The International Nuclear Law Association (INLA) is pleased to participate in this session that includes transnational nuclear organizations. I want to extend the best wishes of Vanda Lamm, President of INLA, who is unable to attend and who has asked me as the Past President and current Vice President to represent INLA.
The idea of an international association of nuclear lawyers was conceived in 1970; a charter was adopted in 1972; and the first biennial Congress was held in 1973. On the occasion of its first 25th anniversary a book was published and I am pleased to provide a copy to the World Nuclear Association.
INLA is organized under Belgium law and its charter provides the following objectives in the charter: "The Association shall have the objectives, on an international level, to arrange for and promote studies and the knowledge of legal problems related to the peaceful utilisation of nuclear energy under the special aspects of the protection of man and his environment, to help promote the exchange of information among its members and to cooperate on a scientific basis with similar associations and institutions. In particular, the Association may organize congresses, discussions, lectures, conferences and seminars and support or edit publications."
One of the principal activities of INLA is the biennial Congress where the latest nuclear legal developments are analysed, trends are reviewed and the needs for the future are considered. In addition, on a continuing basis, INLA has established Working Groups in the fields of Regulation (Licensing and Decommissioning), Liability and Cover, International Trade, Radiological Protection, Waste Management and Radioisotopes. INLA has also established the INLA Prize awarded for outstanding papers prepared in the field of nuclear law.
INLA also has cooperated with other international organizations on a number of occasions. For instance, it is a Non-governmental Observer (NGO) at the IAEA General Conferences. It co-sponsored a conference on low level radiation effects in 1999 with the International Nuclear Societies Council, the International Nuclear Energy Academy, the International Radiological Protection Association and the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine & Biology. Recently it became a sponsor, along with the European Commission, of the International School of Nuclear Law at the University of Montpellier, France, organized by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency.
On a personal note, in my Presidential Address to the INLA Congress in 1999, I advocated an enhanced cooperative effort among international professional nuclear organizations, such as INLA, international nuclear industry organizations, such as the World Nuclear Association, and international nuclear governmental organizations.
At the INLA Congress in 2001 at Budapest, Hungary, Mr. John Ritch of WNA proposed to the INLA officers an affiliation with WNA and invited us to attend this meeting. I am here to listen to the views of the participants concerning an affiliation between WNA and other international nuclear organizations and I will prepare a report for the INLA Board to consider at its meeting later this month.
The potential for a nuclear renaissance is excellent at this time and cooperative efforts by those organizations supporting the nuclear option will enhance that potential. WNA is to be commended for taking the initiative to achieve this objective.