Poroshenko signs decree on revival of Chornobyl zone

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed a decree on additional measures to revive the areas affected by the Chornobyl disaster, on social protection of victims, and safe management of radioactive waste, the presidential press service has reported.

The report notes that the decree was prepared after a meeting held on April 26, 2018, during the president's working visit to the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

"According to the decree, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine should create conditions for the development and revival of the territories that have undergone radioactive contamination, including within the Chornobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve," reads the statement.

The government was ordered to legislatively regulate problems on the legal regulation of these territories and consider the expediency of keeping in place restrictions and bans on specific activities in these territories, as well as to support the development of the reserve by determining the peculiarities of its administration and functioning.

Special attention in the decree is paid to measures to provide social security to people affected by the Chornobyl disaster. The government should decide on increasing disability pensions for Chornobyl disaster cleanup workers and breadwinner-loss pensions for children of liquidators. 

The decree is also aimed at improving state policies on the handling of radioactive waste and turning the Shelter facility into an environmentally safe system. 

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