High-Level International Forum
"Uranium Tailings: Local Problems, Regional Consequences, Global Solution"
29 June 2009
Geneva, Switzerland
High-Level International Forum is organized by the initiative of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic which was supported by the countries of Central Asian region and UNDP country offices in CA.
Timeliness and urgency of this Forum is explained by the existing tailings in the territory of Central Asia left as a legacy from the military-industrial complex of the former USSR. The state of these tailings which contain huge wastes of uranium and other technological wastes over tens of years after shutdown of these enterprises have significantly worsened.
Main goals and tasks of the Forum:
To draw the attention of donor community to the following problems of uranium tailings in CA:
- Institutional development and harmonization of legislation
- Threats and risks of radioactive contamination, including in a transboundary context;
- Effective management of acting and closed uranium tailings
- Socio-Economic problems of territories and populations living in close vicinity with the uranium facilities
- Participation of private sector in addressing of uranium legacy
The work of the Forum focuses on obtaining practical results: development of coordinating mechanisms of joint efforts, determination and attracting of the required amount of financial and technical resources, new technologies for addressing uranium tailings on national, transboundary and regional levels.
For preparation to the high-level Forum a Steering Committee was established in Kyrgyzstan headed by the prime minister of the Kyrgyz republic Mr. I. Chudinov. UNDP Resident representative in Kyrgyzstan Mr. Neal Walker was assigned a regional Coordinator of UNDP on the problem of radioactive wastes in Central Asia. Also focal points have been appointed in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on preparation to the forum and official delegations are now being formed for participation in the forum.
At the Regional Conference in Bishkek (21−24 April 2009), participants from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, representatives of donor, international expert community and development agencies, private sector and non-governmental organizations developed Framework Document and a package of project proposals. These documents which reflect a consolidated approach of CA countries to addressing of uranium legacy will be discussed at the Forum in Geneva, and used for further bilateral and multilateral negotiations among CA countries for attracting the needed funding, technical assistance and direct investments.