At IAEA, 37 nations call on Russia to withdraw troops from Ukraine’s Zaporizhia NPP
That’s according to an EU Statement at IAEA Board of Governors on nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine.
“The EU and its Member States will never recognise Russia’s attempted illegal seizure of the ZNPP. We strongly call on Russia to withdraw its military equipment and all personnel, including that of ROSATOM from the ZNPP, and return its full control to its rightful owner, Ukraine,” the statement reads.
The statement was joined by North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Ukraine.
It is stated that the Russian Federation “has shown no sign of complying with the three resolutions adopted by the IAEA Board of Governors in 2022, or the previous consensus resolutions of the IAEA General Conference which state that ‘any armed attack on and threat against nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes constitutes a violation of the principles of the UN Charter, international law and the Statute of the Agency.’”
Each of the “seven indispensable pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security in an armed conflict,” advanced by the IAEA Director General last year has been compromised as a result of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine.
“Many near-miss incidents have taken place. A nuclear accident with all its radiological consequences could so far be avoided, largely thanks to the resilience and dedication of the Ukrainian operating staff. The Russian Federation must stop pressuring the Ukrainian staff. They are working in increasingly small numbers and under high stress to maintain the safety and security of the ZNPP,” the statement says.
It is noted that the EU fully supports the IAEA’s work to assist Ukraine in maintaining nuclear safety and security, and to implement safeguards pursuant to Ukraine’s safeguards obligations. We stress the importance of the IAEA’s continued presence at all Ukraine’s nuclear facilities.
“We also continue to support the IAEA Director General’s efforts to reach agreement on the establishment of a nuclear safety and security protection zone around the ZNPP, in full respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty,” the 37 nations state.
They recall that, since the start of the war, the EU has provided Ukraine with nearly €53 million in nuclear safety related assistance of which €5.6 million is channelled through the IAEA. This does not include nuclear safety and security assistance provided by EU Member States bilaterally or through the IAEA.
No EU funding will be provided to IAEA projects directly benefitting Russia or Belarus, and no EU experts will participate in IAEA meetings taking place in Russia or Belarus.
“We would encourage the IAEA Secretariat not to invite high-level Russian representatives to IAEA-sponsored events. We encourage all IAEA Member States to follow a similar approach and scrutinise their respective projects and activities in order to avoid entering into cooperation with those who grossly violate international law. The aggressor is being isolated from the community of law-abiding countries and must be held accountable,” the statement reads.
As reported, overnight Thursday, March 9, Russia launched a massive missile attack on critical infrastructure objects across Ukraine. As a result of the strikes, the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant was completely de-energized. At present, the ZNPP power supply has been restored, switching from diesel generators to electricity from Ukraine’s power system.
Photo: otveri.info
