(openPR) Botschaft der Republik Belarus in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
International Chernobyl Conference to be held in Minsk in 2006
On 26th of April 2006, twenty years will have passed since the accident, which happened at the Chernobyl NPP. Over the past years Belarus, Russia and the Ukraine, as well as UN agencies, European Union, governments, scientific institutions and NGOs of a number of countries have made intensive efforts aimed at mitigating the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster and studying their impact on public health and the environment.
Results of these activities were discussed at major international forums dedicated to the 10th anniversary (Geneva 1995; Minsk 1996; Vienna 1996) and the 15th anniversary (Kiev 2001) of the Chernobyl disaster.
Conclusions of those conferences vividly demonstrate that radiation catastrophes, unlike other disasters, turn affected territories into crisis zones, taking many decades to be recovered. As stated by Mr. Jan Egeland, UN Under-Secretary-General, Humanitarian Relief Coordinator, “we must remind everyone that the Chernobyl consequences will still be a problems for many generations to come”.
The most challenging task of the post-Chernobyl recovery at the moment is the integrated radiological and socio-economic rehabilitation of the contaminated areas. The main goal of rehabilitation – real economic recovery and sustainable development of the affected areas – requires new approaches, scientifically justified decision-making, considerable financial resources, and, consequently, financial and technical engagement of the international community.
In this regard, during the 58th Session of the UN General Assembly, the Republic of Belarus initiated and announced the International Conference on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant to be held in Minsk in 2006. It is planned to organize a three-day conference during 17-23 of April 2006.
The main objective of the Conference is to analyse the accumulated Chernobyl disaster mitigation experience and to develop recommendations defining the strategy of actions in this field for the next decade.
Representatives of the Russian Federation and the Ukraine, international organizations, governmental organisations and NGOs of the donor states will participate in the Conference.
To discuss preparation and conduction of the Minsk International Conference a National Organizing Committee chaired by Vice-Premier Vladimir Drazhin was set up. An International Organising Committee co-chaired by H.E. Cihan Sultanoglu, UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in the Republic of Belarus, and Vladimir Tsalko, Chairman of Chernobyl Committee, is under development.
The latest information about the Conference will be updated and made available from the following web sites www.chernobyl.info and www.chernobyl.by. Applications for participation can be sent to the Conference Secretariat by e-mail
. Suggestions on side events and Conference proceedings are welcomed.Botschaft der Republik Belarus in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
www.belarus-botschaft.de
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