In his capacity as Coordinator of OPANAL in Vienna, Ambassador Antonio Roberto Castellanos López – Permanent Representative of Guatemala to the International Organizations based in Vienna – made a intervention on behalf of the Secretary General of OPANAL during the 61st Session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on September 21, 2017.
In the speech read by Ambassador Castellanos López, mention is made, among other aspects, of the relationship between OPANAL and the IAEA. Both International Organizations have specific powers regarding the Control System established by the Treaty of Tlatelolco. While OPANAL's role is political, the IAEA's role is technical. The specific role of OPANAL and the IAEA, as well as their coordination, is essential for the effective functioning of the Nuclear Weapons Free Zone in Latin America and the Caribbean, established as a consequence of the Treaty of Tlatelolco.
Since October 1972, OPANAL and the IAEA have maintained a cooperation agreement confirmation with Article 19 of the Treaty of Tlatelolco. In this way, OPANAL is invited to be represented, in its capacity as an International Observer Organization, at the ordinary sessions of the General Conference of the IAEA. For its part, the IAEA is also invited to be represented during the sessions of the OPANAL General Conference, which are held every two years.
The IAEA General Conference brings together representatives of the IAEA Member States annually to consider and approve relevant decisions such as the Agency's budget and other aspects presented by the Board of Governors, the Director General and the Member States.
The IAEA is an International Organization for scientific cooperation and research in the area of peaceful uses of nuclear energy. In accordance with the provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the treaties establishing nuclear weapon-free zones (NWFZ), the IAEA and States implement safeguard agreements to ensure that nuclear energy is used exclusively for peaceful purposes and not for the development of nuclear weapons.