“Slavutych Appeal” launched by the International Conference “"Chernobyl, 20 years on: Local and Regional Authorities dealing with disasters"”

Slavutych (Ukraine), 2 – 4 March 2006

We,

The participants in the international conference on “Chernobyl 20 years after”, local and regional elected representatives, parliamentarians, representatives of governments, international organisations and non-governmental organisations, and experts,

Meeting in Slavutych to mark the 20^th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster,

Resolve to adopt an appeal which will be transmitted to the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and communicated to the other relevant organisations.

Here, fifty kilometres away from Chernobyl, 20 years after the worst technological disaster in the history of humankind, we feel the need to solemnly reassert five basic principles which we will henceforth call the “Slavutych principles” and which will act as a guide to the public authorities in nuclear safety matters.

We hope that this appeal will both inspire the Congress’s work and, if the Congress agrees, be the subject of a recommendation to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

The “Slavutych principles”:

1. The central role of governments

Because of the complex and dangerous processes involved, the nuclear industry by nature is a central government responsibility particularly on the major issues in terms of energy technology, plant location and the related security issues.

Central government’s paramount responsibilities in this respect cannot be delegated. Global management of nuclear safety on a world scale can only be envisioned on the basis of control by government players in liaison with the international community. Moreover, only governments can raise the necessary resources for education and scientific research, which are essential and are the first step in a long-term preventive policy.

2. The crucial role of local and regional authorities

Owing to their front-line position and their closeness and representative role of the communities concerned, local and regional authorities have a decisive part to play, in partnership with central government, involving the citizens and protecting communities.

3. Neighbourhood solidarity

The Chernobyl disaster stands as a testimony that a nuclear accident has no respect for local, national or international boundaries.

Nuclear safety cannot be confined to one countries’ political and administrative boundaries. It demands effective neighbourhood solidarity, transfrontier co-operation, which ensures that each area concerned, irrespective of the country to which it is attached, is a player on an equal footing with all the others.

4. Transparency and information

There must be broad and permanent access to information. International organisations, national governments, nuclear operators and plant managers have an obligation to provide honest and comprehensive information to the local communities of the areas concerned, the neighbouring populations and the international community. They must comply with this obligation both as a matter of routine and in times of crisis.

5. Involvement and consultation of the citizens

Both at national level, in terms of the major technological choices, especially the choice of civilian nuclear energy, and at local level in terms of plant location, security measures and plant closure, the populations directly concerned must be involved and consulted under procedures specific to each country, including all forms of direct consultation.

This involvement is essential if we are to introduce a culture of safety, which is the only credible defence in view of the scale of the risks and is a prerequisite for implementing global security plans.

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In this respect, it is important that territorial authorities, which had already experienced a disaster or are under the risk of a disaster, exchange their experiences. They urge the Council of Europe’s Congress and the Committee of the Regions of the European Union to give the desired priority to these issues in their political work. The European Forum for Local and Regional Disaster Management, which was launched during the Slavutych Conference, can play a substantial role in this field.

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Besides asserting the “Slavutych principles”, the conference wishes to give tribute to the Ukrainian Government and to this country’s local and regional authorities, which have been coping with the tragic consequences of the Chernobyl disaster for 20 years. We also acknowledge that the international community, which has made substantial efforts on behalf of the countries affected.

We now encourage all these players to build the new confinement for unit 4 in compliance with the international ecological standards in force. We are convinced that technical and financial support is essential to help these authorities close this dark chapter of the world’s industrial history and are willing to commit ourselves to fulfil these aims.