The West continues to put pressure on IAEA, says Zakharova

MOSCOW, Sep.7, (ST)- The West continues to put pressure on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday, commenting on the agency’s report on the results of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) inspection.

“The fact that the West has been putting pressure (on the IAEA) all the time, and does not stop, is obvious,” Zakharova told radio broadcaster Sputnik.

The RIA Novosti news agency quoted Zakharova as saying Russia had provided full data on the source of shelling to the IAEA and was questioning why the organization did not name Ukraine as the source of attacks on the nuclear power plant in its report.

She also said Ukraine was coordinating its attacks on the facility with the help of the United States and other Western states.

In this context, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya told reporters that his country is still waiting for concrete details of the initiative to establish a demilitarized zone around the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (NPP),.

Commenting on the possibility of a demilitarized zone around the NPP, suggested by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi earlier on Tuesday, Nebenzya said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres came up with the initiative “a couple of months ago.”

“So, the first question I’ve asked [was]: I want to know the details. Same is the case here. I don’t know what Director General Grossi means by that, [or] to what extent it would improve the safety,” he told reporters.

“In the current circumstances, this [demilitarization] will not be a measure to protect the plant,” he said. “The only reasonable way to ensure that the plant is protected from nuclear accidents is to stop Ukrainian shelling of the plant.”

On Tuesday, the IAEA summed up the results of its inspection visit to the nuclear power facilities in Ukraine, including the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (ZNPP), and published a corresponding report. The IAEA urged in its report to immediately set up a security zone around the ZNPP. The agency stated its readiness to immediately launch consultations on this issue because such a step will help to prevent a nuclear incident that may be possibly provoked by military actions.

A few hours later, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told the UN Security Council via a video linkup that he would soon send his proposals on Zaporozhye NPP security to the sides.

Compiled by: Basma Qaddour