Photo: Prensa Latina.

Havana, Sep 23 (RHC) On Wednesday, Cuban government thanked the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for its help in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, the development of nuclear applications and the fulfillment of commitments undertaken by our country.

The progress in strengthening the nuclear security regime and the sustained work of the Ibero-American Forum of Radiological and Nuclear Regulatory Agencies was also highlighted at the 65th regular meeting of the IAEA General Conference, which will be held in Vienna, Austria, from the 20th to the 24th of this month.

The meeting held in person and virtually was a propitious space to denounce the impact of the U.S. blockade against the Cuban people and its effects on the implementation of technical cooperation projects of that international organization in which the largest island of the Antilles participates.

A press release from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (Citma) informed that the Cuban delegation was headed by Deputy Minister José Fidel Santana Núñez, and included representatives from the International Relations Department of that Ministry, the Interior Department, among others.

On the other hand, the IAEA recognized on the opening day the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences of Cuba, for its contributions to the development of crop varieties resistant to climate change.

Cuban delegate Marlén Redondo highlighted the work carried out by the scientists and workers of INCA, a leader in the implementation of genetic improvement programs through irradiation techniques and biotechnology, and deserving the aforementioned distinction.

Together with ten other entities from all over the world, the Group of Applied Nuclear Techniques of this institute received the exceptional recognition for the use of this type of procedures and isotopes to induce genetic variations, which favor a better yield and increase agricultural production. (Source: Prensa Latina).