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PRESS RELEASE

Subject: 18,144 Greek Mines Containing DU Contradict Unfortunate Defense Ministry "Disclaimers"




16 January 2001

 

Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM) today releases evidence of Greece’s procurement of 504 M692 with the clarification that each M692 missile holds 36 mines containing DU. Therefore, Greece has purchased 18,144 mines containing depleted uranium (DU) from the U.S. GHM expresses its regret over claims made on 11/1/2001 by both Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos (on “Mega Channel”) and a Defense Ministry spokesperson (see “Ta Nea” 12/1) that Greece has no weapons containing DU other than the missiles owned by the Navy. When, one year ago, the same Minister stated (obviously untruthfully) that Greece had no weapons at all containing DU, one would now expect the DM leadership to be more circumspect about its credibility. Finally, we reiterate that global opposition to the existence of these mines (and other mines) is based much more on the fact that their wanton destructiveness is disproportionate to their military necessity, than on the consequences of their toxicity. The accuracy of the latter has yet to be scientifically proved in a conclusive manner.

Evidence substantiating Greece’s procurement of mines containing DU comes from U.S. Department of Defense mentioned in Human Rights Watch reports. HRW has kindly provided GHM with the originals of the American government documents as well as the chapters on Greece from its two most recent related reports. These documents may be found on the GHM website, at the addresses below.




Defense Security Assistance Agency, “U.S. Landmine Sales by Country 1969-1992” (faxed to Human Rights Watch on 23/2/1994)

http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/bhr/greek/articles/pr_at1_16_01_01.html

U.S. Department of the Army, “Countries Which Purchased Munitions Containing Depleted Uranium as of 13 September 1995,” (obtained in 1996 by the Human Rights Watch Arms Project under a Freedom of Information Act request)

http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/bhr/greek/articles/pr_at2_16_01_01.html

 International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), “Landmine Monitor Report 1999: Toward a Mine-Free World: Excerpt on Greece”  (Washington, DC: Human Rights Watch 1999).

http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/bhr/greek/articles/pr_at3_16_01_01.html

International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), “Landmine Monitor Report 2000: Toward a Mine-Free World: Excerpt on Greece” (Washington, DC: Human Rights Watch 2000).

http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/bhr/greek/articles/pr_at4_16_01_01.html