The IAEA Board of Governors will convene its regular March meeting virtually, starting at 10:30 CET on Monday, 1 March.
Board discussions are expected to include: the IAEA and the COVID-19 pandemic; the Nuclear Safety Review 2021; the Nuclear Technology Review 2021; verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of United Nations Security Council resolution 2231 (2015); application of safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement in the Syrian Arab Republic; and NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Board of Governors meeting is closed to the press. Due to restrictions related to COVID-19, it will be organised as a virtual meeting hosted from the Agency's headquarters at the Vienna International Centre (VIC).
Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will open the meeting with an introductory statement. A written version will be released to journalists after delivery and posted on the IAEA website. The IAEA will also provide video footage and make photos available on Flickr.
Press Conference:
Director General Grossi is expected to hold a press conference at 12:30 CET on Monday, 1 March, in the Press Room of the M-building.
A live video stream of the press conference will be available from 12:30 CET. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only a limited number of journalists can attend the press conference in person. Media are therefore encouraged to pool resources. The IAEA can provide video footage and photos from the press conference upon request.
All physical participants must follow Austrian health guidelines, including 2-meter social distancing and the use of FFP2 face masks at all times.
Annual VIC accreditations are currently not valid. Journalists who wish to attend the press conference in person need to request accreditation by 12:00 CET on Friday, 26 February. As space is limited, it may not be possible to accommodate all accreditation requests.
Photo Op:
There will be a photo opportunity with the IAEA Director General and the Chair of the Board, Ambassador Heidi Alberta Hulan, before the start of the meeting at 10:30 CET in Boardroom C on the fourth floor of the C-building in the VIC.
Media interested in the photo opportunity will also need to register by 12:00 CET on Friday, 26 February. Space is limited and media are encouraged to pool resources. Two-meter social distancing rules apply and the use of FFP2 face masks is obligatory.
Press Working Area:
The Press Room on the M-building's ground floor will be available as a press working area from 12:00 CET until 15:00 CET on 1 March only. Media will be requested to complete a contact tracing form in the press working area. Two-meter social distancing rules apply and the use of FFP2 face masks is obligatory.
Accreditation:
All journalists interested in participating in person at the press conference or photo-op must register with the Press Office by 12:00 CET on Friday, 26 February. Please email press@iaea.org. Accreditations will be valid for 1 March only.
Access to the VIC for journalists is currently only possible through Gate 1, and enhanced security measures may cause delays to enter the premises. One-day badges will be provided at the reception desk upon presentation of a photo-ID. Please plan accordingly.