Appeal to the "G7" to step up efforts to alleviate the effects of the Chernobyl disaster

WRITTEN DECLARATION No. 262

Doc. 7923

9 October 1997

(2nd edition, originally tabled on 24 September 1997)

The undersigned, members of the Assembly, appeal to the "G7" to step up their efforts to alleviate the effects of the Chernobyl disaster.

The Chernobyl disaster was unprecedented in terms of scale and its lasting effects. One of the 20th century's major catastrophes, it cost scores of lives and caused millions of people to suffer and to fear for their future, for the lives of their children and for later generations.

The aftermath of Chernobyl can still be felt in Ukraine and throughout the world. Vast areas, covering 74 districts in the 12 regions of Ukraine, are contaminated with caesium 137, at a rate of more than 1 curie per square kilometre. The accident claimed 3 200 000 victims in Ukraine, 350 000 of them directly affected by the meltdown and direct consequences of the disaster.

Ukraine must now maintain public safety and decide what to do with the hazardous "shield", which must be reconstructed in an ecologically sound manner. The 800 locations where radioactive waste was dumped must now be sealed off in an "exclusion zone", within the diaster area.

Considerable amounts of money and material resources are needed to deal with these and other urgent issues related to the accident. Over 2 billion US dollars have already been spent on clearing the country of the effects of Chernobyl. Until all these problems have been thoroughly tackled, the inhabitants cannot be guaranteed protection from radiation.

The Chernobyl disaster is a complex one. In addition to closing down the nuclear power plant, other issues must be faced, all of which call for adequate financing. We hope that, along with the "G7" countries and international organisations, the international community will take decisive steps to eradicate the effects of the worst technological and ecological disaster in the history of mankind.

Signed:

Rakhansky, Ukraine, UEL

Blunck, Germany, SOC

Christodoulides, Cyprus, UEL

Chulakov, Ukraine, UEL

Glotov, Russia, UEL

Hoeffel, France, EPP

Holand, Norway, UEL

I.B. Johansson, Sweden, SOC

Jirousova, Czech Republic, UEL

Khunov, Ukraine, UEL

Korakas, Greece, UEL

Kukk, Estonia, EPP

Laakso, Finland, UEL

Lambergs, Latvia, EDG

Le Grand, France, EDG

Loul�, Greece, UEL

Marmazov, Ukraine, UEL

Oleinik, Russia, UEL

Plattner, Switzerland, SOC

Prusi, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, EDG

Samofalov, Ukraine, SOC

Staes, Belgium, EPP

Steolea, Romania, EDG

J.M. Taylor, United Kingdom, EDG

Vella, Malta, EPP

Diaz de Mera, Spain, EPP/CD

Risari, Italy, EPP/CD

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Total = 27