Savinykh: Lithuania reluctant to cooperate constructively under Espoo Convention

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry has to state that Lithuania is reluctant to engage in the constructive cooperation under the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (the Espoo Convention), Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of Belarus Andrei Savinykh told a press briefing on 25 July, BelTA learned.

“We have to note that Lithuania is unwilling to respond in a constructive way to our suggestions on bilateral cooperation within the framework of the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context,” Andrei Savinykh said.

“We make every effort to ensure that the preparatory process for the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant is fully compatible with international requirements,” said the spokesman. According to him, Lithuania was provided with detailed answers to the questions raised. A detailed report on transboundary environmental impact assessment translated into Lithuanian has been sent to Lithuania. “All these actions are implemented in strict accordance with the provisions of the international convention. Nevertheless, we see that this information has not reached the public in Lithuania,” said Andrei Savinykh.

“We have suggested holding public consultations with the Lithuanian public on five occasions. All our proposals remain unanswered. We call on Lithuania to return to constructive cooperation to fulfill the requirements of the international convention in the spirit of good-neighborliness and mutual understanding,” said the Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of Belarus.