Speech by Yavuz Mildon,
President of the Chamber of Regions
of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
at the conference on “20 years after the Chernobyl accident”
(Slavutich, 2 March 2006)
Mr Chairman,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Twenty years ago, the entire world – and especially Europe – was shaken by the terrible tragedy at the nuclear plant in Chernobyl. Then, we were following with admiration the heroic efforts of those who risked their lives to seal off the reactor, facing the great radiological impact of the disaster, and to save the lives of others.
The Chernobyl accident in 1986 was the most severe nuclear accident in the history of the world nuclear industry. It was also a major radiological accident. Even today, twenty years on, the affected Ukrainian, Belarusian and Russian regions have to face significant consequences: radiation levels, health damages and a severe social and economical situation, associated with serious psychological problems of the general public and emergency workers who lived through the disaster.
Before the accident, the Chernobyl workforce and their families lived in the town of Pripyat, close to the plant. In 1986, they were evacuated and now live here in Slavutych, a newly built town which has the population with the youngest average age in Ukraine. The Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, which I represent as President of its Chamber of Regions, and I personally, would like to thank very warmly Mr Volodymyr Udovychenko, Mayor of Slavutich, for having proposed to discuss, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary, the role of local and regional authorities in facing catastrophes and in risk management.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The word “Chernobyl” conjures up in our minds images of environmental disasters and serious long-term damages for human health, bringing about heavy economic and social consequences for both national governments and regional and local authorities of the countries concerned. Chernobyl reminded all of us that disasters, whether natural or technological, do not know any borders, and can affect many countries beyond the national frontiers of the disaster site. Chernobyl also reminded us that, whereas the nuclear industry is managed by central governments, regional and local authorities must receive full information about sites of potential risk – because it is regional and local authorities which bear the brunt of such disasters, which must react quickly to evacuate people and to ensure medical help, shelter and public safety. Today, we are marking twenty years since the Chernobyl accident, but I do not need to remind you of what happened in New Orleans only last year.
The Chernobyl accident has also brought about controversy and divergence in the views of scientists who evaluated the health and environmental consequences, and the views of the politicians who felt that differing conclusions would be more likely to win international sympathy and humanitarian aid – not to forget, of course, that the accident took place in the political and ideological context which was different at the time.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has taken the initiative, together with eight other organisations of the UN family and of three affected countries, to establish in 2003 the Forum of Chernobyl in order to answer questions that nearly 20 years after remained unanswered, and to obtain a scientific consensus on the impact of the accident.
Today, 20 years after, we hope to have a better understanding and a true scale of the Chernobyl’s legacy, and I would like to thank the representative of the IAEA, Mr Berkynskyy who will try to summarise the highlight of the Chernobyl Forum Studies. It is the most complete and massive report on the Chernobyl accident because it covers environmental radiation issues, human health consequences and socio-economic consequences. More than 100 recognised experts in the field of Chernobyl-related research from many countries, including experts from Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, have contributed to it. This report is a consensus view, all the partners of the Chernobyl Forum speaking with one voice. It incorporates the latest scientific findings on the consequences of the accident and it seemed to us an interested basis to start our work and debates.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I know that after these two days the contamination will not have gone away by miracle, that the stress and worry of the public about radiation effects will only slowly dissipate even given good information and presentation of the risks, and that the economy will not respond quickly to new initiatives and measures. However, we would like to understand better the difficulties which must be faced realistically by all the levels of government, including local and regional authorities. I am sure that these two days of deliberations will help all of us to see a clearer picture, and I wish this conference every success.
Thank you.