Lithuania condemned Russia's aggression against Ukraine and empasized the importance of ensuring the protection of nuclear facilities and materials in Ukraine
On March 28, 2022 Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the International Organizations in Vienna, Ambassador Vaidotas Verba, delivering a national statement at the the Review Conference of the Amended Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (A/CCPNM), condemned Russia's unprovoked, unjustifiable military aggression against Ukraine.
Ambassador V. Verba noted that it was completely unacceptable that Russia continued to exercise its exclusive, privileged role at the IAEA, despite its outrageous and irresponsible military actions in Ukraine in violation of international law. He emphasized that this aggression reiterates the urgent need for legally binding international instrument prohibiting armed attacks against any nuclear installation devoted to peaceful purposes."
V. Verba expressed Lithuania's full support to IAEA Director General’s initiative to promote a set of practical commitments to ensure preservation of the seven indispensable pillars of safety and security at all nuclear facilities in Ukraine. Lithuania called for an urgent IAEA assistance in a close cooperation and coordination with Ukraine in the areas, which Ukraine would indicate as the most vulnerable.
Ambassador V. Verba called all states, including neighboring Belarus, to ratify the Amendment to the CCPNM. Lithuania acceded to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material in 1993, and ratified its Amendment in May 2008.
The A/CCPNM Review Conference will end on April 1.
