IAEA's Grossi to continue consultations with Russia, Ukraine to set up security zone around Zaporozhye NPP

BRUSSELS. Dec 23 (Interfax) - International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi will continue consultations with Russian and Ukrainian representatives concerning the establishment of a safety and security protection zone around the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant.

"Director General Grossi spoke after meeting senior Russian government officials in Moscow yesterday, including Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Russian state nuclear company Rosatom. He has earlier on several occasions discussed the proposed zone with senior Ukrainian officials in Kiev. The consultations with both sides will continue in the near future," the IAEA said in a statement.

The parties' efforts to establish a nuclear safety and security protection zone around the plant are "making headway," the statement said.

The aim is to "agree and implement the much-needed measure soon," as Grossi said today following a new round of talks," it said.

The IAEA is also preparing to deploy its teams on a permanent basis at four Ukrainian nuclear sites, i.e. the Khmelnitsky NPP, Rovno NPP, South Ukraine NPP, and Chernobyl NPP.

"These missions aim to provide technical support and assistance as needed in order to help maintain a high level of nuclear safety and security and reduce the risk of a nuclear incident or accident," it said.

Grossi said on Thursday he had conducted a new round of negotiations in Moscow on setting up a safety and security protection zone around the Zaporozhye NPP.

Rosatom had said earlier that, during the consultations on the Zaporozhye NPP between delegations from Russia and the IAEA, the parties acknowledged that their positions were close on a draft declaration on setting up a security zone around the plant.