Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Official website
Volodymyr Lytvyn: Non-governmental organizations should make a common cause with the authorities to arrange conditions for a safe life
(Press Service)
Volodymyr Lytvyn: Non-governmental organizations should make a common cause with the authorities to arrange conditions for a safe life
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Lytvyn met with the delegates of the environmental organization Green Cross International headed by its President Alexander Likhotal.
V. Lytvyn noted that the meeting was held on the anniversary day of the Chernobyl accident. "The world has actually started a new calendar since April 26, 1986," he said. However, the head of the parliament said that "the world has quickly forgotten" about the Chernobyl problem, while the foreign partners have not fulfilled all their obligations yet.
According to the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, the state budget allocates billions each year to mitigate the Chernobyl aftermath. More than 1 thousand legal acts regulate different aspects of this issue. There are 2 million 300 thousand persons with the status of victims of Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine, 500 thousand of whom are children.
V. Lytvyn thanked Green Cross International for their assistance in various Chernobyl programs. "Your organization deals with the complicated issues and has a very responsible mission," he said.
A. Likhotal informed that Green Cross International has been working in Ukraine for more than ten years. During the current visit, the delegation visited Chernobyl, Slavutych, and other settlements in the Chernobyl zone. Having acknowledged the fact that Ukrainian authorities take efforts to mitigate the Chernobyl aftermath, A. Likhotal expressed his hopes that activity of Green Cross International will be beneficial for Ukraine.
V. Lytvyn recommended that non-governmental organizations should make a common cause with the authorities to face the global challenges. He appreciates cooperation between the institutes of civil society and non-governmental organizations on development of adequate norms of behaviour of people, nations, and states, and on arrangement of conditions for safe life.
For reference: The environmental organization Green Cross International was formally launched in Kyoto, Japan, on 18 April 1993. On the invitation of Mikhail Gorbachev, many renowned figures joined and continue to serve on its Board of Directors and Honorary Board. Today, the Green Cross network operates in more than 30 countries. The mission of Green Cross International is to respond to the combined challenges of security, poverty and environmental degradation to ensure a sustainable and secure future.
