General Assembly

Report to the General Assembly: The fifth report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to the UN General Assembly covered the period from July 1, 1960, to June 30, 1961. The report stated that most of the Agency's programs were now firmly established and that the Agency had reached the stage where it was capable of further developing certain of its operations. The direction and scope of such development would be determined largely by the rate of advance of nuclear technology, by the extent to which the Agency might be able to serve as a means for promoting scientific cooperation between the leading nuclear powers, and by the support which it received from its members. Events of interest in the Agency's work in the last year included the completion of studies of nuclear power prospects in Finland and the Philippines, technical conferences on the economics and technology of small and medium power reactors, and conferences on nuclear ships. The Agency was able to report reasonable progress in promoting the uses of radioisotopes and radiation under safe conditions in the less developed areas. Progress had also been made in giving help or guidance to member states on questions of safety and pretection against radiation hazards. The Agency had paid special attention to establishing standards of basic radiological safety, safety of reactors, and standards for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste. Under the scientific and technical information program, the Agency had held thirteen meetings in the period under review. In 1960 the Agency had made available an estimated $2,560,000 for technical assistance in the form of equipment, experts, and fellowships.