Establishment of the RCA Regional Office

In the Beginning

      First mentioned in 1978

   - At RCA Meeting in Vienna, MSs suggested need to have an RCA Office in the Region

    However, it was mentioned the level of RCA Programmes was too small to warrant such an Office

RCA Vision Stated

      At 1997 Yangon Meeting it was recommended to establish RCA Regional Office to enhance RCA ownership by MSs.

      This was stated in the RCA-25 Vision with other Initiatives (LC, RRU...)

Korea's Offer

     At 2000 RCA Mumbai Meeting, Korea offered to be Host of RCA Regional Office when established in Korea. MSs welcomed the offer.

      29^th RCA GC requested a small Group to prepare Proposal (Australia, Korea, Pakistan, RCA Coordinator). Inter-Agency Review also began.

Supported at Dhaka Meeting

      2001 Dhaka Meeting supported Establishment of the RCA Regional Office in Korea

      The Meeting requested Task Force Group to draft Working Paper (Australia and Korea take Lead)

Agreed at RCA 30th GC

      RCA 30th GC in 2001 in Vienna agreed in Principle the Establishment of RCA Regional Office in Korea for 2-year Interim Period to finalize Legal Provisions and other preparations

      Opening agreed to be on March 2002 during 24^th RCA Meeting of National Representatives in Korea

      GC again requested Task Force Group to prepare a Revision of the Working Paper incorporating several Comments made at GC

Opening of the Office

On 27 March 2002, Wednesday, 17:00

At Nuclear Training Center Building at KAERI, Daejeon

      Office Facilities Equipped

      Staffs Assigned

     Celebrating Events (Ceremony and Reception)

RCARO Director Appointed

According to the Working Paper (Interim Measures), during the interim operational period, a Korean appointed Director discharges the assigned duties, including the management and administration of the RCARO. Mr Kim, Jin-Kyoung was appointed as the first Director of the RCARO as of March 2002.

RCARO Working Paper Adopted

The 31st RCA General Conference Meeting in Vienna in September 2002 adopted the ‘Working Paper on the Establishment and Operation of the RCA Regional Office in Korea’ that stipulated details of operation and management of RCARO. The Working Paper was amended by the 32nd RCA General Conference in Vienna in September 2003 that incorporated the adoption of a RCA Resolution on the Establishment of the RCA Regional Office.

RCARO Related Guidelines Adopted

The 31st RCA General Conference Meeting in Vienna in September 2002 also adopted the following guidelines related to the operation of the RCARO. Guidelines on the Operation of the Advisory Committee of the RCA Regional Office Guidelines on the Operation of the Selection Committee for the Director of the RCA Regional Office Guidelines on the Selection and Appointment of the Director of the RCA Regional Office

RCARO Advisory Committee Constituted

The RCARO Advisory Committee (AC) was constituted at the 24th Meeting of National RCA Representatives in Korea in March 2002. Members elected are the National RCA Representatives of AUL, BGD, CPR, IND and ROK as the host country of the RCA Regional Office, and the RCA Coordinator on behalf of the IAEA. The AC elected BGD as the Chair. In March 2004, the AC was reconstituted. BGD was replaced by PHI. The AC elected AUL as the new Chair.

RCA Resolution Adopted

The 32nd RCA General Conference Meeting in Vienna in September 2003 adopted the RCA Resolution on the Establishment of the RCA Regional Office that reconfirmed the roles and functions of the Director of the RCA Regional Office and requested the Government of the Republic of Korea to continue all necessary support for the RCA Regional Office, and also requested all RCA Member States to support and cooperate with the RCA Regional Office.

Selection Committee Constituted

In March 2004, the 5-member Selection Committee for a Director of RCA Regional Office was constituted. 3 members were recommended by the AC while 2 other members were designated by the host country and the IAEA. 3 members recommended by the AC are Dr John F Easey (AUL), Dr Anil Kumar Anand (IND) and Dr Corazon C Bernido (PHI). On behalf of the host country, Dr Chung-Won Cho, Director General, Atomic Energy Bureau, MOST was nominated. On behalf of the IAEA, Dr M Prinath Dias, the RCA Coordinator was nominated.