US blocked Russian delegation from attending IAEA event, says Rosatom

MOSCOW

Russia's state nuclear energy corporation said on Friday that the US blocked its participation in a conference organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in New York.

Rosatom said in a statement that its representatives and those of Russian environmental, technological and nuclear watchdog Rostechnadzor were not given the US visas they needed to participate in the IAEA international ministerial conference Nuclear Energy in the XXI century.

"Requests for visas to the US for members of the delegation were submitted in advance in accordance with the established procedure.

"As of today, none of the members of the Russian delegation has received an American visa. Thus, the American side blocked Russia's participation in this international conference of the IAEA," the statement said.

Rosatom noted that in accordance with international legislation, a state hosting the IAEA event is obliged to provide representatives of IAEA member states the opportunity to participate in the event held on its territory.

"Unfortunately, we have to state that without the adequate participation of Russia, the universally recognized world leader in the peaceful use of atomic energy, the Washington conference largely loses its meaning," Rosatom said.

The IAEA international event is slated to be held in Washington on Oct. 26-28.