Grossi comments after Zaporizhzhia plant visit

(29 Mar 2023) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Dnipro - 29 March 2023 1. Various of Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi talking to journalists 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): "So for me, this visit was really very valuable to confirm my evaluation of the seriousness of the situation. The gravity, I would say, of the situation and the need for us to get to results as soon as possible." 3. Closeup of IAEA sign on a jacket 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): "The increased military activity, which I was referring to on the basis of the information I had before going in is obvious in terms of military presence signs, visible signs of damage and destruction before you get to the place. So it is obvious that this area is facing perhaps a more dangerous phase in terms of the ongoing conflict. Which confirmed one of my assumptions in the sense that we have to to step up our efforts to get to some agreement on the protection of the plant." 5. Closeup of Rafael Grossi on the camera screen 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): "I was able to make an assessment of the damage that the plant sustained, especially through the attacks and the shelling on November 20th, which was quite severe. So that was, for me, quite important to have a look at that. These affected two reactors. So that is, wittingly or unwittingly, reactors were hit or the buildings of the reactors were hit or in the vicinity. So this is very serious. This is very serious." 7. Mid of Rafael Grossi talking to journalists 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): "It was not negotiating in Zaporizhzhia. I negotiate in Kyiv. I negotiate with the Russian counterparts wherever I meet with them. But this visit was essential for me to make my own assessment, to have my own assessment of the gravity of the situation and the and some of the technical assumptions that I have when I make my proposals. So in this regard, I think it is it was very important." 9. Various of Grossi talking to journalists STORYLINE: The head of the U.N.’s atomic energy watchdog said there were clear signs of increased military activity near Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The comments from International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General, Rafael Grossi, came following his visit to Europe's largest atomic power generator on Wednesday. "It is obvious that this area is facing perhaps a more dangerous phase in terms of the ongoing conflict," Grossi told reporters after his trip to the site. "Which confirmed one of my assumptions in the sense that we have to to step up our efforts to get to some agreement on the protection of the plant," he went on to stress. Grossi has long called for a protection zone around the plant but a deal has been elusive. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy opposes any proposal that would legitimize Russia’s control and has insisted all Russian forces must leave the facility. Grossi told reporters at the plant on Wednesday he was working on “realistic measures” and had narrowed the scope in the hopes of reaching agreement on a mutually acceptable plan. "This visit was really very valuable to confirm my evaluation of the seriousness of the situation. The gravity, I would say, of the situation and the need for us to get to results as soon as possible," he said. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...