Belarus is ready for the construction of a second nuclear power plant - A. Lukashenko

April 3, Minsk / Tatyana Polozhay - BELTA /. Belarus is ready to build a second nuclear power plant. This was stated by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko today at a meeting with Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano, according to a BELTA correspondent. "If we have your assistance, support, and appropriate conditions, we are ready to build a second nuclear power plant in Belarus," the head of state said. He is firmly convinced that nuclear energy is the safest way to obtain cheap energy. "I am firmly convinced that nuclear energy will exist and that it is the safest sphere and the safest way to obtain cheap energy, which the world will increasingly need," he said. Alexander Lukashenko noted that the world is going through a special period in the development of peaceful atom after the well-known events in Japan and the problems with the Fukushima nuclear power plant, followed by the reactions and intentions of Germany and other countries to abandon nuclear projects. "In this special period, we firmly and unequivocally declare that we not only intend to build a nuclear power plant, but have also begun its construction," the head of the Belarusian state said. "I believe that the IAEA is an organization extremely interested in the implementation of similar, safe projects in the world. Therefore, we very much hope that Mr. Amano, like the previous leaders of this agency, will provide us with serious moral support in the construction of the nuclear power plant," the President noted. Alexander Lukashenko drew attention to the fact that the construction of the nuclear power plant is taking place in a country that has suffered most seriously from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster. "And the fact that the population today supports this project – and we have managed to achieve this – is very symptomatic," the head of state said. Addressing Yukiya Amano, the President expressed hope that, having become acquainted with Belarus and seen everything with his own eyes, he would draw certain conclusions for himself on how to work with Belarus and in what direction. In turn, the guest emphasized that Belarus is a very important partner for the IAEA, as the country has its own sad experience in connection with the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident. He noted that the Fukushima accident had seriously undermined public confidence in nuclear energy. Some countries, such as Germany, have decided to refrain from using nuclear energy in the future, but some states have decided to develop it. "Every country needs energy development, improvement of its population's lives, and in this regard, the decision to use nuclear energy is important," the IAEA Director General believes. -0-