IAEA Director Grossi opts out of Global Peace Summit to avoid political entanglements
The IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will not be directly involved in the first peace summit, which begins on June 15 in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, he said in an interview with Ukrinform.
"No, I will not be directly involved," said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, explaining that the organization's desire is "not to mix political considerations with technical work."
He also noted that he had been "in touch" with Ukrainian Energy Minister German Halushchenko during the preparations for the summit and had met this week with Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis.
"I expressed to the Swiss foreign minister the hope that the Agency's role will be discussed at the Global Peace Summit and that the importance and strengthening of its independent technical work will be supported," Grossi said.
Global Peace Summit in Switzerland on June 15-16
The Global Peace Summit in Switzerland is being held on June 15-16. On June 10, Swiss President Viola Amherd announced that about 90 countries and organizations had confirmed their participation. However, on June 12, Radio Liberty, citing unnamed EU diplomats, reported that the number of confirmed participants had dropped to 78.
Russia will not attend the meeting. Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, suggested that Russia could participate in future summits but not in the inaugural meeting at the leaders' level. Meanwhile, the Swiss Foreign Ministry stated that the peace process is "unthinkable" without Russia.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on April 24 that Ukrainian intelligence had information indicating Russia's intent to disrupt the Global Peace Summit.
Zelenskyy also stated that China had attempted to dissuade some countries from participating in the summit.
U.S. President Joe Biden may skip the summit to attend a campaign fundraiser in California, Bloomberg reported on April 24, citing sources.
The White House later confirmed that Vice President Kamala Harris and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan would represent the United States at the summit.
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