IAEA Director General Amano Meets H.E. Mr. Shimon Peres, President of Israel

Full text: IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano met with President Shimon Peres of Israel on 31 March 2014, during the President's State Visit to Austria. During their meeting, the Director General and President Peres discussed areas of common interest. They discussed on-going cooperation between Israel and the Agency in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. ''Israel is a valued partner for the Agency in the region, and beyond,'' the Director General noted. ''The Agency greatly appreciates our valuable collaboration with Israel in such areas as nuclear medicine, radiotherapy, and application of the sterile insect technique.'' On issues affecting the region, the Director General encouraged work towards a nuclear-weapons-free zone in the Middle East. On Iran, the Director General briefed the President on progress under the IAEA/Iran Joint Statement on a Framework for Cooperation. He also briefed on the Agency's monitoring and verification role under the Joint Plan of Action, agreed by the EU/E3+3 and Iran. He stated that the Agency would continue to act in a technical, factual and impartial manner, in accordance with its Statute, in its work to clarify all outstanding issues related to Iran's nuclear activities. The Director General and President Peres also discussed issues related to Syria and the DPRK. (IAEA)