Events

MINSK, 13 December (BelTA) – Instead of debates Lithuania should once again think about jointly operating the Belarusian nuclear power plant. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made the relevant statement in his speech during the second congress of Belarusian scientists on 13 December, BelTA has learned.

Alexander Lukashenko said: “There has been a lot of arguments about the project, a lot of talk. They continue and new ones may still emerge. But I would like to directly tell our neighbors — primarily Lithuania, which worries so much about the construction of our power plant — safety is our concern. We are first and foremost interested in a safe nuclear power plant.” Alexander Lukashenko assured that the nuclear power plant will be built whether someone likes it or not. “There are hundreds of reactors like that in the world. We will build two of our own,” continued the president. “Instead of talking about shutting down the construction project, I’ve invited our neighbors to get together and think how we can operate the nuclear power plant in order to provide Belarus and our neighbors with electricity since we will have electricity to spare.”

The president was convinced that instead of political bias a productive conversation about the future is necessary. “If we talk about Lithuania, it has shut down the Ignalina nuclear power plant. Many people are now surplus to requirements. Those are skilled and well-trained specialists we could employ [at the Belarusian nuclear power plant],” said Alexander Lukashenko.

The head of state underlined: “We would not be particularly concerned, if citizens of Lithuania or some other countries came to work at our nuclear power plant and operate it together with Belarusians and Russians. I think we should work on it.”