On Monday, IAEA Director General Amano released the annual IAEA report to the United Nations. There was a considerable amount of time spent on key nuclear security issues, which I've highlighted below. Amano once again touched on the difficulty due to the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material not being entered into force yet:
"Despite the enhanced global interest in nuclear security, there is still one important item of unfinished business: ratification of the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. The Amendment was agreed in 2005 but it has still not entered into force. The Amendment would expand coverage of the Convention to include the protection of nuclear material in domestic use, storage and transport, and the protection of nuclear facilities against acts of sabotage. Entry into force of the Amendment would make an important difference to global nuclear security."
[emphasis added by the Tiny Blue Speck]
He also reminded the UN that the number of states with Additional Protocol is now at 119, with the addition of Iraq recently. Amano also called for the remaining 13 states without safeguards agreements to work towards resolution as soon as possible. Yet again, Iran, North Korea, and Syria were the topic of greatest concern, due to their failure to meet obligations with the IAEA.
The inability to verify that all the nuclear material declared by Iran isn't being diverted from peaceful purposes, thus towards a weapon, is still very problematic for the IAEA. The IAEA is still discussing with Iran the evidence that Iran is developing a nuclear weapon, and these talks are ongoing.
North Korea's nuclear program is still of "serious concern" and "deeply troubling", with no progress on IAEA verification since April 2009.
Syria is still refusing to hold discussions with the IAEA about the Dair Alzour site, considered to likely be a nuclear reactor (undeclared to the IAEA).
You can read the full statement here.
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