Doc. 9350

1 February 2002

Situation in the region of Semipalatinsk in Kazakhstan

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Latchezar Toshev and others

1.       Referring to the investigation of the International Red Cross in May 2000 in the region of Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan and the report and conclusions of this investigation;

2.       Regarding the consequences for the civilian population in the region of the testing of 113 nuclear weapons in the open air in the past, with an equivalent of 2,600 times the explosion of Hiroshima;

3.       Regarding the fact that the USSR at that time took no preventive measures at all to protect the civilian population. On the contrary, they were even invited to go and watch the nuclear clouds of the explosions;

4.       Pointing out that it was the clear intention of the “scientific research” of that period to examine the effects on the population; in some cases explosions were even postponed to make sure that the winds would blow the fallout in the direction of populated areas;

5.       Referring to estimates that in the area of the 19,000 km² concerned 1.6 million people were touched by this nuclear fallout, the first estimates are that 330,000 people are today suffering several health problems due to this fallout and that in the 67,000 worst cases people passed genetic dysfunctions to their children;

6.       Noting that the mortality rate in the region is four to five times higher than in the rest of Kazakhstan, that cancers, blood and cardiovascular diseases and infections are 30% higher than the normal national figures, that thousands of men are impotent, thousands of women can no longer have children and that many children are born as real mutants;

7.       Referring to the fact that, only a few years ago, radiation in the region still seemed to be 116 times higher than in the Chornobyl region;

8.       Noting that 68,000 tonnes of nuclear material are still found in the region;

9.       Noting that, until now, there have been no final results on the real effects on the environment in Kazakhstan and on the health of its population;

10.       Regarding the fact that the Government in Almaty had already asked for urgent international aid five years ago,

The Assembly:

i.       asks for an international investigation in all regions concerned in Kazakhstan or elsewhere that might have been touched by the effects of nuclear testing in the past;

ii.       asks to draw specific attention to the consequences on the environment and on the health of the actual and future generations and on the question of what can be done to reduce human and environmental damage as much as possible;

iii.       asks the committee concerned to investigate the situation, together with the government and the governmental and civilian organisations in the country working in this field, to inform the Assembly of the real dimensions of the situation and on possible and necessary steps to prevent further damage, how this can be done and what proposals there are to deal with the nuclear stocks left behind.

Signed : ¹

Toshev, Bulgaria, EPP/CD

Agramunt, Spain, EPP/CD

Brejc, Slovenia, EPP/CD

Brunhart, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

Díaz de Mera, Spain, EPP/CD

Dromberg, Finland, EDG

Eyskens, Belgium, EPP/CD

Gatterer, Austria, EPP/CD

Grzesik, Poland, EPP/CD

Grzyb, Poland, EPP/CD

Himmer, Austria, EPP/CD

Janowski, Poland, NR

Paegle, Latvia, EPP/CD

Patarkalishvili, Georgia, EPP/CD

Smorawiński, Poland, EPP/CD

Spindelegger, Austria, EPP/CD

van der Linden, Netherlands, EPP/CD

Zieliński, Poland, EPP/CD

Zierer, Germany, EPP/CD

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group