26/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - Twenty-fifth anniversary of Chernobyl disaster - We must never forget, says Jerzy Buzek. 'We have a duty to remember those who lost their life and health because of the accident, those who fought flames and radiation on that deadly night and all those who had to flee their homes because of the disaster' at the nuclear plant in Chernobyl on 26 April 1986, said the President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek (EPP, Poland) on Tuesday 26 April 2011. 'Chernobyl was an unimaginable human tragedy, but also a lesson on the importance of prevention, transparency and proper supervision. The responsese to Chernobyl has become an example of efficient international cooperation in the past decades. The local and national governments of the affected countries, the UN, the EU, the Red Cross and civil society are all helping to minimise the health effects on the population, increasing awareness and monitoring. We are now in the middle of the Decade of Recovery and Sustainable Development. Efforts and funds should be maintained so that when we mark the thirtieth anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, we do it in a community which is developing autonomously and is not stigmatised. Let's move forward and let us not forget.' (E.H.)