THE BALTIC APPEAL

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To the Nations of Europe and the USA Regarding the Future of the Baltic and North Sea Regions

(In connection with chemical weapons disposed of after World War II at the bottom of the Baltic and North Seas)

Based on commonly-known facts about mass disposals by country-members of the anti-Hitler coalition of hundreds of thousand tons of captured German chemical weapons and their own chemical weapons after World War II, in general over 15 types of chemical warfare agents

considering that the weapons have rusted through having remained for over sixty years in a corrosive environment, and now are poisoning sea, its fauna and flora including the sea bottom, water plants, plankton and fish

reasonably supposing that major blowouts of chemical warfare agents into the water could occur at any time where chemical weapons have been discarded

emphasizing that practically all types of chemical warfare agents represent mutagens and carcinogens

taking into consideration the intensive fishing conducted by the Baltic countries in the areas where chemical weapons were disposed of

paying attention to the increased danger of possible terrorist attacks

expressing concern regarding the possible threat from the discarded chemical weapons to the health and lives of millions of Europeans and succeeding generations

alerting to the possible negative consequences of laying the North Stream gas pipeline at the bottom of the Baltic Sea where chemical weapons were disposed of

we consider it necessary to put an end to understatement of this tragic European problem and in connection with this:

1. We address the nations and the governments of the countries whose military services, in accordance with their governments' orders and by a decision of the Potsdam Conference in 1945 after World War II, disposed of hundreds of thousand tons of weapons containing chemical warfare agents in areas of the Baltic and North Seas. The nations of all European countries of these regions, other countries of the world, international environmental organizations and other foundations which are interested in the future of succeeding generations in Europe must immediately begin work on decontamination of these areas.

2. We call on the governments of the USA and Great Britain, which buried 88% of Wehrmacht's chemical weapons and own chemical weapons in 1945-1947 to follow Russia's example which disclosed materials on this problem in 1991 and to cancel a security classification of the materials related to this operation (which has been extended to 2017) and to publish information (i.e. maps, schemes, sailing directions) including volumes, types, location and means of disposal. We also call on them to take an active part in demilitarization of these regions from chemical weapons.

3. We call on the United Nations, European Union, OSCE, NATO and the governments of the USA and the Russian Federation to jointly develop and approve all necessary documents and to take necessary measures for the implementation of an international program aimed at decontamination of the Baltic and North Sea regions from discarded chemical weapons.

We consider it expedient to form an international supervisory center which will take full responsibility for decontamination of the sea bottom.

4. In accordance with decisions of the Berlin Forum in March 2007 and suggestions by Russia's World Ocean Foundation and Estonia's Clean Baltic Foundation we suggest the formation of an extraordinary expert council which would include the following specialists:

- experts in chemical warfare agents;
- geneticists;
- biologists;
- chemists
- builders with experience in isolating undersea units (dumping);
- shot firers; 

- divers;

- hydrologists;
- medical advisers (oncologists, toxicologists, medical officers);
- international lawyers;
- environmental specialists;
- seismologists.

We propose elaborating jointly with the international supervisory center a program of time phased work on preparation of a real map of chemical weapons disposal sites at the bottom of the Baltic and North Seas; to develop and to implement a joint program of scientific and research, design and sea exploration works related to this problem.
5. We announce international tenders for the following programs:
a) a program for the removal of the threat of contamination of areas and seabeds near locations where chemical weapons were disposed of

b) formation of an efficient automated complex allowing for permanent monitoring of the environmental status near locations where chemical weapons were disposed of including after decontamination

c) development of a reliable method for urgent testing of seafood for traces of toxic agents and for edibility.

6. We call on the Russian, German and Dutch governments to begin the laying of the North Stream gas pipeline on the bottom of the Baltic Sea (a 1,200 km. section linking Russia's Vyborg and Germany's Greifswald) only after independent international environmental inspection which provides reliable information on the guaranteed safety of the pipeline either in the course of exploration and construction or after the pipeline comes into operation. The safety of international navigation and offshore operations should be provided for according to the same principle.
7. We propose that the management of North Stream attract global insurance companies to insure the risks related to the pipeline with regard to the possibility of insurable accidents which could incur losses to the people, environment, sea flora and fauna, and the tourism and leisure industries in the coastal regions of the Baltic and North Seas.

8. We call for announcement of a moratorium on industrial fishing in the Baltic and North Seas until decisions are reached by a competent international commission capable of assessing the status of the seabed and sea water in fishing zones and the quality of seafood. 

9. We call on the governments of the EU, Russia and other countries conducting fishery in these zones to impose an embargo on the export of any types of seafood from these sea areas until completion of demilitarization of the sea bottom.
10. We consider it expedient to attract NATO and the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation for the development and implementation of efficient measures for the physical protection of locations where chemical weapons were disposed of from persons with terrorist and diversionary intentions.
11. We recommend the governments and parliaments of the countries listed in paragraph 1 of the present Proclamation to arrange a media campaign aimed at explanation of the situation to the population, at clarification of the need for extraordinary measures and minimization of negative processes which can occur following the announcement of information about the real situation at the bottom of the Baltic and North Seas.
12. The Baltic Proclamation's aim is to unite all progressive circles in Europe and in the world, to unite all people who are interested in the future of the world oceans and in liquidation of a chemical threat buried at the bottom of the Baltic and North Seas.
The Baltic Proclamation is open for signing by legal entities and individuals who are willing to take part in any way including moral, intellectual, political or financial support for the achievement of the desired goal.
 

Cooperation among all interested countries, legal entities and individuals shall be conducted in strict conformity with international legislation including inter-governmental and national laws and with the application of the latest technologies, knowhow and nanotechnologies. It shall also strictly comply with safety requirements. 

 
 
 
Arnold Pork
President-Founder of Clean Baltic Foundation, Estonia

June 2007

As of April 2008 the Baltic Proclamation had been signed by 217 legal entities and individuals including Professor Tengiz Borisov, Head of Russia's World Ocean International Foundation.

 
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Балтийское море - уникальный водоём, нуждающийся в защите от разрушительной антропогенной деятельности человека, чьё влияние может проявиться через десятки лет. Территория бассейна Балтийского моря объединяет страны, значительно различающиеся по своему экономическому положению и культурным традициям. Это разнообразие может быть рассмотрено как источник общего процветания, но оно также означает, что странам и даже неправительственным организациям будет нелегко найти общие подходы при выборе приоритетов для совместной работы.