Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the International Organizations in Vienna presented his letter of credence to the Director General of IAEA
On September 9, 2021, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Lithuania to the International Organizations in Vienna, Ambassador Mr Vaidotas Verba, presented his letter of credence to the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mr. Rafael, Mariano Grossi.
During their meeting, the IAEA Director General and Ambassador Vaidotas Verba exchanged views on questions that are put very high on the IAEA agenda for coming years. They also discussed preparations for IAEA General Conference, scheduled for September 20-24, 2021.
Ambassador V. Verba expressed his assurance that nuclear safety and security remain among the top priorities of the Lithuanian Government. Lithuania continues to ensure the highest level of nuclear safety and security standards in the Ignalina nuclear power plant, put under decommissioning. He noted that IAEA peer review missions is a good tool for maintaining highest safety and security standards, and that Lithuania is using this instrument to full extent. Lithuanian experts and scientists also take part also take part at different projects of technical cooperation, where they gain new experience, or share theirs.
Questions, regarding the Ostrovets nuclear power plant, recently granted the licence for commercial operation, were also discussed. Ambassador pointed out with big regret, that the commissioning of the NPP in Ostrovets was done in rush, without implementation of all experts’ safety recommendations and without open and transparent dialogue neither with local community, nor with bordering states. Director General of IAEA has demonstrated his good knowledge of the concerns, constantly being raised by Lithuania, and assured his personal and his staff’s assistance in helping Lithuanian institutions to find answers to the questions of the biggest concern in the margins of the IAEA competence.
