OSCE Centre, Kyrgyz Government to assess and reduce threat posed by uranium dumps in south-east Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK, 14 June 2006 - The OSCE Centre in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz Ministry for Emergency Situations and several international organizations decided today to raise money for a technical assessment of the threats posed by radioactive dumps in south-east Kyrgyzstan, and for subsequent rehabilitation efforts.

The decision to assess the risk in the Minkush area, which is home to several radioactive dumps, was the result of a meeting organized by the OSCE Centre and the Ministry. State administrators, diplomats and representatives from non-governmental and international organizations took part in the meeting, held in Bishkek. The assessment will be carried out in September.

The Minkush area dumps contain waste from uranium mining in the former Soviet Union from 1958 to 1969. They pose a threat to environment of the Naryn region of the Kyrgyz Republic and the fertile Ferghana valley.

The OSCE Centre in Bishkek has been working to lessen ecological risks and preventing industrial pollution of the Fergana valley region.

"The ecological security of Kyrgyzstan is one of the crucial factors for security and stability in Central Asia region," said Markus Mueller, the Head of the Centre. "To talk about it is not enough. We have to address the daily problems of people there."

The region is also threatened by landslides. A radioactive dump near the Tuuk-Suu River risks being flooded if a landslide blocks the river. Heavy rain- and snowfall in 2003-2005 contributed to the triggering of landslides.

"The climate and the earthquake situation in the past 10 years have created conditions that could trigger landslides, which result in mudslides and catastrophic floods," said Bakir Jolchiev, Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations.