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IAEA Approves Cuts for Technical Cooperation By Joe Fiorill VIENNA — The International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors today approved a request from the agency’s Technical Cooperation Fund to cut some of its programs and to increase the percentage by which its spending may exceed its resources (see GSN, March 9). The request was forced by a budget shortfall at the fund, caused in large part by Japan’s unexpected move in December to contribute only about $7 million, or half of what Tokyo had promised. In addition, Germany failed last year to pay $2.5 million it was expected to contribute. The lowered allocations from donor countries come amid controversy over the agency’s decision to suspend of assessments from recipient countries. “We think the situation is very bad and worrying. … What we have seen over the years is that the funds for TC [technical cooperation] are always somehow in danger,” a Brazilian source here said today. Along with Malaysia and Algeria, Brazil has been among the most vocal critics of the shortfall. To manage the budget gap, the fund has saved $5 million by eliminating some programs and deferring payments on others, and has increased its deficit spending to 20 percent despite a maximum allowance of 15 percent. The agency board today endorsed those moves. The shortfall has sparked concern about some basic principles that underlie the global nonproliferation regime. Under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, non-nuclear weapon countries promise not to pursue nuclear weapons, while nuclear weapon powers promise to pursue disarmament and to help all treaty parties to share in the benefits of peaceful nuclear technology. The fund helps finance that work. The board began its discussion of the Technical Cooperation Fund yesterday after developing countries succeeded in having it moved up the agenda for this week’s meeting. The Brazilian source said Japan’s nonpayment ― which the source called “a total surprise” ― “is very important for developing countries, because technical cooperation is very important for us.” The source said that in return for increases in the IAEA safeguards budget, developing countries expected increases in technical cooperation contributions, but the increase has not materialized.
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