MINSK, 15 March (BelTA) - Belarus does not skimp on the safety of the nuclear power plant in Ostrovets, Belarus' Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk told BelTA in a telephone conversation. The Belarusian official is in Geneva for the 35th session of the Implementation Committee of the Espoo Convention.
“In no way Belarus saves on the construction and safety of the nuclear power plant. Financing is allocated as planned. The project to build the NPP has been thoroughly developed taking into account all the details. There are no issues associated with money. The claims in this regard are far-fetched and groundless,” said Mikhail Mikhadyuk.
According to him, Belarus is a responsible partner, provides full information about the construction of the nuclear power plant and is interested in open dialogue. The Implementation Committee of the Espoo Convention heard out all the explanations of Belarus and said that our country was able to give answers to many of the questions,” the Deputy Minister added.
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.
In June 2011 Lithuania submitted a complaint to the Espoo Convention Implementation Committee 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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