Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 12 April (BelTA) – Belarus suggests the United Nations to approve and implement after 2016 its initiative on “Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in the Chernobyl affected regions through partnerships, innovations and investments”. The idea was voiced by Belarusian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Valentin Rybakov at the meeting of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Chernobyl (IATF) at the UN headquarters in New York on 11 April, BelTA learnt from the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Belarusian representative also proposed to retain the UNDP coordinating role in international Chernobyl cooperation and to continue the work of the IATF. “The participants of the meeting reviewed the main achievements of the United Nations in international Chernobyl cooperation in the recent years. In view of the approaching 30th anniversary of the tragedy IATF discussed proposals for organizing multilateral cooperation in this area for the period after 2016. A number of proposals had previously been prepared within the expert process, with its final meeting held in Minsk in February 2016,” the press service said.

In the coming days a number of activities to mark the anniversary of the Chernobyl accident will be held in the UN on the initiative and with the participation of Belarus. Belarus will organize a thematic photo exhibition at the United Nations headquarters. On the day of the 30th anniversary of the tragedy the UN General Assembly will hold a special commemorative meeting.

The IATF on Chernobyl coordinates activities of the United Nations agencies, other international organizations and interested countries in international Chernobyl cooperation. The Task Force is chaired by Administrator of the UN Development Program Helen Clark. It is comprised of over ten international organizations including UNDP, IAEA, WHO, UNEP, FAO, and World Bank. The three most Chernobyl-affected countries, Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, are permanent participants of the group.