VILNIUS, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The nuclear safety authorities of Lithuania and Belarus signed an agreement on early notification of a nuclear accident and on the exchange of important nuclear safety information, Lithuania's State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) announced here on Monday.
In order to protect the public by minimizing the potential radiation-related risks and consequences, the two authorities agreed to exchange key information immediately after a nuclear incident or when the monitoring systems indicate a radiation dose-rate level that could be hazardous to the public health, said a VATESI press release.
"This agreement is also important, because it applies for information exchange about safety of all nuclear facilities in Belarus and Lithuania and for important decisions to ensure that safety," VATESI said in the statement.
The agreement came into force on the date of its signature. Under the 1986 Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident, such bilateral agreements between neighboring countries are usual in international practice.
Lithuania's authorities have regularly raised questions about the environmental and nuclear safety of the Ostrovets nuclear power plant in Belarus.
The newly signed agreement authorizes VATESI to promptly alert other responsible authorities once it receives early emergency notification from Belarus. Enditem
