NATO HQ 30 January 2001

Speaking Notes: of the Swedish Representative at the Meeting of the AD HOC Committee on Depeleted Uranium (AHCDU)   EU Presidency: As was said last week the GAC, at its meeting on 22 January, draw the conclusion that it should now wait for the results from the studies concerning the effects of DU and the general environmental situation in the Balkans conducted by UNEP, WHO, the Eu-Commission (under art 31 in the Euroatom Treaty) and NATO. When the results of the studies have been presented, the EU will come back to the issue. Sweden (troop contributor) 10 days ago a letter containing information about the use of munitions with DU was sent out to the 12 000 Swedish veterans that have served in the Gulf or on the Balkans. The letter was sent out by the Swedish Armed Forces in cooperation with the National Board of Health and Welfare and the Swedish Radiation Protection Institute. The letter also include a short questionnaire; about the veterans general health status (not specific questions related to possible effects of DU), which should enable the Military Authorities to get an overview of the general health status among the personnel that have served in the Gulf and on the Balkans. The veterans will be matched with the data in the national register for illness and cancer. This will be done in order to correlate the veterans health status with the Swedish population. This will be done on a regular basis. A telephone hot line has been opened by Swebat. Also a web page about DU. If any kind of acute illness is reported by the veterans, they are asked to contact the civil health cave to get a medical check up. Important to mention that they have served in the Gulf or in the Balkans. Two weeks ago blood tests were conducted (trying to trace lead and kadmium) on parts of the Swedish battalion (110 pers) Kosovo. Preliminary results are normal For the time being DU in urine will later be taken; will be taken when the battalion returns to Sweden this spring. Next battalion will be the control group (only the ones that haven't served earlier on the Balkans); Results will be compared between the groups. Results will be published latest in November this year. Sweden is following the work done in different expert groups, and reasonable authorities are in contact with experts in Sweden and abroad. Regular information will be put forward to the veterans during the year, Sweden believes it is important to use standardized methods to analyse the tests taken by different nations so the results can be compared between the countries. It is also important that we try to work together with the health problems on the Balkans and elsewhere where we arc and will be engaged in international missions. Sweden therefore welcomes the initiative of inviting troop contributing partners to a meeting with the expert working group on preventive military medicine and also later to a COMEDS-meeting.