Dmitry Novikov: the Use of Malicious Technologies and Weapons Is Unacceptable

At a meeting of the CSTO PA Council in Moscow, Dmitry Novikov, deputy Chairman of the Permanent Commission of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly on Political Affairs and International Cooperation, presented the Statement of the Council of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization on the Possible Consequences of the Use of Depleted Uranium Munitions.

“The essence of the document is the need to ensure both regional and global collective security. The statement proceeds from the inadmissibility of the use of harmful technologies and weapons. The draft statement was reviewed, agreed and finally adopted at an extraordinary joint meeting of two standing commissions of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly: the Commission on Political Affairs and International Cooperation and the Commission on Socioeconomic and Legal Affairs,” Dmitry Novikov explained.

Vyacheslav Volodin, CSTO PA Chairman, also noted that Washington used depleted uranium shells in Yugoslavia and Iraq, which led to contamination of the area, as well as a sharp increase in cancer cases among the population. 

“The use of such munitions is criminal,” Mr Volodin stressed.

The CSTO parliamentarians cautioned that the extremely high density and significant half-life of depleted uranium used in the shells classify such munitions as indiscriminate munitions.

“We note the need for additional scientific research into the consequences of the use of depleted uranium in order to form international safety standards and restrictions,” the CSTO PA Statement reads.