26 July 1991

31st plenary meeting

1991/51. International cooperation and coordination of efforts to address and mitigate the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its resolution 1990/50 of 13 July 1990 and General Assembly resolution 45/190 of 21 December 1990 on international cooperation to address and mitigate the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant,

Expressing profound concern about the unprecedented radiological, socio-economic and environmental consequences of the Chernobyl disaster,

Taking note with appreciation of the contribution made by several Member States and by organizations of the United Nations system in the development of cooperation to mitigate and minimize the consequences of the disaster at Chernobyl,

Aware of the need to continue to coordinate the efforts of the United Nations system to implement General Assembly resolution 45/190,

Taking note with appreciation of the decisions adopted by the organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 45/190,

Noting the appointment of the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna as the Coordinator of the activities related to the Chernobyl accident in the United Nations system and the efforts of the Inter-Agency Task Force to stimulate and monitor those activities,

1. Welcomes the practical measures that have been taken by the Secretary-General to coordinate the activities of the organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system in response to the Chernobyl accident and the practical measures to facilitate the elaboration and presentation of the joint plan for international cooperation to alleviate the efffects of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, prepared by the Governments of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic;

2. Notes the various assessments of the radiological consequences of the Chernobyl accident, in particular the report of the International Advisory Committee presented and discussed at the conference that took place at Vienna from 21 to 24 May 1991, and recognizes the need for further study;

3. Takes note of the decision of the Secretary-General, pursuant to the invitation of the General Assembly in its resolution 45/190, to convene on 20 September 1991 a pledging conference for voluntary contributions to complement the regular budgetary resources used by United Nations organs and agencies for the implementation of activities aimed at mitigating the consequences of the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant;

4. Requests the Secretary-General and the Coordinator of the activities related to the Chernobyl accident in the United Nations system to continue to take measures to implement General Assembly resolution 45/190;

5. Invites Member States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to continue to provide cooperation in various forms to the areas affected by the accident.