Azerbaijan, Baku, 23 January /corr. Trend E.Huseynli / The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Azerbaijan's Cabinet of Ministers, reached to an agreement upon the construction of the first nuclear-research reactor. "During the meeting with the Chairman of the IAEA at the Cabinet of Ministers, an agreement was reached that the project will be fully ready by the end of March," said Adil Garibov, the IAEA representative in Azerbaijan, Director of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences' Institute for Radiation Problems.
The visit of the IAEA manager to the Azerbaijan, Andrei Chupov, began on 22 January. The visit is aimed at discussing the projects that will be realized by the Agency in Azerbaijan. The projects also include the construction of the first nuclear-research reactor in Azerbaijan.
According to Garibov, the Government of Azerbaijan will assist the IAEA in creating conditions for the construction of a nuclear reactor. According to the initial agreement, the capacity of the reactor will reach 20-25 MWt. He added that after assessing the project and determining the place, the IAEA representatives will come to Azerbaijan by the end of March or the beginning of April. He said that the cost of the project will depend upon the fact that from where the reactor will be purchased. The reactors in Canada, the USA and Russia are considered as the safest and most modern reactors. In addition, Garibov said that in future the topic of discussions will be the construction of an Atomic Energy Power Station in Azerbaijan.
The IAEA experts visit to Baku will be continue for three days.