The YABLOKO party has always opposed imports of nuclear waste
into Russia. It was the only parliamentary party which in
2000 jointly voted against introduction of changes into the
law allowing for imports of radioactive waste into Russia.
Even at that time we were saying “we should not turn Russia
into an international radioactive waste dump even for much
money!” However, such changes in the law were made under the
pressure from the Russian Atomic Agency (Rosatom), despite
of the fact that 90 per cent of Russian citizens are against
imports of radioactive waste into Russia.
The 123 Agreement on cooperation with Russia in the nuclear
field has been considered by US Congress at present. In case
it is approved, Russia will be able to import US radioactive
waste from Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and many other countries,
under a formal pretext of recycling and virtually for its
burial.
Submitting the bill into Congress US President said, “implementation
of this agreement does not bear any risks for our security…”
Such care of US President of his country security inspires
respect, while the Russian authorities’ care of the security
of their country arises much doubt and concern.
There are no safe technologies neither for recycling nor
for burial of radioactive waste. Such recycling leads to permanent
radioactive contamination. At present the major problem is
utilization of huge plutonium reserves becoming redundant
due to nuclear disarmament rather than production of more
plutonium. There is only one way left for radioactive waste
imported into Russia – its storage transferring into its burial.
This means turning the country into a world burial for radioactive
waste. The countries wishing to get rid of their radioactive
waste are ready to pay for this. They will pay for it with
money, while Russian citizens will pay for this with health
risks for many further generations.
YABLOKO supports cooperation with the USA if only such cooperation
is targeted at Russia’s development, raising of the welfare
of Russian citizens and strengthening of Russia’s security.
The millions obtained for the imports of radioactive waste
into Russia are a drop in the ocean of expenses Russia will
have to pay for assuring safety of the imported nuclear waste
in the future.
Short-term mercantile interests of corrupted temporal officials
should not overwhelm over long-term interests of ensuring
Russia’s security.
We shall not allow turning Russian into a world radioactive
dump.
Sergei Mitrokhin,
Chair of the YABLOKO party
See also:
YABLOKO
for Nuclear Safety
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