Kazakhstan has made significant strides towards ensuring the sovereign equality of Member States within the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) during the 67th session of the IAEA General Conference. The resolution "Restoration of Sovereign Equality of Member States in the IAEA," introduced by Kazakhstan's First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kairat Umarov, was adopted by an overwhelming majority, with 99 votes in favor, 2 against, and 16 abstentions.
This landmark resolution marks a significant development in the quest for fairness and democratization in the IAEA. It addresses the long-standing issue of equal representation of Member States within the agency, a concern that has persisted for years.
The resolution received substantial support, with 99 Member States endorsing it, and an additional 56 countries co-sponsoring it, representing a broad cross-section of nations across various geographical regions. Notably, among the co-sponsors are all European Union countries, the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Singapore, Japan, Nepal, and Turkey, among others.
One of the groundbreaking aspects of this resolution is the codification of a list of 17 countries that have been excluded from regional groups within the IAEA. This list, published as an official document of the agency on August 10, 2023, serves as the foundation for future work within the newly established "Group of Friends of Arealess Member States," which is under the chairmanship of Slovenia. This move seeks to ensure that countries previously excluded from regional groups have a platform for meaningful participation and representation within the IAEA.
The resolution also urges Member States to ratify an amendment to Article 6 of the IAEA's Statute as soon as possible. This amendment facilitates the expansion of the membership of the Board of Governors and the adoption of a list of members based on geographical areas. Kazakhstan set an example by ratifying this amendment in 2019, demonstrating its commitment to a more equitable distribution of decision-making power within the IAEA.
The adoption of this resolution represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing efforts to address the issue of equal representation of Member States within the IAEA's various decision-making bodies and consultative processes.
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