Timor-Leste and USA Discuss Nuclear Safeguards Framework
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MNEC) of Timor-Leste, in collaboration with the United States Department of Energy, is conducting a virtual consultation on the development of the country's legal and regulatory framework for nuclear safeguards. The two-day event, held on September 9 and 10, aims to assess the current national legal and institutional framework and identify necessary measures for drafting legislation and regulations in this area.
During the opening session at the MNEC's Noble Hall in Dili, Sebastiana Barros, Director-General for Multilateral Affairs at MNEC, emphasized that developing a legal and regulatory framework is essential to translate the country's international commitments into applicable national legislation, institutional competencies, and procedures.
Barros highlighted that implementing safeguards is a collective government responsibility requiring coordination, clear roles, and a coherent legal and regulatory framework integrated into national institutions. She noted that Timor-Leste has a firm commitment to nuclear non-proliferation, having acceded to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 2003 and being a State Party to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. In September 2024, the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement between Timor-Leste and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), along with the Small Quantities Protocol and the Additional Protocol, entered into force.
Barros also mentioned that Timor-Leste's application for IAEA membership, to be considered at the Agency's General Conference this month, reflects this commitment. She stressed that these international commitments entail concrete obligations that must be incorporated into national legislation, accompanied by clear institutional mandates and procedures to ensure effective implementation.
Over the two-day consultation, participants will evaluate the current legislative and institutional framework related to nuclear safeguards, identifying existing legal bases and areas needing further development. The initiative will also share international experiences and best practices in drafting legislation and regulations, focusing on approaches that translate international requirements into applicable national standards.
Participants will discuss ways to strengthen national legislative drafting capacity to ensure that the future legal framework is clear, applicable, and compatible with the country's governance mechanisms. Another objective is to define the necessary elements for preparing an in-person legislative drafting workshop scheduled for 2027 and to establish an action plan and roadmap for implementing the identified measures.
Barros emphasized that capacity building should occur gradually, from identifying requirements to evaluating existing gaps, drafting legislation according to the competencies of responsible institutions, and subsequently approving and implementing regulations, procedures, and training human resources.
She concluded that a legal framework should be more than fulfilling an obligation; it should serve as a practical guide for the daily work of national institutions. Barros added that legislation and regulations on safeguards should consider the institutional reality, administrative capacity, and national development priorities while ensuring full compliance with Timor-Leste's international commitments.
The cooperation with the USA aims to support the country in strengthening national capacity to understand, plan, and implement nuclear safeguard requirements, contributing to the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology. This initiative aligns with Timor-Leste's commitment to non-proliferation, disarmament, and the peaceful use of nuclear technology.
Barros called for active participation from representatives of the involved ministries and institutions, emphasizing that their contributions are essential to ensure that the future safeguards framework is coherent, applicable, and aligned with the country's legal and institutional development process.
