Hungary is undertaking an important role in the enhancement of nuclear safety, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said on Monday in Vienna at the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency. “Terrorism, the threat of terrorism is increasing world-wide by virtue of the fact that uncontrolled migration flows are setting out. This also increases nuclear threats, and it is therefore important that Hungary has been tasked for another year with chairing the nuclear safety task force,” the Minister stated.

He told the correspondent of the Hungarian news agency MTI that in 2021 Hungary will host a conference on global action to combat nuclear terrorism. This is in recognition of the fact that Hungary is at the vanguard in efforts made in the interest of nuclear safety, Mr Szijjártó added.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade also mentioned that in Central Europe energy security is a critical issue, and the use of nuclear energy greatly contributes to the region’s energy security. He added that for Hungary nuclear energy is key. Hungary covers almost 50 per cent of its electricity needs from nuclear energy, and this percentage will increase with the enlargement of the Paks nuclear power station, Mr Szijjártó said.

For Hungary this is a competitiveness issue as an increase in the use of nuclear energy means that the country is much less exposed to the uncertainties of international energy markets, he added. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade stressed that Hungary is an esteemed member of the International Atomic Energy Agency due to the Paks project and its participation in nuclear research. Hungary has provided hundreds of international scholarships for nuclear engineers, he stated.

Mr Szijjártó said from September Hungary will be a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors, and will as such play an important role in the development of nuclear safety. As part of the Vienna meeting, Mr Szijjártó had bilateral talks with Argentinian Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie, Bangladeshi State Minister of Science and Technology Yeafesh Osman, Kazakh Minister of Energy Bozumbayev Kanat Aldabergenovich, and Brazilian Minister of Mines and Energy Bento Costa Lima.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade/MTI)