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IAEA to help Belarus in safe operation of future power plant: head

However, he said that if Belarus makes a final decision, the agency will be ready to help the republic use atomic energy safely and stably

ASTANA, October 12 (Itar-Tass) — The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will help Belarus safely operate the future nuclear power plant, IAEA head Yukiya Amano told a news conference within the framework of the For Nuclear-Free World international forum on Wednesday.

Yukiya Amano said IAEA does not interfere in decisions of a country as it is up to a sovereign state to make up the decision. It fully depends on decisions of the Belarussian government whether Belarus will be building nuclear power plants, he said.

However, he said that if Belarus makes a final decision, the agency will be ready to help the republic use atomic energy safely and stably. He also noted that despite the nuclear accident at the Japanese Fukushima nuclear power plant, many countries continue using atomic energy.

According to forecasts, approximately 350 new power plants will appear in addition to 130 already existing throughout the world, the IAEA head said. This means that the world will keep using atomic energy.

With that in view, he urged all countries to begin implementing a plan of actions on making nuclear power plants safer, approved in September.