Go to mediabankThe headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). File photoWASHINGTON, Oct 26The IAEA International Ministerial Conference «Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century» starts on Wednesday in the US capital Washington without Russia's in-person participation, RIA Novosti correspondent reports. The forum will last until October 28 inclusive and will bring together dozens of relevant officials and experts from all over the world. Among them are Agency CEO Rafael Grossi, US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, International Energy Agency Director Fatih Birol, American businessman and philanthropist Bill Gates, and many others. The program of the event includes both individual presentations and panel discussions.Russia submitted comments to the IAEA on the idea of a protective zone around ZNPPThe main stated keynotes of the conference are the creation of conditions for the wider use of nuclear energy, as well as its role in the context of sustainable development and climate change mitigation. «Participants will discuss and exchange views on key issues related to development and the introduction of nuclear energy, including the reliability and flexibility of the nuclear industry during the global crisis provoked by COVID-19, and its role in economic recovery in the context of the ongoing pandemic,” the organizers said ahead of the start of the forum. The event was planned to be attended by a Russian delegation consisting of representatives of the state corporation «Rosatom» and Rostekhnadzor. However, the US authorities did not issue visas to the Russian delegates, despite the fact that the applications were submitted by them in advance and in accordance with the established procedure. Thus, the general director of Rosatom, Alexei Likhachev, will take part in the upcoming conference in the format of a video message. The Russian Foreign Ministry responded with criticism, saying that Washington «absolutely unacceptable way and without any reason» blocked the participation of the Russian Federation in such an important event. According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, by such a step the United States «reduces the level of this, of course, a significant event.» Zakharova reminded that representatives of the Russian Federation have something to say on the topic of peaceful atom, where the country traditionally occupies a leading position. the dirty bomb issue
