Year
2011
Abstract
On July 11th, 2011 ABACC will formally complete 20 years. The Common System of Accountability and Control – SCCC- was developed by Argentina and Brazil with the objective to demonstrate the peaceful purpose of their nuclear program and to create an environment for integration of their nuclear developments. ABACC is the organization in charge to manage the SCCC in both countries. The Quadripartite Agreement (INFCIRC/435), signed also in 1991, bring together the IAEA, the States and ABACC in a common system to further increase responsibilities of the States related to their interface with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Regime. ABACC has been a central actor on the implementation of the Quadripartite Agreement. It was necessary to ABACC to develop a technical capacity to face the challenges to be a safeguards agency as well to gain credibility in the nuclear safeguards world. This capacity means to develop and implement safeguards systems in the technical area, in the inspection framework, in the conceptual analysis of processes and approaches and in the political scenario. These tasks conducted the strategic plan of ABACC on the last 20 years. Among the accomplishments, ABACC has been involved in the application of safeguards to sensitive and complex installations, in developing safeguards instrumentation, in establishing a technical and trained inspectorate, in constructing a cooperative and coordinate environment with IAEA for safeguards application. Other challenges as R&D of equipment and quality assurance systems were also managed during all these years. ABACC regularly takes part of INMM’s activities and always share experiences and ideas with the international community and US organizations. This paper summarizes the accomplishments reached on the last 20 years and also how ABACC contributes for the demonstration of the peaceful purpose of the Argentinean and Brazilian nuclear programs. It also addresses