Verdrag inzake nucleaire veiligheid

Preamble

The Contracting Parties

1. (i)

   Aware of the importance to the international community of ensuring that the use of nuclear energy is safe, well regulated and environmentally sound;

2. (ii)

   Reaffirming the necessity of continuing to promote a high level of nuclear safety worldwide;

3. (iii)

   Reaffirming that responsibility for nuclear safety rests with the State having jurisdiction over a nuclear installation;

4. (iv)

   Desiring to promote an effective nuclear safety culture;

5. (v)

   Aware that accidents at nuclear installations have the potential for transboundary impacts;

6. (vi)

   Keeping in mind the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (1979), the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident (1986), and the Convention on Assistence in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency (1986);

7. (vii)

   Affirming the importance of international cooperation for the enhancement of nuclear safety - through existing bilateral and multilateral mechanisms and the establishment of this incentive Convention;

8. (viii)

   Recognizing that this Convention entails a commitment to the application of fundamental safety principles for nuclear installations rather than of detailed safety standards and that there are internationally formulated safety guidelines which are updated from time to time and so can provide guidance on contemporary means of achieving a high level of safety;

9. (ix)

   Affirming the need to begin promptly the development of an international convention on the safety of radioactive waste management as soon as the ongoing process to develop waste management safety fundamentals has resulted in broad international agreement;

10. (x)

    Recognizing the usefulness of further technical work in connection with the safety of other parts of the nuclear fuel cycle, and that this work may, in time, facilitate the development of current or future international instruments;

Have agreed as follows: