18 April 2008, 15:19
ON WEDNESDAY, 16 APRIL, PARLIAMENTARY HEARIBGS "ON CONDITIONS, ACTIONS AND PROSPECTS OF OVERCOMING CHORNOBYL DISASTER AFTERMATH" WERE HELD IN THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE
The People´s Deputies, the representatives of the Government and executive bodies, leaders of local authorities, scientists and experts attended the meeting.
Arseniy Yatseniuk, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, addressed the attendants.
Volodymyr Shandra, Minister of Ukraine in Charge of Emergencies and Protection of People from the Consequences of Chornobyl, delivered a speech to the audience.
The reporter informed of the conditions of alienation zone, especially concerning conduct of works aimed at upkeep of safety of nuclear waste and provision of stable environmental situation.
V.Shandra reported on implementation of the most important international projects concerning withdrawal Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant from operation and conversion of "Ukryttia" object into the environmentally safe system.
Viktor Onishchuk, Vice-Minister of Labour and Social Policy of Ukraine, reported on realization of tasks related to social protection of population that suffered as a result of Chornobyl disaster.
The participants of the parliamentary hearings commented on different aspects of issues related to Chornobyl disaster. The reporters emphasized that recommendations of previous parliamentary hearings are not realized.
Mykhailo Umanets, Head of All-Ukrainian Chornobyl People´s Party, called for setting up a n ad hoc inquiry panel to investigate the facts of misapplication of funds allocated for realization of Chornobyl projects.
Anhelina Nyagu, President of the "Physicians of Chornobyl" Association, dwelled upon radiation national safety of the population.
Tetiana Korniakova, Deputy Prosecutor-General of Ukraine, reported on inspections carried out in the alienation zone.
The reporters also commented on imbalance between the growth of general expenditures of the State Budget of Ukraine and funds allocated for social protection of persons who suffered in the result of Chornobyl disaster. Pension provision of Chornobyl victims remains an urgent issue as well. .
In the end, Arseniy Yatseniuk appealed to the organizers of the hearings to diverge from elaboration of traditional recommendations that usually are not implemented, and submit clear-cut proposals for the Government, so that the Government could report before the Parliament in a year.