Balkans syndrome checkups to start for peacekeepers

RIGA - Defense officials in the Baltic states responded to mounting concern
in Europe that the deaths of former NATO peacekeeping troops might be
due to the deployment in the Balkans of munitions containing depleted
uranium by promising tests for Baltic soldiers.

So far no health problems that could be related to what has become
known as Balkans syndrome have been reported in the Baltic states,
but special health checks will be carried out, according the three
countries' Defense ministries.

Estonia appeared least concerned about the threat, while a Latvian
official said Latvia would like to join future discussions about the
use of weapons containing depleted uranium. As they prepare for
hoped-for NATO membership, none of the states are questioning NATO's
credibility in the light of the growing presentation problems.

A Ministry of Defense official in Lithuania, which some consider to
be the front-runner for NATO membership, confirmed that there are no
signs of the suspect symptoms among Lithuanian troops.

"This matter does concern us," said Povilas Malakauskas, vice
minister at the ministry. "So we've decided to carry out a broader
investigation into the health of all Lithuanian soldiers who have
been involved in peacekeeping in the former Yugoslavia since 1994."

While Estonia also intends to carry out health checks the tone there
was more blasŽ.

"We're not really concerned about this," said Madis Mikko, head of
the media information department at the Ministry of Defense.

"Around 400 Estonian troops have been deployed in the Balkans since
the early 1990s, but fortunately we've had no reports related to this
disease.

"Military business is relatively unsafe compared to other areas of
human business, so we're concerned not only about radioactive
materials but also other stuff, everything that could damage the
health of our people."

Janis Sarts, deputy secretary of state at Latvia's Ministry of
Defense said there had been no problems so far from the use of
depleted uranium. But the issue is a worry, he said.

"We're concerned about this as a bigger problem," he said. "We
believe our troops have had adequate training as part of the British
contingent in the KFOR peacekeeping force. But we're concerned about
the use of these kinds of weapons. We will have to discuss the use of
uranium with NATO to clear up the situation."

Malakauskas denied the Baltic states had received insufficient
information from NATO on possible health risks. Despite the scare,
and recent revelations about the inaccuracy of British bombing
missions in the Kosovo conflict, NATO's credibility has not
fundamentally been undermined, he said.

"I believe NATO is open enough. Examples like this are an exceptional case."

If fears around the use of depleted uranium in weapons prove to be
grounded, support for NATO membership in the Baltic states may drop,
said Janis Jurkans, MP in the opposition For Human Rights in a United
Latvia party.

"I wouldn't link this to NATO's credibility," he said.

"But if the link is proved true, NATO's image will be tarnished,
especially among anti-NATO people."

Closer to home, meanwhile, Latvian security forces are facing more
immediate health problems. An Interior Ministry guard regiment based
in Jelgava has been hit by dysentery, with 108 soldiers reported sick
on Jan. 8. The Latvian Infection Center said the outbreak was
probably due to infected food or tap water. The local hospital in
Dobele is reportedly unable to cope with the number of soldiers being
admitted.

Latvia's security forces have been beset by illness in the last six
months. In September 2000, over 100 cadets at the National Defense
Academy contracted diphtheria. The following month more than 1,000
students at the Police Academy contracted a streptobacicllus
infection.