While presenting the development prospects for energy security in the region, Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Seimas, drew special attention to the threat posed to the entire region by the construction of the Astravyets nuclear power plant, which is carried out in violation of safety requirements and international conventions.
“Lithuania is taking active steps in the belief that international efforts can change the casual approach to human and environmental well-being when developing the nuclear power project,” said the Speaker of the Seimas. She noted that cooperation with international institutions responsible for nuclear safety, our partners in the European Union, and the European Commission was essential in demanding from Belarus, aspiring to join the nuclear power club, responsible behaviour and compliance with the strict rules of the club and the principles of openness and good neighbourhood.
Mrs Graužinienė presented Lithuania’s demands for carrying out a full-scale site evaluation by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission, performing risk and resilience assessment (stress tests) of the Astravyets NPP project, and approving the proposal of the Committee implementing the United Nations’ Espoo Convention to establish an international expert body to comprehensively assess the implementation of the Astravyets NPP project. She said that these were the necessary preconditions for further constructive dialogue with Belarus.
The Conference also discussed matters pertaining to the Eastern Partnership (EaP). The Speaker of the Seimas stressed the need to put the EaP into an ambitious and viable format. “We need to provide all-inclusive support to our partners for strengthening their resilience against external and internal threats. It is important to step up the strategic communication with the Eastern Partnership in order to dispel myths created by Russian propaganda and to spread positive messages and promote achievements,” Mrs Graužinienė said.
