MINSK, 25 April (BelTA) – Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Anatoly Kalinin hopes for continued cooperation in overcoming consequences of the Chernobyl disaster through innovations. The official made the relevant statement during the international conference “Chernobyl 30 years later. From an emergency towards revival and sustainable development of the affected territories”, BelTA has learned.
Anatoly Kalinin said: “We hope that international cooperation on Chernobyl affairs will continue through innovations and investments in the affected countries and regions.”
The Deputy Prime Minister also underlined that the conference was very important for aggregating the experience, discussing the current problems, and further actions meant to alleviate consequences of the Chernobyl disaster.
Anatoly Kalinin also read out the Belarus president's welcome address to participants of the conference. In particular, the document reads that the organization of such a forum in Minsk on the eve of the Chernobyl disaster's anniversary testifies to the huge importance and relevance of Belarusian experience of dealing with consequences of the great man-caused catastrophe.
It is particularly true for such areas as healthcare and social security, the creation of highly professional emergency response services, and the stimulation of economic development of the disaster-affected areas.
The welcome address also reads that dealing with consequences of the disaster has been high on the list of Belarus' priorities for the last 30 years. It is noted that the country has taken the brunt of the disaster. “We do our best to enable proper living standards [for residents of the Chernobyl-affected lands,]” Anatoly Kalinin quoted the head of state as saying in the welcome address.
