Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 29 May (BelTA) – Cooperation of the United Nations Development Program with the Belarus government in overcoming consequences of the Chernobyl disaster has been excellent at all times and at all stages. The opinion was voiced by Administrator of the United Nations Development Program, UN Under Secretary General Helen Clark in Vetka, Gomel Oblast on 29 May as part of her visit to Belarus, BelTA has learned.

According to Helen Clark, Belarus has been greatly damaged by the Chernobyl catastrophe and taking into account the scale of the catastrophe the Belarus government and the society have been open to any aid. But now Belarus and its individual territories can share their own experience of dealing with the disaster with other countries as a kind of tribute for the rendered international aid, believes the UNDP Administrator.

Helen Clark remarked that the wider spread of the experience of catastrophe management in the world is one of the things that the UN General Assembly had asked the UNDP to work on. “We will be glad to support Belarus in spreading the experience of overcoming what happened and what has been done,” she stressed.

While in Vetka the UNDP Administrator visited the facilities that had been built or repaired as part of joint projects with the UNDP. She also visited the Vetka museum of old belief culture and Belarusian traditions and made a note in the distinguished visitors’ book. UNDP mission personnel talked to residents of the areas that had been most affected by the Chernobyl disaster.

The discussions focused on results of the UNDP-sponsored project for territory-oriented development in affected areas of Belarus. According to the UNDP Administrator, the area looks promising. “We will be glad to support initiatives of the local population within the framework of the project because we believe such initiatives have a future,” she said.

Speaking about other avenues of cooperation with Belarus, Helen Clark mentioned the resolution of environmental problems via interaction with the local population, work to enhance energy effectiveness, work to fight HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.