Lithuania calls Belarus a "nothing", Belarus calls Lithuania tactless!

Lithuanian complaint against the Belarusian NPP was considered in Geneva last week. In the neighbours' opinion, the actions of the Belarusian side contradict the UNO's Convention. 

"Belarus hasn't conducted an estimation of its NPP's impact on the environment as prescribed by the international legal norms, hasn't organized any public discussions of this project in Lithuania or bilateral consultations between Lithuania and Belarus, as demanded by the  Espoo Convention", — complains representative of the Lithuanian MFA Mindaugas Lashas.

According to head of the administration for ecological expertise of the Belarusian Ministry of Nature Alyaksandr Andreyeu, who was a member of our delegation to Geneva, the results may be expected only in September. 

Besides, the conflict between Belarus and Lithuania has lasted for many years by now! Lithuania stands against construction of the Astravets NPP in Belarus, while Belarus stands against the Lithuanian NPP. 

Alyaksandr Andreyeu has told about the trip to Geneva and the essence of the recent conflict to Euroradio:

"After the hearings in the Committee, Lithuania gave information to the press on the spot, calling Belarus a "nothing", like, we failed to answer the questions etc. We were forced to react on this. We also made a statement to the press. We said that their statement was an attempt to influence the Committee! And this is unacceptable. Our MFA sent a note on this issue to the Convention's secretary about Lithuania's tactless behavior". 

All these disputes raise a light déjà feeling. A year ago, Lithuania accused Belarus of that the ground for the future NPP was located on the tectonic fault. However, the Belarusians responded that the neighbours were building an NPP on the crack themselves!

Alyaksandr Andreyeu: "We made a statement that the Visaginas NPP was on the tectonic fault and Lithuania started worrying, and said - the Belarusian NPP as well, in such case. This was their reaction."

Let us remind you, Belarus will build an NPP 53 kilometers away from Vilnius, and Lithuania - 2 kilometers away from the Belarusian border. Our country stands against the reactor which is going to be used by the Lithuanians, as there already was the same reactor ... in Fukushima!

However, the Lithuanians have something to respond to this.

"They ask questions about the NPP, as we also ask about the Astravets ground and we are not satisfied with the quality of their answers", - says representative of the Ministry for Environmental Protection of Lithuania Vitalius Auglis.

Belarus sent a list of questions with regard to the Lithuanian NPP this February. However, they haven't got any reply until now!

"Three types of reactors were considered in the Lithuanian estimation of impact on the environment. Lithuania has finally picked the Japanese one, which was at Fukushima. Taking into consideration what happened there we need more information about this reactor. They gave us no reply. They didn't even react to our enquiry. We sent it in the beginning of this February. There has been no reaction so far. So we asked them at the session in Geneva, please urge the Lithuanian side to answer our questions", - Alyaksandr Andreyeu says. 

Let us remind you, Lithuania plans to start the new Visaginas NPP in 2020. The Belarusian NPP's first power block will be started in 2017, the second one - in 2018.