Welcome Remarks
By
Sanae Takaichi, Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy
AtSpecial Symposium for the IAEA 50th Anniversary in Aomori, Japan
11 April, 2007(Introduction)
My name is Takaichi, Minister of State for Science andTechnology Policy.
Ladies and gentlemen from overseas, as a representative of oneof the cosponsors, I welcome you to Japan. And ladies and gentlemen
from within Japan, I thank you for participating in this special
symposium despite your busy schedules. Here, I would like to heartily
congratulate the International Atomic Energy Agency for its 50thanniversary. It is a great pleasure for us to cosponsor this special
symposium for the IAEA anniversary in Aomori Prefecture, the centerof Japan's nuclear fuel cycle.
As many of you here may well know, holding the symposium inAomori to mark the 50th anniversary of the IAEA is of special
significance.
Since Aomori Prefecture and Rokkasho Village announced theiracceptance of nuclear fuel cycle facilities including those forreprocessing spent nuclear fuel, enriching uranium and storing
low-level radioactive wastes on 18 April 1985, just 22 years ago,
Aomori region has played a key role as the center of Japan's nuclear
fuel cycle project. I can't emphasize enough Aomori's significance toJapan's nuclear policy. Again, I would like to thank the citizens ofAomori Prefecture for their cooperation on the nuclear policy.
Japan's commercial nuclear fuel cycle project here represents
Japan's strong will and persistent efforts to use nuclear energy forpeaceful purposes and the results of relevant countries' and theIAEA's cooperation.
Japan's attitude toward peaceful uses of nuclear energy hasbeen consistent. Japan has faithfully responded not only to thecommitment in the Comprehensive Safeguard Agreement with the1

IAEA but also to the expansion of the IAEA inspections under theAdditional Protocol with the IAEA. As a result, the IAEA in 2004
concluded that all nuclear material within the territories of Japan had
been placed under safeguards and remained in peaceful nuclear
activities. This was the first time for major nuclear power-generating
countries to receive such kind of conclusion by the IAEA.
The Nuclear fuel cycle Project in Aomori indicates a model casefor the world and the fruits of efforts accumulated by Aomori people,the Government, the project participants, the IAEA and otherrelevant parties. Therefore, the implementation here in Aomori regionof the special symposium to mark the IAEA's 50th anniversary isprofound for Japan and of great significance to the world.
(Peaceful uses of nuclear power generation)
As energy consumption has been increasing in the world,
especially in developing countries, at present, stable energy supply
has become a major national policy challenge. In its report inFebruary this year, meanwhile, the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that global warming has been
occurring apparently due to greenhouse gases produced byhumankind.
Under such situation, the introduction of nuclear power
generation is expected to expand in developing countries that pursue
to secure stable, new energy sources, as well as in industrial countries
that appreciate nuclear power generation as the means to pursue both
stable energy supply and prevention of global warming.
Nuclear non-proliferation, security and safety are preconditions
for the expansion of peaceful uses of nuclear power generation. In thissense, the IAEA's activities are growing more important.
Japan for its part has been cooperating with the IAEA in
helping such countries as Vietnam, Indonesia and Kazakhstan tointroduce nuclear power generation.
(Nuclear non-proliferation)
It may be needless to say that the IAEA is the pivotalorganization to support the international nuclear non-proliferation2

regime. We believe that it is extremely important for countries using
nuclear energy for peaceful purposes to ratify additional protocols
with the IAEA and comply with relevant obligations. Theinternational community should be united to prevent nuclear
proliferation risks from growing while the number of countries, which
introduce nuclear power generation, would increase in future. In thisrespect, the IAEA has taken leadership in considering a mechanism toassure nuclear fuel supply. At last September's IAEA general meeting,
Iwao Matsuda, former Minister of State for Science and Technology
Policy, made its proposal for such mechanism. In addition, Shunsuke
Kondo, Japan Atomic Energy Commission Chairman, explained theJapanese proposal at a special event of the meeting. Japan willpositively participate in and contribute to discussions on a nuclear
fuel supply assurance that aims to expand global nuclear power
generation and ensure nuclear non-proliferation.
(Nuclear safety)
We believe that ensuring nuclear safety is the precondition topromote research, development and utilization of nuclear energy. We
know that the IAEA, aiming for global nuclear safety, has been taken
an active past in conducting production, systematization and diffusionof knowledge on a global scale, including the creation of various
nuclear safety standards. We hope that IAEA would play a central roleto further promote the activities for global nuclear safety.
(Nuclear security)
Since the terrorist attacks on the United States on 11
September 2001, the enhancement of nuclear security has emerged asa new challenge that the international community as a whole must
tackle. The international community must be united to enhance
nuclear security in order to counter the threat of nuclear terrorism.
We must promote the conclusion of the International Convention for
the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism and the amended
Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and mustenrich international efforts further to enhance measures against
nuclear terrorism, including the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear
Terrorism as advocated by the United States’ and Russian presidents3

in July last year.
When discussing the obligation for peaceful uses of nuclear
power and nuclear non-proliferation, as a citizen of the onlyatomic-bombed country, I must touch upon nuclear disarmament as
another obligation under the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).
The early effectuation of the Complete Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) toprohibit nuclear weapons development tests, and the realization of a
Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT) to ban production of fissile
substances for nuclear weapons are the most important challenges
toward the promotion of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
While non-nuclear weapon states are required to prevent nuclear
proliferation under the NPT, nuclear weapon states are obligated toconduct negotiations toward nuclear disarmament. Nuclear weapon
states should try to reduce nuclear weapons and should makemaximum efforts to ratify the CTBT and realize a FMCT.
(Conclusion)
Sadly, nuclear energy had been used for weapons. If humans
handle nuclear energy carefully and rationally, however, it could
become an excellent blessing to make human lives more affluent. We,
human beings, can choose to utilize nuclear energy as a means for
destruction or as a blessing. I do believe that through the efforts by
citizens in the world who pursue peace and affluence, theinternational community will be united to decisively choose theblessings of nuclear energy and to implement further strong
cooperation aiming for peaceful uses of nuclear energy and nuclear
non-proliferation.
The IAEA and Director General, Dr. ElBaradei, were awarded
the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005, being admired for the ceaseless efforts
both in peaceful uses of nuclear energy and nuclear non-proliferation,
made by the IAEA as a center of those activities and cooperation in theinternational community. Japan also thinks highly of the IAEA’sachievement so far, over a period of 50 years.
Before concluding my remarks, I would like to hope that theIAEA will take leadership in implementing such actions to promote
peaceful uses of nuclear energy in any nation with nuclear
non-proliferation secured and to contribute to the development of4human society and the improvement of living standards in all nations.
I thank you for your kind attention.

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