IAEA Board of Governors
Extraordinary Meeting
Australian Statement
Ms Ana Centilmen, Alternate Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
12 July 2024
Chair
Russia’s missile attacks on several Ukrainian cities, including the National Children’s Specialized Hospital Ohmatdyt in Kyiv, are abhorrent. Australia condemns the targeting of civilian infrastructure and calls for those responsible to be held to account.
We reiterate that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a gross violation of international law, including the UN Charter, and that Australia strongly supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The bombing of the children’s hospital in Kyiv has not only caused the tragic loss of civilian life, but also damaged and rendered unusable important medical equipment in the Radiology Center of the hospital.
We recognise the valuable role that the IAEA plays through technical cooperation programmes to support cancer diagnostics, radiation therapy, medical imaging and other medical applications of nuclear technology, including programmes in Ukraine.
While we have spoken often in meetings of this Board of the threats Russia’s invasion poses for Ukraine’s nuclear facilities, this latest development, with the destruction of health facilities and vital cancer treatment equipment, again reiterates to us that the most effective means of protecting Ukraine’s nuclear infrastructure involves Russia’s complete and immediate withdrawal from Ukraine, including its occupied or controlled territories.
Chair
Australia commends the IAEA’s commitment to monitoring the situation at Ukraine’s nuclear facilities, including establishment of a continuous presence at all of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants.
We reiterate our support for the Director General’s seven indispensable pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security during an armed conflict.
It is regrettable that Russia has repeatedly failed to comply with multiple resolutions of the Board of Governors that have called for Russia to cease all actions against or at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and other Ukrainian nuclear facilities. We call again on Russia to comply fully with all resolutions on this topic adopted by the Board and by the General Conference.