MINSK, 21 September (BelTA) – The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will examine the emergency readiness and operational safety of the Belarusian nuclear power plant in 2017-2018. The planned missions were mentioned by Valery Voronetsky, Belarus’ resident representative in international organizations in Vienna, during a session of the IAEA Board of Governors, representatives of the Embassy of Belarus in Austria told BelTA.
Belarus’ representative informed those present about the nuclear safety events the country had carried out or intended to carry out together with the IAEA. It was noted that an IAEA mission will arrive in Belarus soon to evaluate the regulatory infrastructure. Preparations are in progress for an IAEA mission that will evaluate the construction site and the nuclear power plant design taking into account possible external impacts. Belarus has filed applications for arranging IAEA missions in 2017-2018 to evaluate the nuclear power plant’s readiness to respond to emergencies and the nuclear power plant’s operational safety.
Valery Voronetsky also made a speech on behalf of the Union State of Belarus and Russia. The diplomat outlined Belarus’ and Russia’s approaches to the development of international cooperation in the sphere of nuclear security. He noted that risks and threats in this area are universal and necessitate active actions on the part of every country, including the development and implementation of the relevant set of measures at the national level.
Belarus’ resident representative underlined the IAEA’s central role in international cooperation in nuclear security as the most representative and technically competent organization in this field.