Doc. 8386 2^nd edition
10 May 1999

Appeal to the “G7” to increase the financing for the Chernobyl “Shelter” fund

Written Declaration No. 291

2^nd edition, originally tabled on 26 April 1999

This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it

1.       The Chernobyl accident, which took place on 26 April 1986, was unprecedented in its scale and effects, doomed millions of people to suffering, and forced them to live in constant anxiety about their future.

2.       Humanity has allocated enormous sums to deal with the aftermath of the biggest techno-genetic catastrophe of the 20^th century and still more will be needed to eliminate the consequences completely.

3.       Since the Chernobyl accident, the approaches to and principles governing the nuclear and radiological safety of reactors have been considerably reviewed , legal safety requirements have been improved and the Nuclear Safety Convention, establishing the responsibility of each state possessing nuclear reactors and facilities, has been adopted.

4.       However, the problems caused by the Chernobyl accident are still unresolved and continue to endanger humanity.

5.       The scale of the scientific and technological problems of dealing with the aftermath of the accident vividly demonstrate the need to co-ordinate the efforts of many highly-developed countries to eliminate, as soon as possible, the nuclear and radiological danger which still exists within the Chernobyl area.

6.       Written Declaration No. 274 of 22 April 1998  has already appealed to the "G7" states to intensify their efforts to finance work to overcome the effects of Chernobyl. Efforts to transform the "Shelter", under which the destructive processes periodically become more active, into an ecologically safe system are both extremely important and urgent.

7.       Nevertheless , the work is still at the initial stage and the international community now has to make major efforts to implement urgent measures as soon as possible.

8.       The undersigned are particularly concerned that the financial resources for implementing these urgent measures have still not been fully provided. As of today the Chernobyl Fund has only about $400 million at its disposal, compared with the $750 million that is required.

9.       We hope that international organisations and the world community will take further significant steps to eliminate, as rapidly as possible, the effects of the greatest environmental accident in world history.

10.       To this end  we would ask the "G7" states to ensure the stable financing of the international programme to transform the "Shelter" into an ecologically safe system.

Signed : ¹

Rakhansky, Ukraine, UEL

Davis, United Kingdom, SOC

Gjellerod, Denmark, SOC

Glotov, Russia, UEL

Gylys, Lithuania, SOC

Laakso, Finland, UEL

Melnikov, Russia, UEL

Oliynyk, Ukraine, UEL

Schieder, Austria, SOC

Stepova, Czech Republic, SOC

Voronin, Moldova , UEL

Kosakivsky, Ukraine, UEL

____________________

Total = 12

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG:European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL : Group of the Unified European Left

      NR : Not registered in a group