MINSK, 15 March (BelTA) – During the 35th session of the Espoo Convention Implementation Committee in Geneva Belarus suggested that Lithuania should be made familiar with the progress in building the Belarusian nuclear power plant at the construction site near Ostrovets, the press service of the Belarusian Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry told BelTA.
The source explained: “As a gesture of good will the Belarusian side suggested discussing all the technical issues mentioned by Lithuania via letters at the construction site in Ostrovets. Over there Lithuanian technical experts as well as members of the Espoo Convention Implementation Committee will be given an opportunity to get familiar with the progress of the Belarusian nuclear power plant construction project and the system used to ensure the quality and safety of the construction process.”
As part of the Belarusian delegation's participation in the ongoing 35th session of the Espoo Convention Implementation Committee in the Palace of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Belarusian First Deputy Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Minister Iya Malkina informed those present about the steps Belarus takes to fulfill requirements of the Espoo Convention in view of the complaint Lithuania has submitted to the Espoo Convention Implementation Committee concerning the Belarusian nuclear power plant construction project.
“In particular, the speech mentioned that the current session is the first dialogue of experts between Belarus and Lithuania, it is something Belarus has been trying to achieve for the last five years. While planning the construction of the nuclear power plant Belarus followed the environmental impact assessment procedure to the letter as the Convention requires and did everything to fulfill recommendations of the Committee and resolutions of the 6th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention. Despite those accomplishments Belarus is forced to state with regret that Lithuania is trying to add too much political flavor to the current situation,” stressed representatives of the Belarusian Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry.
The 35th session of the Implementation Committee of the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) is scheduled to take place in Geneva, Switzerland on 15-17 March. Delegations of Belarus and Lithuania are taking part in the event on the first day of the session upon the invitation of the Implementation Committee. The Belarusian delegation is led by First Deputy Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Minister Iya Malkina. The delegation also includes Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) expects the signatories to notify and consult each other about all the major projects that can have a considerable negative transboundary impact on the environment. Belarus became a party to the Convention on 8 February 2006.
BelTA reported earlier that in June 2011 Lithuania contacted the Espoo Convention Implementation Committee complaining about Belarus' failure to observe the Convention while planning the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. After looking into the matter the Committee and later on the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention gave recommendations both to Belarus and Lithuania on ways to ensure the fulfillment of the Convention with regard to the Belarusian nuclear power plant project. The recommendations also encouraged the two countries to work together.
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