FA39
27
March 2001

NUCLEAR COOPERATION AND SAFEGUARDS AGREEMENT WITH ARGENTINA

I am pleased to announce that the Argentine Foreign Minister, Mr Rodriguez Giavarini, and
I have initialled the text of a Nuclear Cooperation and Safeguards Agreement.

The Agreement provides a broad framework for cooperation in
nuclear science and technology between Australia and Argentina. It follows the
conclusion last year of a commercial contract between an Argentine firm, INVAP
SE, and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation for the
construction of a replacement research reactor at Lucas Heights.

Together the Agreement and the contract mark the beginning
of cooperation between our countries in areas such as: research reactors and
associated components, equipment and materials; nuclear medicine; the safe
management of irradiated fuel and radioactive wastes; radiological protection,
nuclear safety and regulation; the exploration and exploitation of nuclear
ores; and technology for safeguards and physical protection.

The Agreement constitutes a significant milestone in our
bilateral relations, building on wide ranging cooperation between Australia and
Argentina in areas such as trade and investment (including the Cairns Group and
the New World Wine Group), disarmament and arms control, and the environment
(including the Antarctic and the Valdivia Group).

The Agreement is consistent with Australias strong stance
on preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons while enabling peaceful uses
of nuclear technology. It ensures that any transfer of nuclear material or equipment
between Australia and Argentina is subject to International Atomic Energy
Agency safeguards and complies with Australias longstanding policies for the
control of nuclear materials.

Annex I.2 Media Release

FA52
30
April 2001

AUSTRALIA TO
HOST WORKSHOP ON COOPERATION IN THE PEACEFUL USES OF CHEMISTRY UNDER THE
CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION

Australia will host a regional workshop and symposium on the
Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) from 30 April to 3 May 2001.

The Australian Government together with the Organisation for
the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the Royal Australian
Chemical Institute (RACI), will host the workshop in Melbourne. It will bring together academic, chemical
industry and government representatives from 14 South East Asian and the South
Pacific countries to explore ways of promoting regional cooperation in the
field of chemistry.

It is the first time such a workshop is to be held in the
Southern Hemisphere and in addition to Australia will involve the following
countries: New Zealand, the Philippines,
Peoples Democratic Republic of Laos, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Thailand, Cambodia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Cook Islands, and the Marshall
Islands.

Participants will have the opportunity to share their
national and professional experiences and work together to develop more
effective ways to implement the Chemical Weapons Convention. An area of specific focus will be the
incorporation of CWC studies into the participating countries education
curriculums.

The workshop will consider specific suggestions - proposed
by participants - for economic and technological development through peaceful
use of chemistry. The workshop will
present the outcomes of these deliberations to the OPCW with a view to securing
OPCW support.

A one-day symposium open to both international workshop
participants and representatives from the Australian chemical industry and
universities will follow the workshop. In addition to promoting regional cooperation at a non-governmental
level, the symposium will aim to further enhance relations and strengthen
networks between Australian organisations and their regional counterparts on
CWC issues.

Australia is an original Member State of the Chemical
Weapons Convention, an international disarmament and non-proliferation treaty
that bans all chemical weapons. In
addition to the security benefits the Convention delivers, it also seeks to
provide a framework for promoting economic and technological development
through international cooperation in the peaceful uses of chemistry.

Annex I.3 Media Release

D11
5
July 2001

NUCLEAR
SAFEGUARDS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN AUSTRALIAN
AND INDONESIAN AUTHORITIES

The Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office
(ASNO) and its Indonesian counterpart, the Nuclear Energy Control Board
(BAPETEN) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for an
"Arrangement Concerning Cooperation on Nuclear Safeguards and Related
Matters".

The MOU was signed by ASNOs Director General, John Carlson
and the Chairman of BAPETEN, Dr Mohammad Ridwan in Tokyo on 29 June 2001. It formalises a long standing and close
relationship between Australian and Indonesian safeguards officials covering
areas such as joint R&D projects on International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, staff exchanges and training.

Safeguards ensure that nuclear activities are for
exclusively peaceful purposes, promoting international confidence building and
transparency. The MOU provides an
umbrella for further cooperation in this area, including exchanges of
scientific and technical staff and joint participation in safeguards research.
The MOU does not cover provision of nuclear
material or nuclear technology.

Indonesia is so far one of the few states in our region to
have brought into effect an Additional Protocol with the IAEA for the
application of strengthened safeguards. Its leadership on safeguards matters in the region is very
welcome.

ASNO is Australias national authority for nuclear
safeguards. ASNO is also responsible
for implementation of the CWC (Chemical Weapons Convention) and the CTBT(Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty).
BAPETEN is an independent regulator, reporting directly to the President
of Indonesia, responsible for nuclear safeguards, nuclear safety and radiation
protection.

The commitment from both ASNO and BAPETEN to work together
signals an important step in strengthening the nuclear safeguards and
non-proliferation norms of the IAEA in our region.