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Statement by the Republic of Lithuania at the United Nations General Assembly Plenary Meeting "Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency" on Friday, 23 October 2026.

Mr. President,

Lithuania aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union. I would like to make the following remarks in my national capacity.

We thank Director General Rafael Grossi for presenting the International Atomic Energy Agency's Annual Report. We also thank Kuwait for leading this year's General Assembly resolution on the report, which Lithuania is pleased to co-sponsor.

Lithuania reiterates its strong support for the Agency's mandate in promoting nuclear safety, nuclear security, safeguards and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy worldwide. We commend the Director General and the Secretariat for their continued efforts in carrying out the Agency's important work.

As a member of the IAEA Board of Governors for the 2025–2027 term, Lithuania remains committed to contributing to the effective implementation of the Agency’s mandate.

Mr. President,

This year marks the fortieth anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster, reminding us that nuclear safety and security can never be taken for granted.

Against this backdrop, Lithuania remains deeply concerned by Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine and its continued attacks against Ukraine's civilian energy infrastructure. Such actions create significant risks for the safe and secure operation of Ukraine's nuclear facilities and undermine regional and international nuclear safety and security.

We strongly support the IAEA's continued presence and assistance in Ukraine. We reiterate the need for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) to be returned to the full sovereign control of Ukraine and call on Russia to immediately cease all actions that endanger nuclear safety and security.

Lithuania recalls that no sovereign rights can arise from aggression or attempted annexation.

Mr. President,

Radiation risks do not respect national borders. This is particularly evident in the case of the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant at Ostrovets, situated only 50 kilometers from Lithuania's capital, Vilnius.

Lithuania remains seriously concerned about unresolved safety issues, including a principal safety issue related to site selection and assessment. Belarus did not evaluate density and distribution of Lithuanian population, also did not establish zone called Extended Planning Distance (EPD) with radius of 100 km from NPP as it is suggested in IAEA recommendations. Around 1/3 of the whole Lithuanian population, situated within EPD, could be affected in the case of beyond design-basis accident and implementation of the emergency response actions, including evacuation, could be very complicated or even impossible.

Belarus's plans to expand the plant with an additional reactor and to develop radioactive waste storage infrastructure at the same site raise further concerns and underscore the importance of comprehensive safety assessments, transparency and meaningful transboundary consultations.

Lithuania therefore reiterates its call on Belarus to suspend the operation of the plant until all outstanding safety concerns have been comprehensively addressed and to refrain from further expansion until the applicable nuclear safety and environmental requirements have been fully met.

The safety of populations on both sides of the border must remain the overriding priority.

Mr. President,

Lithuania welcomes progress achieved in addressing Syria's outstanding safeguards issues and encourages continued cooperation with the Agency.

At the same time, we remain concerned by Iran's continued failure to fully cooperate with the IAEA and comply with its safeguards obligations. Full, timely and technically credible cooperation with the Agency remains essential for restoring international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme. We stress that Iran must urgently fulfil its international commitments and cooperate fully with the Agency.

Lithuania is also concerned by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's continued advancement of its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes in violation of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. We urge the DPRK to comply with its international obligations and take meaningful steps towards denuclearization. We are furthermore concerned by the growing military cooperation between Russia and the DPRK, which risks further undermining the international non-proliferation regime.

Mr. President,

Lithuania reaffirms its unwavering support for the International Atomic Energy Agency and for the multilateral rules-based international order that underpins international peace, security and sustainable development.

Thank you.