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Lithuanian MFA: Belarus fails to fulfill requirements of EIA Convention

BC, Vilnius, 17.12.2013.Print version
According to Lithuania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ministry was not informed about the intensions of Belarus to organize the event related to the Belarus nuclear power station (NPP) in Vilnius, informs LETA/ELTA.

In the event which will be taking place on Tuesday, it is planned to present the results of the research on the radiation in the region where the Belarus NPP is being built and the project related to the effects on the environment of the Astravas NPP.

 

It was announced that the event was to be attended by Head of the Republican Centre for Radiation Olga Zhukova and other Belarusian officers.

 

Lithuania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds that the process of the Belarusian NPP environmental impact assessment with accordance to the UN convention in the context of the Espoo Connvetion (EIA) is not finished. Since 2009, Lithuania has in vain requested Belarus to provide answers to some basic questions regarding the construction project: Why was the construction site chosen specifically near Vilnius? When will seismic studies be conducted? How will the reactor be cooled? What kinds of effects will this cause to the River Neris, the groundwater, and the health of the Lithuanian citizens? These questions remain unanswered. Therefore, the environmental impact assessment procedure has not been completed. Belarus has also not taken Lithuania's offer to hold a public discussion about the construction of the Belarusian NPP in Vilnius this autumn.

 

On December 3 2013, Lithuania presented the basic questions regarding the construction project one more time.

 

On 2013 April 15 the Committee issued a conclusion stating that Belarus had violated Espoo Convention provisions. The Committee urged Belarus to submit thorough answers to all questions raised by Lithuania, to take into account Lithuanian experts' observations and ensure that Lithuanian public is presented information regarding the construction of the NPP. The Committee requested Belarus to provide detailed answers to all the questions raised by Lithuania and to take into account comments of the Lithuanian experts, to ensure that the Lithuanian public was provided with possibilities for making comments on the construction of this nuclear power plant, and to comply with other requirements of the Espoo Convention.






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