UN denies Russia's claims of possible blockade of experts' trip to Zaporizhia

MADRID, 16 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The United Nations (UN) on Monday denied Russian accusations that they are blocking the visit of nuclear experts to the Zaporizhia nuclear plant, now occupied by the Russians, in southern Ukraine.

The spokesman for the General Secretariat, Stéphane Dujarric, has stated that "it is not true" that the UN has delayed the trip. Thus, he has added that his body has no authority to block the actions of the International Atomic Energy Organization (IAEA).

"I want to clarify some aspects (about Ukraine). First, the IAEA is a specialized organization that acts with complete independence in decisions on how to carry out a given action," he asserted before adding that the UN "has no authority to block or cancel the activities of the IAEA", explained Dujarric.

Likewise, the UN has assessed that the logistical and security capacity exists to be able to support any IAEA mission to the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. However, the spokesman clarified that this would happen as long as there is an agreement by both the Ukrainian and Russian authorities.

In addition, Dujarric has stated that the IAEA's intention is to carry out this mission "as quickly as possible." "It is their mandate and they are at the forefront," he assured. However, he has reiterated that the agreement between Russia and Ukraine is necessary. "For obvious reasons known to us, the plant is currently on Russian territory," he said.

Moscow and kyiv have been accusing each other for days of launching attacks against the plant and its surroundings, between the warnings issued by the director of the IAEA, Rafael Mariano Grossi, theoretically the person in charge of undertaking this observation and supervision mission that the Secretary General of the UN, according to Moscow has avoided approving at the moment for security reasons and itinerary problems.

"The IAEA has requested help to organize a mission, but the UN has been somewhat distant on this issue," lamented Mikhail Ulianov, Russia's permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, the usual epicenter of nuclear talks between the powers. global.

"We worked very closely with the organization in May or July and prepared the visit, but the UN Secretariat blocked it at the last moment without explaining the reasons," said the diplomat, who considered the constant fighting in area.