UN discusses nuclear safety, security

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UN discusses nuclear safety, security

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World leaders gather at the United Nations for a high-level meeting on nuclear safety and security.

22 September,2011 08:27 pm

World leaders gathered at the United Nations on Thursday to discuss safety and security measures for nuclear energy production.The meeting in New York came as the International Atomic Energy Agencys (IAEA) 151 member states endorsed an action plan in Vienna on Thursday to help strengthen global nuclear safety in the wake of Japan’s Fukushima accident, despite criticism from some that it does not go far enough.United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon made opening remarks at the meeting in the General Assembly hall and recognized Japan’s resilience.“Earlier this year, I visited Chernobyl to mark the 25th anniversary of the disaster. It was an extremely moving experience, and I thank President Yanukovych. It is one thing to read about Chernobyl, another to hear from those whose lives were changed and see the harsh reality of environmental damage for generations to come. I also had the profound honor of visiting Japan and meeting with the families directly affected by the earthquake, tsunami and subsequent accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Let me recognize the efforts of the Japanese Government and the resilience and spirit of the Japanese people. Taken together, these accidents are a wake-up call for the worlds people. After all, the effects of nuclear accidents respect no borders. To adequately safeguard our people, we must have strong international consensus and action. We must have strong international safety standards,” Ban said.