[CTRL] UN RAISES ALARM ON TOXIC RISK IN KOSOVO

[Mrs. Jela Jovanovic, Secretary General]

-Caveat Lector-   <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">
</A> -Cui Bono?-

===========================
The Committee for National Solidarity
Tolstojeva 34, 11000 Belgrade, YU

The Guardian
March 22, 2000

UN RAISES ALARM ON TOXIC RISK IN KOSOVO

Nato warplanes used 10 tonnes of depleted uranium in shells

Peter Capella in Geneva

Nato aircraft pounded Serbian tanks in Kosovo with 31,000 rounds of
toxic depleted uranium ammunition last year, exposing the local
population, aid workers and K-For troops to a known health hazard, the
United Nations revealed yesterday.

A basic large-scale map supplied by Nato for the first time indicates
that the shells were used in 20 locations along the Albanian border, and
eight more inside the province.

The UN's Balkan task force, which is evaluating the environmental impact
of the conflict in Kosovo and Serbia, only received information about
the use of the armour-piercing depleted uranium (DU) shells on February
7, four months after a personal intervention by the UN secretary
general, Kofi Annan. The UN had first requested the information last
summer.

But after internal bickering about the sensitivity of the DU issue, the
UN and specialists from the World Health Organisation, the International
Atomic Energy Agency and other scientific bodies, yesterday concluded
that the information supplied by Nato was insufficient to carry out
conclusive scientific research into the health damage on the ground. But
they recommended that "where contamination has been confirmed, measures
should be taken to prevent access".

Lord Robertson, Nato's secretary general, told Mr Annan in a letter that
DU ammunition was used whenever American A-10 ground attack aircraft
engaged Serb tanks or armoured vehicles: "It was used throughout Kosovo
in approximately 100 missions. A total of approximately 31,000 rounds of
DU ammunition was used."

Pekka Haavisto, the head of the task force, said this amount was
equivalent to 10 tonnes of depleted uranium, a by-product of uranium
enrichment for nuclear plants which, in civilian conditions, is regarded
as toxic waste.

"People should be protected, these areas should be marked clearly. If
small children go to play in these areas, taking some uranium dust or
even some part of the ammunition left at these sites, there certainly is
this toxicity risk," Mr Haavisto said.

Troops from several Nato countries serving in Kosovo are understood to
have been told to take precautions against DU contamination.

DU is used to toughen warheads. Upon impact the shells explode in a
fireball, producing a fine dust. Immediate inhalation is
life-threatening, but the long-term effects are uncertain.

"An intact munition embedded in the ground is not hazardous provided it
is not disturbed, but if it's in a dusty form in suspension, there is a
potential chemical and a secondary radiological problem," said Dr
Michael Clarke, scientific spokesman for the National Radiological
Protection Board.

The danger comes mainly from inhalation or swallowing particles of DU.

Although suspicions have long surrounded the use of DU ammunition in the
78-day air war, and Nato has never denied its deployment, confirmation
and details on the extent of its use revive concern about toxic
pollution and the health risk.

Lord Robertson said that the ammunition used a non-critical by-product
of the uranium refining process.

However, researchers are less concerned about potential radioactivity
than the toxic nature of depleted uranium, a heavy metal. Evidence
accumulated by some scientists since the Gulf war, where 10 times as
much DU was used, has linked it to birth defects in Iraq and long-term
illnesses, including cancer. But none of the research has been
conclusive.

After years of delay due to the sensitivity of the issue among western
member states, the World Health Organisation is due to finalise a study
next month which will set standards on depleted uranium and define
minimum levels of contamination. The Royal Society is also conducting
research on the effect of depleted uranium on health.

Secretary General
Mrs. Jela Jovanovic
Art  historian
===========================

<A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A>
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soap-boxing!  These are sordid matters
and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright
frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects
spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL
gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers;
be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and
nazi's need not apply.

Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html

http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]

To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Om