MINSK, 17 September (BelTA) - Belarus has called on the IAEA to respond in a measured and principled manner to actions that pose a threat to nuclear security, Andrei Dapkiunas, the head of the Belarusian delegation, Belarus' Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, said as he addressed the 69th session of the IAEA General Conference, BelTA has learned.
The Belarusian delegation expressed its appreciation to Director General Rafael Grossi for his competent leadership and persistent efforts in promoting recognition of the important role of nuclear energy and nuclear technologies in global sustainable development as a safe, sustainable, and reliable energy source.
“Belarus supports the Agency's efforts to expand access to nuclear technologies in energy, healthcare, and agriculture and strengthen international cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear energy,” Andrei Dapkiunas stated. “Last year's conference on nuclear science, applications, and technical cooperation, along with the success of the Agency's flagship initiatives, are clear examples of these important endeavors. However, today we are compelled to speak not only the successes of the IAEA."
He pointed out that Belarus is deeply concerned about the new security challenges facing the international community, which are testing the resilience of the IAEA.
"Several months ago, we witnessed a sharp escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. The strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities under Agency safeguards have caused us extreme alarm,” he said. “These actions threaten the safety of civilian populations and the environment. They risk extremely serious consequences for the entire nuclear non-proliferation system. In the absence of an appropriate international response, they pose a threat of similar scenarios being repeated in other regions of the world.”
“We strongly condemn any attacks on nuclear energy infrastructure and call on the IAEA to respond in a measured and principled manner to actions that pose a threat to nuclear security,” Andrei Dapkiunas emphasized.
“We reiterate that the Agency's authority and strength rely on the non-politicized nature of its mandate and its strict adherence to it. The IAEA must continue to play the role of the primary international mechanism for expanding access to the benefits of peaceful nuclear energy to a growing number of countries.” Andrei Dapkiunas noted. “Addressing the Agency's internal procedures, we believe it is important to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness. It is necessary to optimize the format of the General Conference resolutions: they should become concise, clear, and application-oriented. This will allow for the rational use of delegations' working time and enhance the practical impact of the adopted documents. In this regard, we welcome the new schedule of the Board of Governors,” the Belarusian diplomat said.
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