1. The Agenda of the Meeting, as accepted, is attached hereto, as Annex I.
2. The list of participants is attached hereto, as Annex II.

• The chair welcomed H.E. Mr Vasyl Durdynets, Minister for Emergencies of Ukraine, H.E. Mr. Sergy Khetagurov, Acting Minister for Emergencies of the Russian Federation and H.E. Mr. Alyaksandr Sychov, Permanent Representative of Belarus to the UN, representatives of Missions to the UN and the Members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Chernobyl.

• Ms McAskie noted that Agenda item 20 (c) would be discussed at the General Assembly the following day and that this forum should allow a frank discussion of Chernobyl with a view to solving the 'mandate but no money' dilemma.
• The chair briefed those assembled on the persisting needs, noting that it has been 14 years since the reactor exploded, that the disaster has impacted over 7 million people, including more than 3 million children, and contaminated a total area of 155,000sq. km.
• The programmes set out by the international community to assist the affected populations have been chronically underfunded, with no pledges being made towards the US$9.51 million required for the 1999 Appeal distributed in May.
• The international community has largely contributed to the shelter fund, but this should not overshadow projects aimed at overcoming the long-term repercussions of the accident on local environment and communities, which were directly exposed to the nuclear contamination.
• The nine priority projects in the 1999 Appeal are:
• Belarus: the modernisation of the Bragin Hospital, the establishment of child rehabilitation centres, the rehabilitation of contaminated sectors in the Gomel area.
• Ukraine: Providing diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of liquidators, improving management and use of contaminated forests, and studying the health status of the posterity of persons affected by radiation.
• Russian Federation: The ultrasound screening of 100,000 children exposed to radiation for early diagnosis of thyroid pathology, strengthening the network of centres for social and psychological rehabilitation, and production lines for measuring and packaging of diary products for the Bryansk region.
• Unless donors express support, OCHA will not be able to carry out the mandate which is to be debated by the General Assembly on 19 November.

• Although the most crucial stage of the Chernobyl mitigation activities is already past, the Government of Belarus, remains very anxious of the continuing radiation effects on the lives and public health.
• Despite the fact that the thyroid cancer' sickness rate among children of the affected regions increased to 60 times and even to 300 times in the separate human settlements, according to the experts, the highest level of sickness still is expected to come.
• During the last years the population structure has changed drastically and resulted in the social and economic degradation of the vast affected areas. It forces the Government of Belarus to carry out the appropriate measures, the implementation cost of which is very significant. Currently it is about to 10 per cents of the GDP.
• Since 1986 the Government of Belarus has managed to relocate the population from the contaminated regions to more safe territories, to conduct the medical examination of the needy people, to ensure the handling and the health-improvement of the children. The important assistance was rendered to rehabilitate the agricultural and industrial infrastructure of the affected territories and to ensure the radiation protection of the population.
• However Belarus cannot solve the whole range of the post-Chernobyl problems on her own. Our country' s demand for the resources significantly exceeds her financial and technological capacities.
• The Government of the Republic of Belarus highly appreciates the United Nations' role as coordinator of the Chernobyl-related international cooperation. We are grateful to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for the dissemination of the upgraded United Nations' Appeal for International Cooperation on Chernobyl. We highly estimate the results of the working visit of H.E. Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello, UN Under-Secretary General, United Nations Coordinator of International Cooperation on Chernobyl, to the affected areas of Belarus.
• Belarus hoped that the Quadripartite Coordination Committee meeting would launch the new means and mechanisms of raising resources as well as efforts of the international community to mitigate the Chernobyl consequences.
• In the context of further activation of international efforts consecutive, scientifically well-grounded planning and accomplishing of the UN Chernobyl-related activities become extremely important. We are grateful to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affaires for working out Inter-Agency Programme of International Assistance to the Areas Affected by the Chernobyl Catastrophe.
• At the same time we are seriously concerned with the fact that the shortage of resources causes further delay in implementing the Inter-Agency Programme for uncertain period of time. Unlike other United Nations humanitarian programmes which receive in average 80% of the requested funds, not more than 2% of the necessary financial resources have been raised for the implementation of the UN international Chernobyl-related projects.
• From our point of view, difficulties in the process of implementation of the above mentioned Programme are connected to lack of clear understanding by donor countries of two major aspects of the Chernobyl problem. The questions with regard to rendering assistance to the population of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine affected by the catastrophe should be differentiated from the problems connected to ensuring radioactive safety of the active Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, including sarcophagus over its Fourth Reactor.
• We are convinced that the international cooperation in the Chernobyl field must be balanced and based on common to all mankind values, on the principles of partnership. It should be also aimed at realization of the basic human rights, including the right to live.
• We must not allow the Inter-Agency Programme to follow the experience of the United Nations Plan for International Cooperation in Mitigating the Consequences of the Accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant worked out in 1991. This Plan has not been realized. Besides that, it is our view that the successful implementation of the Inter-Agency Programme would undoubtedly promote further strengthening of international prestige of the United Nations.
• Holding a special international meeting for financial support of international Chernobyl-related projects in the nearest future would promote solution of these tasks. We are convinced that the United Nations could and should play a special role in preparing such a meeting.
• As it is well known, the international community has successfully held a large conference of donor countries and international financial institutions in Tokyo in September this year in order to implement the international projects and programmes for rehabilitation of the Semipalatinsk Region (Kazakhstan). From our point of view, similar conference on realization of the Inter-Agency Programme of International Assistance to the Areas Affected by the Chernobyl Catastrophe should also be held.
• The forthcoming 15th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster could serve as a logical guiding line for holding mentioned international forum. We would suggest to the governments of donor countries to consider possibility of convening mentioned international forum on the territory of their respective states.
• A number of other large events, which could stimulate further interaction between members of the international community in solving Chernobyl-related problems, might be also dedicated to this date. We mean the following events:

• The Russian Federation noted the role the United Nations is playing in trying to foster cooperation in mitigating the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster with appreciation. In spite of the fact that 13 years have already passed since the Chernobyl catastrophe, its consequences are still of acute nature due to their objective lasting nature.
• At present, Russia is implementing the Federal Program on Protection of Population Against the Impact of Catastrophes, as well as the Federal programs Children of Chernobyl and Housing for the Catastrophe Liquidators.
• Despite, its difficult economic situation Russia allocates considerable funds for mitigating the consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe. Studies in order to clarify the radiation status have been carried out and major efforts in clearing schools and housing has been undertaken. At the same time-, it witness persisting shortage of funding for these purposes. In the recent two years virtually less than 25 per cent of funds envisaged by the Federal programs has been allocated for the relief activities. Given all this, the international assistance, including that of the United Nations, in implementing Chernobyl projects is an important complement to the Russian Federations own efforts.
• Among the priorities of the Federal Chernobyl-related programs there are health care and medical rehabilitation of the citizens affected by radiation. Firstly the creation of the Russian State Medical and Radiation Register (today it contains data on 508 000 people, 168 000 of which are liquidators). Secondly the construction of boarding schools for handicapped and mentally deficient children, hospitals and policlinics for children and rehabilitation centers for parents with children. Thirdly the launching of vitamin-enriched foodstuffs production.
• The United Nations system remains the only one which according to its capacity is trying to facilitate the funding and implementation of the approved projects. We would like to note in this regard a positive role of UNICEF, WHO, UNESCO, ELO, IAEA, UNIDO, UNDP, as well as the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and a number of non-governmental organizations in facilitating the mitigation of medical, socio-economic, environmental, psychological, and other consequences of the Chernobyl disaster. We should also like to note the work done by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Chernobyl.
• One should remember that the Chernobyl disaster led to severe problems on the affected territories. At the same time it was a tremendous reservoir of scientific information which allowed many to prevent a similar tragedy. By that, we believe, any donor assistance has been offset manifold.

• The Chernobyl disaster was a national tragedy with 3.5 million Ukrainian residents receiving doses of radiation. Among them are 1.3 million children who need exceptional care- the gene pool of the nation. Medical check-ups of the exposed population show that 80% of them are ill, with thyroid cancer morbidity rising sharply.
• The Psycho-sociological aftermath of the accident needs special attention. The disaster was a cause of serious economical and social losses at the national level.
• Now the main priority of the expenditures connected the Chornobyl aftermath mitigation is social protection of the affected population, which have totalled from 60 to 80 per cent of social security funds.
• The National Program on Minimisation of Chernobyl Catastrophe Aftermath has medical, sanitary and public health arrangements among the top priority for social security of the affected population. Over the past 7 years Ukraine has carried independently the financial burden connected to post-accident rehabilitation. Total liabilities are not decreasing, standing for 5-7 per cent of the annual national budget. From 1991 to 1998 the total accident aftermath mitigation related expenditures made up to USD 5 billion.
• The lack of specific knowledge in radiological science had not allowed people to properly understand the information presented by the mass media, and some media are not well informed.
• The international community provides support for the Shelter stabilisation plan, the improvement in medical services to the affected population, and joint scientific research of disaster consequences. The Ukrainian nuclear safety system was fundamentally improved after the Chernobyl accident and experience accumulated can be used for support systems for other nuclear or industrial accidents.
• The Government of Ukraine appeals to the countries and organisations to participate in the Chernobyl aftermath minimisation and the deeper study of the Chernobyl experience, to contribute to the technological safety of mankind. The integrated approach to response and mitigation of large-scale man-made disasters, is not just mirroring modern trends in the development of the global community, but also increases its collective security.

• The European Commission welcomed the opportunity to exchange information and views on the international cooperation on Chernobyl.
• The European Union has been the leading provider of assistance and advice in the aftermath of the Chernobyl accident. Technical and financial assistance has been provided by EU member states bilaterally and via the European Community budget.
• The European Community through the TACIS program of technical assistance to the CIS and Mongolia has funded a wide range of projects which include humanitarian and nuclear safety objectives, as well as projects concerned with social and economic assistance for those affected by Chernobyl. For example a major part of the response is the contribution of USD 100 million to the Chernobyl shelter fund. Aiming at assisting the Ukraine to transform the existing Shelter into a safe and environmentally stable system of protection, this is an important measure for preventing a future humanitarian catastrophe.
• There has been a tendency to regard the G7 Action Plan as being only concerned with engineering works and the financing of alternative generating capacity following the closure of Chernobyl. That is mistaken, facilitating the closure of Chernobyl and addressing the social and humanitarian consequences of the disaster, are two sides of the same coin.
• In the framework of the G7 Action Plan European Community funds, particularly TACIS, have also been used extensively for addressing the environmental consequences of the Chernobyl accident as well as waste disposal, decommissioning and the wider energy sector, including the development of other energy sources. In all the EC has committed more than 200 million Euros in this area since 1991.
• The most recent project financed under the TACIS programme addresses specifically the social and economic consequences of the closure of Chernobyl for its workers. This project, which has a budget of 1 million Euros, was designed in close cooperation with the city authorities of Slavutich, the town most affected economically by the closure of the plan. The project focuses on the re-training of Chernobyl workers, on attracting new industries and investors in this area and thus creating alternative jobs. It falls firmly within the framework of the social programme foreseen in the G 7 Action Plan,
• In 1992, ECHO, the European Community Humanitarian Office, was created to provide immediate support to the victims of natural and man-made disasters and thus to assist in situations of emergency. In 1993, the first Chernobyl related project was financed. Recognizing the specific characteristics of the disaster, despite the fact that the situation can not anymore be defined as an immediate emergency, assistance has been provided in a wider interpretation of the mandate of ECHO until now.
• Emphasis was put on alleviating the health effects of the accident. Funds were utilized primarily for rural health monitoring campaigns, for providing medicines and medical assistance as well as psychological support to victims and for strengthening medical research for cancer treatment. In 1998, a package of over 1,5 million Euros was approved for projects related to Chernobyl. The most recent project financed by ECHO was launched in September this year. It aims at providing state-of-the-art medical equipment to a hospital which treats about one thousand patients diagnosed with cancer.
• The cooperation provided by ECHO and by member states is mostly channeled through nongovermental organizations, which have played and continue to play a major role in providing humanitarian assistance for this and for other disasters. In this respect, the European Commission wished to appeal to the authorities of the affected countries in facilitating the work of all humanitarian organizations and in particular to encourage them to simplify bureaucratic and customs procedures and to consider granting exemption of customs and other duties for goods provided or humanitarian assistance,
• From now on, in accordance with the EU budget regulations, TACIS programme will continue to provide cooperation to the countries concerned in order to assist them in their efforts to deal with the consequences of the disaster and the consequences of closing the plant at Chemobyl. However, in accordance with the same regulations, no contribution can be made at present directly in response to the UN Appeal for international cooperation on Chernobyl.
• To summarize, the EU has so far contributed more than USD 200 million for assistance related to the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster and is further committed to assisting the countries affected, In doing so they will aim to work in co-operation with the international community, including, of course, the UN.

• The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Red Cross Societies of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine have provided humanitarian assistance to the populations affected by the Chernobyl accident since 1990. The specific characteristics of the accident require long term and sustained humanitarian assistance. The programmes are planned to continue till the year 2006.
• The activities must continue, for several reasons. Chief among these is a concern for the health and psycho-social welfare of the tens of thousands of children and people who were children at the time of the accident. Their traumas have not improved in the aftermath of the financial crisis the countries concerned experienced last year. On the contrary, the socio-economic deterioration has seriously aggravated their situation.
• Another reason for continuing the work is the experience and knowledge the International Federation, and other actors, are gaining. Events in Japan and Korea in the last few months have shown that nuclear accidents can happen again. The International Federation is not convinced that the international community is, yet, fully equipped to cope with the humanitarian consequences of such accidents. In addition the International community is aware of many areas which are, or are in danger of, being contaminated. We need this experience and knowledge in ensuring an adequate level of preparedness.
• The activities undertaken by the International Federation are closely coordinated with those of the UN system ensuring that costs are kept at an absolute minimum, that there is no overlap between the agencies. The operations are among the best documented. In conversations with partners among governments and agencies the International Federation receives only positive feedback and encouragement, but the support received is declining, rapidly, and approaching the point at which we must consider seriously whether we can continue, even in the short term.
• These developments take place in a context in which the international community has been making major efforts to assist the countries concerned in securing the physical safety of the Chernobyl plant, and finding ways of replacing the lost power generating capacity. The International Federation, amongst others, understands the high importance of these interventions, and welcomes the efforts being made.
• We cannot help, however, noticing the disproportionate allocation of resources between the technical and economic interventions, and the humanitarian. If the costs of the technical and economic interventions are estimated at approximately a billion USD, the humanitarian action of all the agencies involved would represent 5 %.
• The Chernobyl programmes of the International Federation, the Red Cross Societies concerned, and the United Nations have been pared down, streamlined, co-ordinated and made more efficient over the years. We are convinced that the programmes deliver real benefits to the populations concerned and we strongly urge continued support.
• Finally we should like to express our appreciation of the excellent relations and co-operation we have enjoyed with the UN system and OCHA under the leadership of UnderSecretary-General Sergio Vieira de Mello, and we look forward to continue this constructive approach in the future.

• The IAEA, which has been involved in the area since the time of the accident in April 1996, has been instrumental in assessing the radiological consequences of the accident and has accumulated much information on the overall situation. An international conference was held in Vienna in April 1996, entitled: "One Decade after Chernobyl: Summing up the Consequences of the Accident." The conference was jointly sponsored by the European Commission, WHO and the IAEA, in cooperation with six other organizations and entities (LTN/DHA, UNESCO, UNEP, FAO, UNSCEAR and OECD/NEA).The conference made a number of important conclusions and recommendations. It is the hope of the IAEA that United Nations assistance to the Chernobyl-affected areas will take fully into account the scientific outcome of that important conference.
• Since 1990, the IAEA has carried out a number of Chernobyl-related projects under its technical cooperation programme, mostly in Belarus and Ukraine but also in the Russian Federation. For the decade of the 1990's, the Agency has used or committed over $ 4 million for assessment and mitigation projects. As a result of the technical work done in close cooperation with the Governments concerned, practical solutions have been proposed in Belarus and Ukraine to mitigate some of the effects of the Chernobyl fallout in the affected zones.
• In Belarus, the country most affected by the accident, the initial work focused on measurement of low-level environmental radioactivity and development of technologies for radiation decontamination. This made it possible to design and implement many priority projects for radiation protection and for productive utilization of Chernobyl-contaminated agricultural land. The aim is to address the "human dimension" of the problem by rehabilitating the contaminated land and enable many of the evacuated people to return to their farms and their homes after decontamination efforts have been completed. One major initiative in this regard is the pilot project for producing marketable bio-lubricants from locally produced rapeseed oil grown on contaminated land.
• In Ukraine, the projects have concentrated on radiation protection, rehabilitation and as well as on waste management and on upgrading nuclear safety for the benefit of all. Over half of the Agency's technical cooperation projects in the Ukraine are directly related to the Chernobyl accident. This includes work on emergency preparedness and response and on the decommissioning of the nuclear power plant, beginning in 2000.
• In the Russian Federation, which was affected by the accident to a lesser extent than Belarus and the Ukraine, the support was focused more on research, including a UNDP assisted IAEA research project on the movement of radionuclides in water systems.
• Besides the country projects, the IAEA is engaged in regional projects, i.e. multiple country projects, one of which aims at demonstrating the potential for significant dose reductions in contaminated villages so that, if the effort is successful, most of the people who have been evacuated could eventually return home.
• It is clear that, in spite of the above efforts and the efforts of other organizations, much still needs to be done to address the prevailing technical, humanitarian, economic and health aspects of the Chernobyl disaster. It is also clear that the available resources are below the requirements. Nevertheless, the IAEA has adopted a pragmatic approach to the problems facing the three affected Governments - an approach based on use of its experience and expertise to provide the local populations with concrete and cost-effective remedies and help them cope with the human aspects.
• All of the Agency's projects are carried out in close cooperation with the authorities in the affected countries, and I would like to conclude by expressing our thanks to the Governments of Belarus, Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

Japan: (Misako Kaji)

• Japan recognised that the effects on the locals and the environment of the accident has not be mitigated, and through the history of Hiroshima and Nagasaki empathises with the problem.
• In 1997 the G7 had pledged $300 million for shelter, which Japan had contributed to.

USA: (Jennifer Bergeron)

• The USA understands the gravity of the humanitarian situation, and has contributed $1 million to OCHA from USAID, and has also given technical assistance.
• They can not commit further funds at present, but will continue to cooperate.

World Meteorological Organisation: (Dr. Don Nanjira)

• WMO called for a greater and more frequent exchange of views to raise awareness, share scientific knowledge and assist education about the issues involved.

• The Professor stresses that there is still a need for the nuclear industry. International assistance has a bigger impact than debate at a national level.
• It is not only a financial problem, but also a technical one

Greece: (Mr. Leonidas Rokanas)

• Greece noted that it was not unscathed by Chernobyl, and is sensitive to the moral implications of the accident. Greece contributed $2.5 million to the Sarcophergus fund in 1997. Chernobyl was not a simple tragedy and has resulted in a range of ills that the international community should be sensitive to. We can not pay again. It is important to publicise it and educate the public in order to reverse the trend.

UNFPA: (Mr. Hirofumi Ando)

• UNFPA noted that the humanitarian catastrophe was not over yet. There is a need to get out of the impasse, which the private sector could help with.

• Today a useful step was made in strengthening the international cooperation and coordination of efforts to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster.
• In all three most affected countries, Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, there are legitimate needs to be met in areas of health, the environment, socio-psychological rehabilitation and economic recovery. The failure to address them efficiently might cause negative implications for the States concerned and the neighbouring countries.
• United Nations has been strengthening efforts to energise the International Cooperation on Chernobyl. A new strategy has been defined, based on a better prioritised assistance, increased local coordination and a more targeted approach. However, lack of funding has made it impossible for us to fully implement the Chernobyl mandate. New approaches would be required to change this situation in the future.
• National governments of the affected countries continue to spend considerable amount of their annual budgets (in case of Ukraine 5-7% annual national budget) for mitigation of the long-term consequences and we need to support them. In reference to the disproportionate allocation of resources between the technical and humanitarian, we have to ensure the humanitarian and social requirements are met in the three most affected countries.
• In the future, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs will continue to strengthen the international cooperation on Chernobyl and to explore innovative resource mobilization strategies.
• We are convinced that there is an enormous amount of lessons learnt from Chernobyl, which have not been fully analysed so far, about preventing future nuclear disasters and coping with them more effectively whenever they happen. Two recent events in Japan and Korea have shown, sadly, there will be others who will need this knowledge at some stage in the future.
• A more targeted fund-raising programme with donor governments and, in particular, non-traditional sources of funding such as private sector organizations and foundations and non-governmental organizations will be required. This should be done along with increased public awareness and advocacy campaign.
• In order to enhance the political profile of the International Cooperation on Chernobyl and of the nuclear power plants’ accident in general an additional effort will be needed to get this issue on the agenda more broadly.
• These are my initial ideas concerning the future UN strategy on Chernobyl. Tomorrow the General Assembly will discuss Agenda item 20(c) "Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance: strengthening of international cooperation and coordination of efforts to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster". On this occasion, I will be looking forward to your ideas about the new approaches. In this context, I wish to appeal to Member States to address, in particular, the issue of the United Nations mandate with respect to the International Cooperation on Chernobyl in the future.