The problem of uranium tailings due to its huge potential risks for human health and environmental situation in the entire Central Asian region has for many years been in the focus of the Kyrgyz Republic leadership, governments in the region, donors and international organizations.
The Government of the Kyrgyz Republic carries out the urgent activities at the tailings as part of the reclamation program annually funded from the budget of the country.
A number of important analytical assessments with concrete recommendations for addressing of the problem have been conducted with support of the IAEA, UNDP, European Union, World bank, NATO, EurAsEC, OSCE and other organizations. Currently a large World Bank supported project on reclamation of tailings is underway in Mailuu Suu. At Kara-Balta mining combine deep processing of tailings is going on for the funds provided from the private sector.
The scale of the problem and the level of risks are very high for the region. To this end more coordinated and intensive efforts are required from all countries of the region involving the international community.
In 2007 a trilateral Appeal of the Government of the KR, UNDP, EurAsEC to the Governments, international financial institutions, development agencies, private sector and organizations was signed about the threat of potential contamination by radioactive wastes in Central Asia.
President of the Kyrgyz Republic K.S. Bakiev initiated hosting of the high-level International Forum on uranium and other tailings containing highly toxic wastes.
The high-level International Forum, which will be held 29 June 2009 in Geneva, will have practical purpose related with the development of a set of concrete measures aimed at prevention of potential environmental catastrophes and adoption of preliminarily prepared investment projects on rehabilitation and increasing environmental safety of tailings.
An important practical result of the Forum can be not only focusing attention of international and donor community to this problem, but also development of joint work coordination mechanisms, determination and attracting funding, technical resources and new technologies to address this problem at national, transboundary and regional levels.