WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2925/97 by Patricia McKENNA to the Council. US training for Rwandan army
Date: 1997-09-16
Institutions: European Parliament, MCKENNA
Subjects: Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, UN Security Council, United States, armed forces, international sanctions, military equipment, military training, war

C 102/150

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

3. 4. 98

(98/C 102/223)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2923/97

by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission

(17 September 1997)

Subject: Plutonium in teeth of teenagers in Ireland and Britain

A study commissioned by Britain(cid:146)s Department of Health has detected plutonium in teeth of teenagers in Britain
and Ireland, with the highest levels in those living close to the Sellafield nuclear complex.

The study, which has been published in Science of the Total Environment, examined a sample of 3 300 teeth
taken from teenagers during orthodontic treatment from Wexford to Antrim in Ireland and from Kent in England
to the Scottish Highlands. Average plutonium levels were 7 millibecquerels per kg within 75 km of Sellafield,
5 millibecquerels within 75 to 225 km and 3 millibecquerels beyond 225 km.

Nick Priest, who carried out the research while head of biomedical research at AEA Technology at Harwell, has
concluded  that  the  plutonium  found  in  these  samples  (cid:145)almost  certainly(cid:146)  came  from  aerial  emissions  from
Sellafield. Another possibility, he stated, was that some particles from Sellafield(cid:146)s marine discharges may have
been blown back from the Irish Sea in sea spray and breathed in through the lungs and entering the bloodstream,
before lodging in bone, teeth and the liver.

Has the Commission studied the findings of this report? Has it made any representations to the British authorities
about it?

What action does it propose to take in the light of this study and to ensure that no further radioactive pollution is
caused by Sellafield?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(20 October 1997)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the reply it gave to her oral question H-656/97 during
question time at Parliament(cid:146)s September 1997 part-session (1).

(1)  Debates of the Parliament (September 1997).

(98/C 102/224)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2925/97

by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Council

(16 September 1997)

Subject: US training for Rwandan army

The French newspaper Le Monde (August 28th 1997) has reported that the US army is providing combat and
guerilla warfare training to the Tutsi-dominated Rwandan army. Le Monde has claimed to have seen a Pentagon
report confirming this matter.

The  military  training  programme  appears  to  have  begun  in  1994.  Nine  US  military  instructors  are  currently
training 60 Rwandan officers, according to the report.

The Rwandan army has been accused of massacring hundreds of thousands of Hutus in eastern Zaire.

Has the Council made any representations to the US authorities about this report? Does it believe this military
cooperation may have breached the UN-imposed arms embargo on Rwanda in any way? What action does the
Council plan to take on this matter?