President welcomes Chernobyl children

President Alexander Lukashenko has moved to restrict children leaving Belarus for the holidays, which add years on to their lives. He claimed they were returning with “consumerist” values.

Around 42 children from the rest and recuperation programme joined 19 adopted children from Belarus for a festive treat at Áras an Uachtarain.

The children landed safely at Shannon Airport yesterday for their Christmas break thanks to the generosity of the Cork-based Chernobyl Children’s Project. Director Adi Roche has branded it a “Christmas miracle”.

Mrs McAleese today met the Belarussian Ambassador to Ireland, Dr Alyaksei Mazhukhou, at the children’s reception. However, a spokeswoman said the President was not making any representations over the proposals – it was simply an opportunity to greet him.

Ms Roche was hopeful it would send a subtle message to the Belarus authorities. The fundraiser is quietly confident a compromise can be reached on the issue.

Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern has already asked other EU foreign ministers to intervene with Belarus authorities to help prevent the ban on children travelling to Europe for recuperation.

Mr Ahern said the proposals should be reconsidered on humanitarian grounds as it would further isolate Belarus.

The country is still suffering the effects of radioactive fallout from the explosion on April 26, 1986.

It was estimated that 70% of the radiation landed on Belarus – incidences of thyroid and breast cancer and leukaemia are two to three times higher than in other regions.

The CCP manages to fundraise to give hundreds of children a getaway break in Ireland each year. The voluntary organisation said that for each month a child spends in Ireland an estimated two years is added to their life.