IMPACT OF BOMBING ON ENVIRONMENT IN YUGOSLAVIA

Early day motion 686, tabled 25 May 1999 by Alice Mahon (Labour). Signed by 9 members.

That this House is alarmed by reports that NATO bombing of chemical and petrochemical plants, fertilizer factories, oil depots and refineries and pharmaceutical plants is not only causing serious pollution in Yugoslavia itself, but may also be having an impact on Macedonia, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Greece and Italy; believes that the release into the atmosphere and water system of raw oil and its derivatives as well as carcinogenic chemicals such as vinyl-chloride-monomer and ethylene dichloride could have a detrimental impact on the region for years to come; notes the establishment of a United Nations task force to monitor the environment impact of the Balkans war; supports the call by UN representative Klaus Toepfer, former German Environment Minister, for an accurate scientific assessment of the environmental repercussions of the Balkans conflict to enable the UN to devise a prioritised action programme for the whole region; and calls for an end to NATO bombing so that no further environmental damage is inflicted on the region and negotiations for a settlement begin.

Signatures by party: Labour 8, Conservative 1.