IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency

09/20/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/20/2021 13:41

General Conference: Day 1 Highlights

At the start of the plenary session on the first day of the IAEA's 65th General Conference, Sadiq M. Marafi of Kuwait was elected by acclamation as President of the Conference.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi in his opening statement highlighted the IAEA's commitment to continuing its verification work to prevent any misuse of nuclear material despite the challenges presented throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasized the IAEA's contribution of equipment for coronavirus detection and diagnosis to 129 countries and encouraged countries to support the IAEA's Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (ZODIAC) initiative to establish a global network of national diagnostic laboratories for the monitoring, surveillance, early detection and control of zoonotic diseases.

A message from Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, was delivered at the plenary session.

Forty-two delegations participated in the debate during the plenary session. Their full statements are available here.