Vienna, September 15 – Cuba’s Minister of Science, Technology, and the Environment, Dr. Armando Rodríguez Batista, held a meeting with Luis Longoria, Director of the Latin America Division of the Technical Cooperation Department of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on the sidelines of the Agency’s 70th General Conference.
During the bilateral meeting between the Division’s team and the Cuban delegation, the Cuban minister acknowledged the significant contribution of the IAEA’s Technical Cooperation Program to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, highlighting the Division’s work in Latin America and the Caribbean. “Cuba has been one of the countries to benefit from cooperation opportunities and has demonstrated a strong commitment to implementing and participating in national, regional, and interregional projects, as well as in research projects, with particular emphasis on its participation in projects under the Regional Cooperation Agreement for the Promotion of Nuclear Science and Technology in Latin America and the Caribbean (ARCAL).”
The head of CITMA thanked the IAEA for its contribution to the development of national capacities through technical cooperation and urged the Agency to continue seeking new ways to meet the growing needs of Member States. He also acknowledged the support provided by the Agency during emergency situations the country has faced due to natural disasters.
The Minister referred to the impact of the blockade on the IAEA’s activities with Cuba, which hinders procurement processes and access to extrabudgetary contributions, as well as the inability to meet the payment commitments established to begin the activities outlined in the national projects approved for the 2026–2027 cycle. He requested support in seeking alternatives to resolve this situation.
