Grybauskaite: Lithuanian Concerns About Belarusian NPP Are Substantiated

Lithuania together with the international community will try to counteract the operation of the Astravets NPP.

The repeated incidents at the under construction Belarusian NPP show that Lithuania's concerns about the safety of this plant are substantiated, the Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said on Tuesday following media reports about another probable incident.

“Belarus ducks the question of security issues and does not agree to let the observers in, and this gives rise to our concern all the time,” – the president said.

"The repeated emergencies show that our fears are justified, and therefore Lithuania with the international community will try to influence the safety requirements and make them reliable,” –Grybauskaite added.

According to the President of Lithuania, if Belarus does not take steps to ensure that international safety standards, Lithuania and the international community will try to hinder its work, ru.delfi.lt writes.

"The international community will encourage and maintain pressure on the Belarusian authorities to ensure the nuclear power plant meets safety requirements and conforms to international safety standards, and if it is remained unchanged, then we will seek measures to counteract the operation of this unsafe NPP,” – Grybauskaite said.

Yesterday it became known that on July 10, a unit weighing 330 tons fell down from a 2-4 meters height during the reactor’s equipment test. The scene has been cordoned and is under supervision and special protection.

Belarusian Embassy in Vilnius has informed that “the information regarding the possible incident at the Belarusian nuclear power plant, which has appeared in the media, is currently under study, after which the Belarusian side will immediately submit a comment.”

Lithuanian government officials said that they had no information on the probable incident.