MINSK, 18 April (BelTA) – Chernobyl should not affect the development of the present-day energy in Belarus, Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Anatoly Rubinov said at the meeting with the liquidators of the Chernobyl disaster on 18 April, BelTA has learned. Anatoly Rubinov is convinced that the tragedy which happened in Chernobyl 25 years ago should not affect Belarus’ decision to build the nuclear power plant in the country. According to him, Belarus should build its own NPP and the refusal to implement this project would impede the country’s progress. Anatoly Rubinov thanked the liquidators of the Chernobyl catastrophe and stressed that they “deserve much respect for their selfless work and great contribution to the mitigation of Chernobyl impact.” Chairman of the Belarusian public association “Invalids of Chernobyl” Vladimir Kamenkov said at the meeting that he does not support freeze on nuclear programs caused by the accidents in Chernobyl or Japan’s Fukushima. He also pinpointed the difference in the reasons for these failures. The Fukushima accident was made possible due to the earthquake, or the natural factor, and the Chernobyl catastrophe was a man-made disaster. Thus Vladimir Kamenkov urged to draw attention to the human factor in the operation of any nuclear facilities.

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