Further international cooperation needed to alleviate consequences of Chernobyl disaster, says OSCE Chairperson Steinmeier

BERLIN, 26 April 2016 –  The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster today, stressed the need for further international cooperation to alleviate the consequences of the Chernobyl accident and to prevent the occurrence of such catastrophe in the future.

Steinmeier said: “Today we remember all the victims, including emergency and recovery operation workers, of the twentieth century’s major technological catastrophe. Despite the progress achieved, the effects of the Chernobyl disaster continue to affect the lives of tens of thousands of people in the contaminated areas. Therefore, we must not let up in our efforts for more international cooperation in order to alleviate the consequences of this tragedy.”

Recalling the negative impact that the contamination of vast areas in Europe had on the lives of millions of people, Steinmeier said: “Today we recognize the enormous efforts made by the governments concerned to address the consequences of the Chernobyl accident, as well as the involvement of the international community, NGOs, and private initiatives, who provided substantial assistance to mitigate the effects of the Chernobyl disaster.”

In this context he also made reference to Germany’s role, during its G7 presidency in 2015, in guaranteeing the further construction of the New Safe Confinement by securing an additional allocation of 615 million Euros by the international community.

Preventing occurrence of such catastrophe in the future should remain the collective objective of the international community as was underlined during the recent trip to Chernobyl by Dr. Barbara Hendricks, Germany’s Minister for the Environment and Nuclear Safety. She said: "It is in the interest of all countries to assure their people that every conceivable measure is being taken to ensure the highest level of safety in all nuclear facilities. This is why it is necessary to deal with the consequences of the disaster in a responsible way."

The OSCE continues its work of addressing radiation risks and recently started a new project to reduce the risks of wildfires in contaminated areas in Belarus and Ukraine. Funded by Germany’s 2016 OSCE Chairmanship and Austria it will be implemented under the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC) by the OSCE in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme and with the support of the Global Fire Monitoring Center.