SOCHI, March 6. /TASS/. Delegations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Russian state corporation Rosatom discussed the future safe start of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev told reporters after talks with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.

"We discussed these issues talking the same language and we are opinion allies as regards the absolute security priority of the Zaporozhye nuclear plant. The difference of the today’s talk from negotiations held before, and there were a lot of them, is probably that we dedicated no less time not merely to today but also the future. We also talked about what should be done to turn the Zaporozhye plant into an operating one, what steps should be taken to ensure its safety not merely in shutdown conditions as now but also in active operating conditions," Likhachev said.

Presence of IAEA observers at the plant during eighteen months is an extra element to provide for its security, the chief executive added.

"There is still much to be done for it [plant start - TASS], including final elimination of the threat of physical attack and power plant capture by Kiev authorities, We also talked about that today. The role of IAEA will be the key one for us not merely in statements of security, not merely in current existence of the Zaporozhye nuclear plant, but also in its further efficient operation," Likhachev noted.