Pressure mounts over 'Balkan Syndrome'

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Pressure is mounting on NATO to face up to European fears over the health effects of depleted uranium weapons.

Italy, where at least six former NATO peacekeepers have died of leukaemia sparking the latest controversy, said on Tuesday it wants NATO partners to stop using the suspected armour-piercing shells.

A host of other European countries have now cited illness among soldiers who served with NATO in Kosovo and Bosnia leading to claims of a "Balkans Syndrome" caused by the uranium-tipped bullets.

Top officials from the EU and NATO met separately on Tuesday over the fears.

The EU's executive Commission said on Tuesday it would set up a working group of member state medical and scientific experts to report early next month on the possible health risks.

REFERENCE Balkans Syndrome   •  Uranium facts   •  Search for truth   •  Depleted uranium effects   •  Q&A: NATO fears   •  Cause for doubt   •  Cancer, leukaemia reports   •  What they say   •  In-depth: Kosovo   •  News search     AUDIO Scott Peterson explains some of the health risks associated with depleted uranium. 29 sec/423 k AIFF or WAV sound Albright: "No proof, no connection." 320K/30 sec. AIFF or WAV sound Pekka Haavisto, UN Environment Programme spokesman, says even low levels of uranium unacceptable 340K/32 sec. AIFF or WAV sound UN investigation took one year for approval 330K/30 sec. AIFF or WAV sound The UN Environment Programme described 300K/28 sec. AIFF or WAV sound Bruce George, defence expert and British MP, explains the consequences of not using uranium weapons 400K/37 sec. AIFF or WAV sound The threat of litigation 400K/37 sec. AIFF or WAV sound

Spokesman Gunnar Wiegand said the Commission would use that report to determine what measures to take to protect the "hundreds, if not thousands" of EU staff and contractors who worked on ongoing Balkan reconstruction projects.

Depleted uranium (DU) rounds, also known as "tank-busters" because of their ability to pierce armour, were used by U.S. forces in NATO campaigns in the Balkans during the 1990s.

Defence experts say it can be pulverised on impact into a radioactive dust but the U.S. defence department, NATO and the World Health Organization say there is no significant risk to troops.

"There's absolutely no proof that there is a connection," U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said on Monday of the link between the illnesses and the weapons.

Britain on Tuesday staunchly stood by its view that the DU arms were safe.

Defence minister John Spellars told parliament that there was a "negligable hazard" to troops.

He said DU weapons provided a "battle-winning advantage" in war and "depleted uranium shells will remain part of our arsenal for the forseeable future," he said.

In a reversal of policy, however, he announced an "additional voluntary screening programme" for British Balkan veterans saying the government recognised the need to reassure the troops.

Italy's call for a ban on the weapons follows a public storm which resulted in the establishment of an investigation into illnesses affecting 30 Balkan veterans including six who have died of leukaemia.

"We shall ask ... the alliance to avoid using depleted uranium ammunition until we are certain it is not dangerous," Italian Defence Minister Sergio Mattarella said in Brussels.

Late on Tuesday, NATO rejected Italy's plea after the alliance's Political Committee meeting in Brussels.

A French journalist who covered the Gulf War and Bosnian conflict said she suspected DU-tipped arms caused intestinal, neurological and muscular problems she was suffering.

"I'm not saying that uranium was certainly the cause, but I am ill and have the same symptoms as the veterans," Marie-Claude Dubin told the daily Le Parisien.

Diplomats said political directors from the International Contact Group on the Balkans would meet on Thursday in Paris to discuss the health effects of DU weapons.

The meeting will assemble the senior officials, and possibly the foreign ministers, from the six Group countries -- the United States, Russia, Britain, Germany, France and Italy.

NATO appeared split between those, like Britain and the United States, who argue there is no significant health risk from DU weaponry and others -- including Germany, Italy, Portugal and Belgium -- who want a full NATO inquiry.

Alliance spokesman Mark Laity played down talk of a rift, saying NATO partners had a "difference of emphasis" over the issue which had increased public pressure in some countries.

"NATO would not use weapons that would harm its own soldiers," Laity said.

On Tuesday, however, the NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) confirmed in Sarajevo that low radiation was detected in three shells handed over by an Italian journalist.

"The inspection revealed that the three bullets appear to be 30mm in size and were somewhat fragmented. The team used radiological monitoring devices and detected low levels of radiation confirming the rounds as depleted uranium," SFOR Spokesman Major Robert Thompson said.

Despite earlier ruling out medical tests on its troops, Britain was expected to bow to pressure and announce some screening for war veterans on Tuesday afternoon.

Italy, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands have reported related-illness deaths among Balkan veterans and other countries have said they will screen soldiers.

Reuters contributed to this report.

European nations raise concerns
January 9, 2000
NATO and EU discuss weapons fears
January 9, 2001
Germany confirms weapons warning
January 8, 2001
Portugal probes Kosovo uranium sites
January 7, 2001
Conflicting research on radiation in Kosovo
January 6, 2001
Radiation found at Kosovo bomb sites
January 5, 2001
NATO arms illness claims denied
January 4, 2001
Radiation tests for NATO troops
January 4, 2001

NATO
Gulf War Illnesses
United Nations Environment Programme
The Pentagon: The United States Department of Defense

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