The Permanent Secretary,Ministry of Infrastructure Science and Technology at the Occasion of the Opening of Intergrated Nuclear Security Support Plan

source: Republic of Botswana (6/2/10) TAUTONA TIMES no 1 of 2010
The Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President
"Democracy, Development, Dignity, Discipline and Delivery"


B9) 27/1/10: REMARKS BY THE PERMANENT SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF INFRASTRUCTURE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AT THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING OF INTERGRATED NUCLEAR SECURITY SUPPORT PLAN MEETING

[Salutations]...Ladies and Gentlemen, Good morning.

1. It is my privilege and honour to welcome you on behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure, science and technology, to this important meeting for integrated nuclear security Support plan.

2. Let me start by thanking the International Atomic Energy Agency for collaborating with Botswana government on their mutual interest of enhancing nuclear security. We are very happy to have been given the opportunity to host this important meeting with the assistance from IAEA in order to establish an integrated nuclear security support plan (INSSP).

3. I am pleased to note that the meeting has attracted participants from different government departments who are responsible for safety and security in Botswana. I would, therefore, urge all the participants to use this meeting strategically for enhancing nuclear security in order to address issues of nuclear terrorism.

4. Ladies and Gentlemen, over the years, many African countries including Botswana have demonstrated their increased awareness of the benefits that can be derived from international cooperation and promoting peaceful use of nuclear sources or radioactive materials. The Agency has played a pivotal role in this process, primarily through its Technical Cooperation Programmes that are administered to by the National Liaison Officer through the Country Programme Framework (CPF). The vast majority of African Member States have taken steps towards creating or strengthening their nuclear security infrastructures (i.e. legal framework, detection and monitoring equipments and capacity building through African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA)). This stems from growing awareness that a proper national infrastructure is a prerequisite for safe use of use of radioactive substances.

5. Radiation sources are used in several development activities and in many socio economic sectors such as agriculture, health, industry, research and education. Despite the usefulness of these radioactive sources, some people use them to promote terrorism. Therefore, it is imperative that such radioactive sources and material are controlled and regulated.

6. Botswana as a Member State of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has signed binding agreements that oblige her to ensure accountability and safe disposition of all radioactive substances within her sovereignty, such as the Safeguard Agreements and Additional Protocol to the Non Proliferation Treaty, Revised Supplementary Agreements and Convention on physical protection of nuclear materials. We are now in the process to make an Integrated Nuclear Security Support Plan (INSSP) agreement to enhance nuclear security. Also in our efforts to enhance radiation safety, the Radiation Protection Act, of 2006 and Radiation Protection Regulations of 2008 have been passed and are now fully functional, and the Radiation Protection Inspectorate has been established and also fully functional.

7. I am informed that the objectives of this meeting among others is to identify and bring together the organisations in Botswana responsible for implementing the INSSP, and to discuss the technical issues involved and establish general time-frame for conducting activities.

8. The intended outcome of the meeting is to further develop a draft of the INSSP based on the discussions with the various stakeholders, with a view to submitting it for final agreement by Botswana and to provide a summary of information regarding all activities being undertaken or planned to be undertaken, by country which has the objective of enhancing security.

9. I believe that this meeting will develop and finalise an Integrated Nuclear Security Support plan. I am convinced that you will be able to work together to make this meeting a success and come up with an Integrated Nuclear Security Support plan which will enhance nuclear security. I wish you all a successful meeting.
With these few remarks, it is now my Singular Honour, to declare this meeting officially opened.