Italy is a steadfast partner in the challenges facing the IAEA today with a long history of achievements in the nuclear field, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi emphasized this week as he travelled to Rome to meet with country’s leadership. In a two-day visit, Mr Grossi met with Italy’s President and Foreign Minister, as well as His Holiness Pope Francis, to engage on a variety of issues including nuclear safety and security in Ukraine, nuclear non-proliferation, and the role of nuclear science and technology in combating climate change.
In his meeting with Sergio Mattarella, Mr Grossi thanked the President for his country’s continuous support to the IAEA, particularly to the Agency’s assistance to the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine — Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. In September the IAEA established a permanent presence at ZNPP beset with power outages caused by shelling, putting nuclear safety and security at the plant at risk. Mr Grossi thanked Mr Mattarella for his support to the IAEA’s mission.
Mr Grossi also praised Italy’s efforts to promote global dialogue. In December the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) organised the high-level initiative ‘Mediterranean Dialogues’, to engage prominent leaders of Mediterranean governments, business, civil society, media and academia on common challenges. Mr Grossi participated in the event, describing it as a fascinating discussion on the future of multilateralism and the importance of effective international organizations.
Meeting with Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Mr Grossi thanked Italy for its essential backing to the Agency’s work, including through its role as the chair of the IAEA’s General Conference — the organization’s supreme decision-making body.
Mr Tajani expressed his full support to the IAEA’s activities in Ukraine, saying: “Regarding Zaporizhzhya, we are working to protect Europe from possible damage.” In September, Italy joined Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, the United States of America, as well as the European Union, in issuing a joint statement of support for establishing a nuclear safety and protection at ZNPP.