IAEA Board of Governors Meeting Online

Source: IAEA

The regular meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency was held entirely in virtual format from 16 to 20 November 2020. Hungary, as member of the Board of Governors since 2019, could delegate three representatives to participate in the online meeting.

Highlights of the Board meeting included a report on the activities in 2020 of the IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme, and plans for the second year of the 2020-21 TC cycle as well as the IAEA ZODIAC project (using nuclear science to combat zoonotic diseases).

Regarding Technical Cooperation, in our statements Hungary thanked the Agency for providing assistance to our country in strengthening our national capacities for the rapid detection of the COVID-19. We also commended the Agency on its efforts of tackling the consequences of the pandemic including sending out equipment based on a nuclear-derived technique to rapidly detect the coronavirus to more than 120 countries (Hungary among them) and organizing related online trainings and events. Hungary also expressed its support for both the ZODIAC and the planned TC project as very important initiatives. The Board approved the project for the implementation of ZODIAC.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has briefed representatives of member states on nuclear safeguards issues around the world. Speaking about Iran, the IAEA Director General said that the agency had been granted the access it wanted to specific locations in this country after his visit to Tehran in August, so the Agency continues to verify the safeguards agreement of Iran.

However, Mr Grossi expressed serious concern about North Korea’s nuclear activities and called on the country to cooperate with IAEA inspectors.

For more information on the Board meeting please click here.