The consequences of the Chernobyl disaster

The consequences of the Chernobyl disaster

Doc. 7542 2^ndedition
13 May 1996

WRITTEN DECLARATION No. 247
(2nd edition, originally tabled on 26 April 1996)

This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it

          Ten years ago, on 26 April 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power station was struck by an accident that has gone down in world history as a major technological catastrophe of the 20th century and has since become a heavy burden on the shoulders of the Belarusian, Ukrainian and Russian peoples.

          Tragically, it was not just an ordinary accident at a nuclear reactor but in effect a short-range nuclear strike in peace time. Over the past years, the scale of the tragedy has emerged very clearly and the problems of coping with the consequences require immediate solutions. Humanity has gradually come to realise that it is unrealistic to hope to overcome the accident's after-effects in the foreseeable future because they will continue to affect our lives for 300 to 400 years.

          Obviously, the only sensible approach is to minimise or reduce the consequences of the accident which has done enormous physical and psychological damage to innocent people and created a great deal of stress.

          In the years that have elapsed since the tragic day thousands upon thousands of affected people have died, foremost among whom are the "liquidators" to whom many in Europe owe their lives. Cancer cases in children have increased considerably. Birth-rates have fallen, exacerbating the demographic situation in the three countries concerned. Owing to damaged immune systems in children, the whole genotype of the nations concerned is now under threat. We now tend to think that the smaller radiation doses have impacted on the health of the population not only within the affected territories but all over Europe.

          These and other after-effects of the accident can only be reduced through a joint effort by all European governments, parliaments and nations, plus the support of all people of goodwill in the world.

          The sacred right of any nation to a decent life with a future, continuity and multiplication of its public, spiritual and cultural traditions, must be ensured through the effort of the European community. We cannot enter the 21st century without lending support to the Belarusian, Ukrainian and Russian peoples in their struggle to minimise the after-effects of the nuclear disaster.

          We appeal to all those who value the ideals of European solidarity, especially the parliaments and goverments of European states, international associations, financial and charitable organisations, to increase their assistance to the regions concerned and to secure additional resources for child care and for the closing down of Chernobyl's Unit 4.

          The peoples of Europe should be as one in the hours of joy and triumph, tragedy and misfortune. Not until the true depth of the tragedy is understood equally by everyone, can we build a real united European home.

Signed:
Aytaman, Turkey, -
Bartodziej, Poland, PPE
Caccia, Switzerland, PPE
Cherep, Ukraine, SOC
Chyzh, Ukraine, UEL
Ciemniak, Poland, SOC
Diacov, Moldova, -
Filimonov, Russia, UEL
Glotov, Russia, UEL
Grzyb, Poland, PPE
G�rel, Turkey, SOC
Hararaldsson, Iceland, LDR
Hardy, United Kingdom, SOC
Korakas, Greece, UEL
Kukk, Estonia, PPE
Martinez, Spain, SOC
Maximus, Belgium, SOC
Melnikov, Russia, UEL
Oleinik, Russia, UEL
Oliynik, Ukraine, UEL
Parisi, Italy, PPE
Petersen, Denmark, UEL
Radulescu-Botica, Romania, SOC
Ragnarsd�ttir, Iceland, EDG
Rakhansky, Ukraine, UEL
Roseta, Portugal, LDR
Ruffy, Switzerland, SOC
Samofalov, Ukraine, SOC
Severin, Romania, SOC
Shishlov, Russia, -
Shuba, Russia, PPE
Speed, United Kingdom, EDG
Stretovych, Ukraine, PPE
Trojan, Czech Republic, SOC
Veidemann, Estonia, LDR
Vuji_, Croatia, -
Woltjer, Netherlands, SOC
Yablonsky, Ukraine, EDG
Kovalev, Russia, LDR
Barsony, Hungary, SOC
Bogomolov, Russia, UEL
Volodin, Russia, UEL
Iwinski, Poland, SOC
Chyzh, Ukraine, UEL
Dovgan, Ukraine, UEL
Marmazov, Ukraine, UEL
___________________
Total = 46

*        SOC : Socialist Group
          EPP : Group of the European People's Party
          EDG : European Democratic Group
          LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group
          UEL : Group of the Unified European Left