MINSK, 14 September (BelTA) – Matters concerning the organization of the IAEA expert and review missions for the sake of safety of the Belarusian nuclear power plant will be discussed in Vienna, BelTA learned from Dmitry Mironchik, Head of the Information Office, Press Secretary of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The official stressed that this period in the IAEA is exceedingly active. In particular, a session of the IAEA Board of Governors is taking place in Vienna this week. A Belarusian delegation is taking part in the session. Belarus was elected to the IAEA Board of Governors for 2015-2017. This session is the final one for Belarus as a full-value member of the Board of Governors.
The agenda of the session is tightly packed. It includes reports on key fields of concern of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The number includes ways to bolster international cooperation in nuclear safety, ways to ensure nuclear security, the development of nuclear science and technologies, guarantees of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.
The 61st session of the IAEA General Conference will take place in Vienna next week. The General Conference is the key governing body of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Every year it makes decisions on all the key matters pertaining to the agency's operation. A Belarusian delegation led by Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk will take part in the session. Members of the delegation are expected to meet with top IAEA officials and representatives of the IAEA Secretariat in order to discuss a broad range of practical cooperation matters. The organization of IAEA expert and peer review missions for the sake of ensuring the safety of the Belarusian nuclear power plant will be discussed among other things. Belarus has already invited such missions. They will visit the country before the nuclear power plant is commissioned. In March 2018 Belarus will welcome an IAEA mission on emergency readiness and response. Prior to commissioning the first power-generating unit of the nuclear power plant Belarus will welcome a mission, which will evaluate the facility's readiness for operation.
The third exhibition dedicated to the Belarusian nuclear power plant will be arranged on the sidelines of the IAEA General Conference this year.
