President Leonid Kuchma expressed his anxiety about the G-7 countries “not having fulfilled yet” their commitments connected with the shutdown of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. According to presidential press secretary Oleksandr Martynenko the Ukrainian president made this point during his meeting with the UNESCO General Director Koichiro Matsuura, who arrived in Ukraine late at night the Sunday before last. The president reiterated that Ukraine will carry out its commitments connected with the shutdown of the Chornobyl power plant by December 15. In turn, the UNESCO chief announced his intention to address the world community, and the leaders of the G-7 countries in particular, with an appeal to meet their commitments connected with the shutdown of the Chornobyl plant, reports Interfax-Ukraine. Koichiro Matsuura reminded everyone that this spring he had addressed an appeal to the world community to assist Ukraine in shutting down the Chornobyl facility. He also emphasized that he understands Ukraine’s problems resulting from the Chornobyl catastrophe and its consequences, for he himself had lived near Hiroshima.
