Summary: 17 October 2001 Statement by Mr. Stéphane De Loecker, Deputy Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations, on behalf of the European Union. Effects of atomic radiation (New York)
Mr. Chairman,
I am speaking on behalf of the European Union, the Member States of which are included among the co-sponsors of the draft resolution submitted to the Committee. The countries of Central and Eastern Europe associated with the European Union, Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, the associated countries of Cyprus, Malta and Turkey as well as the EFTA country member of the European Economic Area Norway, align themselves with
this statement.
The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation is the principal international body in this field and its reports and studies are authoritative. The quality of the Scientific Committee's work is such that its reports are generally used as a basis for drafting national and international standards to protect populations against the effects of atomic radiation.
In its 2001 report, the Committee completed a full examination of the risk to the descendants of people who have been exposed to atomic radiation. That examination showed that the total hereditary risk for the first generation after irradiation is less than a tenth of the risk of fatal cancer following direct exposure to radiation of natural, artificial or medical origin, which was evaluated in the Committee's 2000 report.
The European Union welcomes the publication of this new report by the Scientific Committee, which is a very important addition to last year's report, and fully supports the work programme adopted by the Scientific Committee at its meeting last April, particularly as regards the studies on the health effects of the Chernobyl accident, which should be completed and published in 2005.
Mr. Chairman,
The WHO, the IAEA, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements have taken part as observers in the Committee's meetings this year. This cooperation between international organizations also deserves to be welcomed and encouraged.
The European Union reiterates it full support for the Scientific Committee of the General Assembly which, by virtue particularly of its scientific authority, provides the international community with an essential, independent and effective contribution towards evaluation of the levels and effects of exposure to atomic radiation.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
| Top |
European Union Member States
Alerts by email
Email this page
Print this page