On August 20-21, Tashkent hosted an international seminar ‘On taking measures to neutralize the disastrous impact of industrial activity of the Tajik State Unitary Enterprise Talco on environment and human health organized by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan jointly with the Ecology Movement of Uzbekistan.

The seminar was attended by senators, members of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, members of the Executive Committee of the Central Council of Ecology Movement of Uzbekistan, as well as parliamentarians, researchers and experts from Europe, America and Asia, including members of parliament of Tajikistan, representatives of international organizations like UNDP, OSCE, relevant ministries and agencies, NGOs and mass media.

Uzbekistan takes institutional and organizational measures to ensure environmental safety. The country has a legislative base in line with international standards on rational use of natural resources and protection of people’s health. Uzbekistan ratified the major UN conventions and other international documents in environmental protection and sustainable development, and fulfills all its obligations.

The country runs a proven mechanism of implementation of environmental legislation, national programs and plans of action. The participants highlighted a scaled work in Uzbekistan to reduce the harmful effects of emissions of SUE Talco’ on environment and health of the population. Diversified district polyclinics, medical institutions, and more than 50 rural health units were built in Denov, Sariosiyo, Uzun and Oltinsoy districts of Surkhondaryo region in 2010-2012 alone. All of them are equipped with modern medical facilities. The ongoing Program of Action for Protecting Environment in the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2013-2017 yields effective outcomes.

Meanwhile, there are serious cross-border environmental problems in the Central Asian region, including Uzbekistan. Destructive effects of adverse industrial emissions of Tajik Aluminum Company of SUE Talco on environment and health of the population in neighboring areas of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan rank among the most pressing problems.

Affected by emissions from Talco with high concentration of fluorine compounds, toxic gases: carbon oxides, sulfur, hydrocarbons and other harmful substances, people of the region suffer primarily from chronic diseases of the endocrine, skeletal and muscular system, upper respiratory tract, congenital anomalies and fluorosis, as well as cancer. Due to inefficient and outdated pollution control equipment SUE Talco annually emits about 22-23 thousand tons of pollutants, including more than 200 tons of hydrogen fluorine, which is the most dangerous and harmful to the environment and human health.

The day before the seminar participants had the opportunity to see an immense harm caused by Talco to environment and human health in Sariosiyo, Denov, Uzun and other districts of Surkhondaryo region.

As noted by Professor Eva Vietsma, Project Manager at the International Center for Water and Climate, Wageningen University (Netherlands), \"three years ago, I was shocked at seeing firsthand the damage inflicted by the Tajik aluminum plant Talco on Sariosiyo and Uzun districts of Uzbekistan. The current trip has intensified my impression. Toxic emissions of the plant are harmful for human health: in the past five years, the number of dead births has increased 7.7 times in Sariosiyo district alone. Such problems require urgent solutions. We need to assure taking the necessary steps on development and implementation of the program on reorganization of the enterprise, deep upgrade of outdated production equipment. All the states of the region and the international community must work together to find a way out of this difficult situation.\"

With special concern the participants pointed out to the growing number of dead birth cases, and various pathologies associated with increased level of concentration in the atmosphere, water and soil of hydrogen fluorine and other toxic substances contained in the emissions of SUE Talco. In the areas subject to their trans-boundary effects, the frequency of pathological disorders in children and adults is three times higher than the average for the Surkhondaryo region.

“I have witnessed such an environmental disaster for the first time in my life. It is extremely sad that Talco causes such a serious damage to the population of certain territories of Uzbekistan, and particular children,” said Aleksandr Sakovskis, member of the Latvian Parliament, member of Harmony Center faction and the Latvian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. “No income from the aluminum production can be commensurable to human life. We must help to address this problem, involve all of the international legal mechanisms, appeal to the global community, including the European community.”

Considerable damage is done to the economy, including agriculture and the social sphere of the region. Crop yields fall. The fluorine content in plants and fodder causes irreversible physiological changes in the body of animals. Cattle and sheep stock has reduced; milk production falls, quality of meat and dairy products is deteriorating. As revealed by studies, the fluorine content in milk excesses the norm 9-13 times. All this poses a serious threat to human life and health.

Didier Schade, researcher at the Analytical Institute for Prediction and Security in Europe (France), noted that the issue does not concede carelessness and indifference. \"We made sure that the government of Uzbekistan carries out a set of measures to improve the situation. But the solution to this long-overdue problem depends not only on Uzbekistan. Therefore, the international community should unite synergies to find an acceptable way. No country may cause developmental damage to areas in the neighboring country in pursuit of its benefit and interests.\"

\"Three years ago during a trip to Surkhondaryo we have witnessed how the emissions of\" Talco \"dying orchards, vineyards, sick children, - the chairman of the Union of the historical regions of Europe Vittorio Giorgi (Italy). – I have never seen that due to the economy caused by the development of environmental pollution so people suffered, environment

. He told me about it in an article published in Italy and other countries.

International law gives us the tools to ensure the sustainable development of the economy and at the same time an opportunity to present and future generations to live in a supportive environment. The international community has some resources to those who violate the generally accepted norms, accepted responsibility for it. How can you not recognize the obvious fact that Talco pollutes the environment?

Who will compensate for the damage caused over the years? The problem should be solved in the interests of the people. I think one of the ways - is to create an international commission of independent experts, and with the results apply to the international court.”

\"Three years ago during my trip to Surkhondaryo we witnessed how the emissions of Talco cause death of gardens and vineyards, and disorders in children,” said Vittorio Giorgi, Chairman of the Union of the Historical Regions of Europe (Italy). “I have never seen that people and environment could suffer so much because of the environmental pollution caused by economic development. I told about that in my article published in Italy and other countries. International law gives us the tools to ensure the sustainable development of the economy and at the same time give an opportunity to the present and future generations to live in a favorable environment. The international community has certain resources so that those who violate the generally accepted norms, incurred responsibility for them. How can one not recognize the obvious fact of polluting the environment by Talco? Who will compensate for the damage caused over the years? The problem should be addressed in the interests of the people. I think there is one of the ways out: to create an international commission of independent experts, and apply to the international court based on the results of assessment.\"

Foreign experts emphasized that the failure to take appropriate measures to reduce the negative impact of industrial waste at SUE Talco violates a range of international legal instruments, including the Declaration on Environment and Development as adopted in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, and the World Charter for Nature of 1982. The Uzbek-Tajik intergovernmental agreement of November, 17 1994 ‘On cooperation in improving the environmental situation in the area of the negative impact of the Tajik Aluminum Plant’ remained unfulfilled too.

Upon the three-day international seminar the participants adopted respective guidelines based on summarized views and conclusions.

They underscored the high relevance of immediate implementation of a range of measures on re-structuring of Talco, and other environmental protection measures, precluding Talco’s negative impact on the environment. The participants found it necessary to draw the attention of international environmental organizations, UN agencies, including UNEP, UNICEF and others, the parliaments and governments of the countries of the international community for them to take urgent actions to promote environmental sustainability in the region, preserve the health of the population caught in the zone of the damaging effects of Talco.

(Source: “Uzbekistan Today” newspaper)