Rafael Grossi, a Candidate for the Post of IAEA Director General, at the Valdai Discussion Club
Valdai Discussion Club Conference Hall (Bolshaya Tatarskaya 42, Moscow, Russia)

On September 10, 2019, at 15:00, The Valdai Discussion Club will meet with Rafael Grossi, a candidate for the post of IAEA Director General. He is currently serving as Argentina’s Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative of Argentina to International Organisations in Vienna. On the eve of the elections, scheduled for October, Rafael Grossi, as a guest of the Valdai Discussion Club, will share his vision of the future development of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Since its foundation, the IAEA has resolved the pressing issues of nuclear activities. Its main function is to monitor compliance with the cornerstone document in this sphere - the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The IAEA played a significant role in the signing of the nuclear agreement with Iran (JCPOA), coordinated the actions of the international community to eliminate the consequences of the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, which is the largest accident of that kind in the past decade. However, the history of the IAEA has witnessed a few dark pages: in 2003, Iraq was invaded under the pretext of possessing weapons of mass destruction, despite the fact that IAEA inspections had proved the contrary.

Тoday the IAEA faces new challenges: the destruction of the arms control system, North Korea's nuclear programme, the danger of nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terrorists, and much more. The new Director General of the IAEA must also confront these challenges.

How can nuclear energy security be improved? What are the prospects for expanding the peaceful use of nuclear energy in developing countries? How is it possible to enhance the Agency's independence and credibility in the international arena? Can the IAEA take measures to restore the arms control system? Participants of the meeting will answer these and other questions.

Speaker:

  • Rafael Grossi, Ambassador of Argentina to Austria, Permanent Representative of Argentina to International Organizations in Vienna.

Moderator:

  • Andrey Bystritskiy, Chairman of the Foundation for development and support of the Valdai Discussion Club.

Working languages: Russian, English.

Information for the media! To attend, please fill out the accreditation form or call +7 926 930 77 63   

Information for participants! If you have any questions, please call +7 926 93077 63