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STATEMENT BY MRS. NATHALIE BROADHURST, DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF FRANCE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, CHARGÉ D’AFFAIRES A.I

Thank you Mr. President, and I thank Rosemary Di Carlo for her presentation.

As it has consistently done since the beginning of this war, France expresses its deep concern about the threat posed by Russian aggression in Ukraine to the safety and security of Ukrainian nuclear facilities. The Zaporizhia power plant, in Ukrainian territory, has been forcibly seized by Russia. The presence and actions of Russian armed forces in its area significantly increase the risk of an accident. Russia bears responsibility for this situation.

For its part, France wishes to emphasize three messages:

First, Russia must return full control of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant to Ukraine, as well as all nuclear facilities in Ukraine. All Russian personnel, all Russian military equipment must be removed from the plant with all haste. The Ukrainian personnel operating the plant must be able to carry out their duties without threat or pressure.

Secondly, France welcomes and supports the efforts that have been made, that are being made by the Director General of the IAEA. The seven pillars of nuclear safety and security that have been defined by the IAEA Director must be respected. The IAEA’s ability to monitor peaceful nuclear activities throughout Ukraine to ensure compliance with safeguards, which has been compromised by Russia’s actions, must also be restored.

Third, it is essential to facilitate an IAEA expert mission to Zaporizhia as soon as possible. This mission must respect Ukraine’s full sovereignty over its territory and all of its infrastructure. France welcomes the role of the United Nations in this regard, and its willingness to provide the logistical support necessary for the deployment of such a mission from Kiev. It also welcomes the agreement in principle given by Ukraine and Russia to hold the mission, an agreement confirmed at the highest level. Sufficient security guarantees and a commitment from all parties are now needed so that the mission can take place in the next few days. France will continue to support the IAEA’s efforts to this end at the highest level, as the President of the French Republic did with President Putin on August 19, as he did with President Zelensky on August 16, and as the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, did again this morning during her telephone conversation with Segueï Lavrov.