IAEA passes anti-Russian resolution despite Kiev's shelling of ZNPP

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
15 Sep 2022 20:12
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In light of the recent shelling that occurred at the nuclear power plant, the political inclinations of the agency are becoming more and more obvious.

ZNPP is shelled by Ukraine, yet Russia is the party called to withdraw.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board passed a resolution on Thursday calling on Russia to withdraw its forces from the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant.

According to sources, the resolution urged Russia to "cease all actions against, and at, the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant and any other nuclear facility in Ukraine."

The resolution however made no mention of the systematic shelling of the nuclear power plant by Kiev.

Earlier today, the Russian Permanent Mission to International Organizations in Vienna said, "Western countries voted through the IAEA Board of Governors to drag an anti-Russian resolution on the Ukrainian issue.

It explained that the resolution has a fatal point of weakness, which consists of complete silence over Ukraine's shelling of the plant.

"The Achilles' heel of this resolution is that it does not say a word about the systematic shelling of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, which is the main problem in terms of ensuring nuclear safety and nuclear security in the world. The reason is simple — the shelling is carried out by Ukraine, which Western countries support and defend in every possible way," the Mission said.

Russia and China voted against this document, whereas Burundi, Vietnam, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Senegal, and South Africa abstained.

This is not the first time the IAEA has delivered politically charged recommendations.

On September 7, Russia's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov said the IAEA experts can not admit that Kiev was responsible for shelling the nuclear power plant on September 6.

Russia's Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia has also expressed Russia's regret for the failure of the IAEA to name the source of the shelling.

Likewise, the IAEA has made it more difficult for Iran to reach its nuclear deal with the US. The IAEA has accused Iran of lying about its nuclear activities on the basis of not having provided sufficient information about three "undeclared nuclear sites."

The latest report issued by the IAEA said it could not guarantee the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program, adding there had been "no progress" in resolving questions over the past presence of nuclear material at alleged "undeclared sites".

AEOI Spokesperson Behrouz Kamalvandi commented on the matter by saying, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has been fully cooperative regarding the three alleged sites brought up by the agency and has sent information and answers to the agency's questions and has also held meetings to resolve the ambiguity."

Knowing "Israel" has played a part in foiling the JCPOA deal so far, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani IAEA called on the IAEA on September 12 to "not to yield to Israel's pressure" over Tehran's nuclear activities.