On December 17, Gomel hosted the ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between UNDP and representatives of local authorities of the four districts of the Gomel region (the Buda–Koshelevo, Vetka, Zhitkovichi and Khoiniki districts) that participate in the joint EU/UNDP project “Area Based Development of the Chernobyl–Affected Areas of Belarus”.

The signing event was held with participation of UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative Mr. Antonius Broek, Assistant Resident Representative Mr. Elinor Bajraktari, Deputy Chairman of the GomelRegion Executive Committee Mr. Vladimir Nadtochaev, and representatives of the project and district executive committees.

The Memorandum was signed in order to promote cooperation between UNDP and the district executive committees in the areas of mutual interest.

“The signing of a Memorandum between UNDP and regional executive committees is an acknowledgement of mutual willingness to cooperate in the frameworks of a project that is designed to create favorable conditions for community participation and socio–economic development of the Chernobyl–affected areas,” said UNDP Resident Representative in Belarus.

To date, the first successful results of the EU/UNDP project have already been achieved in the Gomelregion. In October, the project gave joy to the children of Vetka in the form of a new and the only playground in town, and in December the project staff organized a regional roundtable in Khoiniki, dedicated to the issues of employment for vulnerable groups of population, increasing the current levels of income and creating new jobs.

Representatives of UNDP and district executive committees are confident that the signed Memorandum will serve as a necessary foundation for establishing mutually beneficial and productive cooperation aimed at achieving project objectives.

"Establishment of the center within the framework of the joint EC-UNDP project implementation is a very important and responsible mission. This international Center will become a multifunctional structure that aims to both information sharing and practical assistance to population affected by the Chernobyl disaster, and also the experience exchange at local and International levels," said Assistant Resident Representative, Elinor Bajraktari.

For more information, please contact Alena Sedach, PR Specialist of the project at +375–17–256–1457, mobile phone number: +375–44–786–5556, e–mail: . 

Print version