Moscow 24 August : The Russian Foreign Ministry has once again accused the United Nations of blocking a mission of experts to Russia’s occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power station in the southern part of Ukraine.There is no one as interested in the idea of an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission to the nuclear power plant as Russia minister spokesperson Maria Zakharova was quoted as saying by the news agency dpa.
The fact that the trip hasn’t yet been completed, she said, is the “sad result of incompetence by the United Nations Secretariat”.
Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant is under the protection of Russian forces since the month of March.The area around the plant as well as the town of Enerhodar were sprayed often over the last few days, with Russia and Ukraine sharing the blame for the attack.
There are concerns that the conflict could harm the facility, and possibly result in the possibility of a nuclear catastrophe.
Kiev as well as its Western allies are demanding that the region be demilitarized.They agree with Moscow the need for a group of inspectors should be sent to Zaporizhzhya to ensure the critical security and control mechanisms are in place.
However, the IAEA mission has so far stumbled over an issue over whether experts travel via the Russian-controlled territory or – as is the norm under international law that is Ukrainian territory.
A spokesperson for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly rejected Moscow’s claim that UN leadership is hindering the mission.
int/shs
