Ukraine Feels Global Pressure to Close Chernobyl Plant

Across the Continent, Europeans and others at two key sessions made it clear to Ukraine that it has little choice but to close the Chernobyl plant, scene of the world’s worst nuclear accident eight years ago.

In Vienna, delegates from more than 70 countries met Tuesday to discuss tough new nuclear safety measures that could force the closure of the Chernobyl power station.

The three-day international conference, organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency, is reviewing a draft Nuclear Safety Convention that would require signatories to close unsafe nuclear plants.

If Ukraine becomes a signatory, it might be obliged to shut Chernobyl unless internationally approved safety measures are adopted at the reactors still in operation.

An explosion and fire at Chernobyl in April, 1986, spewed radiation across Europe and left 31 people dead in the immediate aftermath.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk signed a sweeping trade and cooperation treaty with the European Union on Tuesday in Luxembourg, but EU nations warned it may not take effect unless the former Soviet republic agrees to give up its nuclear weapons. The EU also made clear to Kravchuk that Ukraine should shut down the Chernobyl plant.

At a summit next week on the Greek island of Corfu, EU leaders will discuss helping Ukraine cover the costs of closing Chernobyl.