International Atomic Energy Agency: New Responsibilities, New Challenges
By Fawn Wright
October 1, 2002
The threat of nuclear terrorism has highlighted the importance of nuclear materials control and disposition to global security. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)— the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog— can play a critical role in efforts to prevent nuclear terrorism, but political and financial support for the IAEA must keep pace with its increased responsibilities.
ONGOING IAEA PROGRAMS
The IAEA’s verification and safeguard programs assure that member states are complying with their nuclear nonproliferation and arms control commitments. The IAEA safeguards over 900 facilities in 70 countries with a regular budget of approximately $80 million per year. IAEA inspectors regularly visit nuclear facilities to verify records, check surveillance equipment, and confirm declared inventories of nuclear material. In its latest report, the Agency was able to confirm that for every member state, all safeguarded material remained in peaceful nuclear activities.
The IAEA also helps implement the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, which requires that states adhere to strict standards for the protection of nuclear materials during international transport. However, the Convention does not establish universal standards for domestic materials protection and control.
The International Physical Protection Advisory Service, another IAEA program dedicated to securing the peaceful use of nuclear material, assists member states in strengthening the effectiveness of their national physical protection programs. IPPAS teams have already advised Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Romania. Egypt and the U.S. recently held physical protection training courses, and Armenia, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Slovenia have held “Design Basis Threat” workshops designed to implement guidelines outlined by the IPPAS. Design Basis Threat refers to a method of designing site-specific security systems and procedures to protect against specific types of threats.
IAEA'S NEW ACTION PLAN
Following the September 11 terrorist attacks, the IAEA devised and is inthe process of implementing an integrated action plan to upgrade nuclearsecurity worldwide and to combat terrorism. The plan focuses on eightkey areas:
- Physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities
- Detection of illicit traffic involving nuclear and otherradioactive materials
- Strengthening of state systems for nuclear material control and accounting
- Security of radioactive sources
- Assessment of safety and security procedures at nuclear facilities
- Nuclear incident response
- Adherence to international agreements and guidelines
- Coordination and information management for nuclear security related matters
The two-year Action Plan is classified as a CAURB (Core Activity Unfunded in the Regular Budget), and is projected to cost $12 million each year. The IAEA has also requested an additional $20 million per year to respond tourgent situations requiring immediate nuclear security upgrades. However,only $8 million has been pledged to date, including $5.2 million from theU.S. and $1.15 million from the Nuclear Threat Initiative in Washington,DC. Australia, Iran, Japan, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and the United Kingdomhave also pledged contributions.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES NEEDED
While IAEA responsibilities continue to expand, the budgets for essential programs in real dollars have remained flat, causing shortfalls in humanresources and technology. To compensate for this zero growth, the agencyfunds 1/5 of all safeguard activities with additional voluntary contributions. In September 2002, the Director General of the IAEA stated that the currentlevels of financing are “inadequate” for many of their high priority activities such as the Action Plan. He went on to add that the Agency’s legal obligations could no longer be met within the existing level of funds.
The Bush administration requested $50 million in voluntary funds for theIAEA in FY 2003, about the same amount, in real terms, as the $49 millioncontributed by the U.S. in 2002. Congress has authorized $60 million, butmay only appropriate an amount closer to the administration’s request.With the urgent need to prevent nuclear terrorism, it is the responsibilityof the U.S. and all IAEA member countries to ensure the agency has sufficientresources to accomplish its Action Plan for 2003 and beyond.