Делегація України наголосила, що замовчування реальних причин та обставин радіоактивного інциденту з рутенієм 106 деструктивно впливають на стабільність міжнародного режиму ядерної безпеки. Україна продовжуватиме наполягати на тому, що подальші дії в напрямі з’ясування обставин цього інциденту потребують повної прозорості, всебічного залучення можливостей МАГАТЕ та регуляторних органів країн-членів, а також інших міжнародних партнерів та організацій.

В контексті розгляду питання розвитку ядерних технологій у світі представник української делегації привернув увагу країн – членів МАГАТЕ до того, що незаконна окупація АР Крим та триваюча російська військова агресія призвели до обмеження можливостей України повноцінно використовувати наявний потенціал в сфері ядерної науки: «Коли ми говоримо про важливість просування ядерних технологій у всьому світі, ми також повинні мати на увазі, що триваюча окупація частини території України ядерною державою підірвала спроможність України всебічно розвивати ядерні технології».

 

Повні виступи делегації України в рамках березневої сесії РК МАГАТЕ додаються:

 

Statement by the Representative of Ukraine at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting

March 5–9, 2018

(agenda item 2 «Strengthening the Agency’s activities related to nuclear, radiation, transport and waste safety: Nuclear Safety Review 2018»)

Mr Chairman,

The Delegation of Ukraine aligns itself with the statement delivered by the delegation of Bulgaria on behalf of the EU on this particular issue.

In our national capacity we would like to add following remarks.

The Delegation of Ukraine wishes to thank the Secretariat for the technical briefing on 12 February on the Nuclear Safety Review 2018 contained in document GOV/2018/4 as well as on the Secretariat’s response to measurements of ruthenium 106 in Europe in 2017.

We can not but admit that nuclear safety continues to be of outmost importance for Ukraine and the entire European region. We proceed with the implementation of the lessons learned from the Chornobyl and Fukushima accidents, which are profoundly defined by the Safety Standards of the IAEA.

We are convinced that the use and further development of nuclear power should be undertaken in strict compliance with the safety norms and regulations. Ukraine fully shares this approach having 15 operating nuclear power units – one of the largest nuclear power programme in Europe.

Mr Chairman,

The issue of nuclear safety culture and compliance with relevant international obligations has become increasingly important with regard to the recent radioactive incident with ruthenium.

Against this backdrop, and in line with IAEA’s Convention on Early Notifications, the international community, through the framework of the IAEA, has to use all possible leverages to stop speculations and continue discussion of the causes and circumstances of this transboundary incident.

We are confident that sustained efforts are needed in order to reduce the greater risks of work with nuclear materials and to develop effective measures to prevent similar incidents in future. It is imperative that the relevant national authorities should be able to obtain comprehensive information in this context.

A stark contradiction between what has been measured and what has been officially shared with regard to the ruthenium incident raises additional concerns on the ability of the existing mechanisms to effectively ensure the international nuclear safety regime.

It is regrettable that after six months after the incident the international community remains at a standstill having no answers to simple questions:

- What could lead to the emission of ruthenium 106 into the atmosphere?

- When and where did it happen?

- How big is the amount of radiation released at the source?

- What are the reasons for the country of origin to «cover» this particular radiation incident?

- What steps are to be undertaken by the international community to make a MemberState, deliberately acting contrary to its obligations in the field of nuclear safety, accountable?

This incident should become a wake-up call to the IAEA and therefore be the subject of a comprehensive analysis within the Agency. Further actions in this regard demand full transparency, inclusive engagement of the IAEA and regulatory authorities of Member States as well as international partners and organizations.

We also witness the necessity to improve the information exchange procedures on the incidents that are not fully covered by the provisions of the Convention on Early Notification, but which have become vital in the context of strengthening of the nuclear safety.

Such incidents have a significant impact on public opinion regarding the ability of Member States with nuclear technologies to timely provide reliable and consistent information about the nuclear safety and, in particular, radioactive incidents of transboundary nature.

With these remarks, the Delegation of Ukraine requests the Secretariat to continue further informing Member States on the development of the situation with regard to the ruthenium incident.

Thank you, Mr Chairman.

 

Statement by the Representative of Ukraine at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting

March 5–9, 2018

(agenda item 3 «Strengthening the Agency’s activities related to nuclear science, technology and applications: Nuclear Technology Review 2018»)

Mr Chairman,

The Delegation of Ukraine aligns itself with the statement delivered by the delegation of Bulgaria on behalf of the EU on this particular issue.

In our national capacity we would like to add the following.

Ukraine wishes to thank Director General for his report contained in the GOV/2018/2 «Nuclear Technology Review 2018». We would also like to commend the Secretariat for a timely and thorough technical briefing conducted on 12 February.

We pay tribute to the Agency’s activities aimed at promoting beneficial and peaceful applications of nuclear energy in medicine, agriculture and industry throughout 2017.

We commend the Secretariat for inclusion of the information about the latest developments with regard to the Stereotactic Radiosurgery in the «Nuclear Technology Review 2018». I would like to underline that Ukraine is highly interested in comprehensive care utilizing state-of-the-art medical and surgical techniques which can bring new and advanced diagnostic tools, medical treatments and surgical options both to the physicians and the patients.

We note the tangible progress in the field of agricultural uses of nuclear energy. We look forward to successful development of the DSS4NAFA, a comprehensive cloud-based tool that optimizes collection, management and visualization of agriculture-related data.

 Ukraine, possessing considerable scientific potential in the area of nuclear technologies and having the long-term plans on development of nuclear energy, supports Agency's activity in innovative and improved reactor projects. We note with appreciation that research reactors continue to play a strategic role in supporting medical, industrial, educational and nuclear power sectors.

At the same time, with deep regret we note that the illegal occupation of Crimea and the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine have left the low enriched uranium research reactor in Sevastopol out of the possible innovative application such as science research and training activities in the fields of nuclear and molecular physics, radiation chemistry, radioactive isotope production, training of specialists for nuclear reactor operation.

When we speak about the importance of promotion of nuclear technologies worldwide, we should also keep in mind that the continuing occupation of the territory of Ukraine by a nuclear weapon state has undermined Ukraine’s capacity in terms of the nuclear technology development.

Mr Chairman,

We are particularly grateful to DG for having an important opportunity to sharpen the attention on Ukraine’s progress in the field of spent fuel management by including in the «Nuclear Technology Review 2018» information about the Interim Spent Nuclear Fuel Dry Storage Facility (ISF-2) construction activities at the Chornobyl NPP.

We would like to inform Member States that the first stage of ISF-2 comprehensive tests with Spent Fuel Assemblies simulators was started in August 2017 in accordance with the approved program. In 2018 we plan to conduct «hot» test with Spent Fuel Assemblies.

With these remarks Ukraine supports the recommended Board action set forth in GOV/2018/2.

Thank you, Mr Chairman.