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.
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