Foreign Ministry monitors health risks in Kosovo

The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs has informed the Finnish civilian experts employed in crisis management tasks in Kosovo on health risks caused by the use of depleted uranium. The Finns currently working in Kosovo have been advised to undergo normal physical examinations on their return home or during leave.

Those who have already returned home from Kosovo can contact the occupational health service of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Medivire. The Ministry will provide further information on additional medical check-ups if deemed necessary after the completion of a report on health risks in Kosovo.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs monitors the situation in close cooperation with the Ministry of Defence, which is investigating the use of depleted uranium in Kosovo and possible health risks involved.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Medivire note that some of the Finnish civilians in Kosovo have been stationed in staff duties which indicate a lower level of respiratory exposure than that of peace-keeping troops who have operated on the field. Alimentary exposure is affected by the consumption of local food and water.

Currently, there are 20 Finnish policemen employed by the UNMIK Police, two Finnish judicial experts and seven Finns working for the OSCE. Previously 67 Finns have worked in civil crisis management duties in Kosovo.

More information: Pekka Ojanen, Deputy Director General, tel: +358-9-13415003, or Kari Karanko, Director, tel: +358-9-13415590.