<nettime> Anti-war campaign bulletin #1

[Anti-war campaign <kireev@glasnet.ru>]

Anti-war comittee is a tactical NGO aimed to prevent Russia's possible
involvement into the war in Balkans, since such possibility is not
excluded.  The main directions of its activitiy are actions and information
campaign.  The regular analitical press-releases which shed light on
economical/ ecological/political consequences of such involvement are part
of the  committee's work.
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April 16, 1999
Moscow

NPPs AROUND YUGOSLAVIA: POTENTIAL SOURCE OF THE NUCLEAR CATASTROPHE

"Undeclared war between NATO and Serbia is a threat to whole world, nuclear
plants in Eastern Europe aren't protected adequately", said Moscow'
Anti-war committee on Friday. Not only Zagreb' research nuclear reactor can
be affected by this armed conflict, but also both Bulgarian Kozloduy (KNNP)
and Hungarian Paks (PNNP) nuclear plants.

KNPP located in just 200 km and Paks in less than 400 km away from conflict
zone.  Both nuclear plants operate VVER-440 Soviet-designed reactors which
can be compared  to Chernobyl' level of safety. Both nuclear plants are not
protected against, for  example, airstrike. Moreover, a little mistake of
soldier or pilot of military  aircraft can bring the world to another
global nuclear disaster, even in case if  Russia or NATO will not use its
nuclear weapon.

Bulgaria gave its permission for using of own airfields for both Serbian
and NATO's  planes. According to Mr. Kashiev, a chairman of Bulgarian
committee for peaceful use  of atomic power, Gabrovnice airfield located in
50 km from Kozloduy nuclear plant.  This airfield was previously used only
for Russian aircrafts transporting nuclear  fuel for the plant. 3th nuclear
reactor is currently under repair and its shield  removed. Reactor is
absolutely unprotected. Large amount of the spent nuclear fuel'  roads
stored right next to this reactor, it's also absolutely unprotected.

In similar conditions Armenian nuclear plant was shut down during armed
conflict between Armenia and Azerbajan 10 years ago.

According to the media reports in Bulgaria, Ministry of inner affairs
declared that  foreign aircrafts did not use Bulgarian airfields so far.
But people from villages  located close to Bulgarian-Yugoslavian border
says up to 30 aircrafts fly every  night over their homes. Since the NATO's
bombing started in Serbia, at least 3 bombs  were founded on Bulgarian
territory. According to official statements, it's always  mistake of the
NATO' pilots.

Bulgaria can not protect its nuclear plant. It has no funds to provide
adequate  protection in form of 3 military aircrafts which requested by
safety rules for  nuclear plants. Only one aircraft guard KNPP presently.

"In order to prevent a global nuclear disaster the Balkan war should be
stopped  immediately, Russia should not be involved into the war but it
must effectively  stimulate peaceful negotiations," - says Vladimir
Slivyak, coordinator of the Anti-war committee in Moscow. "Otherwise global
nuclear disaster will happen  to the world, even in case if no sides of
conflict will use nuclear weapon".
------------------------------------
More information in Moscow:
278-4642, 776-6546 - Vladimir Slivyak (ecodefense@glasnet.ru), Alisa
Nikoulina (aln@glasnet. ru), 137-7131 - Oleg Kireev (kireev@glasnet.ru)

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