Azerbaijani FM, IAEA Director General mull dangers posed by Metsamor NPP

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), who is visiting Baku within the framework of the Summit-level Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement Contact Group in response to COVID-19.

During the meeting, cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Agency, as well as issues of nuclear safety and guarantees, and the current situation in the region were discussed.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation in fields such as agriculture, the petrochemical industry, and medicine and said that there are broad prospects in a number of other directions as well.

The minister also noted that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to ensuring nuclear safety and emphasized the importance of observing the safety standards set by IAEA during the operation of the Metsamor nuclear power plant, where Armenia uses outdated technologies.

Noting that Azerbaijan is an important partner for IAEA, Director General Grossi noted with satisfaction the ongoing joint projects and that there are prospects for deepening cooperation with Azerbaijan in nuclear security and other areas in which the Agency specializes.

At the meeting, opinions were also exchanged on other issues of mutual interest.