IAEA chief underscores commitment to nuclear safety and verification

The Director General of the UN nuclear watchdog, IAEA, opened its 70th General Conference on Monday in Vienna with a message full of optimism, stressing that despite the many difficulties and tensions the world is witnessing a “common spirit of dedication” still guides the work of the UN agency. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Mariano Grossi said that this shared spirit is clearly demonstrated in the efforts of cancer experts who provide assistance and training to oncologists in Africa, in the work of nuclear safety experts on the frontlines of the effort to prevent a nuclear disaster on the battlefields of Ukraine. He also praised the “silent work” of the agency’s nuclear inspectors. The General Conference is the IAEA’s main policy-making body which meets annually in September, which is likely to attract around 4,000 attendees through the week. Progress in Syria and UkraineMr. Grossi also cited the agency’s work in verifying Syria’s compliance with its nuclear safeguards obligations as evidence of why multilateral action matters, and the role of the IAEA and the UN in moving problems “from the column of concerning issues to the column of normalcy.” He also noted th...