Events

“The final decision was adopted by the Bureau of the Espoo Convention that the Meeting of the Parties to the Espoo Convention that ensures cross-border cooperation, including in NPP construction will take place in Minsk in June 2017,” Iya Malkina said.

The plans to hold the 7^th Meeting of the Parties to the Espoo Convention in Minsk were announced in March. Last month Geneva played host to the 35th session of the Implementation Committee of the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention). The Implementation Committee invited Belarus and Lithuania to attend the meeting on the first day.

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 signed the Convention on 8 February 2006.

According to the First Deputy Minister, one of the ideas that was voiced on 20 April was to organize a filming of nature near the future nuclear power plant and hold a presentation of a photo exhibition as part of the conference in Minsk. “The exhibition will demonstrate not only the country’s landmarks but also show people that nuclear power can be environmentally safe and promote the country’s wellbeing,” said Iya Malkina.

The AtomExpo forum featured a presentation of Hungarian photographer Vince Balint’s exhibition on nature around nuclear power plants.

The 8^th edition of the international exhibition and conference AtomExpo Belarus is underway in Minsk on 19-21 April. The forum demonstrates new technologies and equipment, addresses important issues, outlines development prospects and builds partner relations. The event has proved itself as a project that plays a special role in developing and popularizing nuclear power industry in Belarus.

The program on 20 April includes a plenary session of the forum and a number of roundtables.

AtomExpo Belarus is held on the initiative of the Belarusian Energy Ministry with the support of the Russian state nuclear energy industry corporation Rosatom.