A/RES/54/97
Page 2
Welcoming the commitments made by Member States in the Programme for the Further Implementation
of Agenda 211 to intensify cooperation, inter alia, in the prevention and reduction of major technological and
other disasters with an adverse impact on the environment and in disaster relief and post-disaster rehabilitation
in order to enhance the capabilities of affected countries to cope with such situations, as well as commitments
made in response to the appeal of the Secretary-General on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the
Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident,
Conscious of the long-term nature of the consequences of the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power
plant, which was a major technological catastrophe in terms of its scope and created humanitarian,
environmental, social, economic and health consequences and problems of common concern, requiring for their
solution wide and active international cooperation and coordination of efforts in this field at the international
and national levels,
Stressing that the Governments of the affected countries have a primary role to play in facilitating efforts
to mitigate the humanitarian consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe, including the efforts of nongovernmental organizations in providing humanitarian assistance,
Expressing profound concern about newly emerged signs of the effects on the lives and health of
people, in particular children, in the affected areas of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, as well as
in other countries affected by the Chernobyl disaster,
Taking into consideration the findings and outcome of the visit of the Under-Secretary-General for
Humanitarian Affairs to the affected areas in Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine in October 1998,
Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General concerning the implementation of resolution 52/172,2
Noting the readiness of Ukraine to close the Chernobyl nuclear power plant by 2000, in accordance with
the memorandum of understanding between the Governments of the members of the Group of Seven and the
Commission of the European Communities and the Government of Ukraine on the closure of the Chernobyl
nuclear power plant, and bearing in mind the support already provided by a number of countries and
international organizations for that purpose and the need for further support from relevant countries and
international organizations,
1. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts in the implementation of the relevant General
Assembly resolutions and, through existing coordination mechanisms, in particular the United Nations
Coordinator of International Cooperation on Chernobyl, to continue to maintain close cooperation with the
agencies of the United Nations system, as well as with regional and other relevant organizations, with a view
to encouraging the regular exchange of information, cooperation and coordination of multilateral and bilateral
efforts in those areas, while implementing programmes and specific projects, inter alia, in the framework of
relevant agreements and arrangements;
1
Resolution S–19/2, annex.
2
A/54/449.
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