IAEA Board focuses on nuclear safety, radiological protection issues.

• Position: Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency

IAEA Board focuses on nuclear safety, radiological protection issues

The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which met in Vienna from 22 to 25 February, focused on issues related to nuclear safety and radiological protection, international safeguards, and technical cooperation activities for 1988.

IAEA Director General Hans Blix, welcoming the Board's strong support for IAEA programmes in these areas, also cautioned that financial problems caused by late payments of assessed contributions by Member States continued to threaten full implementation of those programmes in 1988.

Several measures considered by the Board related to IAEA responsibilities under the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency, both adopted in 1986. The Board noted with satisfaction the progress made in arranging for use of the Global Telecommunication System (GTS) of the World Meterological Organization (WMO)to rapidly notify responsible national authorities of nuclear accidents with potential transboundary consequences.

The GTS is regarded as the most appropriate mode of communication for rapid transmission of large amounts of recorded meteorological and radiological data to a large number of contact...