Statement by the delegation of the Republic of Armenia at the Board of Governors of the IAEA

Madame Chair,

We would like to thank the Director General for the Report on Nuclear Security prepared pursuant to resolution GC(68)/RES/9.

Recognizing that responsibility for nuclear security within a State rests entirely with that State, Armenia underlines the central role of the IAEA in promoting and strengthening nuclear security globally and in facilitating international cooperation in this domain.

We encourage the Agency to increase the assistance to Member States upon their request in their efforts to establish and maintain effective and sustainable nuclear security regimes, including nuclear security culture.

Armenia remains concerned about the emerging and evolving risks and threats in the nuclear security landscape and requests the Agency to support interested Member States in ensuring resilience of national nuclear security regimes. Armenia has noted the Agency's efforts in this field through the initiation of a variety of coordinated research projects (CRPs), in particular on "Nuclear Security Implications of Uncrewed Aerial, Ground and Maritime Systems" and looks forward to the practical implication and implementation of their results by the Agency.

Armenia believes that the existing and emerging threats to nuclear security should prompt the international community to be seized of proactive thinking in order to have in place viable mechanisms at national level and necessary level of international cooperation.

Chair,

We note with appreciation the Agency's ongoing work on the revision of the Nuclear Security Fundamentals and we welcome the activities undertaken by the Agency to mitigate insider threats, including through enhancing nuclear security culture.

Last, but not least, Armenia commends the Secretariat's efforts within the process of consultations on the draft Nuclear Security Plan and looks forward to constructively engaging in further process.

With these remarks, we take note of the Nuclear Security Report.

I thank you, Madame Chair.