News & Events in Belarus

BURABAY, 16 October (BelTA) – The CIS heads of state have approved the text of the joint statement on the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, BelTA has learned.

The statement reads that the countries of the CIS pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the Chernobyl tragedy and reiterate commitment to continue their efforts to overcome the effects of the nuclear power plant accident. They also call for all-round support to Chernobyl veterans who were involved in clean-up operations after the nuclear disaster.

People living in areas contaminated by radiation from the Chernobyl accident still feel its impact. In this context, the countries of the CIS welcome every effort of the international community to implement the project to build a protective shield over the collapsed nuclear power plant.

The CIS heads of state stated that the third decade after the Chernobyl disaster proclaimed by the UN General Assembly a “Decade of Recovery and Sustainable Development” for the affected regions contributed to the development of international programs and projects. These successfully complement the efforts of the governments of the affected countries to improve radioecological education, build public awareness for safe residence in the contaminated areas, and enhance the participation of local communities in solving concrete social and economic issues in the regions affected by the Chernobyl disaster.

The countries of the CIS call for continuous international efforts to eliminate and minimize man-made and natural risks and emergency threats through the forms of cooperation that have already proven successful. These include implementation of targeted programs, projects and initiatives complementing the major efforts to develop the affected regions.