(United Nations) The director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said he was “encouraged” by the reactions of Russia and Ukraine to the five “concrete principles” he presented on Tuesday for avoid a “nuclear accident” at the Ukrainian power plant in Zaporizhya.
“Today represents a step in the right direction regarding the safety of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant,” Rafael Grossi told the UN Security Council, still insisting despite everything on his concerns of a nuclear “catastrophe”. .
“We are heartened by the expression of support for our work […] including the five principles I have established today,” he added.
The head of the UN body has been conducting negotiations for months to ensure the protection of this site in south-eastern Ukraine, where the situation is considered very precarious due to the bombardments linked to the fighting.
With this in mind, he presented Tuesday before the Council in New York his “basic principles necessary to prevent a nuclear accident”.
First of these, “there must be no attack of any kind from or against the plant, in particular targeting reactors, spent fuel or other infrastructure, or personnel”.
PHOTO ALEXANDER ERMOCHENKO, REUTERS ARCHIVES
Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine
These principles also include that the site is not used to store heavy weapons or military personnel, that the plant cannot be disconnected from the electricity grid and that it is protected from acts of sabotage.
“The IAEA’s five principles for avoiding a nuclear accident are thus established. The IAEA intends to start monitoring the application of these principles through its mission on the site”, he added, then specifying to the press that with this in mind, the presence of the agency would be “enhanced”.
Realistic measurements
This plant, the largest in Europe, is located on the banks of the Dnieper River which, in this area, separates the two camps.
It has been targeted several times by gunfire and has been cut off from the electricity grid seven times since its capture by the Russian army on March 4, 2022.
Rafael Grossi, who has a team of experts on site, visited the site at the end of March and has since intensified his efforts, warning of “the very real danger of a nuclear accident”.
Initially mentioned, the idea of a demilitarized zone around the site was abandoned in favor of realistic measures, acceptable to both Kyiv and Moscow.
The Russian and Ukrainian ambassadors mutually rejected the responsibility for the situation in Zaporijjia, without excluding the principles presented by the head of the IAEA.
“The proposals of Mr. Grossi […] are in accordance with the measures that we have put in place for a long time”, commented the Russian ambassador Vassili Nebenzia, accusing Kyiv and its Western allies of being responsible for the “threats” against the safety of the plant.
“We take note of the general manager’s principles for ensuring the safety and security of the Zaporizhia power plant,” replied Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya, noting that they could apply to all power plants in the world.
However, “due to the unique situation, with the illegal occupation of the station by another State, these principles must be supplemented with a request for the total demilitarization and an end of the occupation” of the plant, he said. He insists.
There are certainly “different approaches”, but “what is important is the minimum common denominator, these five basic principles, which have been widely supported. No voice was opposed to it, ”said Mr. Grossi.