Baltic States – CIS, Belarus, Ecology, Energy, Lithuania

"The report on the impact of the nuclear power plant prepared by Belarus contains misleading information in order to make Lithuania approve of this dangerous project," says chairman of the Lithuanian environmental community Atgaja Saulius Piksrys.

According to him, the construction of nuclear power plant in Astraviec poses a number of threats to Lithuania. The planned nuclear power plant would be constructed 23 kilometres away from the Lithuanian border, 55 kilometres away from Vilnius. Under the Espoo Convention (United Nation Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context), Belarus has to harmonize the construction of nuclear power plant with neighbouring countries, writes LETA/ELTA.

According to a lawyer, Lithuania and Belarus ratified the Espoo Convention and thus both countries must abide by its international obligations. A number of people have been actively speaking out against the construction of nuclear power plant. Around 11,000 people signed the petition "NO to the construction of the Belarus nuclear power plant near Vilnius" and the number is raising everyday.