London, (ANTARA News) - Indonesia continues to promote technical cooperation programs developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

This was conveyed by Indonesian Ambassador to Austria as well as Indonesian Permanent Representative to the IAEA Darmansjah Djumala at the 62nd IAEA General Assembly in Vienna on September 17-21, 2018.

The IAEA technical cooperation is useful, as it caters to the interests of the Indonesian people and benefits other countries, especially within the framework of the South-South cooperation through the Practical Arrangement signed during the visit of IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano to Indonesia in February 2018.

Ambassador Djumala pointed out that one concrete example of nuclear application by Indonesia was to increase livestock productivity.

Nuclear technology in this field has been utilized by 74 farmers, who joined the People`s Animal Husbandry School across Indonesia that was initiated by the Bogor Agricultural Institute.

Two farmers from South Sumatra and East Java were invited to attend the IAEA General Assembly to share their experiences on the success of the program to other countries on the sidelines of the event.

In addition to livestock, nuclear technology is utilized by Indonesia to increase the productivity of soybeans, rice, and sorghum. Currently, nuclear technology is being developed for fish preservation.

At the General Assembly, Indonesia became one of the co-drafters along with China and South Africa in setting up resolutions to strengthen the IAEA`s role in supporting its member countries in the fields of food and agriculture.

The resolution explicitly highlights Indonesia`s experience in the development of superior rice and soybean varieties as a success story of nuclear utilization.

This resolution will serve as a reference for the development of further cooperation that is expected to have a wider impact on socio-economic development of the people.

Apart from technical issues, Ambassador Djumala also raised other crucial issues, such as Iran`s nuclear program, North Korea`s nuclear program, and nuclear security.

Regarding Iran, Indonesia calls on parties of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action to hold on to their commitments and laud IAEA`s works in impartially and objectively verifying and monitoring Iran`s nuclear programs.

Regarding North Korea issues, Indonesia welcomed the results of diplomacy and dialog between North Korea and South Korea as stated in the Panmunjom Declaration.

Apart from the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the declaration is also an agreement of the leaders of North and South Korea to work together on ending conflicts; starting a new era of peace; sharing commitments in making reconciliation, peace, and prosperity; and enhancing inter-Korean relations.

Indonesia also lauds the results of the North Korea-US High-Level Meeting in Singapore on June 12, 2018, and urges North Korea to take concrete steps to denuclearize by returning to the states of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

As for nuclear security, Indonesia praised the assistance and cooperation of the IAEA in ensuring the security and safety of radioactive materials during the organization of the 18th Asian Games.


Reporting by Zeynita Gibbons
Editing by Libertina W Ambari


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