40th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster

The president opened the session with some words to mark the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster, the worst nuclear accident in history. Remembering the millions who lost their health, their homes, and in many cases their lives, the president noted that the environmental, political and human shockwaves of the disaster and were still being felt. “To the communities that lost everything, and to the generations still living with the consequences: Europe remembers, and Europe stands with you” she said.

Narges Mohammadi and Nasrin Sotoudeh

The president then went on to speak about the detention in Iran of Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights advocate Narges Mohammadi and Sakharov Prize laureate and human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, “two women of extraordinary courage, who have given everything in pursuit of justice and human dignity, and who represent the will and defiance of so many in Iran”. Calling…