A ceremony to present an international accreditation certificate confirming the high compliance of the Regional Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Safety Center with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards took place at IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, Austria on January 23.  Based on this accreditation, the Center was officially granted the status of a regional center for Central Asian countries.

The ceremony was attended by Ilhom Mirsaidzoda, Director of the Agency for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Safety (Agency) of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan (NAST), Idibek Qalandar, Tajikistan's Ambassador to Austria also Tajikistan’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE, UN, and other international organizations in Vienna, and Zafar Safaralizoda, a representative of President’s Executive Office.

Representatives of international organizations and IAEA experts were also present.

Among the 180 member states of the IAEA, such regional centers for nuclear and radiation safety exist in only 11 countries worldwide.  Tajikistan has become the 12th country to establish and accredit such a center, joining the ranks of major powers such as the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, Japan, China, and France.

The Regional Center, inaugurated last year with the participation of President Emomali Rahmon, was created to enhance safety and strengthen the scientific capacity of Tajikistan and the region.  The IAEA accreditation confirms that the Center meets stringent standards in CBRN safety, including equipment, personnel training, and research capabilities.

This status opens new opportunities for collaboration.  The Center will now provide training and research services not only for specialists from Tajikistan but also for all countries in the region.  These services include training for law enforcement and military personnel, as well as research in nuclear forensics, biosafety, and chemical analytics.