OREANDA-NEWS. September 20, 2016. IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano thanked H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco for the country’s support for the work of the Agency and for agreeing to be a keynote speaker at the IAEA Scientific Forum in Vienna next week. During his two-day visit to the city state, Mr Amano also visited the IAEA Environmental Laboratories and the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco.

Mr Amano and Prince Albert discussed the importance of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the IAEA’s role in helping countries to achieve them, especially in areas such as the protection of the environment and cancer control. Mr Amano also briefed the Prince on the current priorities of the Agency.

During his visit to the IAEA Environmental Laboratories, Mr Amano was briefed on current projects in the areas of tracing pollutants from oil spills, monitoring ocean contamination and acidification, and helping to improve seafood security.

The laboratories, established in 1961, are the only marine laboratories within the United Nations system. They played a major role in assisting Japan in tracking possible sea contamination in the aftermath of the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2011.

Next week's Scientific Forum will focus on how nuclear technology can help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.