Address by Ambassador Takashi Kurai on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the Chernobyl accident
“On the day of the 35th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, I express my sincere condolences to the families, friends and relatives of the Ukrainian liquidators who faced the danger of sacrificing themselves, as well as to all those affected by the accident. , who to date is making efforts to ensure the safety of nuclear power plants and promote the restoration of affected areas.
Since the 1986 crash, Japan has consistently provided assistance to rehabilitate affected areas by providing victims with medicine and medical equipment, as well as sending specialists to the area. After the accident at the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant in 2011, the people of Ukraine wholeheartedly provided us with invaluable assistance, which promotes further cooperation, including scientific, thanks to which we were able to conduct joint research by exchanging knowledge and experience under our agreement on cooperation in the field of post-emergency response to emergencies at nuclear power plants.
Ensuring the safety and revitalization of areas affected by the nuclear accident remains our most important common task. Japan highly appreciates Ukraine’s efforts to implement changes and rational use of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone as a nature reserve. In addition, hoping for the full restoration of this area, the Japanese government has been conducting a joint study with Ukraine on environmental radiation control and restoration for more than five years. I would also like to mark the completion of a new secure confinement two years ago. This achievement is an important step for Ukraine’s future nuclear security, and Japan, as one of the main donor states, is pleased to note the importance of completing this construction.
I sincerely wish that those who share the experience of Chernobyl and Fukushima continue to contribute to the further process of reconstruction of Chernobyl, and I very much hope that our countries and people will work together to ensure that in the future we have a world without nuclear accidents.”- reported on the official website of the Embassy of Japan in Ukraine