Republic that bore the full brunt of the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station, we are deeply interested in broadening and intensifying international co-operation in studying, and taking practical measures to lessen, the impact of radiation on the health of mankind and on the environment. As everyone knows, the Chernobyl accident was, in magnitude and consequences, one of the worst in the history of nuclear power generation anywhere in the world. Through the efforts of the Governments of the Soviet Union and the Ukrainian SSR, a great deal of priority work has been done over the last four years to eliminate the consequences of that accident. We are grateful for the help received from a number of international organizations and the world public. However, the situ.~tion is still a difficult one and a cause of concern to us. The adverse effects on the health of people and on the environment were much more serious and long-lasting than had been assumed. Accordingly, the Government of our Republic is drafting a comprehensive programme to eliminate the consequences of the accident for the period up to the year 2000, which will require the expenditure of billions of roubl4~s. In solving these vi tally important problems, the Government of our Republic hopes to obtain assistance from the international community. In a recent message from the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR to foreign Governments, the public in foreign countries and international organizations, we emphasized that the joint efforts of scientists and specialists from different countries and the use of the latest scientific and engineering developments would do much to protect people BHS/sm A/S-18/PV. 5 58 (Mr. Lipatov, Ukrainian SSR) and the environment from the consequences of the Chernobyl accident. We are firmly 
**Analysis**
The text is a speech or a statement by a government official, likely from Ukraine, about the consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear power station accident and the efforts to mitigate its effects on human health and the environment. The text discusses the need for international cooperation, scientific research, and practical measures to address the ongoing issues related to the accident.

**Category**
Natural resources and environment, Health