Mikalai Ulasevich: Reaction of Lithuanian Foreign Ministry to Belarusan NPP is reasonable

With the conditions suggested by Belarusan side it becomes impossible to organize qualitative public discussion of the nuclear power plant (NPP) in Astravets.

This opinion in the talk with the EuroBelarus Information Service shared Mikalai Ulasevich, coordinator of the public campaign “Building NPP in Astravets is a crime!”

“The authorities don’t care about the international community”

According to the ecological activist, the claims that the Lithuanian side has are “considerable, but possible to overcome” for the Belarusan authorities.

“Let’s say that due to persecution those who are against NPP in Belarus didn’t manage to change anything. However, Lithuania can really influence the situation be means of international legislative mechanisms, - noted Mikalai Ulasevich. – Still, I don’t think that the construction of Belarusan NPP can be stopped. Our authorities don’t care about the international community and the rules of the international law”.

The representatives of antinuclear campaign were surprised at the decision of the Belarusan authorities to organize discussion of the project with Lithuanian citizens at the Belarusan territory, in the information center of Astravets, where no more than 50 people can be accommodated.

“They probably reckoned on the formal discussion in order to overcome this hindrance and do without complications, so that those who really worry about the impact on the environment couldn’t be present and have their say about the construction of nuclear power plant in Belarus”, - Mikalai Ulasevich said.

The argument can last forever

Still, what should Lithuanians do in relation to public hearings planned on August 17: take the advice of Lithuanian Foreign Ministry about the possible cancellation of the event, or go to Astravets and ask the constructors of the NPP uneasy questions and dispute their point of view?

“The reaction of the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry to Belarusan nuclear power plant is reasonable, as it is well aware that there will be no discussion under conditions suggested by Belarus. Of course, Belarusan authorities won’t act that brutally towards Lithuanians as they acted towards Belarusans; however, it is hard to hear everyone interested in the room designed for 50 people. It is rather a formality to observe the procedure, - Mikalai Ulasevich believes. – That is why Lithuanian Foreign Ministry puts a question point-blank: if you want a discussion, then you have to do it in Lithuania, and secondly, really remove all hindrances put forth by Belarus”.

Ecological activist suggested that this unclear situation of mutual blames between Lithuania and Belarus in relation to construction of NPP in Astravets can last for a rather long time: “The thing is that Lithuania has a genuine interest, as it can really suffer in case there appears some emergency in Astravets. On the other hand, there are international forces which lobby the interests of nuclear power engineering, such as International Atomic Energy Agency. It is clear that Belarus doesn’t take into consideration international law and reputable international organizations; at the same time, the authorities will certainly seek their aid”.