The Chernobyl disaster (April 26, 1986) is regarded as the world's worst nuclear accident. Large swathes of territory in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia were badly contaminated, resulting in the evacuation and resettlement of over 340,000 people. A plume of radioactive fallout drifted over parts of Western Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Northern Europe and Eastern North America.
Viktor Yushchenko unveiled a memorial, called Chernobyl Bell, to commemorate victims of the nuclear accident.
He said the Chernobyl territory should be viewed, not only as a disaster zone, but also a zone of potential for reconstruction and development.
"This territory must not be forgotten. We all want to see it alive and well. I am calling on all of you, including local authorities, to think about the exclusion zone in terms of its development," he said.
Yushchenko said he meant primarily forestry, timber, power generation and environmental programs, adding that one-third of the zone could be used to produce bio-fuels.
Officials said earlier although the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and certain limited areas will remain off limits, the majority of affected areas are now safe for settlement and economic activity.
According to an April 2006 report by the German affiliate of the International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear Warfare, entitled "Health Effects of Chernobyl", more than 10,000 people are today affected by thyroid cancer and 50,000 new cases are anticipated.
