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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
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 Russian Federation and the Ukraine, international
organizations, governmental organizations 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 Organizing 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
conference2006@komchern.org.by. Suggestions on side events and
Conference proceedings are welcomed.
Background
Information
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