ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE YUGOSLAVIA CONFLICT

2. Introduction

This assessment was prepared by the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) for the European Commission Directorate General XI. Its purpose is to make an initial "snapshot" of the environmental consequences and impacts of the recent North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) military action on the territory of Yugoslavia and on selected neighbouring countries. Though, until now it has been largely impossible to assess the impacts of the Yugoslav Army (VJ) in Kosovo. The assessment’s authors have attempted to show those actual impacts on the environment and also highlight the possible or future ones.

The objectives of this assessment are to:

  • prepare an analysis on the possible environmental impacts on the region due to military activity;
  • estimate possible further threats to the environment from the conflict;
  • gauge the facts available on the environmental and health impacts in the affected countries;
  • highlight the key environmental threats to each country, so that remedial action may be prepared.

The report looks at five Balkan countries: Yugoslavia – where the fighting took place; Albania and FYR Macedonia – the "refugee" countries; and Bulgaria and Romania – the selected "transboundary" countries. The report is split into two main parts: environmental impacts and anticipated or future risks. The case of each country is assessed separately, to enable ease of comparison and to define specific national priorities. At the end of the report conclusions are made. In the Conclusion and in the Executive Summary, a number of priorities for assistance are suggested.

The authors have tried to present the situation as clearly as possible and with as much precise and verifiable information as was available – given the time constraints and the on-going military activity. Readers should realise that to gather information in the short time-frame available presents some difficulties. Where information has not been accurately verified, the authors have made this clear in the text. However, it is the opinion of the authors that the situation described in the report is generally representative.

The study was carried out using the REC's expertise and resources in the five target countries – Yugoslavia, Albania, FYR Macedonia, Romania and Bulgaria – and through independent experts. Information from in-country environmental experts on specific topics was gathered, along with details from key pollution monitoring stations, to give specialists’ analyses. Final compilation was carried out using REC Head Office staff (environmental experts and editors).

Credits for the work and specific methods used in the included countries are:

  • Yugoslavia: Dragana Tar, the REC's Country Office Director in Belgrade, devised the study. She contracted a number of independent experts to compile the list of damaged sites and their associated impacts. Asst. Prof. Dr. Radoje Lausevic, Ing. Chem. Miroslav Spasojevic and M. Sci. Dmitar Lakusic prepared various sections of the Yugoslavia report.
  • Albania: Mihallaq Qirjo, REC Country Office Director for Albania, prepared the Albanian report. This included site visits to a number of refugee camps in the country.
  • Bulgaria: Mihail Staynov, Project Manager in the REC Bulgaria Office, compiled the report. He utilised information available from Bulgaria’s National System for Environmental Monitoring (NASEM) and associated inspectorates of the Ministry of Environment and Waters (MEW).
  • FYR Macedonia: Katarina Stojkovska, the REC’s Local Representative, prepared the Macedonian portion of the report, with the support of the entire local REC staff and with very helpful cooperation from the National Agency for Environment and Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Macedonia. Dr Eftim Dimitrev prepared the section on environmental effects in the refugee camps.
  • Romania: Catalin Gheorghe, the REC's Local Representative, compiled the report. All environmental protection agencies in the potentially affected area (the south western section of Romania) were utilised, along with the Ministry of Environment, Monitoring Department.
  • Editorial Team: Compilation and editing was performed by a number of staff at the REC Head Office in Szentendre, Hungary. Project management was carried out by Robert Atkinson, Head of Country Office Support Department; project director was Alexander Juras, Deputy Executive Director; Editing and proofing was carried out by Tom Popper, Project Officer. Further input and comment was given by Jernej Stritih, Executive Director of the REC and Oreola Ivanova, Head of the Executive Director’s Office.

    REC  *  YUGOSLAVIA REPORT  *  NEXT SECTION

    HOME PAGESEARCH