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UN AGENCIES CONSULT ON ENVIRONMENTAL

Filename:95754772
PATHFINDER RECORD NUMBER: 54772
GENDATE:         950629
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TEXT:            
ENVELOPE CDSN = LGX495 MCN = 91038/29586 TOR = 910381925
PTTCZYUW RUEKJCS1475 0381923---RUEALGX.
ZNY 
HEADER P 071923Z FEB 91
FM JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEADWD/OCSA WASHINGTON DC
RUENAAA/CNO WASHINGTON DC
RUEAHQA/CSAF WASHINGTON DC
RUEADWD/PTC WASH DC
RUSNNOA/USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE
RUFGAID/USEUCOM AIDES VAIHINGEN GE
RUEOFAA/COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC//J2//
RUCQVAB/USCINCSOC INTEL OPS CEN MACDILL AFB FL
RUCJACC/USCENTCOM REAR MACDILL AFB FL //CARA//
RUEOACC/CDRPSYOP GP FT BRAGG NC//ASOF-POG-SB//
RUCIAEA/FTD WRIGHT PATTERSON AFB OH//SCIR//
RHCGSRB/COMUSARCENT FT MCPHERSON GA//AFRD-DSO//
RUEALGX/SAFE
P 071649Z FEB 91
FM USMISSION GENEVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1435
INFO RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4057
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8413
RUFHLD/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1553
RUFHMB/USMISSION USVIENNA 4592
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 4590
RUFHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2811
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 2631
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 1976
BT
CONTROLS 

LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 01 OF 04 GENEVA 01475

DEPT FOR IO, IO/T ANG OES/E
NAIROBI FOR UNEP PERMREP
VIENNA FOR UNVIE

E.O. 12356: N/A

/*********** THIS IS A COMBINED MESSAGE ************/
BODY TAGS: SENV, AORC, UNEP, MOPS, PREL, IZ, KU
SUBJECT: UN AGENCIES CONSULT ON ENVIRONMENTAL
- CONSEQUENCES OF THE GULF WAR

REF: A) GENEVA 129Q B) STATE 32573
-- C) NAIROBI 2863

1. SUMMARY: REPRESENTATIVES OF TWENTY-THREE UN
AGENCIES AND OIL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS MET FEBRUARY 5
AND 6 IN GENEVA TO REVIEW AVAILABLE INFORMATION ON THE
GULF OIL SPILL AND OTHER POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
OF THE GULF WAR AND TO CONSIDER MEANS TO ADDRESS THEM.
IN A SEPARATE MEETING, CHAIRMAN PETER SCHRODER
SYMPATHIZED WITH THE AMBASSADOR ON THE NEED TO CONDEMN
DELIBERATE SABOTAGE OF THE ENVIRONMENT, AS IN THE CASE
OF THE IRAQI-CAUSED OIL SPILL. HOWEVER, SCHRODER SAID
ASSIGNMENT OF REQNSIBILITY WAS BEYOND THE MANDATE OF
HIS GROUP AND WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE AT A MORE SENIOR
(E.G., AGENCY EXECUTIVE HEADQ LEVEL. END SUMMARY.

2. AMBASSADOR ABRAM AND MISSOFF ATTENDED A FEBRUARY 6
BRIEFING ON THE TWO-DAY CONSULTATIONS CALLED BY UNEP
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TOLBA ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSEQUENCES OF THE GULF WAR. THE JANUARY 30 GULF OIL
SPILL AND IMPACT OF THE RESULTING SLICK HEADED THE
AGENDA. PARAGRAPH 6 BELOW PROVIDES THE TEXT OF THE
CHAIRMAN'S SUMMARY OF THE TWO-DAY MEETING, WHICH WAS
DISTRIBUTED AT THE FEBRUARY 6 BRIEFING.

3. PRIOR TO THE BRIEFING, AMBASSADOR ABRAM AND MISSION
OFFICER MET WITH PETER SCHRODER, DIRECTOR OF THE OCEANSQD
MARITIME PROGRAM AT UNEP IN NAIROBI, TO DISCUSS
UNEP'S POSITION ON THE CAUSES AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR
THE OIL SPILL IN THE GULF.

4. THE AMBASSADOR OPENED THE DISCUSSION BY ASKING WHY
UNEP WAS HESITATING TO SPECIFY THE REASON FOR THE OIL
SPILL, I.E., THE INTENTIONAL DUMPING BY IRAQ OF MILLIONS
OF BARRELS OF OIL INTO THE GULF, AND TO ASSIGN BLAME FOR
THE ACTION. SCHRODER STATED THAT THE CONSULTATIVE GROUP
COULD NOT INVOLVE ITSELF IN POLITICAL QUESTIONS OF THIS
NATURE AND THAT INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OFTEN HAD TO
STRIVE FOR A DELICATE BALANCE AMONG THEIR MANY AND
VARIED MEMBER STATES. AMBASSADOR ABRAM COUNTERED THAT
DURING NEGOTIATING SESSIONS OF SEVERAL OTHER
ENVIRONMENTAL INSTRUMENTS, UNEP HAD OPENLY AND PERHAPS
PROPERLY ASSIGNED BLAME TO THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES FOR ACCELERATED OZONE DEPLETION AND
FOR EXCESSIVE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. IN ALL OF THESE
CASES, THE AMBASSADOR ADDED, THE HARMFUL CONSEQUENCES OF
OUR ACTIONS WERE NOT KNOWN AT THE TIME AND WERE
INCIDENTAL TO MAINTAINING HUMAN LIFE. ONCE MADE AWARE
OF THE EFFECTS, WE ACCEPTED THE RESPONSIBILITY AND TOOK
STEPS TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. THE DELIBERATE DUMPING OF
OIL INTO THE GULF BY IRAQ WAS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT
MATTER WHICH MUST BE PUBLICLY CONDEMNED.

5. WHEN PRESSED BY THE AMBASSADOR, SCHRODER ADMITTED
THAT HE WAS ACTING UNDER CONSIDERABLE CONSTRAINT FROM
ABOVE AND CONFIDED THAT THERE COULD BE NO DOUBT AS TO
WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE (IRAQ) FOR THE SPILL AND THAT HE
UNDERSTOOD AND SYMPATHIZED WITH THE AMBASSADOR'S
POSITION. HE STATED, HOWEVER, THAT HIS WAS A TECHNICAL
GROUP AND, THEREFORE, HE WAS NOT ABLE TO COMMENT
PUBLICLY ON WHO WAS GUILTY. WHEN ASKED BY THE
AMBASSADOR WHO WOULD BE IN A POSITION TO MAKE THE POINT,
SCHRODER RESPONDED THAT UNEP DIRECTOR MUSTAFA TOLBA
COULD DO SO SINCE "IT'S HIS REGION."

6. FOLLOWING IS THE CHAIRMAN'S SUMMARY OF THE FEBRUARY
5-6 MEETING:

BEGIN TEXT: UNEP INTER-AGENCY CONSULTATION
-- ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE GULF WAR


/****** BEGINNING OF SECTION 002 ******/
1. INTRODUCTION
----------------

1.1 BACKGROUND. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ONSET OF
HOSTILITIES IN THE GULF REGION, THE UNEP GOVERNING
COUNCIL EXPRESSED ITS CONCERN OVER THE RESULTING
DESTRUCTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND DISRUPTION OF SOCIAL
AND ECONOMIC STRUCTURES. ALSO EXPRESSING HIS DEEP
CONCERN OVER THE ACTUAL AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS
EFFECTS OF THE GULF WAR, ON 28 JANUARY 1991 THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UNEP TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO
INTENSIFY COOPERATION IN ORDER TO OPTIMIZE THE DIVERSE
CAPABILITIES OF THE UN SYSTEM TO RESPOND RAPIDLY TO
URGENT REQUESTS FROM ALL MEMBER STATES, BOTH THOSE WHO
ARE OR COULD BECOME VICTIMS AND THOSE WHO WISHED TO
PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. TO SET THIS PROCESS IN MOTION, UNEP
IMMEDIATELY GOT IN TOUCH WITH ALL GOVERNMENTS CONCERNED
AS WELL AS WITH OTHER UN AGENCIES, ESPECIALLY IN THE
FIRST INSTANCE WITH IMO, WHICH HAD ALREADY INITIATED
ACTIONS TO ASSIST MEMBER STATES IN THEIR RESPONSE TO THE
MASSIVE RELEASES OF OIL INTO THE GULF. OTHER UN
AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALSO IN CONTINUING
CONTACT WITH THE RELEVANT GOVERNMENTS. IN CONVENING THE
PRESENT INTER-AGENCY CONSULTATION, THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF UNEP RESPONDED BOTH TO THE IMMEDIATE AND
LONG-TERM ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS TO AN ECOLOGICALLY
FRAGILE REGION THAT SUPPORTS SOME TEN MILLION PEOPLE.
SUMMARIZED HERE ARE THE RESULTS OF THIS FIRST
CONSULTATION, BRINGING TOGETHER A NUMBER OF KEY
AGENCIES, HELD IN GENEVA, 5-6 FEBRUARY 1991, ON
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE GULF WAR.

1.2 PARTICIPANTS. THE UN AGENCIES AND OTHER BODIES
REPRESENTED AT THE CONSULTATION WERE: FAO, IAEA, IMO,
IOC/UNESCO, UNCED, UNDP, UNDRO, UNEP, WHO AND WMO. IN
ADDITION, THE FOLLOWING UNITS WITHIN UNEP WERE
REPRESENTED: GRID, IEO, IRPTC, MAP AND OCA/PAC. OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED WERE: IUCN AND ROPME. ALSO
PRESENT FOR PART OF THE CONSULTATION, IN AN ADVISORY
CAPACITY, WERE REPRESENTATIVES OF: THE INTERNATIONAL
TANKER OWNERS' POLLUTION FEDERATION AND THE OIL SPILL
SERVICE CENTRE (SOUTHAMPTON). OTHER UN AGENCIES AND
ORGANIZATIONS INVITED WERE: HABITAT, UNICEF AND UNDRO;
AND ALSO GAOCMAO AND IPIECA. THEY ARE BEING KEPT
UP-TO-DATE ON THE ACTIONS OF THIS CONSULTATION.

2. GULF OIL-SPILL EMERGENCY
----------------------------

2.1 THE OIL SPILL. THE PARTICIPANTS REVIEWED EXISTING
INFORMATION ON THE MAJOR OIL SPILL PRESENTLY IMPACTING
UPON THE COASTAL WATERS OF KUWAIT AND SAUDI ARABIA.
ALTHOUGH DETAILED INFORMATION IS NOT YET AVAILABLE,
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS SUGGEST THIS TO BE THE LARGEST
IN HUMAN HISTORY. THE SITUATION IS CURRENTLY BEING
MONITORED BY GRID (GENEVA) AND IMO, AND A UNEP/IMO TASK
FORCE IS PRESENTLY IN THE REGION CONDUCTING AN EXTENSIVE
PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT. THE PARTICIPANTS STRESSED THEW
GRAVE IMMEDIATE AND POTENTIAL LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS OF
THIS DISASTER.

2.2 IMMEDIATE ACTION. THE PARTICIPANTS NOTED WITH
SATISFACTION THAT IMO, AT THE REQUEST OF THE GOVERNMENT
OF SAUDI ARABIA AND OTHER GOVERNMENTS IN THE GULF
REGION, AND PURSUANT TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON
OIL POLLUTION, PREPAREDNESS AND COOPERATION 1990, HAS
TAKEN PROMPT ACTION TO FACILITATE AND COORDINATE
INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE IN RESPONSE TO THE OIL
POLLUTION DISASTER. IMO HAS ESTABLISHED A COORDINATION
CENTRE AT ITS HEADQUARTERS IN LONDON, OPERATING ON A
SEVEN-DAY, TWENTY-FOUR HOUR, BASIS, WHICH IS CURRENTLY
LIAISING WITH THE SAUDI ARABIAN METEOROLOGICAL AND
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ADMINISTRATION (MEPA) AND WITH
OTHER GOVERNMENTS OF THE REGION AND AROUND THE WORLD


/****** BEGINNING OF SECTION 003 ******/
OFFERING THEIR ASSISTANCE. THE COORDINATING CENTRE
PROVIDES A CLEARING HOUSE THAT MATCHES SPECIFIC NEEDS
IDENTIFIED ON-SITE WITH SPECIFIC OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE
RECEIVED. THE AGENCIES REPRESENTED WITHIN THE GROUP
WERE SATISFIED THAT EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE COULD BE
RENDERED BY EACH OF THEM AS NECESSARY.

3. OTHER POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
-----------------------------------------

3.1 OIL FIRES. THE PARTICIPANTS RECOGNIZED THE
POSSIBILITY OF LARGE-SCALE IGNITIONS OF OIL WELLS AND
OIL-STORAGE FACILITIES. IF THE BURNING OF OIL
APPROACHES THE AMOUNT OF PRE-WAR PRODUCTION, EVEN
WEEK-LONG FIRES COULD RELEASE SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF
SOOT AND OTHER COMBUSTION PRODUCTS. SUCH RELEASES WOULD
HAVE MEASURABLE NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON HEALTH AND
ENVIRONMENT, NOT ONLY IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA, BUT ALSO
FOR A FEW THOUSAND KILOMETERS DOWNWIND, ESPECIALLY
THROUGH REDUCING SOLAR RADIATION AND INCREASING THE
ACIDITY OF PRECIPITATION. MORE PROLONGED FIRES MIGHT
HAVE NOTICEABLE EFFECTS OVER A LARGE PART OF THE
NORTHERN HEMISPHERE. WIDESPREAD NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES
OF SUCH FIRES COULD BE EXPECTED REGARDING PUBLIC HEALTH,
AGRICULTURE AND THE TERRESTRIAL AND MARINE
ENVIRONMENTS. THE PARTICIPANTS STRESSED THAT SUCH AN
EVENTUALITY PRESENTS A SUBSTANTIAL POTENTIAL FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER FOR BOTH THE IMMEDIATE REGION AND
BEYOND. IN FURTHER STRESSING THE NEED FOR ACCURATE AND
DETAILED MONITORING OF ATMOSPHERIC AND OCEANIC
PROGRAMMES REQUIRED SUBSTANTIAL STRENGTHENING.

3.2 CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL AND NUCLEAR CONTAMINANTS.
ANOTHER ASPECT OF CONCERN CONSIDERED BY THE PARTICIPANTS
WAS THE POTENTIAL FOR INTRODUCING INTO THE ENVIRONMENT
CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL OR NUCLEAR CONTAMINANTS. THE
HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF SUCH RELEASES COULD
BE VERY SERIOUS. THESE COULD HAVE BOTH IMMEDIATE AND
LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES, PARTICULARLY IF THEY WERE TO
AFFECT DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS OR FOOD SUPPLIES. THE
CONCERNED AGENCIES STAND READY TO ASSIST THE REGIONAL
GOVERNMENTS AND OTHER AUTHORITIES WITH INFORMATION AND
SUPPORT. IN THE UNLIKELY CASE OF SIGNIFICANT RELEASES
OF RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES FROM DAMAGED NUCLEAR
FACILITIES, IT WAS NOTED THAT AN IAEA-COORDINATED
EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM IS ALREADY PERMANENTLY IN
PLACE, BUT TO DATE HAS RECEIVED NO REQUEST FOR
ASSISTANCE FROM REGIONAL MEMBER STATES. STEPS WILL HAVE
TO BE TAKEN TO ENSURE ALL NECESSARY ENVIRONMENTAL
MONITORING FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMBATTING ANY LONG-TERM
EFFECTS OF THESE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS.

4. LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES
--------------------------

IN ADDITION TO ANY IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCY
RESULTING FROM THE GULF WAR, THE PARTICIPANTS RECOGNIZED
THE NECESSITY OF A HOLISTIC AND COORDINATED APPROACH TO
THE POTENTIAL LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES ON THE
TERRESTRIAL, COASTAL AND MARINE ENVIRONMENTS. SUCH AN
APPROACH, TO BE COORDINATED BY UNEP, WILL RECOGNIZE THE
PUBLIC HEALTH AND OTHER SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE
IMPACT OF THE WAR ON THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT. TIMELY
DEVELOPMENT OF A LONG-TERM MONITORING PROGRAMME AND THE
MEANS OF ITS FULFILLMENT. DATA COLLECTED AND ANALYZED
DURING THE EARLY PHASES MUST BE ADEQUATELY STORED TO BE
AVAILABLE FOR LONG-TERM STUDIES.

5. A REGIONAL RESPONSE
-----------------------

THE PARTICIPANTS RECOGNIZED THE REGIONAL CHARACTER OF
THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE GULF WAR ON THE
TERRESTRIAL, COASTAL AND MARINE ENVIRONMENTS.


/****** BEGINNING OF SECTION 004 ******/
THEREFORE, THEY EXPRESSED AN URGENT NEED TO SUPPORT THE
KUWAIT ACTION PLAN OF 1978, THROUGH THE REVITALIZATION
OF ITS REGIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE
MARINE ENVIRONMENT (ROPME) AND MARINE EMERGENCY MUTUAL
AID CENTRE (MEMAC). UNEP WAS RECOGNIZED TO HAVE THE
LEAD ROLE IN THIS REVITALIZATION OF ROPME, AN
ORGANIZATION THAT ENJOYS THE FORMAL SUPPORT OF ALL EIGHT
NATIONS IN THE REGION AND THAT ACTIVELY COOPERATES WITH
UN AGENCIES.
6. CONCLUSION
--------------

THE PARTICIPANTS, WHILST FULLY AWARE OF, AND DEEPLY
CONCERNED ABOUT, THE HUMAN SUFFERING ASSOCIATED WITH ALL
ASPECTS OF THE GULF WAR, WERE EXTREMELY WORRIED ABOUT
THE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE WHICH IS BEING CAUSED AND MAY
BE CAUSED BY THE CONTINUING HOSTILITIES. UNEP AND THE
OTHER AGENCIES REPRESENTED AT THE CONSULTATION FELT THAT
THERE WAS A NEED FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION TO
ACCURATELY ASSESS ALL OF THE POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSEQUENCES. NONETHELESS, THEY ARE ACTIVELY PROVIDING
ASSISTANCE AS REQUESTED, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE. THE
PARTICIPANTS DID NOT ADDRESS THE POLITICAL COMPONENTS OF
THE CONFRONTATION, BUT THEIR BUSINESS WAS WITH THE HUMAN
ENVIRONMENT. THEY DID RECOGNIZE THAT WHAT IS BEING
DESTROYED TODAY, AND THE DAMAGE WHICH HAS BEEN AND MIGHT
BE CAUSED, COULD HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR A LONG
TIME TO COME AND COULD JEOPARDIZE APPROPRIATE
DEVELOPMENT IN THE REGION. END TEXT. ABRAM##


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