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IAEA, Azerbaijan mull bilateral relations

1 April 2016 18:29 (UTC+04:00)
IAEA, Azerbaijan mull bilateral relations

By Nazrin Gadimova

Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano on the sidelines of the 4th Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.

Mammadyarov expressed satisfaction with the cooperation between Azerbaijan and the IAEA, noting that the country is interested in further development of these relations.

The minister presented the document on approval of Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material by Azerbaijan to Yukiya Amano. The document establishes measures related to the prevention, detection and punishment of offenses relating to nuclear material.

Amano, in turn, said that much progress has been made in this area in recent years, expressing hope that the amendment will come into force in the near future.

Touching upon IAEA’s activity, he said that nuclear technology is being used in areas such as health, agriculture, industry and water management. Amano then noted that the organization is actively involved in the treatment of diseases such as cancer and diabetes, as well as fights against the spread of hazardous viruses in the world.

He also expressed satisfaction with the establishment of the Nuclear Medicine Center under the National Centre of Oncology in the framework of the Technical Cooperation Programme between the IAEA and Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, threats arising from the activity of outdated 'Metsamor' Nuclear Power Plant, which locates in Armenia and is a source of serious danger to the whole region, was the main topic of the discussion.

Built in 1970, Metsamor was closed down after a devastating earthquake in Spitak in 1988, but resumed operation in 1995 despite international outrage.

Metsamor accumulated financial liabilities of 9-9.5 billion drams ($23.3 million), but the amount rapidly increased in the past few years as a result of the ineffective management of foreign loans and credits.

The European Union labeled Metsamor NPP a danger to the entire region several years ago. Head of the European Union Delegation to Armenia Traian Hristea said in March 2013 that the EU continues to ask Armenia to stop using the Metsamor nuclear power plant as soon as possible.

Regional countries Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Georgia have repeatedly urged Armenia to close the outdated Metsamor NPP immediately. However, Armenia still does not attach any particular importance to nuclear safety.

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Nazrin Gadimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @NazrinGadimova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz

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