ASTANA: At the request of Kazakhstan, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors has deliberated on the imperative of restoring sovereign equality among all member states within the IAEA. This crucial issue was deliberated during the March session of the IAEA Board of Governors, as reported by the press service of the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In his address, Kazakhstan’s Permanent Representative, Mukhtar Tileuberdi, underscored the critical importance of rectifying the disparity in representation among member states within the Agency’s decision-making bodies and consultative processes.
Tileuberdi expressed gratitude to the Chair of the “Group of Friends of Arealess Member States,” Slovenia’s Permanent Representative, for spearheading efforts to establish criteria and principles for the equitable allocation of countries to regional groups and engaging in active negotiations with interested parties.
He urged both member states and the IAEA Secretariat to promptly implement the provisions outlined in Resolution GC(67)/RES/15, presented by Kazakhstan during the IAEA’s 67th session of the General Conference in September 2023.
Diplomatic envoys and representatives from various countries, including the United States, Russia, China, France, the UK, all EU member states, Canada, Uruguay, Turkey, Brazil, and South Africa, voiced resolute support for Kazakhstan’s initiative. They emphasized the urgency of rectifying the inequitable situation within the IAEA without delay.
Kazakhstan reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the restoration of sovereign equality within the IAEA in alignment with the principles enshrined in the UN Charter and the Agency’s Statute.
