Speaking of Diplomacy in relation to Nuclear
Science, what initially springs to mind are perhaps images of Summits between
the leaders of Nuclear Powers amidst political tensions, Heads of State signing
Disarmament treaties, the Cold War, or a State’s Nuclear arsenal. However, while
traditional ‘’Nuclear Diplomacy’’ focused on military matters remains crucial
in today’s political scenario, the international community has come to place
ever-greater emphasis on the promotion of peaceful use of Nuclear Energy and
Nuclear technology. This introduces a new face of Nuclear Science-related
Diplomacy and moves the subject away from strictly military issues and towards national
development.
As the United Nations’ ‘’Nuclear Watchdog,” the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducts verification checks ensuring
States’ compliance with international legal (treaty) obligations to use nuclear
material and technology only for peaceful purpose and serves to inhibit their
use for military purposes. However, the IAEA has both, a political and a
technical dimension. Through its Technical Cooperation programme, the IAEA also
transfers nuclear technology to Member States, helping them to address key
development, helps Member States to identify and meet future energy needs, and
assists in improving radiation safety and nuclear security worldwide. Back in
2010, the evolving multifaceted nature of the organization’s operations was
highlighted by the late Japanese diplomat and former Director General of the
IAEA, Yukiya Amano during the opening plenary session of the 54th IAEA
General Conference.
"I am trying to change the widespread perception of the
Agency as simply the world´s ´nuclear watchdog´ because it does not do justice
to our extensive activities in other areas, especially in nuclear energy,
nuclear applications, and technical cooperation. This year, we are focusing on
cancer, which is the subject of the Scientific Forum starting tomorrow"
Malta joined the Technical Cooperation in 1999 and through its strong
diplomatic relations with the IAEA, has always ensured that Maltese entities
and the general public reap the full benefits. Notably, Malta signed the
Country Programme Framework 2018-2023 with the IAEA in 2018, an agreement outlining
Malta’s priority areas and a plan for future technical cooperation with the
organization.
For this cycle, the proposed national projects will focus on the areas of
a Regulatory Framework for Safety and Security, Human Health, Cultural Heritage
and, Water and the Environment, and will include the procurement of nuclear
technology equipment and various related training opportunities and knowledge
transfer activities. Through constant communication with relevant Maltese
entities, the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs, through the Non Proliferation
and Disarmament Desk, monitors the national projects, identifies potential
regional projects for participation, and ensures a smooth working relation
between the IAEA and Maltese Counterparts. This is further enhanced through
Malta’s participation in the biannual National Liaison Officers’ Conference and
the workshop for the National Liaison Officer and new Counterparts.
While the scope and extent of MFEA’s diplomatic work in Nuclear
Disarmament might not be widely understood by the general public, its work with
the IAEA on nuclear technology is perhaps more easily understood as impacting
our everyday lives.
And in fact, the current programme has already brought major benefits to Malta,
making notable achievements such as the establishment of the Nuclear Safety and
Radiation Protection Act , the procurement of a Bruker Artax 800 X-ray
fluorescence system used for non-destructive analysis of old paintings by
the national cultural heritage agency, and A Gamma Camera used to diagnose
patients with non-communicable diseases in Malta after radiopharmaceutical
administration.
Matthew Attard, Second Secretary, Global Issues