MINSK, 22 April (BelTA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Maxim Ryzhenkov took part in a Council for Sustainable Development session dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident, BelTA learned from the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The event was held under the auspices of the National Coordinator for the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, Belarusian Finance Minister Vladislav Tatarinovich and involved representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in the Republic of Belarus and government bodies.
The session took place on the eve of the International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day, which is observed annually on 26 April. The Remembrance Day was established by the UN General Assembly and has been included in the international calendar of commemorative dates since 2016 on Belarus’ initiative in accordance with resolution “The long-term consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe”. The main message of the resolution is the need to continue Chernobyl-related cooperation under the auspices of the UN to achieve sustainable development of the affected regions and their populations through partnerships, innovation, and investment.
Maxim Ryzhenkov called on foreign partners to refrain from politicizing the Chernobyl topic and noted the significant achievements of Belarusian specialists in solving environmental problems, developing infrastructure, building housing, providing medical rehabilitation, and creating conditions for comfortable living in the territories affected by the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident. First and foremost, such results have become possible thanks to the consistent policy of reviving the affected regions and the president’s personal oversight over the implementation of state programs.
The minister emphasized that the experience of Belarus in studying the effects of radiation on various spheres of life is now used by leading foreign scientists.
The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed gratitude to international partners for the unprecedented support shown during the rehabilitation of the affected areas of Belarus and called for continued cooperation on all aspects of Chernobyl problems.
Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, and Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), addressed participants of the Council for Sustainable Development session via video message. The event also featured speeches by Belarusian Energy Minister Denis Moroz, CIS First Deputy Secretary General Igor Petrishenko, Director General of the Belarusian nuclear power plant Sergei Bobovich, Deputy Health Minister – Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Republic of Belarus Svetlana Nechai, UN Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Belarus Rasul Baghirov, and UNDP Permanent Representative in the Republic of Belarus Liu Renfei.
The Council session discussed matters of recovery and development of the regions affected by the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident as well as international cooperation in the interests of achieving sustainable development.
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