Chornobyl became a global issue from day one, even though the Soviet authorities issued a short statement about the accident only two days later, after radiation levels set off alarms at a nuclear power plant in Sweden. Even then, the Kremlin in Moscow did not give any details concerning this disaster and attempted to conceal its magnitude, which created general apprehension and uncertainty in the world.
Chornobyl’s destructive power, which swiftly transcended European borders, made the international community realize that immediate access to honest, accurate and consistent information is a global right, and its timely dissemination – an obligation to which nations are now held responsible in the all-important arena of public opinion. During his visit of the Chornobyl site six days ago, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki‑moon pushed for new international standards that would hold countries accountable for nuclear safety and stressed the need for “full transparency.”