Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend E.Huseynli / The construction of the first nuclear reactor in Azerbaijan will be discussed at the 51st session of the General Assembly of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), due on 17-21 September, Adil Garibov, IAEA representative on nuclear sciences as well as Director of the Institute of Radiation Problems of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan.
The Azerbaijan Government has given its consent to the construction of a nuclear reactor in the country. Garibov said that if the issue is adopted at the IAEA General Assembly, the construction will be set up in 2009. He noted that the General Assembly will discuss the establishment of new equipment in Azerbaijan for sterilization of foodstuff through advanced methods - the radiation method. IAEA has given its preliminary consent on this issue, he added.
Azerbaijan has obtained membership at the IAEA in May 2001 and participated in 12 IAEA conventions.