Vice-Minister Valys at the IAEA meeting – focus on the energy situation in Ukraine
On 30 January, at the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors' extraordinary meeting, which was held at the request of Lithuania and eleven other countries, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Taurimas Valys, emphasized the critical energy situation in Ukraine.
“Russia’s massive attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure pose a serious threat to nuclear safety in Ukraine. The unstable situation could become even more dangerous if further strikes are directed at electrical substations that are critical for the operation of nuclear power plants,” said the Vice-Minister.
According to Valys, intensified Russian attacks during harsh winter weather, leaving many Ukrainians without electricity, heating, and water, are gross violations of international humanitarian law that constitute war crimes. During the meeting, the Vice-Minister urged the IAEA Board of Governors to do a thorough assessment of the energy situation in Ukraine and the impact of Russian attacks on the safety of Ukraine's nuclear power plants.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an independent international organization within the United Nations system with 180 member states. The Board of Governors comprises 35 member states. At the present time Lithuania is the only country from the Nordic-Baltic region that has the status of a full-fledged member of the IAEA Board of Governors with the right to vote on decisions. Lithuania has been elected to the Board of Governors for the second time since joining the organization in 1993. Lithuania previously served on the IAEA Board of Governors from 2007 to 2009.
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