Kazakhstan continues to restore sovereign equality in the IAEA

Vienna, 10 September 2024 - the IAEA Board of Governors on the initiative of Kazakhstan before the Agency's General Conference session, once again discussed the issue of restoration of sovereign equality of all member States in the IAEA.

During a thorough exchange of views, the IAEA member States noted the positive dynamics in resolving this problem, which was facilitated by the resolution of the IAEA General Conference adopted last year on the initiative of Kazakhstan. Thanks to efforts to restore sovereign equality, the Agency's three Member States - Bahrain, Nepal and Brunei Darussalam – were allocated into regional groups and thus restored their right to be elected to the Agency's decision-making bodies.

In his speech, Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tileuberdi stated that restrictions on IAEA fundamental rights of the Member States are unacceptable and called on regional groups to demonstrate the necessary flexibility to resolve this issue. He also noted that Kazakhstan will continue to make efforts to restore the fundamental principle of the UN in the Agenct and is considering alternative options for nominating countries to the Board of Governors and the Bureau of the Agency's General Conference.

This issue will also be considered at the upcoming 68th session of the IAEA General Conference on 16-20 September in Vienna.