VIENNA, December 11. /TASS/. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) needs 5.5 million euros for control over the Iran nuclear program until June 30, 2015, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said at an extraordinary meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog’s board of governors on Thursday.
The IAEA can find only €900,000 from its own resources and has applied to the member states of the IAEA board of governors for the remaining 4.6 million euros, he said.
“Last month, the seven countries (Iran plus six world powers) agreed to extend the Joint Plan of Action further — until 30 June 2015. They asked the Agency to continue its existing work and to undertake some additional activities under the Plan,” Amano told the IAEA’s 35-nation governing board.
This work “has involved a significant increase in the frequency of the Agency’s in-field verification activities, including at additional locations. It has also required us to procure and install more safeguards equipment, undertake more sample analysis and carry out more analytical work,” he said.
“In the period until 30 June 2015, we estimate that the Agency's monitoring and verification activities in relation to the Joint Plan of Action will cost some 5.5 million euros,” Amano said.
The IAEA can fund around half a million euros through reprioritization of its work, rescheduling of activities and reallocation of staff while a further €0.4 million are expected to be available from previous contributions, he said.
“But €4.6 million in voluntary extrabudgetary contributions will still be required. I invite member states which are in a position to do so to make the necessary funding available as soon as possible, in order to ensure smooth continuation of our activities,” the IAEA Director General said.