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Ukraine seeks regularly high level of relations with IAEA

President Yanukovich reiterated Ukraine’s proposals for the creation of a centre for nuclear safety on the basis of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant

© ITAR-TASS/Mikhail Klimentyev

VIENNA, November 22, 18:21 /ITAR-TASS/. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich has confirmed his country’s readiness for further fruitful cooperation in nuclear security with the International Atomic Energy Agency, Yanukovich’s press-service said.

“We are interested in a regularly high level of relations with the International Atomic Energy Agency,” Yanukovich said after a meeting with IAEA Director-General Yukiya Amano on Friday, reiterating Ukraine’s proposals for the creation of a centre for nuclear safety on the basis of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant that would be included in the IAEA structure.

This would be further steps towards cooperation among the IAEA, the United Nations and countries ready to support the financing of the centre, he said.

“Ukraine is open for any proposals concerning the creation of such a centre,” Yanukovich said. “We have unique experience that can be generalised and unified on the basis of the centre.”

Yanukovich invited Amano to visit Ukraine next year and monitor how the construction of a sarcophagus encasing Chernobyl is being built.

Amano, in turn, confirmed the IAEA’s interest in cooperation with Ukraine and stressed importance of works to build a protective casing for Chernobyl.

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