as in ensuring, as far as it is able, that the assistance provided by the Agency or at its request or under its supervision or control is not used in such a way as to further any military purpose, as stated in article II of its statute,

Further recognizing the importance of the work of the Agency on nuclear power, applications of nuclear methods and techniques, nuclear safety, radiological protection and radioactive waste management, including its work directed towards assisting developing countries in all these fields,

Again stressing the need for the highest standards of safety in the design and operation of nuclear plants so as to minimize risks to life, health and the environment,

Noting the statements and actions of the Agency concerning non-compliance by Iraq with its non-proliferation obligations,

Taking note of resolutions GOV/2636 of 25 February 1993, GOV/2639 of 18 March 1993, GOV/2645 of 1 April 1993 and GOV/2692 of 23 September 1993 of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency in connection with the implementation of the agreement between the Agency and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for the application of safeguards in connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, as well as Security Council resolution 825 (1993) of 11 May 1993, and expressing its grave concern that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has failed to discharge its safeguards obligations and has recently widened the area of non- compliance;

Bearing in mind resolutions GC(XXXVII)/RES/614 on measures to resolve international radioactive waste management issues, GC(XXXVII)/RES/615 on strengthening nuclear safety through the early conclusion of a nuclear safety convention, GC(XXXVII)/RES/616 on practical utilization of food irradiation in developing countries, GC(XXXVII)/RES/617 on a plan for producing potable water economically, GC(XXXVII)RES/618 on the strengthening of the Agency's main activities, GC(XXXVII)RES/619 on strengthening the effectiveness and improving the efficiency of the safeguards system, GC(XXXVII)/RES/624 on the implementation of the agreement between the Agency and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for the application of safeguards in connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, GC(XXXVII)RES/625 on a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Africa, GC(XXXVII)RES/626 on the implementation of Security Council resolutions 687 (1991), 707 (1991) and 715 (1991) relating to Iraq and GC(XXXVII)RES/627 on application of Agency safeguards in the Middle East, adopted on 1 October 1993 by the General Conference of the Agency at its thirty-seventh regular session,

1. Takes note of the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency;

2. Affirms its confidence in the role of the Agency in the application of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes;

3. Welcomes the reappointment of Mr. Hans Blix as Director General of the Agency;

4. Urges all States to strive for effective and harmonious international cooperation in carrying out the work of the Agency, pursuant to its statute; in promoting the use of nuclear energy and the application of the necessary measures to strengthen further the safety of nuclear installations and to minimize risks to life, health and the environment; in strengthening technical assistance and cooperation for developing countries; and in ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency of the safeguards systems of the Agency;

5. Welcomes the decisions taken by the Agency to strengthen its safeguards system;

6. Welcomes also the decisions taken by the Agency to strengthen its technical assistance and cooperation activities;

7. Commends the Director General and the secretariat of the Agency for their impartial efforts to implement the safeguards agreement still in force between the Agency and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and urges the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to cooperate immediately with the Agency in the full implementation of the safeguards agreement;

8. Also commends the Director General of the Agency and his staff for their strenuous efforts in the implementation of Security Council resolutions 687 (1991) of 3 April 1991, 707 (1991) of 15 August 1991 and 715 (1991) of 11 October 1991, and endorses his efforts to put in place the necessary measures for the implementation of the plan for future ongoing monitoring, in accordance with Security Council resolution 715 (1991);

9. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Director General of the Agency the records of the forty-eighth session of the General Assembly relating to the activities of the Agency.

46th plenary meeting
1 November 1993