General Assembly Session 60 meeting 77

The Acting President

I would like to invite the attention of the General Assembly to documents A/60/650/Add.8 and A/60/650/Add.9, in which the Secretary-General informs the President of the General Assembly that, since the issuance of his communications contained in document A/60/650 and addenda 1 to 7, Papua New Guinea and Seychelles have made the necessary payments to reduce their arrears below the amount specified in Article 19 of the Charter.

May I take it that the General Assembly duly takes note of the information contained in those documents?

The Acting President

This morning the General Assembly, in accordance with Assembly resolution 60/14 of 14 November 2005, will hold a special commemorative meeting in observance of the twentieth anniversary of the Chernobyl catastrophe.

Members will recall that the Assembly concluded its consideration of sub-item (c) of agenda item 73 at its 52nd plenary meeting, held on 14 November 2005. In order for the General Assembly to hold the commemorative meeting today, it will be necessary to reopen consideration of the sub-item. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to reopen consideration of sub-item (c) of agenda item 73?

The Acting President

May I further take it that the Assembly agrees to proceed immediately to hold the special commemorative meeting under sub-item (c) of agenda item 73?

In the absence of objection, we shall proceed accordingly.

On behalf of the President of the General Assembly, it is my honour to welcome all participants to this special commemorative meeting of the General Assembly to observe the twentieth anniversary of the Chernobyl catastrophe. On 26 April 1986, the worst nuclear accident in history occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine. Since then, Chernobyl has become a symbol of shattering human tragedy and devastating environmental damage.

Today we have gathered here to honour the memory of the victims of the Chernobyl catastrophe. It is also an occasion to remember the heroism of the emergency workers who responded in the days following the disaster, the deprivation of more than 330,000 residents of the area who were evacuated from contaminated regions and the suffering of millions of people living in affected areas, who over the past two decades have had to cope with the physical and psychological effects of the accident.

Alongside Governments, non-governmental organizations and other international organizations, the United Nations and its funds, programmes and agencies have been involved in Chernobyl relief and recovery efforts from the very beginning. In the aftermath of the catastrophe, the assistance efforts of the United Nations family were, naturally, targeted to meet the large-scale humanitarian needs. Over time the emphasis of those efforts has shifted, and the United Nations family has, since 2002, focused on promoting the social and economic development of the affected communities.

The legacy of the Chernobyl catastrophe remains strong. The effects of radioactive contamination are still being felt 20 years later in the affected region. There are ongoing international efforts to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster. Here, I would like to recognize the important contributions of the Chernobyl Forum, a collective effort by eight organizations within the United Nations system and the Governments of the most affected countries -- Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine -- to analyse the health, environmental and socio-economic impacts of the nuclear accident.

On this solemn occasion, as we observe the twentieth anniversary of the Chernobyl catastrophe, we should also look forward and pay attention to the continuing needs of the affected region. In the past 10 days, two major international conferences on Chernobyl, held in Minsk and in Kiev, have gathered representatives of Governments and the United Nations system and other international actors to reflect on lessons learned and to make proposals on future actions in response to the disaster. May today's event also serve to remind us of the need for international solidarity whenever and wherever international disasters occur. In today's world, the crucial challenges are borderless.

Before proceeding further, I should like to consult Member States about inviting Mr. Kemal Dervi, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme and United Nations Coordinator of International Cooperation on Chernobyl, and Mrs. Ann Veneman, Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund, to make statements on this occasion.

If there is no objection, may I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly, without setting a precedent, to invite Mr. Kemal Dervi, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme and United Nations Coordinator of International Cooperation on Chernobyl, and Mrs. Ann Veneman, Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund, to make statements at this special commemorative meeting?

The Acting President

In accordance with the decision just taken, and without setting a precedent, I now give the floor to Mr. Kemal Dervi, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme and United Nations Coordinator of International Cooperation on Chernobyl.

Mr. Dervi (United Nations Development Programme)

It is an honour to have this opportunity to address this body today, as we mark 20 years since the world's worst nuclear accident occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

As the United Nations Coordinator of International Cooperation on Chernobyl, I am pleased that the United Nations has been able to play a prominent role in the many commemorative events that have been held to mark this solemn twentieth anniversary. It is an occasion both to remember the enormous human costs of the Chernobyl disaster and to take stock of the many problems that linger two decades later. It is also time to look ahead and seek solutions that hold the promise of hope and recovery for the 5 million residents of the Chernobyl-affected areas.

Chernobyl was a devastating tragedy. Hundreds of emergency workers risked their lives in responding to the accident, and some, sadly, perished. Hundreds of thousands laboured to build a shelter around the damaged reactor. More than 330,000 people were uprooted from their towns and villages. Five thousand people who were children at the time of the accident have contracted thyroid cancer. Millions in the region were left traumatized by lingering fears about their health. We should never forget the loss and pain caused by the disaster.

The impact of the accident and the policies adopted to mitigate its consequences were compounded by the disintegration of the Soviet Union. The region's mostly rural economy was devastated. Livelihoods lost 20 years ago have not yet been recovered. Farming villages have struggled to overcome the stigma of living in a contaminated region. Many communities have sunk into resignation and apathy.

In recounting the enormous human costs of the Chernobyl tragedy, however, it is important to remember that, while this is undoubtedly a tremendously sad commemoration, it is not a hopeless one. Much has been done to cope with the legacy of Chernobyl. Granted, the initial silence on the accident was reprehensible, and most Soviet citizens -- as well as the international community -- remained unaware for days that the accident had happened. The cover-up endangered millions of people and has left a deep legacy of mistrust among those who were denied timely, credible information.

That said, both the Soviet Government and, after 1991, the newly independent States of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine have devoted vast amounts of resources and great ingenuity to protecting the population from the effects of radiation and to mitigating the consequences of the accident. Those efforts have been largely successful.

During the past two decades, the Governments and populations of the affected regions have enjoyed the support of a broad range of United Nations initiatives. As chronicled in the Secretary-General's regular reports to the General Assembly, many agencies have been active in relief and recovery. They include the International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, UNESCO, the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, UNICEF, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank.

United Nations Member States -- particularly Canada, the European Union, Japan, Switzerland and the United States -- have also been generous contributors to Chernobyl recovery efforts. I would like to express my deep gratitude for their invaluable support.

However, much more remains to be done to promote the region's recovery. Renewed efforts should gain new impetus from the findings of the United Nations Chernobyl Forum. The Forum, an authoritative body composed of representatives of eight United Nations agencies and the three most affected Governments, recently concluded that most of the 5 million people who live in Chernobyl-affected areas need not live in fear of radiation. Many of the areas previously designated as contaminated are now suitable for habitation and cultivation, although precautions are still necessary in some areas. Those findings mean that many affected communities can regain the confidence they need to return to a normal life. Copies of the Chernobyl Forum report are available at the side of the General Assembly Hall.

As for UNDP, we see the greatest challenge now facing affected territories as being the need to create new jobs, to promote investment and growth, to restore a sense of community self-reliance and to improve local living standards. In short, the region needs sustainable social and economic development. There are many success stories worldwide that the region can emulate. We still strive to share these with the three most affected countries.

This is, of course, very much UNDP's mandate: to work together with the three Governments, the affected communities and other United Nations and international organizations to find the right solutions to development challenges posed by Chernobyl. Our field work in affected communities is already yielding fruit, and we count on the continued generosity of United Nations Member States to expand these efforts.

As the United Nations solemnly marks the twentieth anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, we stand in solidarity with those affected by the tragedy and renew our commitment to assisting communities in their recovery. Today, while the anniversary is filled with sadness, we also acknowledge that this is a time for hope as we move forward in building a better future for all those whose lives have been changed by this tragedy.

The Acting President

In accordance with the decision just taken, and without setting a precedent, I now give the floor to the Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund.

Ms. Veneman (United Nations Children's Fund)

Few of us who are old enough to remember back two decades will ever forget Chernobyl. Twenty years ago this week, it became the site of the worst nuclear power plant disaster the world has ever known. But long after the media spotlight had died down, the effects lingered on, resulting in illness, psychological damage and impaired human development across large areas of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

For two decades the world has worked to respond to the scale and complexity of this disaster. The United Nations system has been a strong partner of the people and Governments of the regions affected by Chernobyl in their efforts to overcome their suffering and rebuild their livelihoods. Some 600,000 emergency and recovery workers have laboured to help diminish the impact of the disaster. An early response to this unprecedented emergency was lacking, but the world has learned from experience and has worked to improve its efforts over time.

While the humanitarian crisis has passed, the problems related to the health and well-being of children and young people are ongoing. As is often the case in emergencies, children suffered a disproportionate impact. A sharp increase in cases of thyroid cancer was reported after the accident, mainly in children and adolescents. It is clear that the increased incidence of childhood thyroid cancer caused by radioactive iodine fallout has been the most dramatic health impact of Chernobyl. But in a cruel irony, just as iodine deficiency in the affected area made children more vulnerable 20 years ago to the radioactive iodine fallout, even now it continues to affect thousands of children.

Iodine deficiency is the world's leading cause of mental retardation, and it is a danger to pregnant women and young children. In areas where iodine deficiency is endemic, like those affected by the Chernobyl catastrophe, it has been shown that it lowers the IQ level of children by an average of about 13 points. This can lead to poor performance in school and reduced productivity in adults.

Dealing with iodine deficiency effectively is very simple and low cost. Universal iodization of salt for human and animal consumption is the most effective way to ensure that everyone benefits from the protection of iodine. Today only about 55 per cent of households in Belarus consume iodized salt, and in Russia and Ukraine that figure is about 30 percent. This means that every year an estimated 41,000 children in Belarus, 274,000 children in Ukraine and 1 million children in the Russian Federation are born iodine-deficient.

What is needed is a commitment to action from the leaders of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. The international community stands ready to help. In the three countries an alliance is needed among the public health community, the media, the consumer federations and salt producers to make sure that every household knows the benefits of iodized salt and can find it in their local store. Universal salt iodization in those three countries would be a positive and lasting legacy for those affected by the Chernobyl tragedy. By protecting health, enhancing learning potential and increasing productivity, preventing iodine deficiency disorders can contribute to the Millennium Development Goals.

In 2002 the United Nations Development Programme and UNICEF, with the support of the World Health Organization and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, commissioned a report on the human consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear accident. The recommendations in that report have guided the United Nations system's response to the needs of the areas affected by the disaster. The United Nations is now shifting its support from direct humanitarian assistance to sustainable development for the long term.

UNICEF and our partners are also working to respond to the psychological problems stemming from Chernobyl. Indeed, one of the lasting scars of Chernobyl is fear of the future, which parents too often pass on to their children. UNICEF is working to address this by educating children about healthy lifestyles and helping to instil optimism. We are working with other United Nations agencies to prepare a practical manual on facts for life to help children and families cope with the consequences of Chernobyl. We are collaborating with partners in non-governmental organizations, on programmes to help give young people skills they need to get jobs.

The harsh reality of Chernobyl is that 20 years later the effects linger in the ground and in the minds of people. But the world has the power to help heal those wounds, to take action that will unleash the boundless human potential of the younger generation. On this twentieth anniversary commemoration we gather to remember those affected by Chernobyl, but we must also commit ourselves to preventing further harm to those in the impacted area.

The Acting President

I now give the floor to the representative of Belarus.

Mr. Dapkiunas (Belarus)

On behalf of the Government of Belarus and on behalf of my compatriots, I would like to thank everybody for being here. We take your presence in this Hall as an encouraging sign that there indeed remain many people in the world for whom the tragedy of 20 years ago has not become a mere footnote in the history of civilian nuclear energy. Similarly, with the greatest respect and gratitude, we recall today each of the 69 partner countries who co-sponsored the comprehensive General Assembly resolution on Chernobyl last year (resolution 60/14).

By the tragic whim of fate, Belarus -- by far the smallest of the three most affected countries -- took the heaviest blow from that nuclear disaster. A deadly 70 per cent of the total radioactive fallout of Chernobyl settled over the territory of Belarus. One fifth of the country's territory remains contaminated with radionucleides. The overall damage to Belarus as a result of the disaster was estimated by United Nations experts to be $235 billion. One can say that Belarus is one of the few countries in the world whose work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals is virtually overcast by a sinister radioactive shadow.

What has rightly been defined as the world's worst technological disaster of the nuclear age amounts for Belarus to nothing less than a national calamity. In terms of depths of humanitarian tragedy, in terms of gravity of human perception and reaction, in terms of rupturing the social fabric of Belarusian society, the Chernobyl tragedy is the closest thing to the lingering legacy of the last world war. The war and Chernobyl are the worst scars on the soul of Belarus. They are critical and indispensable for understanding the mindset and for synching with the heartbeat of ordinary Belarusians.

As has already been said and will be said again today, much has been accomplished in the past 20 years in dealing with the aftermath of the disaster. Much has been done by the people of Belarus themselves. The assistance of our foreign partners, both Governments and civil society, has been significant and much needed. Such tokens of compassion and friendly support will never be forgotten by Belarusians. Such noble gestures build the most durable foundation for open and trustworthy relations between peoples and States.

The new strategy for the recovery and sustainable development of the affected regions was the focus of attention at a recent landmark Chernobyl event -- the International Minsk Conference, which completed its work a week ago.

To underline the specific nature of the challenges faced by the countries most affected by the Chernobyl disaster and the need to develop a comprehensive and streamlined framework for multilateral Chernobyl cooperation, the Minsk Conference suggested proclaiming the years 2006 to 2016 as the International Decade for the Recovery and Sustainable Development of the Regions Affected by the Chernobyl Disaster. We hope that that initiative will receive the support of Member States. Belarus is also counting on the strong leadership of the United Nations Development Programme in the implementation of that initiative.

There are things which Belarus needs in order to overcome the damage caused by Chernobyl. In recent years we have been paying particular attention to the long-term medical and environmental consequences of the disaster. We are grateful to the donor countries, international organizations and civil society for helping us to carry out those studies. Our greatest needs and concerns relate to diagnostics and the early detection of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, especially in children. To that end, we badly need modern medical equipment.

But there are also things which Belarus can share with the world, through its knowledge, experience and foresight. During the Minsk Conference, for instance, there was support for putting to wider and better use the acknowledged experience of the Belarusian Chernobyl and nuclear scientific community. That has particular relevance to the long-standing issue of the enlargement of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. The composition of that Committee has remained unchanged for many years, despite the new challenges and problems which have arisen in the field of radiation protection. The Minsk International Conference suggested that the General Assembly address that issue as a matter of practical urgency. Belarus, as well as other countries affected by the Chernobyl disaster, should be duly represented in the Committee.

Self-reliance is part of the national character of Belarusians. Our tragic and turbulent history has taught our people to expect very little from the outside world. Over the years, Belarusians have got used to accepting the tragic gifts of history with patience and resilience. In Belarus there is even a poetic notion that the people of the land will always carry a national "cross of suffering".

That is why Belarus is not interested in proposing yet another international decade as a mere exercise in publicity or paperwork. Nor are we vying for an undeserved piece of the global development assistance pie. Belarus will not try to shift responsibility for the recovery and development of the affected regions onto anybody else. What we are really asking for is concerned and honest engagement. What we are hoping for is an international decade of sincere human attention and solidarity with the people who are continuing to confront the dangers of Chernobyl. We are hoping for wider understanding of the fact that the problem of Chernobyl has never been local or regional. We are hoping for the brave and responsible understanding of it as a global challenge and a global concern. I have to admit that that understanding sometimes eludes us.

The twentieth anniversary of the disaster has seen the resumption of a heated international public debate about the scale and gravity of consequences of Chernobyl and the continuing relevance of the disaster. There are conflicting assessments and disparate approaches.

In Vienna, the United Nations Chernobyl Forum concluded that there is a need to further study the medical and environmental effects of the Chernobyl disaster. This important finding highlights the need for a sophisticated and balanced approach to the problems of Chernobyl. Such an approach would never dismiss in passing any alternative wisdom or opinions, no matter how inconvenient or seditious they might seem. Chernobyl constantly reminds us of how little we know and how much we have to learn about things that we thought we had fully mastered. Whether or not we have the courage to admit it, by attempting to harness the most powerful source of energy available to humanity, we have unleashed unknown risks and dangers that are as terrible as they are unseen.

It was exactly two years today that the award-winning documentary Chernobyl Heart was screened in this very Hall. It dealt with the work of Chernobyl Children's Project International, an international organization that works with children and communities affected by the Chernobyl disaster. Today, I would like to cite the words of the founder of that organization, Ms. Adi Roche, who was prominently featured in that documentary and who, by virtue of her accomplishments, has great moral authority, both in her native Ireland and in Belarus. She said,

"[People] ask, 'How many people have died? How many will die? Is this or that cancer or illness definitively caused by radiation? What is Chernobyl? How much radiation were you exposed to? Why do you all look so healthy? Show me the evidence.' These are questions with often non-specific answers or answers that do not satisfy the required neat logic.

"We seek absolutes in situations where there can be no absolutes, no definitive answers, for we ask the wrong questions. People expect to see something grotesque and distorted and are almost disappointed when people and things appear normal -- the media are perplexed. But such expectations distract from the true effects, with no realization that any dose is an overdose.

"If we continue to seek only logical and rational answers we will constantly be diverted from the true picture -- a picture of human fragility, a picture of how delicately balanced the relationship between man and nature is. ... as long as we try and place Chernobyl within our existing understanding of catastrophes, understanding it will continue to elude us. Our experiences from other disasters are clearly inadequate because we are facing a realm of the unknown not previously experienced, requiring a new understanding, a new bravery, and a new kind of courage."

We in Belarus admire those noble individuals, organizations and Governments that have remained honest, compassionate and focused on the plight of the victims of Chernobyl over the past 20 years. We admire their courage in facing the truth about Chernobyl. We admire their steadfast and deeply humane dedication to helping those who are in need. All of those good Samaritans have been and remain an invaluable source of support and inspiration for the Belarusian people.

It would be impossible to mention all of those people at this meeting, but I would like to take this opportunity to mention and honour at least some of the outstanding personalities who forged the system of United Nations coordination and cooperation on Chernobyl, and who continue to work side by side with us. They include three former United Nations coordinators on Chernobyl: President of the General Assembly Jan Eliasson, Ambassador Kenzo Oshima, and Under-Secretary-General Jan Egeland. There are also a number of guests who have been invited to this meeting and who over the years have selflessly sacrificed the fire of their souls in the name of the needy children of a distant land: Mr. Donald Cairns, founder of the Ramapo Children of Chernobyl project, and the wonderful team of Chernobyl Children's Project International, including Ms. Kathy Ryan and Ms. Sherrie Douglas.

The Acting President

I give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation.

Mr. Shcherbak (Russia)

Wednesday, 26 April 2006, marked the twentieth anniversary of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which emerged as the worst technological catastrophe of the twentieth century in terms of its scope and aftermath.

The heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) gathered in the Russian city of Kazan on 26 August 2005 and launched an appeal to the peoples of the CIS countries and to the world community in connection with that tragic date. The statement adopted at their meeting (see A/60/734, annex) observes that as a result of the accident, millions of people were in shock from the calamity which they had trouble comprehending and against which they could not protect themselves. Many families lost their homes and livelihoods and were forced to change their familiar surroundings and way of life.

The scope of the disaster might have been beyond measure had it not been for the courage and selflessness of hundreds of thousands of disaster relief workers at the Chernobyl nuclear power station. Risking their lives and health, they fulfilled their duty and protected people from the harmful effects and further spread of radiation.

Despite the large-scale emergency response measures aimed at addressing and mitigating the consequences of the catastrophe taken immediately following the disaster and in subsequent years, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant continues to be a potential source of danger in the centre of Europe. Minimizing this threat in the near future and on the basis of new technologies is in everyone's interest. There is therefore a need to muster the scientific, technical and financial capacity of the entire international community.

The comprehensive radiation clean-up and economic and social rehabilitation of the affected areas are issues of great importance in addressing the consequences of this terrible disaster at the present stage.

In the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster, more than 59,000 square kilometres of 14 regions of the Russian Federation were contaminated; 3 million Russian people lived in these territories. The most severely contaminated regions in Russia at present are the Bryanskaya, Tulskaya, Orlovskaya and Kaluzhskaya oblasts. More than 200,000 Russian nationals took part in the emergency relief operation in the aftermath of the disaster.

The affected regions are currently experiencing particularly difficult conditions caused by the destruction of the ecological infrastructure, the outflow of labour resources and demographic problems. The state of the environment after the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station has a negative effect on the living conditions of the population. Of particular concern is the health of both the inhabitants of the affected areas and the disaster relief workers.

A key element of the Russian Government's Chernobyl mitigation policy is consistent integration of the radiation factor into all activities in order to fully rehabilitate the affected territories. The financial cost to our country of those efforts has exceeded $5 billion dollars over the past several years. This work is now focused on social development, the psychological rehabilitation of the population and laying a solid foundation for the economic revival of the affected territories. In that context, a number of programmes are being implemented in Russia at the federal level. Between 2002 and 2005, more than 35,000 square metres of housing, along with schools and pre-school institutions for a total of more than 2,500 children and clinics with a capacity of 930 patients per day were commissioned. More than 205 kilometres of gas and water pipelines were constructed.

The Russian recovery strategy places special emphasis on informing the population about the problems involved in overcoming the consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe. For that purpose, a Russia-Belarus information centre, linked with the Nuclear Safety Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, has been in operation since 2004. In the framework of the programme to preserve and restore the soil fertility of arable lands by 2010, measures will be taken to put into use 20,000 hectares of agricultural land affected by the Chernobyl disaster.

To successfully overcome the effects of the catastrophe, it is important that the recovery strategy be scientifically valid. We are pleased that our own experience in this field is consistent with conclusions of the major scientific conferences. I am referring first and foremost to the findings of the United Nations Chernobyl Forum, held in September 2005 in Vienna under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Clearly, its recommendations are most useful for us, but I would like to emphasize that verifying scientific research findings and reaching agreement on them will not become less relevant in the future.

Throughout these years, international cooperation on Chernobyl, with all its implications, has remained a matter of urgency for us. We take note of the attention the international community has devoted to this matter: the development of scientific contacts, assistance to us in the health field, support for our agricultural rehabilitation efforts and the promotion of an information exchange network. Here, we have always attached great importance to the role of the United Nations as catalyst and coordinator. We view the consensus adoption of General Assembly resolution 60/14 on Chernobyl in November last year and the unprecedented number of sponsors -- 69 countries -- as an expression of the international community's solidarity with the efforts of the affected countries and of its readiness to continue to draw special attention to the Chernobyl issue at the international level.

I would like to stress another dimension of the international cooperation in this field, one which is of great importance from our point of view: the strengthening of the capacity to respond to technological disasters, in particular those associated with radioactive accidents. In the context of the new challenges and threats facing our civilization, such cooperation is higher on the agenda than ever before. The experience gained by the Russian Federation Ministry for Emergency Situations and the Ministry's readiness to explore international cooperation in this field is well known.

We express our appreciation to the leadership of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for having served as coordinator on Chernobyl since 2004 and for its contribution to the strengthening of international cooperation in this field aimed at achieving the noble goal of improving the lives of people in the affected territories. We are also thankful to other organizations, in particular the humanitarian organizations which have worked hand in hand with us over all these years.

The Acting President

I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Volodymyr Kholosha, Deputy Minister of Emergencies of Ukraine.

Mr. Kholosha (Ukraine)

On behalf of the 3 million rescue workers and victims of the consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe, and on behalf of and on the instructions of my Government, I welcome the convening of today's meeting and wish it a successful outcome. The delegation of Ukraine aligns itself with the statement to be made by the representative of Austria on behalf of the European Union.

I wish at the outset to convey my warm gratitude to the United Nations, the United Nations system and the donor community for their efforts to assist Ukraine in the difficult task of overcoming the consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe. I assure them all that those efforts were needed by the Government and the people of Ukraine. We hope they will continue, especially with respect to the strengthening of specific targeted measures. We have high praise for the support offered by those countries that sponsored Assembly resolution 60/14, on Chernobyl. The appeal set out in that resolution was constructive and was aimed at ensuring continued support to Ukraine and other affected countries as they strive to mitigate and minimize the consequences of the catastrophe.

Since independence, Ukraine has faced difficulties -- and not only because of the social and environmental consequences of the catastrophe. These have been years of reflection on how to address a number of urgent large-scale problems with a view to protecting the affected population and to cleaning up the environment.

What does Chernobyl mean to Ukraine? It means 3 million people affected by the catastrophe, both directly and through its consequences. It means 10 per cent of our land directly affected by radiation. It means 164,000 people from 170 towns forced to leave their homes and live elsewhere.

To resolve the problems of Chernobyl, we had to appeal for colossal material and financial resources, particularly to protect the people affected. In some years, the expenditure represented 12 per cent of our State budget, exceeding the budgets for science, culture and health care. During our years of independence alone, the expenditures from the State budget to overcome the consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe have mounted to $7.5 billion.

The focus of attention of our young State has been and continues to be the individuals who suffered in the disaster, their interests and needs, protecting them from the deadly effects of radiation, improving medical services and ensuring environmentally safe food products.

Ukraine's State budget has been severely burdened by the cost of measures to bring the Chernobyl power plant off line and to make the shelter ecologically safe. Despite all that, Ukraine continues to be faithful to its international obligations, guided by the highest interests of its own people and of the international community. We understand that Chernobyl threatens the entire world. Sacrificing some of our national interests to ensure global security, we resolutely shut down the nuclear power plant. That was the second unprecedented act of free will carried out by the independent Ukrainian State. The first was its renunciation of the world's third largest nuclear arsenal.

As a country and a people, we were the most severely affected by the Chernobyl disaster. We can therefore count on the support of the international community through international programmes, human sympathy and understanding of our problems.

As we all know, from 24 to 26 April 2006 an international conference, entitled "Twenty years after the Chernobyl accident: Future outlook", was held in Kiev. The Kiev conference was the last of several conferences, forums and symposiums dedicated to the twentieth anniversary of the Chernobyl catastrophe. It demonstrated that there is no consensus among the experts on Chernobyl, particularly with regard to its health effects, and that scientific research on the true scale of the catastrophe's impact on the health of people and the environment must therefore be pursued.

Experience teaches us that the nature and effects of man-made disasters require us to use all channels of international cooperation to ensure that nowhere, never and under no circumstances should the hand of evil be raised against our beautiful planet. For the sake of life on Earth, we must overcome such catastrophes and do our utmost to ensure that they never recur. We sincerely hope that this special meeting of the General Assembly will help us to develop a common position on the current situation and our future work together, and that it will enhance mutual understanding between Ukraine, Belarus, the Russian Federation and the United Nations in the future.

I close my statement with words from the message from the President of Ukraine, Mr. Victor Yushchenko, to the international community on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the Chernobyl accident:

"At the end of the last century, we shut down the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, but that tragic chapter in our history remains open. The globalization of environmental problems requires us to consider what kind of Earth we wish to leave to future generations. Chernobyl was not just a lesson in itself; it was first and foremost a responsibility. On Chernobyl Day, as all Ukrainians light memorial candles, we call on all sympathetic hearts to unite in their efforts for the sake of peace for our children and grandchildren and for the safety of the future of mankind."

The Acting President

I invite representatives to stand and observe a minute of silent prayer or meditation for the victims of the Chernobyl catastrophe.

The Acting President

I now give the floor to the representative of Uganda on behalf of the Group of African States.

Mr. Butagira (Uganda)

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the African Group during this special commemorative meeting to observe the twentieth anniversary of the Chernobyl accident, under agenda item 73 (c). This commemoration is significant, for it reminds the international community to continue its generosity to the affected population.

Two days ago marked 20 years since the accident happened. The most affected countries -- Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine -- along with donor countries, have since undertaken to mitigate the consequences of the disaster.

The African Group supports the efforts being undertaken and expresses solidarity with the affected population. We encourage continued financial, technical and scientific assistance to minimize the consequences of the accident, as well as continued international and national cooperation and coordination of efforts to handle the development, environmental, social, economic and health aspects in that regard.

That includes coordination of the United Nations system's response to the residual problems associated with Chernobyl as part of the realization of the Millennium Development Goals, as well as community development, building infrastructure, providing health care and healthy lifestyles, radiation mitigation and standard-setting, reactor safety, and timely and dependable scientific research on the impact of radiation.

The African continent joins in solidarity with the affected countries as part and parcel of the international community. We applaud the affected countries, donors and the United Nations system for the measures they are taking to assist the affected population and give them hope for the future.

The Acting President

I call on the representative of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Asian States.

Mr. Kittikhoun (Laos)

It is a great honour and privilege for me, in my capacity as Chairman of the Asian Group for the month of April, to address this special commemorative meeting of the General Assembly. On behalf of the Asian States Members of the United Nations, allow me to express our sincere condolences and support to the Government and people of countries that have suffered from the Chernobyl disaster.

Almost 20 years ago in Ukraine, at the fourth plant of the Chernobyl nuclear power station, there was a technological catastrophe, enormous both in its scale and in its consequences. More than 10 per cent of the country's territory was exposed to radioactive contamination. Some 160,000 people, from 170 towns, had to leave their homes forever and move to other areas. More than 3 million people in Ukraine suffered from the catastrophe and its consequences, particularly in rural areas.

Today, the special commemorative meeting of the General Assembly marks the twentieth anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, which caused great suffering and serious damage in the affected areas of Ukraine, Belarus and the Russian Federation. More than a symbolic occasion, the twentieth anniversary of the Chernobyl catastrophe will be an important opportunity to assess the international community's efforts to meet the continued needs of those most affected by the accident. This solemn event reminds us of a shattering tragedy leaving deep human scars and far-reaching socio-economic, health and environmental damage. Furthermore, it reminds us of the importance of not letting technology run out of control. Society must be the master of technology. Lastly, it serves to remind us of the need for international solidarity when international disasters afflict us, wherever they occur.

The Acting President

I now give the floor to the representative of Slovenia, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States.

Mr. Kirn (Slovenia)

It is my honour to speak on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States on the occasion of the commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the world's worst nuclear accident, the Chernobyl catastrophe. That tragedy occurred in our region and effected many people of our region, who still suffer its consequences.

Every year for the last 20 years, we have commemorated the tragic event at Chernobyl, the symbol of a catastrophe for millions of people in Ukraine, Belarus and the Russian Federation. On 26 April 1986, unit 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded, releasing vast a amount of nuclear radiation into the atmosphere. The disaster unexpectedly reached global proportions. The pollution also affected other countries in Europe. Thousands of people in the worst contaminated areas were traumatized by the disaster and were displaced from their homes, and were left to face acute economic difficulties and chronic health problems. Today, we pay tribute to the memory of all the victims, those who lost their lives immediately during the explosion and those who subsequently suffered from the diseases caused by the pollution.

Allow me to take this opportunity to pay tribute also to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the United Nations Development Programme, UNICEF, other specialized agencies and programmes, individual countries and civil society organizations for their response and assistance in overcoming the consequences of this disaster. To that end, the General Assembly adopted resolution 45/190, which called for international cooperation to address and mitigate the consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, thereby paving the way for coordinated and strengthened international cooperation in rendering assistance in cases of environmental emergency. In that regard, I would also like to welcome the establishment of the new Central Emergency Response Fund, which constitutes a significant step forward in improving the emergency response capacity of the United Nations in cases of disaster and conflict.

Regrettably, 20 years later, the impact of the Chernobyl catastrophe in the affected areas is still present, and much remains to be done. Several million people still live in the affected areas on radiation-contaminated soil. The scope and complexity of the humanitarian, environmental, medical, psychological and economic consequences created a problem of common concern. The saddest consequence of the disaster is that many adolescents and children, including some not yet born at the moment when the reactor exploded, have suffered serious medical, physical and psychological injuries. Those children will never be able to experience the joy of childhood they are entitled to by nature.

By the same token, the international community must take all the necessary measures, moral and financial, to further assist the victims of zones contaminated by radiation to overcome the difficulties they face in their everyday lives and to further develop programmes to forge ahead on the path to recovery.

In conclusion, I would like to stress that many hard lessons have been learned from the Chernobyl catastrophe. Enhanced public awareness of the consequences for health and the environment continues to play a crucial role. This devastating tragedy should never be forgotten. We should do everything possible, collectively and individually, to prevent its reoccurrence anywhere in the world.

The Acting President

I now give the floor to the representative of Chile, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States.