Convention on Nuclear Safety: 4th Review Meeting

09.04.2008 // Press service of Rosenergoatom Concern

Delegation of Rosenergoatom Concern will take part in the 4th Review Meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety

On Apr 13 2008 a delegation of Rosenergoatom Concern, led by the deputy directors general N.Sorokin and V.Asmolov are leaving for Vienna to take part in the Apr 14–25 4th Review Meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety. The delegation comprises representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation, Rostekhnadzor and VNIIAES.
 
The Convention on Nuclear Safety was adopted in Vienna on 17 June 1994. The Convention was drawn up during a series of expert level meetings from 1992 to 1994 and was the result of considerable work by Governments, national nuclear safety authorities and the Agency’s Secretariat. Its aim is to legally commit participating States operating land-based nuclear power plants to maintain a high level of safety by setting international benchmarks to which States would subscribe.

The obligations of the Parties are based to a large extent on the principles contained in the IAEA Safety Fundamentals document «The Safety of Nuclear Installations». These obligations cover for instance, siting, design, construction, operation, the availability of adequate financial and human resources, the assessment and verification of safety, quality assurance and emergency preparedness

The Convention is an incentive instrument. It is not designed to ensure fulfillment of obligations by Parties through control and sanction but is based on their common interest to achieve higher levels of safety which will be developed and promoted through regular meetings of the Parties. The Convention obliges Parties to submit reports on the implementation of their obligations for «peer review» at meetings of the Parties to be held at the IAEA. This mechanism is the main innovative and dynamic element of the Convention.

During the meeting V.Asmolov will act as the head of Group 3 for consideration of national reports and S.Kharlampiyev – as the coordinator of Group 4 for analysis of exchange of information among the members of the group (Russia is also in Group 4). 

The deputy head of Rostekhnadzor S.Adamchik and N.Sorokin will present Russia’s National Report.