Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 18 April (BelTA) - Belarus has no closed topics in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said as he met with IAEA Director General Yukio Amano in Minsk, BelTA has learned.

Vladimir Makei stressed that Belarus is ready to discuss all the issues that might be of interest to the IAEA Director General during his visit to the country.

The Minister noted that the IAEA is one of the most influential international organizations in the field of nuclear safety. Belarus, according to the Minister, is ready to do everything possible to strengthen the Agency's positions.

This is the second time Yukio Amano visits Belarus. His first visit took place in 2012. IAEA Chief Yukiya Amano believes that he chose a good time to visit the country again. At the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, he expressed confidence that his visit will help examine the progress, the changes that have taken place in Belarus in the field of nuclear energy for the past four years.

The visit will last till 20 April. It is expected that the IAEA Director General will take part in the opening of the Atomexpo exhibition in Minsk, will visit the construction site of the Belarus' NPP in Ostrovets and the National Emergency Management and Response Center.

Belarus is one of the founding countries of the IAEA. The country also takes part in all the international conventions concluded under the auspices of the IAEA. The political contacts are maintained at a consistently high level. The IAEA senior officials regularly visit Belarus. In 2015, for the third time in two years, the country was elected to the IAEA Board of Governors. The priorities of the cooperation between Belarus and the IAEA include the development of the national nuclear energy infrastructure, health, and rehabilitation of the areas affected by the Chernobyl accident.