Multilateral Nuclear Diplomacy, January 1986–June 1987: The IAEA and Other International Bodies

Abstract

At the IAEA most of the year evolved in the shadow of Chernobyl. In one of the few positive consequences of the disaster, it strengthened the authority of the IAEA. It demonstrated that the organisation and its member governments can take prompt and vigorous action to deal with an emergency. The five main results of the IAEA’s work were the two conventions (on early warning and emergency assistance), the scientific ‘post-mortem’ conference in August 1986, the series of special meetings devoted to nuclear safety including the special session of the IAEA’s General Conference and a significant responsive expansion of the IAEA’s safety programmes.