1. Host Gov’t View on the RCARO Future Direction
Gyoung-Joon NHO
Deputy Director
Atomic Energy Cooperation Division
Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
RCARO Workshop on
Partnership Development and Sustainable Development
7-9 July 2009 Jeju, Korea
It’s a great pleasure to have an opportunity to present here.
Before I start my presentation, on behalf of Korean government, an RCA member state, I would like to express sincere congratulations to Dr. Amano , Japanese Ambassador to IAEA for being elected as the next Director General of IAEA.
I think his being elected as a Director General is a pleasure for Japan and RCA member states.
Today, I will present the host government’s view on RCARO’s future direction.
I understand that this issue I am going to talk about today is somewhat complicated.
However, the reason why Korean government supports RCARO is rather simple.
Korea wants RCARO to play an important role to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear technology in RCA member states.
I also realize that there exists a gap between the current RACRO status and what we expect RCARO to be in the future.
Even though it is not easy to narrow the gap, I think we should try to narrow the gap because RCARO belongs not to Korea but to RCA member states. 1

2. RCARO History at a Glance
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1
RCARO History at a Glance
Achievements 2
Setbacks 3
Roles and Responsibilities of RCARO 4
Vision 5 6
My presentation consists of 7 parts.
RCARO History at a glance
Achievements and Setbacks
Roles and responsibilities of RCARO, which is set forth in the RCA Guidelines and Operating Rules,
Vision and Suggestion
And lastly, the summary of the presentation.
Suggestion
Summary 7

3. 1. RCARO History at a Glance
1997: Noted importance of establishing RCARO
- RCA NRM (Mar 1997, MYA)
2000: ROK proposed hosting the RCARO; Accepted by MSs
- 22nd RCA NRM (Mar 2000, IND)
2001: Agreed to establish a regional office in Korea
- 30th RCA GCM (Sept 2001, IAEA)
2002: Established the RCARO starting interim operation
2003: Adopted the Resolution on establishment of the RCARO
- 32nd GCM (Sept 2003, IAEA)
2005: Started full operation of the RCARO
Let’s look at the brief history of RCARO.
In 2000, Korea proposed to host the RCARO and it was accepted by the member states.
In 2002, RCARO was established and started its interim operation.
After 3 years, in 2005, RCARO began its full operation.
And, in 2007, resolution on RCARO status was adopted.
2007: Adopted the Resolution on RCARO status
– 36th RCA GCM (Sept 2007, IAEA)

4. 3. Achievements Promoting partnerships to secure available resources
- Joint project with United Nations Development Programme
Post-Tsunami Environment Impact Assessment
($0.4M USD, 4 years)
- Exploring new regional cooperation
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP)
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)
Partnership in Environmental Management for the Seas of East
Asia (PEMSIA)
RCARO has made a number of achievements as shown in this slide.
RCARO promoted the partnership with other international organizations.
As a result, UNDP joint project on Post Tsunami Environment Impact Assessment has been implemented since June 2006 with the participation of 14 member states.
Also, the possibility of new regional cooperation with regional and international organizations such as ESCAP, PEMSIA and FAO has been actively examined.
RCARO tried to enhance the recognition of RCA through publicity activities including the operation of RCA website and publication of RCA success stories.
Enhancing recognition of RCA - Publicity activities including operation of the RCA website and publication of 9 RCA success stories

5. Human resources development programme to advance nuclear knowledge:
3. Achievements
Human resources development programme to advance nuclear knowledge:
Post-doctoral fellowship: 46 fellows
KAIST nuclear master’s degree: 25 students
KOICA joint training course: 71 trainees
Temp staff invitation from member states: 15 staff
RCARO has achieved successful implementation of human resources development programs to advance nuclear knowledge.
46 fellows participated in the Post-doctoral fellowship.
25 students received nuclear master’s degree at KAIST. (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)
71 trainees joined KOICA joint training course.
And 15 temporary staff from member states worked at RCARO in Korea.
Currently, 2 temporary staff from China and Pakistan are dispatched at RCARO.

6. More than 150 % increase in 8 years!
3. Achievements
Budget for the RCARO:
USD 0.4M (2002) to USD 1.22M (2010)
More than 150 % increase in 8 years!
(Unit: KRW Million)
Year
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
Budget
487
680
730
1,160
1,220
With respect to the provision of RCARO budget by the Korean government, as you can see here, more than 150% has increased in 8 years.
The budget was only 0.4 million Korean Won in 2002, but it increased to 1.16 million Won in 2008.
The budget is expected to reach 1.22 million Won in 2010.
However, we have some difficulties in securing the budget because the Korean Congress and Ministry of Planning and Budget which are responsible for allocation and examination of budget ask us what the legal status of RCARO is and whether the member states can make contribution and participation to RCARO’s budget.

7. Outside Assessment on RCARO
IAEA’s evaluation was very positive (2004)
The RCA MSs and IAEA are appreciating the performance of the RCARO
In particular, publication of success stories has been appreciated very much
The RCARO has been well recognized among international organizations
ESCAP, PEMSEA, UNDP, ADB, etc.
UNDP Office in Korea is to report to its HQ the Tsunami project as a role model for partnerships among its 15 projects
This is outside assessment on RCARO.
Member States and the IAEA are commending on the RCA publication activities of RCARO
The RCA has become recognized among other organization as their potential cooperative partner in the Asia and Pacific region
Lastly, according to the UNDP Seoul Office, the current RCA/UNDP tsunami project is told to be reported to its headquarters in New York as one of the role model projects in Asia.

8. MSs Assessment on RCARO (Views of RCARO Temp Staff from MSs)
Within the fast changing development challenges of the Asia and pacific region, the RCARO programme is recommended to reflect the needs, a high level of ownership, and commitment of the MSs
RCARO mandate to increase the RCA’s visibility and viability is not only the responsibility of RCARO, but of Member States. An orchestrated effort by all RCA family members should be made to achieve this mandate by improving the RCA Programme
MSs should find ways to contribute to the RCARO in any way possible, e.g., in-kind or voluntary contributions
We had a home-coming event which the previous and current RCARO temporary staffs participated here in Jeju island last December.
At the workshop, the participants suggested some ideas for the sustainable development of RCARO.
They suggested that RCARO program should reflect the needs, a high level of ownership and commitment of the member states.
Also, RCARO’s mandate to increase the RCA’s visibility and viability is not only the responsibility of RCARO but also of the member states.
In this sense, all RCA member states must put efforts to achieve this mandate by improving the RCA program.
In addition, member states should find ways to contribute to RCARO in any other possible ways such as giving in-kind contributions etc.

9. 4. Setbacks
Gap still exists between what is expected of the RCARO and its current status
Legal basis:
Lack of a strong foundation
Ownership of Member States:
Insignificant participation and contribution
Budget allocation:
Lack of RCARO initiated programme
On this slide , I would like to talk about the setbacks of RCARO.
As you can see here, on legal basis, there is lack of a legal basis for RCARO.
As you are well aware, RCARO is not a branch of IAEA and it does not have an autonomous legality,
About ownership of Member States, it would be most important that Member States regard the RCARO as their own organization for the RCA Programme
Regarding budget allocation, RCARO seems to be lack of its own programme related to the RCA Programme.
As a host country, the Korean government hopes that RCARO could use its budget to promote the peaceful use of nuclear technology of RCA member states.

10. 5. Roles and Responsibilities of RCARO (Excerpt from the RCA GORs)
Pro-actively seek out opportunities for the RCA to participate in projects being funded by major regional and international donors, including international agencies
Negotiate and secure funding for RCA projects
Promote the peaceful uses of nuclear technology to assist in addressing regional and national needs
Provide enhanced visibility for the RCA at regional and national forums
Implement the directives of the RCA MSs as agreed upon at the Meetings of RCA NRs
I would like to recall the roles and responsibilities of RCARO which is defined in the RCA Guidelines and Operating Rules.
The first one is to pro-actively seek out opportunities for the RCA to participate in projects being funded by major regional and international donors, including international agencies.
Second is to negotiate and secure funding for RCA projects. An example on this field can be RCARO’s annual in-kind contribution to the RCA Program through Korean government.
Third one is promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear technology to assist in addressing regional and national needs.
According to this clause, I think RCARO can implement RCARO initiated projects to reflect the needs of RCA member states.
Fourth is to provide enhanced visibility for RCA at regional and national forums.
Final one is the implementation of the directives of RCA member states as agreed upon at the RCA NR meeting.

11. International Legal Entity
6. Future Directions
Identity: The RCARO needs more tangible functions and role to ensure its sustainable operation in the long run
International Organization
International Legal Entity
Identity ?
The Korean government, as a host country of RCARO would like to mention RCARO’s vision in line with Guidelines and Operating Rules.
Now, I want to talk about the Future Directions that RCARO should take.
Regarding the identity of RCARO, RCARO needs more tangible function and role to ensure its sustainable operation to become a practical regional network implementing the RCA Programs for member states.
Korean government hopes that RCARO can have solid legal basis and tangible functions so that it could promote the peaceful uses of nuclear technology to assist in addressing regional and national needs.
Now
Future

12. Participation & Contribution
6. Future Directions
Ownership: The RCARO needs a systematic way in which Member States can participate as an office of all the MSs, not as a Korean organization, to become a regional hub in a nuclear cooperation network
Mission: needs to be realistic and to accommodate more demands from the MSs : ie. Implementation of RCA projects to supports IAEA/RCA program
Now, I would like to talk about the ownership of RCARO.
RCARO needs a systematic way in which Member States can participate not as a Korean organization but as an office of all Members States to become a regional hub in a nuclear cooperation network.
Regarding the mission, RCARO needs to be realistic and it has to accommodate more demands from member states.
For instance, RCARO needs to implement RCA projects to support IAEA/RCA program.
Participation & Contribution
of Member States
Now
Future

13. Korea’s Suggestion on RACRO’s Role How to Tangibly Contribute to RCA?
ROK’s suggestion on its role:
In addition to, in complement for, the RCA Programme, RCA Projects need to be implemented through the RCARO with its financial assistance in sync with the RCA Programme cycle:
- To achieve greater impact on the priority area for the Asia and Pacific region;
- To supplement the RCA Programme.
Thus becoming an IAEA/RCA regional organization necessary for the implementation of more effective and efficient RCA Programme
So, How can RCARO tangibly contribute to RCA and its member states?
Korean government suggests that RCA Projects need to be implemented through RCARO with its financial assistance in accordance with the RCA Program Cycle.
By doing so, it will be possible to achieve greater impact on the priority area for the Asia and Pacific region and to supplement the RCA Program.

14. 7. Summary In order to substantiate the function of the
RCARO, enhance its visibility, and
ultimately ensure its sustainability by strengthening its
identity and ownership of the RCARO,
“Strengthening the role and status of RCARO”
must be addressed by the MSs as well,
and be resolved in a manner which can add value to the RCA Programme by both the MSs and the RCARO
My presentation can be summarized as follows:
In order to strengthen the role and status of RCARO, all the member states should utilize the RCARO as their own network eventually through the implementation of RCA program by both member states and RCARO.
Not just Korean government alone, but all member states should provide insights and participate in discussions related to issues of RCARO.
By doing so, member states and the Korean government can fundamentally help RCARO to secure sustainable operation.
Accordingly, the MSs are requested to discuss ways to fundamentally help the RCARO to secure its sustainable operation

15. Thank you very much for your attention.15