Draft Framework Document to the International Forum in Geneva, 29 June 2009
FOREWORD
The Government of the Kyrgyz Republic and UNDP acted as initiators of conducting an International Forum on the issue of uranium tailings in Central Asia at a high level with the goal of attracting attention of the international community and mobilizing donor assistance for the purpose of reducing regional and transboundary hazards of uranium waste impact on people, the environment and strengthening sustainable development of the countries in the region.
One of the preparation stages for the International Forum was the conduct of a Regional conference on «Uranium tailings: local problems, regional consequences, global solutions». At the Regional Conference that took place from April 21 to 24, 2009 in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), government representatives and experts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and international organizations discussed existing issues on radioactive waste management in the region.
The present Framework document contains results of an analysis of radioactive waste management in national and transboundary contexts, assessment of this waste's impact on environmental condition. Analytical information presented in this document reflects institutional, ecological and socio-economic issues in the aforementioned countries of the region.
An environmental and population safety approach aims not only at analyzing and resolving national and regional ecological problems, but also at weakening potential sources of tension and strengthening interstate cooperation between the region's countries. This concerns in full measure guidelines and actions, aimed at solving a set of issues in the so-called ecologically «hot spots» of uranium legacy in the countries of the region. The guidelines of the present document are based on local knowledge and experience and include strengthening of transboundary cooperation within the framework of projects; improvement and harmonization of radiation-ecological monitoring, institutional and legislative measures, inclusion of the private sector in the process of solving ecological issues through waste reprocessing.
Informational materials and guidelines, presented in this Framework document, were discussed at the preparatory stage and also during the Regional Conference in Bishkek with the participation of national and international experts. Peter Stegnar and Isakbek Toroev coordinated preparation of this document under general direction of Jaras Takenov. Gratitude for their contribution to the development of the document is expressed to: Aleksandr Yakubik, Alisa Abisheva, Boris Nugmanov, Muhammadsharif Hakdodov, Muzafar Yunusov, Kamalitdin Sadykov, Damir Zaritdinov, Tatyana Filkova, Mira Djangaracheva and Omor Rustembekov.
Despite the diversity of intergovernmental agreements on waste management in the CA region, developed in the past, there is a serious problem with their implementation that arose mainly as a result of shortage of financial and technical resources for implementing recommended measures and actions. Thereupon, the Framework document is addressed to international organizations and financial institutions in order to attract the interest of donors and the private sector to the issue of uranium legacy in Central Asia during the International Forum in Geneva on June 29th, 2009, as well as for further bilateral negotiations between the Government, donors and the private sector.
Preliminary Draft of the Framework Document