Vienna, Austria, 18 September 2025 – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, represented by Foreign Service Officer Ms Tatryanna Utanga of the Treaties, Multilaterals and Oceans Division, attended as an Observer the 54th Regional Cooperative Agreement (RCA) General Conference at IAEA Headquarters in Vienna. Proceedings were chaired by Pacific neighbour Fiji, with delegates hosted to an evening function by the Australian Embassy marking the close of the Conference and celebrating Fiji’s chairmanship.
Participation focused on understanding how the RCA operates and where the Cook Islands can connect to needs-based, country-driven cooperation. Areas of prospective benefit include health services and safety frameworks; agriculture and food security through techniques such as the Sterile Insect Technique; water and environment monitoring using isotope hydrology; and support for nuclear security and legal frameworks aligned with domestic work.
IAEA Director General Mr Rafael Grossi attended the opening segment of the Conference to launch the Social and Economic Impact Assessment of Air Quality Monitoring Projects and Food Safety Projects under the RCA.
The invitation to attend as an Observer signals the RCA’s active advocacy to engage Pacific members and enable deeper insights into its programme cycles. This supports ongoing regional efforts to encourage countries to consider joining the cooperative agreement, particularly as the Cook Islands became an IAEA Member State in October 2024.
Ms Utanga said: “The Cook Islands is grateful to have participated and is making strides to explore what the RCA offers and what lies ahead. Observer participation provides space to map potential pathways and understand processes with our partners.”
MFAI is also participating in ongoing engagements in Vienna this week, including the 69th IAEA General Conference from 15 to 19 September 2025.
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