Dutch FM requests to allow Belarusian children to visit for recuperation

A Belarusian diplomat was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in connection with the decision of the Republic to ban a group of children from Chernobyl-affected regions from traveling to the Netherlands. M. Verhagen said that this trip was organized by a Dutch charitable organization.

"I am confident that in the first place the interests of children should be taken into account”, said M. Verhagen. “They looked forward to this trip. Both, for them and for the organizers of this trip it will be a great disappointment if the trip does not take place."

During the meeting M. Verhagen insisted that the children and their accompanying persons should receive a permission of the Belarusian authorities to travel. The Minister also stressed that such private philanthropic initiatives aiming at improving health of Belarusian children "find sincere support, both in the Dutch government and the Dutch society."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus has not yet commented the ban on travel to the Netherlands of the group of children. BelaPAN also did not find an opportunity to obtain comments of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs Office of the Presidential Administration.