The 61^st session of the IAEA General Conference started its work at the IAEA’s headquarters in Vienna on 18 September. In the course of the week-long conference, the delegates will discuss a range of topics such as enhancing the international cooperation in nuclear safety and security, nuclear science, technology and applications, and IAEA technical cooperation programme.

The Delegation of Ukraine to the 61^st IAEA General Conference headed by Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine Ihor Nasalyk includes the officials from the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Agency for Exclusion Zone Management, National Nuclear Energy Generating Company Energoatom as well as the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna.

In his statement delivered on 18 September, Head of the Delegation of Ukraine Ihor Nasalyk underlined that Ukraine supports the IAEA efforts aimed at strengthening the effectiveness and improving the efficiency of its safeguards system and finds it vital to continue further improvement and optimization of safeguards regime in order to effectively respond to the growing verification requirements of Member States in this regard. It was stated that Ukraine recognizes the Secretariat‘s professional work in preparation of the IAEA Annual Report for 2016, which is based on the norms of international law, the IAEA Statute and respective safeguards agreements.

The Head of the Delegation of Ukraine underlined that the IAEA, as well as the Member States of the Agency, made it very clear that they will not tolerate any audacious attempts of the Russian Federation to extend its jurisdiction over the nuclear material and facilities situated on the temporarily occupied territory of the Crimean peninsula.

Statement by the Head of the Delegation of Ukraine at the IAEA 61^st General Conference can be found at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine