Russia is interested in discussing reforms in the International Atomic Energy Agency to improve its efficiency, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a meeting with IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano.

“The agency is now at an important stage in its evolution. A crucial part of your work is implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA). But we understand that such an institution cannot exist without evolution and reform. This is why we are so much interested in discussing the issue in an effort to make the Agency more efficient in full compliance with the principles set out in the Non-Proliferation Treaty,” the IAEA quotes Lavrov as saying.

In his turn, Yukiya Amano stated that the IAEA appreciates Russia’s contribution to reaching the agreement on the Iranian nuclear program. As previously reported, Russia will provide $6 million before 2021 for the IAEA to finance nuclear safety projects in the IAEA member states and improve security of radioactive materials.

Nikolai Spassky, Rosatom Deputy CEO for International Relations, and IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano held regular annual talks. Individual meetings were also held with Deputy Directors General for Nuclear Energy, Management, Nuclear Sciences and Applications, and Nuclear Safety and Security. Russia was represented by the resident representative of Russia to international organizations in Vienna and the deputy director of Rostechnadzor (Russia’s regulatory authority).

They discussed all the substantive questions on the agenda and paid special attention to the Russian involvement in IAEA programs and projects and Russia’s representation in the IAEA Secretariat. The parties also considered technical aspects of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action adopted by UN Security Council Resolution 2231. Representative of the both parties called the meetings to be ‘timely and useful’ and agreed to make them regular.