Daily
Telegraph
January
15, 2001
Let
us go home, say Greeks in Nato scare
By
Paul Anast in Athens
OVER
a quarter of the 1,400-strong Greek military contingent in the Nato-led
Kosovo peacekeeping force has asked to leave because of the alleged cancer
risk. Akis Tsochadzopoulos, the Greek Defence Minister, speaking in Kosovo
of the potential threat from depleted Uranium, said that the applications
to leave would be considered, but added: "We must first wait for the official
results of the radiation tests. If there is a general problem then Nato
forces will take a joint decision and leave together. We cannot leave alone.
We are not here for a picnic. We are here to protect lives."
Greek
troops in Kosovo are volunteers. Half the 400 men and women due to join
the contingent on the next rotation have already withdrawn after claims
that the shells have caused cancer in soldiers and civilians. Greek government
tests have so far provided no evidence of uranium contamination anywhere
near the Greek forces, who are stationed in Urosevac.
The
United Nations war crimes tribunal in The Hague may investigate the use
of depleted uranium ammunition by Nato. "If
coherent results emerge directly linking the use of depleted uranium ammunition
with health problems, we will proceed immediately,"
, the chief prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, said yesterday.
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