Belarus to go ahead with building nuclear power plant

 

Apr 12, 2007 -- BBC Monitoring

 

President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has said that Belarus is going to go ahead with plans to build a nuclear power plant. Speaking at a news conference on 12 April, he said Russian companies were ready to build the plant and that they threatened Belarus with "breaking off relations" unless they win the construction tender.

Lukashenka went on to say that some foreign companies link their participation in the plant's construction with Belarus's democratization and its efforts to amend the electoral legislation.

"Look here, we pay billions of dollars to them but they put forward conditions for us to meet. I say we do not need such companions and do not invite them," Lukashenka said.

"We will build a nuclear power station on terms that are beneficial for our country because we have no way out. And whatever the opposition may shout, are they honest in this respect? Are they honest when shouting that they will hold a referendum and that we do not need a nuclear station? Why don't we need it? What has Chernobyl demonstrated? This breathing reactor is located close to us. We are surrounded by these stations, I said many times. I wish we had at least one station on our territory. We are in a situation when only a fool will not construct a station. Moreover, taking into account such (energy) dependence. We will be burning splinters and candles tomorrow. The whole world is going this way," he said.

The news conference is being broadcast live by Belarusian radio. More to follow.

Source: Belarusian Radio, Minsk, in Russian 0945 gmt 12 Apr 07

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