IAEA Chief Seeks High-Level Nuclear Safety Conference
Director General Yukiya Amano said it should take place before this summer, as he briefed member states' representatives March 28 about the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant situation, which IAEA says remains "very serious."
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Yukiya Amano has called for a high-level IAEA conference on nuclear safety to take place in Vienna, Austria before this summer. At the time, March 28, he was briefing member states' representatives about the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant situation, which IAEA's latest update says remains "very serious."
Saying the Japanese crisis has confronted IAEA and the international community with a major challenge, Amano said it is "vitally important that we learn the right lessons from what happened on 11 March and afterwards, in order to strengthen nuclear safety throughout the world."
He proposed that the conference cover these points:
- An initial assessment of the Fukushima accident, its impact, and consequences
- Considering the lessons that need to be learned
- Launching the process of strengthening nuclear safety
- Strengthening the response to nuclear accidents and emergencies
Because IAEA offers the "necessary expertise, extensive membership, and can ensure transparency," it is the best venue for appropriately following up on the Fukushima crisis, he said.