Hungary seeks US sanctions relief for Russian-led nuclear project
According to the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Peter Szijjarto, on Thursday, Hungary has requested that the USA exempt the expansion project of the Paks nuclear power plant, which is being carried out by the Russians, from the sanctions imposed by the previous American administration.
Szijjarto mentioned this during Thursday's visit to Budapest by Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The government has requested the exemption of the Paks II project from sanctions imposed by the previous US administration for political reasons, which are hindering the project's implementation, the minister said at a press conference.
Discussions on this topic were meant to occur during his visit to Washington last week.
Szijjarto also stated that Viktor Orbán's government plans to extend the operation of the current four blocks of the power plant by another 20 years.
"The expansion of the nuclear power plant is crucial for Hungary's energy security, so the project is continuing despite ongoing difficulties and obstacles," Szijjarto wrote on Facebook on Thursday, following a phone conversation with Alexey Likhachev, the head of Rosatom.
On Thursday, Laila Medina, the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice, stated that the court should rule against Hungary's state aid for constructing new reactors at the Paks nuclear power plant.
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