I.Narkevich about Union State Activities Aimed to Overcome Chernobyl Disaster Effect

It is twenty two years since the day of Chernobyl disaster, but we still live with a heavy heart and cannot forget about that. These were the words that Irina Narkevich, Head of Social Policy and Information Support Department of the Union State Standing Committee, started her speech with.

It is twenty two years since the day of Chernobyl disaster, but we still live with a heavy heart and cannot forget about that. These were the words that Irina Narkevich, Head of Social Policy and Information Support Department of the Union State Standing Committee, started her speech with.

Union State activities aimed to overcome Chernobyl disaster effect became the tenor of her speech. It should be noted that Chernobyl topic has been among top priority ones since the Union State formation, the agreement of 1996, where it was defined as both countries’ area of responsibility.

“First Chernobyl programme appeared in 1998. Since then two Chernobyl programmes of the Union State (launched in 1998 and 2003) have been successfully implemented. 1.3 billion rubles has been assigned,” I.Narkevitch reminded the journalists. “And it is good as it enabled us to do a lot. It is not that easy to arrange it in one or another country that is why it was necessary to parallel the solving of this global anthropogenic disaster”.

Evaluating the results of these programmes Irina Narkevich noted the creation of a unified normative and legal base as well as the work carried out to fit up medical establishments with the necessary equipment. “Thus, four medical centres have undergone reconstruction and now 15 thousand citizens of both states can receive qualified assistance there,” reported I.Narkevich to the journalists.

Besides that within the framework of these programmes we have drawn up a Chernobyl register, made out a list and arranged the output of the products which have treatment-and- prophylactic adaptagenic properties. We have also prepared a common normative and legal base to classify polluted territories.

Admitting the successful implementation of Chernobyl programmes 1998 and 2003, Irina Narkevich informed that at present “the third programme for the years 2006-2010 is being approved, and that 1.200 million rubles is being already assigned”. The third programme plans to continue the adaptation of forests and arable lands in order to involve them in economic activities, to render categorical specialized medical assistance as well as psychological adjustment of the citizens residing on contaminated territories.

Concluding her speech, I.Narkevich expressed hope that the journalists attending the meeting as well as their colleagues “will help cover this topic for the Union State citizens”.