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“Since day one Belarus has been approaching the implementation of its national nuclear energy project responsibly and very transparently,” stressed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman. “Dozens of international delegations have already visited the construction site, including top officials of the International Atomic Energy Agency and other international bodies. Today’s event is our joint endeavor we have made possible partially in response to wishes and initiatives of a number of ambassadors, who are curious about construction progress.”

According to Dmitry Mironchik, a large group of diplomats — more than 25 people — came to Ostrovets. Those are ambassadors, charges d’affaires, and senior diplomats of the embassies accredited in Minsk. “The geography is vast. Nearly all our neighbors are represented, including Russia — our strategic partner in the project. The ambassador of Ukraine is present as well as representatives of the Polish embassy and embassies of other European countries, in particular, the ambassadors of the UK, Germany, and Sweden. Diplomats representing Serbia, Finland, Netherlands, and Japan also came here today,” specified the press secretary of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Representatives of the Lithuanian embassy intended to visit the construction site initially but, regretfully, they refused to come at the very last moment. “There are no representatives of Lithuanian mass media with us here today although we’ve invited them and even accredited representatives of a Lithuanian news agency,” pointed out Dmitry Mironchik. “But we are ready to present all the necessary information to our neighbors and other countries today and in the future.”

Competent representatives of the Belarusian side are expected to talk to the diplomats at the construction site, including Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk, the director of the enterprise in charge of running of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, and the chief engineer of the enterprise.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant is a project to build a new-generation nuclear power plant with two VVER-1200 type reactors (1,200MW each) 18km away from Ostrovets, Grodno Oblast. The first power-generating unit is scheduled for commissioning in 2019, with the second one to go online in 2020.