Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, signed Cooperation Agreements in the implementation of the “Rays of Hope” Initiative, on cancer treatment for all, and Cooperation in the TECHnology Initiative NUclear for the Control of Pollution by Plastics (Nutec Plastics) in Antarctica, it was officially reported.
Cafiero highlighted “the extensive nuclear trajectory in the field of peaceful uses that Argentina has, an aspect in which the National Atomic Energy Commission plays a fundamental role,” reported a statement from the Foreign Ministry.
Palacio San Martín added that it “underscored the importance of research and development of applications of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes in areas such as health and the environment to contribute to economic growth with greater infrastructure and employment.”
Accompanied by the Secretary of International Economic Relations Cecilia Todesca Bocco and the Director of International Security, Nuclear and Space Affairs Lorena Capra, Cafiero and Grossi highlighted the cooperation to implement the “Rays of Hope” Initiative, which reinforces the work carried out in the fight against cancer, a scourge that particularly affects developing countries.
Through the agreement, “it is planned to work on issues such as feasibility studies for advanced modalities in nuclear medicine and radiotherapy, the definition and design of research projects, scientific-technical advice from the competent Argentine institutions in the matter and the exchange of information “, was explained.
“In particular -added the Foreign Ministry- collaborate to establish a Reference Center for this Initiative in Argentina that can be useful for the entire region, in aspects such as capacity building in human resources and infrastructure. Our country hopes that all this will strengthen the work that Argentina has already been carrying out, including through nuclear medicine projects in other countries and receiving professionals from the region”.
On the agreement of the Nutec Plastics initiative, Cafiero and Grossi emphasized that they unite two axes: “the Argentine presence in Antarctica, which has been uninterrupted for more than a century, and the scientific efforts in pursuit of sustainable development. The agreement will allow gaps in knowledge about the situation and the final destination of microplastics in the Antarctic area and thus be able to make better decisions on this issue,” the Foreign Ministry said.
