MINSK, 24 April (BelTA) - Belarus is willing to join efforts with all stakeholders to minimize the impact of the Chernobyl disaster on the basis of the principles of equal rights and mutual respect, Sergei Khomenko, National Coordinator for the Sustainable Development Goals, Deputy Chairman of the Council of the Republic, said at a meeting of the Council for Sustainable Development dedicated to the International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day at the National Center for Life Safety at the Emergencies Ministry, BelTA learned.
“The social and economic development of the affected territories continues. A solar power plant with an area of about 41 hectares (which equal about 60 soccer fields) was set up in Bragin District, Gomel Oblast, in 2016,” Sergei Khomenko said. “We made a number of achievements on the way to the revival of the affected areas. But still the topic of Chernobyl will remain relevant in the long term. Belarus hope the international attention keeps focus on the Chernobyl matters. In 2016, we initiated the resolution Persistent Legacy of the Chernobyl Disaster in the UN General Assembly. The main message of the resolution is the need to continue Chernobyl cooperation under the auspices of the UN in order to achieve sustainable development of the affected regions and population through partnership, innovation and investment. It is this resolution that proclaimed the International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day on 26 April.”
The results of our common work on Chernobyl matters are enormous, Sergei Khomenko said. “Over the 39-year period Belarus has gone from a recipient country of humanitarian aid to a full-fledged partner and expert country with experience in overcoming the impact of the worst man-made disaster. Today, Belarus has unique scientific and practical experience in medicine and ecology, emergency preparedness, production of clean products, reclamation of lands, forests and their return into use. We are ready to share our experience,” he emphasized. “We hope that international Chernobyl cooperation will continue with all partners in order to achieve sustainable development of the regions affected by the disaster. I would like to note that the Republic of Belarus is willing to rally efforts with all interested partners to minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster based the on principles of equal rights and mutual respect. Therefore, we consider today's event as a contribution of the Council for Sustainable Development to the work on the comprehensive realization of the Sustainable Development Goals in the country”.
“Today representatives of the Council for Sustainable Development together with the diplomats accredited in the Republic of Belarus laid flowers and honored the memory of the Chernobyl clean-up workers at the Chernobyl Victims memorial and Hiroshima Peace Stone in the Peoples' Friendship Park which is located near the church in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God The Seeker of The Lost. I would like to thank representatives of the diplomatic corps and other participants of the ceremony for showing solidarity, honoring the memory of the tragedy that most affected the Republic of Belarus,” he added.
