OSCE contributes to sustainable development in areas affected by Chernobyl disaster, says OSCE Co-ordinator at anniversary conference in Minsk

MINSK, 25 April 2016 – OSCE’s engagement in the environmental sphere contribute to sustainable development - mapping of radiation risks, wildfire containment and co-operation between Aarhus Centres -  in areas affected by the Chernobyl nuclear tragedy, said Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities Yurdakul Yigitguden at an international conference in Minsk today marking 30 years since the disaster.

“Chernobyl will continue to have an important place on the agenda of OSCE activities in Eastern Europe,” he said. “Chernobyl has demonstrated how important it is for the international community to co-operate in addressing the risks and consequences of devastating disasters. We have taken concrete steps in translating relevant political commitments into action on the ground - the 2005 Ministerial Declaration on the 20th Anniversary of the disaster and 2007 Ministerial Declaration on Environment and Security.”

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 this project is being 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.

"The Aarhus Centres provide yet another tool for addressing Chernobyl-related challenges," said Yigitguden. "The OSCE-supported network of Aarhus Centres embraces 60 centres in 14 countries, including Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. They are well placed to support raising awareness about and addressing environmental challenges in the affected territories, in particular within a forthcoming new regional project on Aarhus Centres in Eastern Europe."

Referring to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Co-ordinator expressed his hope that the OSCE projects will contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the affected territories and beyond.

ENVSEC is a partnership initiative bringing together the OSCE, the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), and the Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (REC). The ENVSEC Initiative attaches particular importance to the challenges of Chernobyl and their implications for security. In 2016, the OSCE chairs the ENVSEC Initiative.