Belarus Participates in 56th IAEA Conference

From the materials of the press briefing by the MFA Press Secretary Andrei Savinykh held on September 20, 2012

20/09/2012

From September 17 to 21, 2012 Vienna hosts the 56th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Belarusian delegation headed by the Deputy Minister of Energy Mikhail Mikhadiuk takes part in the event.

Key agenda issues of the Conference are review of the lessons learned from the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in Japan, improving the level of nuclear security, physical protection of nuclear and radioactive materials, strengthening the effectiveness and improving the efficiency of the safeguards system, implementation of IAEA guarantees, implementation of the IAEA technical cooperation activities, financing of the Agency's activities. The participants will also examine the issue of improving the IAEC decision-taking mechanism.

On September 18 the head of the Belarusian delegation spoke at the plenary session. M.Mikhadiuk informed the participants about the work conducted at the national level on implementation of the nuclear power plant construction project. He underlined that the main priority of our state in this area is ensuring the highest level of nuclear security.

The fruitful cooperation with the Agency on a whole range of issues related to the development of the national nuclear energy was noted. A vivid example in this context is the visit to Belarus of the IAEA Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review mission in June 2012. The results of the mission will be an important reference point for our country in implementation of the nuclear power plant construction project.

Touching upon the IAEA guarantees issue the Belarusian representative have once again confirmed that Belarus is a convinced and consistent supporter of strengthening and universalization of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and strictly follows its obligations within the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Agreement on Implementation of Guarantees.

Within the participation of the Belarusian delegation in the work of the General Conference the head of the delegation met with the IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano and Deputy Director General — Head of the Department of Nuclear Energy Alexander Bychkov, who will visit Belarus in the beginning of the October of the current year. A number of meetings with the delegations of other IAEA member states is scheduled. Belarusian representatives are also expected to participate in the events running simultaneously with the General Conference: plenary session of the Regulatory Cooperation Forum, annual meeting of the heads of the regulatory authorities, meeting on role and challenges of future owner/operators in embarking countries on nuclear power.

print version