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Rotation format at Zaporozhye NPP proposed by IAEA fraught with risks — diplomat

Maria Zakharova emphasized that Russia "provided security guarantees to the experts ahead of time" and "outlined the specific rotation format"

© Russian Defense Ministry Press Service/TASS

MOSCOW, February 5. /TASS/. A new rotation pattern for experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) proposed by the organization was fraught with unacceptably high risks while the Russian side informed of its readiness to follow the tried-and-tested rotation format, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a commentary.

The diplomat emphasized that Russia "provided security guarantees to the experts ahead of time" and "outlined the specific rotation format."

"However, less than two days before its beginning, the IAEA Secretariat proposed to alter the earlier agreed and repeatedly tested order of crossing the line of combat engagement. Since the conditions proposed by the Secretariat presented unacceptably high risks, both for the agency’s representatives and for the Russian servicemen who ensure their safety, and considering earlier provocations on the part of Ukraine during IAEA rotations at the ZNPP, the Secretariat was informed of our readiness to carry out the rotation of staff according to the previously agreed pattern," the diplomat noted.

In spite of this, representatives from the IAEA Secretariat informed the Russian authorities that the rotation was canceled, Zakharova explained. "The Russian Federation continues to work with the IAEA leadership in order to ensure the agency representatives’ safe and secure stay and work at the plant," she added.

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