Events

MINSK, 15 March (BelTA) – Belarus is against the Espoo Convention being manipulated for the sake of satisfying economic or political ambitions. The statement was made by Belarusian First Deputy Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Minister Iya Malkina in an interview with BelTA over the phone on 15 March. The official took part in the 35^th session of the Espoo Convention Implementation Committee in Geneva.

Iya Malkina said: “During the session we presented detailed technical information about all aspects of the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. Apart from that, we stated that the final decision on building the nuclear power plant was made in full compliance with articles of the Espoo Convention while the chosen site was the best one from the safety point of view.”

The official underlined that Belarus called upon the Espoo Convention Implementation Committee not to be the one to start the Convention’s regression. “We said we hope that the Committee together with the sides will put efforts into stopping the manipulation of the Espoo Convention for the sake of economic or political ambitions,” she said.

BelTA reported earlier that the 35^th session of the Implementation Committee of the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) is scheduled to take place in Geneva, Switzerland on 15-17 March. Delegations of Belarus and Lithuania took part in the event on the first day of the session upon the invitation of the Implementation Committee. The Belarusian delegation is led by First Deputy Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Minister Iya Malkina. The delegation also includes Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) expects the signatories to notify and consult each other about all the major projects that can have a considerable negative transboundary impact on the environment. Belarus became a party to the Convention on 8 February 2006.

In June 2011 Lithuania contacted the Espoo Convention Implementation Committee complaining about Belarus’ failure to observe the Convention while planning the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. After looking into the matter the Committee and later on the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention gave recommendations both to Belarus and Lithuania on ways to ensure the fulfillment of the Convention with regard to the Belarusian nuclear power plant project. The recommendations also encouraged the two countries to work together.