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Rennie welcomes Belarusian government's decision to lift ban on Chernobyl children
June 17, 2009 3:00 PM
News that the Belarusian government have agreed to allow rehabilitation trips to the UK for children of Chernobyl to be resumed has been welcomed by Dunfermline and West Fife MP Willie Rennie.
Mr Rennie has been closely involved in the campaign for children affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster to be allowed to visit the UK. Every year, Chernobyl children's charities pay for four thousand children to travel to the UK from Belarus for recuperative holidays.
Following the decision by the Belarusian government to temporarily suspend the issuing of visas for visiting children, Mr Rennie worked closely with the charities to lobby ministers and also tabled a motion in the House of Commons calling on the UK government to take every step necessary to reach an agreement with the Belarusian government so that planning could start for this summer's holidays in the UK.
Commenting Mr Rennie said:
"I'm absolutely delighted by this announcement. This is a huge boost for the many Chernobyl charities who have worked tirelessly to provide these children with much needed holidays away from their debilitating environments.
"It's been a tough year for the Chernobyl charities, who have had to cope with the huge amount of uncertainty generated by the Belarusian government's decision to temporarily suspend the issuing of visas for Chernobyl children.
"This news will therefore, come as a huge relief and will allow the Chernobyl charities to carry on with their great work. I would encourage everyone to help their local Chernobyl charity by giving generously to this fantastic cause."
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