Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called on the Agency to step up efforts to help member states enhance their nuclear safety infrastructures, Press TV reported.
"The IAEA should fulfill its crucial role in strengthening nuclear safety infrastructures," ISNA quoted Ali Asghar Soltanieh, head of the Group 77 and China, as saying on Monday.
He said at a meeting of the Board of Governors of the IAEA that the Group of 77 and China calls on the Agency to render assistance to developing countries to help them overcome challenges and establish safety infrastructures for nuclear facilities.
He called on the IAEA to facilitate the exchange of information between member states so that they are provided with essential information pertaining to peaceful nuclear activities.
Soltanieh said that the IAEA member states were obliged to strengthen national regulatory infrastructure for nuclear and radiation safety but added that safety issues should not constitute an obstacle to the development of peaceful nuclear technology.
He said that while the IAEA was in charge of developing nuclear safety infrastructures, its duties were limited to providing consultation upon any official request from member states.
Under the terms of Article III of its Statute, the IAEA is authorized to establish standards of safety for protection against ionizing radiation and to provide for the application of these standards to peaceful nuclear activities.
The IAEA, under the terms of Articles III and VIII.C of its Statute, also makes available and fosters the exchange of information relating to peaceful nuclear activities and serves as an intermediary among its member states for this purpose.
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