| GEO World | | Vigilance on nuclear risks critical: UN | Updated at: 1218 PST, Tuesday, March 03, 2009
UNITED NATIONS: Nuclear safety worldwide is steadily improving but the risk of accidents or malicious acts can never be eliminated and there is no room for complacency, the head of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency said Monday.
“Vigilance and continuous improvement are key, both at existing nuclear facilities and at new facilities being planned in a growing number of countries", Mohamed ElBaradei, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said as he opened the Board of Governor's meeting of the organization in Vienna, according to the transcript of his remarks released at UN Headquarters in New York.
Introducing IAEA's Nuclear Safety Review for the Year 2008, he added "The drive to introduce, or expand the use of, nuclear power always needs to be matched by a strong commitment to safety and security as indispensable enablers of nuclear technology."
To keep up, he said, the agency must focus on improving its Incident and Emergency Centre to enhance capabilities to respond to a large accident, and must provide more effective support for Member States, especially those who have recently embarked on nuclear power projects.
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