• I am pleased to speak at this round-table discussion on “The NPT Review Conference as Viewed from Vienna” organized by the Permanent Mission of the USA to the IAEA.

• The NPT is widely regarded as the world’s most adhered to multilateral nuclear arms control and disarmament agreement – it has the largest number of States Parties other than the UN Charter. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Treaty’s entry into force and by all accounts the NPT can claim many important successes – though some challenges remain.

• The NPT consists of three equally important pillars — nuclear non-proliferation; peaceful nuclear cooperation; and nuclear disarmament — and the premise that progress in any one pillar strengthens the integrity of the whole.

• The activities of the IAEA are also based on three pillars. Through its work on nuclear verification, nuclear safety and security, and nuclear technology, the IAEA continues to play a key role as a catalyst for sustainable development and as a cornerstone for nuclear safety and security and verification of compliance with nuclear non-proliferation commitments.

• The Agency’s statement today focuses on the activities of the IAEA relevant to the NPT.

• There is an expectation in the international community that States parties to the NPT will come together with a renewed unity of purpose to ensure a successful outcome to the 2010 Review Conference in May in New York.

• Energy is central to sustainable development and poverty reduction efforts. Through its work on facilitating the peaceful uses of nuclear energy with the highest levels of safety, security and non-proliferation, the Agency continues to play a key role as a catalyst for sustainable development and verification of compliance with the NPT’s nuclear non-proliferation commitments.

• The IAEA’s technical cooperation programme helps Member States to develop the skills and understanding needed to assess national energy requirements and compare electricity generation options.

• The IAEA remains strongly committed to doing its best to facilitate the peaceful uses of nuclear energy for human development. The Agency’s activities contribute to the success of the NPT and thus to global peace and security.

• The Agency plays a vital role in ensuring that nuclear energy is used in a safeguarded, safe, secure and exclusively peaceful manner.

• All States party to the NPT need to fully implement their safeguards agreements as well as other relevant obligations.

• The number of NPT States that have signed additional protocols with the IAEA now stands at 127, while 95 countries have APs in force. We hope to see that number exceed 100 before long. Nearly three quarters of States with comprehensive safeguards agreements (CSAs) have signed additional protocols and more than half of States with CSAs now have APs in force. Moreover, nearly three quarters of the countries with nuclear material under safeguards have additional protocols in force.

• States that have not yet done so should conclude and bring into force additional protocols without delay. The remaining 22 NPT States that have yet to bring into force their required safeguards agreements should do so as soon as possible.

• The 1995 and 2000 NPT Review Conferences both called for practical steps to establish a verifiable Middle East zone free of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. This issue will need to be considered at the May Review Conference. All concerned States would be well advised to address this with flexibility and compromise with a view to achieving progress.

• A successful outcome to the 2010 NPT Review Conference should be the goal of all NPT States Parties and the IAEA delegation to the Conference will do its utmost to contribute to the work of the Conference President and the Chairs of the Main Committees in achieving this important objective.

Thank you.