IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano has signed an agreement on cooperation in education and research in the field of nuclear security with a leading Bulgarian university. The signing took place during an official visit to Bulgaria from 30 June to 1 July 2014.
The Director General also met senior government representatives, including Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin, and Mr. Dragomir Stoynev, Minister of Economy and Energy, and was given a tour of Units 5 and 6 at the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant, some 200 km north of the Bulgarian capital.
At the University of National and World Economy in Sofia on 30 June 2014, Mr. Amano signed Practical Arrangements with the Rector of the University, Professor Statty Stattev, under which the two institutions will work together on a Master's Degree programme and scientific research on nuclear security.
"Education in nuclear security is very important, not just for technical experts but for current and future policy-makers," the Director General said. "This agreement represents a further deepening of the excellent cooperation between Bulgaria and the IAEA in this very important area."
The amount of nuclear and other radioactive material in the world continues to grow, the Director General noted.
"Responsibility for the security of this material rests with each State. But the consequences of a major security failure could be extremely grave and could transcend borders. So it is very important that countries work together. The IAEA plays the central role in strengthening international cooperation in nuclear security."
Bulgaria has actively supported the IAEA's nuclear security programme, including providing experts to participate in training and advisory activities.
At Kozloduy, the Director General was briefed on measures taken to improve nuclear safety in the aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi accident in Japan.