Ukraine steals Chernobyl resolution's text, Belarus, Russia coauthor it afterwards

MINSK, 27 July (BelTA) – After delivering his report to Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko Permanent Representative of Belarus to the United Nations Organization Valentin Rybakov informed reporters about a diplomatic victory Belarus had secured in the UN, BelTA has learned.

Valentin Rybakov said: “This year we were supposed to present a draft resolution on Chernobyl-related cooperation. Understanding the regional situation, we refused to do it. We understood that our draft could have been amended by other countries. They have the full right to do it. They could have added things that we absolutely don't condone. And then we would have been in a situation where we would have to submit the document and do something with it afterwards – revoke it, counteract all these negative aspects. We didn't submit the draft resolution.”

In his words, then Ukraine submitted a draft resolution on Chernobyl-related cooperation. “They virtually stole the complete text of the previous resolution, the previous draft from us,” Valentin Rybakov said.

“But to the surprise of Ukraine and European countries (the situation shocked them) Belarus and Russia acted as coauthors. Russia acted as a coauthor of the Ukrainian resolution. We even got calls from European colleagues, who wondered whether we had made a mistake and whether we actually understood what we were doing. Yes, we do understand. It is a normal resolution. The text is good. We are satisfied with it. Why not? Chernobyl-related cooperation is a sacred thing for us,” Belarus' representative to the UN said.

Valentin Rybakov pointed out that these seemingly small victories are not that easy to secure and they are very beneficial for the country. “We will continue this work,” the diplomat assured.