UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- The International Atomic Energy Agency plays an indispensable role in the safe and practical application of nuclear energy, the U.N. General Assembly said.
The General Assembly expressed "strong support" for the "indispensable role" the IAEA played in encouraging the safe and practicable application of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
The international community reviewed the safety of nuclear energy following a meltdown in Japan brought on by a magnitude-9 earthquake and tsunami in March.
Yukiya Amano, director general of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog agency, said developing countries still plan to use nuclear power in their energy mix in the coming years, albeit at a slower developmental pace.
"The factors contributing to increasing interest in nuclear power have not changed: these include increasing global demand for energy, as well as concerns about climate change, volatile fossil fuel prices and security of energy supply," he said.
His comments follow Washington's decision to withdraw funding for the U.N. Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization after it granted full membership to the Palestinian territories. Republican lawmakers in the United States said the decision should trigger a similar response for all U.N. agencies.
Apart from energy, Amano said his agency would have a forum in late November in Vienna to consider nuclear weapon free zones in the Middle East, based on other regional models.
