Turkmen Delegation Meets with Rafael Grossi on the Sidelines of IAEA Session in Vienna
A delegation from Turkmenistan, led by Deputy Minister of Health and Medical Industry Azat Ovezov, is participating in the 70th anniversary session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), held in the Austrian capital from September 14 to 18. This forum holds special significance for Ashgabat, as 2026 marks the tenth anniversary of the country’s accession to the Agency.
A key event of the visit was a bilateral meeting between the head of the Turkmen delegation and IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, during which the parties discussed priority areas of cooperation regarding healthcare, the strengthening of the national regulatory framework, and the use of nuclear technologies for sustainable development.
Improving Turkmenistan’s oncology services took center stage during talks with the head of the IAEA. Rafael Grossi highly commended the country’s efforts to modernize specialized infrastructure and emphasized the significance of the upcoming opening of the International Scientific and Clinical Center of Oncology in Ashgabat, established with the Agency’s expert and technical support. Furthermore, the parties discussed prospects for utilizing isotope hydrology methods to monitor and effectively manage water resources—a strategic component of national environmental and water security.
In its official statement at the session’s plenary meeting, the Turkmen side reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the principles of nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear safety, and the exclusively peaceful use of advanced technologies. The delegation actively participated in the IAEA Scientific Forum, "Rays of Hope: Realizing the Potential of Cancer Treatment," presenting its own comprehensive approach to implementing modern radiotherapy and nuclear medicine techniques.
On the sidelines of the conference, the Permanent Mission of Turkmenistan to the IAEA organized a special thematic seminar titled "Atoms for Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs): From Commitments to Action – Nuclear Science for the Implementation of the Avaza Action Program".
The event, attended by IAEA Deputy Director General Najat Mokhtar, representatives of the WHO, and international experts, served as a practical step toward advancing Turkmenistan's initiative aimed at expanding landlocked countries' access to advanced radiation technologies, training qualified medical personnel, and attracting long-term investment in healthcare systems.
