Vedi anche: Spagna: conferenza internazionale sul DU 25-26 novembre 2000

International Conference

Depleted Uranium: Health, Ecological, Economic and Legal aspects of the use of radioactive conventional weapons

 FINAL DECLARATION

  The participants of the International Conference Depleted Uranium: Health, Ecological, Economic and Legal
aspects of the use of radioactive conventional weapons, held in Gijon, Spain, on 25th & 26th November 2000, organized by the Arab Cause Solidarity Committee in the frame of the Spanish Campaign for Lifting the Sanctions on Iraq,

  Having been informed of the massive, indiscriminate and premeditated use of Depleted Uranium (D.U.) munitions in the 1991 war against Iraq, resulting in grave consequences to the health and environment, and its use once again against Yugoslavia in 1999.

 Taking into consideration the evidences of the link between the use of DU munitions in the test places and in the military interventions in Iraq and Yugoslavia with the increase of health problems among the combatants and the civilian population.

 Taking into consideration the text of the VI Hague Convention, the 1949 Geneva Convention and the two additional Protocols related to the restrictions and the use of force in military conflicts and the protection of civil population in times of war, the UN Charter and the universal declaration of Human Rights as well as the Resolutions of the UN General Assembly. Also Resolution 1196/16 dated 29 August 1996 of the subcommittee for the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, which called on the UN Secretary General should submit a report on the consequences of the use of nuclear weapons containing DU.

  Also taking into consideration the Resolutions on the matter issued by various International Organizations, among them, the 1996 Resolution of the International Action Center, the may 1999 Baghdad Conference Resolution on DU,

 DEMAND:

 * That munitions and military equipment made with DU be considered as NON-conventional weapons highly dangerous to the health of peoples and the environment.

 * The use of munitions made with DU be considered as war crime and a crime against humanity, strongly punishable by International Law.

 * Placing an International ban on the Manufacturing, Storage, Marketing, Possession, testing and Using of DU munitions and all types of military equipment made with DU.

 * The destruction of all types of munitions and military equipment made with DU, putting the waste into safe storage.

 * The decontamination of areas polluted through the use of DU munitions and equipment both near places of manufacturing and testing of DU and in battle fields where it has been used, in particular the Gulf and the Balkan regions, specifically in Iraq and Yugoslavia.

 * That the International community provides technical and health assistance both to Iraq and Yugoslavia. This assistance is meant to help all those affected by contamination resulting from the use of DU munitions.

 * That the U.S. and British Governments, and all other NATO members provide full details of the use of these munitions so that they can be removed. These countries are held responsible for the dire consequences of the use of these weapons and therefor should bear the responsibility of cleaning the polluted areas and providing full compensation for all the damages resulting from their aggressions against Iraq and Yugoslavia.

 * The immediate and complete lifting of the Sanctions imposed on Iraq in order that the people and the government of Iraq can face the dire consequences of the massive use of these weapons during the 1991 aggression, and the repeated aggressions still being waged daily until now in the so called ‘No Fly Zones’.

  * The commitment of the UN Secretary General to take the appropriate measures so that the International organization immediately take steps to carefully analyze the effects on health and the environment of the use of DU armaments, based on the accumulated evidences of the past few years. Also to take the necessary measures to prohibit the use of these weapons.

  We finally declare our full solidarity and support to those persons affected by the use of DU weapons in Iraq and Yugoslavia and all those affected by them including war veterans. We also extend our solidarity to the Palestinan people.

 Xixón, 26th of November 2000

   ***
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Depleted Uranium:

Health and Ecological, Economic and Legal Aspects of the Use of Radioactive Conventional Weapons
Gijón (Principado de Asturias)

Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th of November, 2000

ORGANISED BY:

Comité de Solidaridad con la Causa Árabe
Arab Cause Solidarity Committee

(Campaña Estatal por el Levantamiento de las Sanciones a Iraq

Spanish Campaign for Lifting the Sanctions on Iraq)

SUPPORTED BY:

Consejería de Asuntos Sociales del Principado de Asturias.
Consejería de Medio Ambiente del Principado de Asturias.
Agencia Local de Promoción Económica y Empleo del Ayuntamiento de Gijón. Sociedad Mixta de Turismo del Ayuntamiento de Gijón.
Conseyu de la Mocedá del Principáu d’Asturies.
Conseyu de la Mocedá de Xixón.

Universidad de Oviedo.
CajAstur.