Strengthening the rights of IAEA-executives in order to guarantee nuclear disarmament verification mechanisms

Transcription

1 Strengthening the rights of IAEA-executives in order to guarantee nuclear disarmament verification mechanisms Student Officers: Alan Dambrauskas, Elektra Antoniou Table of contents I. Introduction II. Definition of Key Terms a) Fissile material b) Atomic energy III. IV. General Overview Major Parties Involved and Their Views V. Timeline of Events VI. VII. Previous Attempts to Solve the Issue Relevant Documents a) Statute of the IAEA b) The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty VIII. IX. Questions to Consider Possible Solutions X. Conclusion XI. Bibliography

2 I. Introduction A world without nuclear weapons, where the power of the atom is used to create energy for the ever growing population of our planet. A world, where one does not have to fear that millennia of human development could be wiped out in a matter of hours over a political dispute. It is a dream of many, however for now it is just a dream, but not a dream that occurs once and is forgotten, rather a dream that keeps repeating every night to the point where humanity tries to achieve it. That is the goal of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which has been trying to make this vision a reality for over 60 years. While a world without nuclear weapons is agreed to be a wonderful thing by almost everyone, not every nation wants to give up its nuclear arsenal as it guarantees them an option to deny the enemy a victory at the cost of everyone who stands between the adversaries. This means that while no one wants to fight a nuclear war, no one wants to give up their weapons first either, so someone has to encourage the disarmament of current and prevent the creation of new nuclear weapons. This uneasy task falls onto the shoulders of the IAEA and with it the need for a guarantee of its effective work, which has to be enforced in order to make a non-nuclear dream a reality. II. Definition of Key Terms Fissile material - material such as, but not limited to, plutonium-239 and uranium-235, that is able to sustain a nuclear fission chain reaction as a result of an impact of slow neutrons. Atomic/Nuclear energy - energy released during a nuclear fusion or fission reaction, most commonly either in a reactor or a weapon. III. General Overview

3 The IAEA is an international organization with the task of accelerating and enlarging the contribution of atomic energy to peace and prosperity throughout the world, while encouraging the elimination of nuclear weapons. In order to achieve its goal, the agency is authorized: To assist research on atomic energy for peaceful applications To make provision for materials, services, equipment and facilities to enable the practical application of atomic energy for peaceful needs, including the production of electric power To foster the exchange of scientific and technical information, as well as training of scientists and experts, in the field of peaceful atomic energy To establish and administer safeguard design to ensure that resources provided by the IAEA are not used in such a way as to further any military purpose To establish or adopt, in collaboration with the United Nations and concerned agencies, standards of safety for protection of health and minimization of danger to life and property through the exploitation of atomic energy To acquire or establish any facilities and equipment useful in carrying out its purpose whenever control over the mentioned resources is deemed inadequate. IV. Major Parties Involved and Their Views In Prague, in 2009, US President Obama gave a speech on nuclear matters, including disarmament, resulting in bringing many nations together with a common goal of decreasing the world s nuclear stockpiles. Later in the year, at the General Conference, Egypt took the floor to express their disappointment in the agency s inability to help the international community achieve nuclear disarmament. In the following year, again at the IAEA General Conference, Egypt again took the floor. This time, they agreed that they had seen more interest

4 and focus on nuclear disarmament, but noted that more efforts needed to be made by the Agency. By 2011, more members joined Egypt in their support for the IAEA s role in verifying nuclear disarmament. Cuba, Brazil and Sweden are just some of the countries strongly supporting the IAEA s efforts in verifying and assisting in dismantling nuclear weapons worldwide. In general all member states agree and support the IAEA s role in disarmament verification. The main question for debate is whether the organization should play a more significant role in future disarmament endeavors and how extensive their role should be. Being countries that possess nuclear weapons, India, Israel and Pakistan disagree with some of the terminology of the latest resolution proposals. In addition, although they are members of the IAEA, they do implement safeguards on some of their nuclear facilities, but not on all. Over the years, the Middle East group, consisting of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has shown great frustration in the lack of progress on the Middle East Weapons of Mass Destruction Free Zone, and specifically the inability to bring the Israeli Nuclear Capabilities resolution to a vote. Overall, the EU and other Western states aim to have the Safeguards Resolution include the Additional Protocol as the standard for verification on nuclear materials. However, countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Iran and Egypt object to this and believe that comprehensive safeguards are enough, while Additional Protocol should be only voluntary. IAEA Rogue States US and Russia The term rogue states describes a nation that is, or has been, a cause of domestic or international instability. The term was originally used in the 1990 s by President Bill Clinton to describe nations that were considered a threat to the United States. The term typically referred to states ruled by

5 authoritarian regimes that greatly restricted human rights, and were generally against the West and all its allies. A nation that does not agree with accepted economic and social systems is one thing, but development of nuclear proliferation makes a rogue state a great concern for the rest of the international community. Countries like Sudan, Iran and North Korea are perfect examples of rogue states, as they continue to follow their own agenda and do not agree to or obey to internationally accepted practices. The greatest success of the nonproliferation movement has been the effort to retrieve and secure the loose nukes and fissile material throughout the former Soviet Union. Around 135 nuclear facilities worldwide use highly enriched uranium as fuel. This uranium is enough to create over 400 nuclear weapons. If terrorist groups were able to buy or steal even a small portion of this material, they would be able to build a nuclear weapon. The Unites States and Russia have been working together since 1991 to control and minimize this threat. By 2011, over 92% of areas in the former Soviet Union with nuclear material had been secured. In late 2011, the importance of securing nuclear material was made even more clear after the fall of Quaddafi s regime in Libya. Ten thousand drums of uranium yellowcake were discovered in an unguarded warehouse. Luckily, UN officials declared the material only slightly radioactive and not a serious threat. Iraq is considered to be IAEA s greatest failure. In 1990, the IAEA declared that Iraq was satisfying all measures in agreement with the Non Proliferation Treaty. After the First Persian Gulf War, the IAEA decided it needed to improve its investigative methods. The mistakes made with Iraq taught the IAEA that they needed to give their inspectors more control. This need for additional control resulted in the Additional Protocols efforts and the continued debate of its necessity. When the IAEA used U.S. intelligence to verify the situation, Iraq accused the IAEA of acting as the United States puppet. After these events, the IAEA has been forced to re-evaluate the ways they retrieve information.

6 Although the US and Russia play a major role in trying to manage rogue nations, many believe they are also to blame for the lack of progress in ridding the world of nuclear weapons. Despite major cuts in the number of US and Russian operational nuclear warheads, both countries together hold more than 90% of the world s nuclear weapons. Of course there are continued efforts by many organizations to try and reduce this amount, but it is the slow or lack of progress that has led several UN members to not support the sanctions against Iran for violations against the Non Proliferation Treaty. The argument is that there is great hypocrisy amongst the nuclear weapons states. In 2010, the US government revealed it had 5,113 nuclear warheads. Why should other countries not have the same right? V. Timeline of Events In 1957 several countries joined to create the IAEA to stop the proliferation of nuclear arms The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is signed by 188 states, requiring members to allow the IAEA to review their nuclear status the world s worst nuclear power station accident occurs at Chernobyl, Ukraine Iraq inspections begin. After the Gulf War, IAEA s Iraq action team starts inspecting sites Although it joined the agency in 1974, Norh Korea, withdraws its membership as a result of a disagreement over IAEA inspections of its facilities. Despite this, it signs a pact with the US, agreeing to stop work on all nuclear weapons and allow the IAEA inspections, in exchange for oil and water reactors A frustrated Iraq Action Team leaves Iraq after claims they are unable to reach and have free access to Iraqi sites IAEA assists in the dismantling of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

7 2002 After Iraq agrees to the return of the weapons inspectors, IAEA s Iraq Action Team begins work under its new name, the Iraq Nuclear Verification Office. North Korea kicks out IAEA inspectors and removes surveillance equipment from its nuclear facilities North Korea pulls out of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty. IAEA team goes to Iran after reports that Tehran is not meeting their obligations and accuse Iran of possessing nuclear program, but does not yet recommend sanctions. Iran agrees and signs an agreement to allow tougher inspections of its nuclear facilities IAEA condemns Iran for keeping its nuclear activities a secret and threatens UN sanctions. Tells Iran to stop all uranium enriched programs. Iran rejects the proposal claiming it is strictly for peaceful purposes. In a deal with three European countries, Iran agrees to stop all uranium enrichment programs Iran removed IAEA seals from nuclear equipment and stated they would continue fuel research Iran is able to develop a nuclear weapon in 3-8 years. IAEA inspectors invited back to North Korea since expelled from the country in They confirm the shutdown of North Korea s reactor Iran still suspected to be working on secret nuclear weapons. Inspectors visit Syria and CIA claim they had a reactor under construction. US signs nuclear deal with India even though they hadn t signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty. North Korea complains that the US did not provide food for disarmament as promised, and threatened to reactivate nuclear plant Continued tension with Iran over nuclear program IAEA inspectors report positive talks with Iranian officials. VI. Previous Attempts to Solve the Issue The IAEA is constantly trying to solve and improve upon the many problems they are faced with. From implementing safeguards for over 180 countries, to carrying out over 2,000 inspections, monitoring more than 20,000 seals and over 1,000 measuring systems, to preparing and analyzing

8 evaluation reports, all for the purpose of making sure that countries do not use nuclear power as weapons. It is when the agency has to deal with problem countries that their resources are strained and the situation difficult to handle. A perfect example is with Iran. For the past twenty years, Iran has shown us that if a state intends on continuing their nuclear weapons program, despite having safeguards in place, they can with little difficulty. During this time, the role of the IAEA was questioned, as the worldwide community realized they had little power to prevent this. In an effort to strengthen their position, they developed Additional Protocol. This allows IAEA to have more access to locations and information. Unfortunately, this is only on a voluntary basis, and not all countries participate. Clearly, the countries that have bad intentions with their nuclear program do not volunteer anything. IAEA s greatest challenge is to try to apply additional protocol universally to everyone. Further attempts to solve IAEA s challenges include technological developments. Over the past twenty years there have been many technological advances available, such as satellite imagery and environmental sampling, resulting in helping the agency to achieve their goals. A new laboratory has been built in Austria, called ECAS Enhancing Capabilities of the Safeguards Analytically Servcies, that provides a secure facility to conduct analysis of nuclear material. VII. Relevant Documents a) The Statute of the IAEA is the founding document of the Agency. It was signed by twelve founding members on the 23 rd of October, 1956 and came into force on the 29 th of July, The Statute defines the objectives and functions of the IAEA, as well as the measures that can be utilized by the IAEA as defined in the first three articles of the document. b) The Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) - The NPT is an international treaty with 3 key goals (pillars): The non-proliferation of nuclear weapons Nuclear disarmament The use of nuclear energy for peaceful means only

9 The treaty came into force in March of 1970 and has since been signed by 190 states. VIII. Questions to Consider a) How to ensure the effectiveness of IAEA inspections? Certain states, even though they permit inspections, do not provide full access to their nuclear programs. As such it is important to consider how such situations should be dealt with, as currently not much can be done. b) Another aspect that should be considered is the future of world peace should all nuclear weapons be removed, seeing as they act as a deterrent for large scale conflicts. Without the possibility of catastrophic consequences, some nations might seize the opportunity to secure crucial resources like oil as they are steadily running out. IX. Possible Solutions As always, the importance of funds is crucial to improving security and decreasing the amount of nuclear and radiological material available in the world. The IAEA needs member states to commit to additional financial support. Moreover, it is crucial to encourage all States to be included in the additional protocol program. In addition, it would be helpful if the IAEA could allow their experts to stay in one type of job for longer than seven years. Also, highly qualified senior personnel should be allowed to stay employed beyond the retirement age of sixty-two years old. These measures would result in a consistency that would help the agency maintain the relationships created with each country. Of course, continued development of new technological solutions is crucial to the organization s success. Other suggestions offered by the agency s heads include;

10 The General Conference should meet two to four times per year rather than only once. Should allow any country to attend the Board s meetings, resulting in the countries feeling part of the group. IAEA should allow a country to select its inspectors who will verify it. This would result in greater cooperation. In order to maintain IAEA s unbiased position, it is vital that they maintain a non-political role. X. Conclusion The IAEA has been praised and criticized, it has had successes and failures, however its role remains undoubtedly important. In order to ensure the agency's ability to further pacify atomic energy, the question of strengthening the rights of IAEA executives should be considered with utmost care, seeing as the agency is unable to enforce safeguards on certain nations and thus cannot fulfill its purpose. XI. Bibliography