The Minister had a cordial and lengthy phone conversation this evening with the IAEA Director General, Rafael Grossi, on the situation of the conflict in Ukraine with specific reference to the situation of the Zapohrizija plant.
DG Grossi, who has just returned from a further mission to the region in which he had talks with President Zelensky and the other Ukrainian leaders, provided updates on the prospect for creating a free zone around the plant, subject to special international protection.
Minister Tajani reaffirmed the Italian government’s great support for this prospect, also in view of the mission that DG Grossi is about to undertake to Russia in the coming days, emphasising that he would use the G7 Forum scheduled in Tokyo in April to highlight the political priority that Italy attaches to this path regarding the Zaporhizya plant, as a possible starting point for broader negotiations, if the situation allowed.
DG Grossi also made assessments on Iran, where the situation remains worrying and there are currently no substantial changes compared to the past months.
Considering the sensitivity of the current scenarios, Minister Tajani and DG Grossi agreed to continue to liaise directly on these issues.