ICYF-ERC’s Statement: 35th Anniversary of the Chernobyl Disaster

On the occasion of the 35th International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day, we commemorate the victims of the tragedy and express our solidarity with the countries and people affected by this tragedy.

The nuclear accident that occurred on Saturday, 26 April 1986, in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), near the city of Pripyat in the north of Ukraine being the worst nuclear disaster in the history of humanity also revealed the great danger and enormous risks posed by Nuclear Power Plants, in particular those built with the same technology in the post-Soviet geography.

In this regard we would like to draw attention to the active Nuclear Power Plants in the world built and functioning with the outdated technology and not meeting the international nuclear safety standards. The bitter experience of Chernobyl demonstrated the dangerous risks of possible accidents for wide geography, including neighbouring countries. Thus, timely and effective action of the relevant international bodies as well as states are of utmost importance to close the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant in Armenia built in 1970s with similar technology used in Chernobyl and located in an active seismic zone. According to the assessments of the international experts and bodies the Metsamor NPP has expired long ago and does not meet the basic nuclear safety standards posing a danger to the entire region as well as causing considerable environmental problems.

Once again, we express our deep sorrow for all the victims of nuclear accidents and call for raising awareness on the danger posed by the outdated nuclear power plants before a potential accident becomes a reality.