DIRECTOR-GENERAL WELCOMES CHERNOBYL SHUT DOWN

Paris, December 14 (No.2000-139) -UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura today welcomed the definitive shut down of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant stressing that the decommissioning of generator number three was “a difficult decision, but a wise decision.”

Mr Matsuura declared: “The Chernobyl disaster is fresh in all our memories as it should long remain, so that humanity may learn its full lesson. A real disaster for the populations hit by the accident itself and by its economic, social, health and environmental effects, it reminds us that the security of all depends on mutual assistance and on the sharing of knowledge. UNESCO is committed to disaster prevention and will continue its endeavours in this field.”

The Director-General added: “UNESCO will continue contributing in its fields of competence to alleviate the effects of this disaster on the population as well as on the environment. Moreover, UNESCO will endeavour to promote measures against the technological and environmental dangers of the modern world.”

 

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