Statement
by
the Secretary General
on the Use of Depleted Uranium Munitions in the Balkans
The North Atlantic Council, at its regular meeting today,
gave special consideration to the possible environmental
health risks associated with the use of depleted uranium
munitions in the Balkans.
Allies are committed to ensuring the health and safety
of their servicemen and servicewomen and to avoiding any
ill-effects for the civil population and personnel of
non-governmental organisations as a result of NATO military
operations. The Council noted in this context that there
is no evidence currently available to suggest that exposure
to expended depleted uranium munitions represents a significant
health risk for NATO-led forces or the civil population
in the Balkans. They noted recent statements by representatives
of the World Health Organisation and the UN Environment
Programme (UNEP) which confirm that there is very little
likelihood of troops becoming ill, such as by contracting
leukaemia, from exposure to radiation from depleted uranium.
Allies agreed, however, that this should be kept under
review and that NATO should continue to cooperate fully
with investigations on the possible effects of exposure
carried out by the nations involved or by responsible
multinational organisations.
Allies recalled that full information had already been
provided to, and welcomed by, UNEP to assist its study
on the environmental consequences of the use of depleted
uranium munitions during Operation Allied Force in Kosovo
in 1999, which is due to be issued in March. They agreed
that similar information on the use of depleted uranium
munitions during Operations Deny Flight and Deliberate
Force in 1994 and 1995 will be produced as soon as possible.
The following immediate further steps were agreed:
- NATO will cooperate fully with any further investigations
on this subject carried out by the nations involved
or by responsible multinational organisations, including
elsewhere in the region.
- The Council agreed to consult fully on this subject
with all past and present SFOR and KFOR contributing
countries. A first briefing for this purpose will be
given at a regular meeting of troop contributors which
will take place on 12 January.
- Allies will make available to each other and more
widely, through arrangements to be established in NATO,
all information available to them, now or in the future,
on any health risks associated with the use of depleted
uranium munitions. As a first step, Service Medical
authorities will exchange views on the medical and scientific
factual background at a meeting of the Chiefs of Military
Medical Services Committee (COMEDS) to be held on 15
January.
- A NATO working group will be established to act as
a clearing house for the exchange of information. This
will involve participation by non-NATO contributors
to KFOR and SFOR.
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