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Russia Calls for Conference on Depleted Uranium Weapons
Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev urged Friday to hold an international conference on depleted uranium weapons' effect on human health.
"We'll make a proposal to the Russian president on holding an international conference on this problem within the framework of the OSCE or the UN, which could enable professionals to define the degree of risk to human health from using such weapons," Sergeyev told a news conference here.
He stressed that the theme of NATO using weapons containing depleted uranium is only beginning to be discussed.
Russia's Defense Ministry said at the start of NATO's airstrikes on Kosovo that these actions could trigger adverse ecological effects in the region. "Russia has always spoken against these actions," he said.
He warned that the use of depleted uranium weapons poses a serious danger for human health. "Even after the completion of the military conflict in the Balkans, people continue to die," he noted.
"Our negative position over the use of depleted uranium weapons first in Bosnia and then in Kosovo made itself known at once and we see no need to change it," Sergeyev said.
Meanwhile, he said the use of similar ammunition during the Gulf War had worse consequences.
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