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                   G  R  E  N  P  E  A  C  E

                   P r e s s   R e l e a s e
                                    14.10.94
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Annual London Convention Meeting

Annual London convention meeting to begin next week; Greenpeace Calls on Russia to Accept Rad-Waste Dumping Ban LONDON, 29 September, 1994 (GP) Greenpeace International, attending next week's annual meeting of the London Convention (LC) to begin Monday, 3 October at 10 a.m., is calling on Russia to adhere to global consensus and accept the permanent ban on radioactive waste at sea.

Next week's LC meeting will be the first since the 72 consultative parties voted to permanently prohibit the dumping of radioactive and industrial wastes at sea last November. The widely acclaimed prohibition came into force 100 days later, on February 22, 1994.

The Russian government, the only LC party not to accept the permanent dumping ban, will be closely watched at next week's meeting when their delegates inform the LC Parties of their future intentions.

In line with last year's LC agreement, intense negotiations have taken place between the Russian Federation and several other states, notably the U.S., Japan and Norway. The outcome of those negotiations surrounding the Russian Federation's handling of radioactive wastes, especially in the Far East and Northern regions, are expected to be officially presented next week in London, on Wednesday afternoon.

Just prior to the LC meeting last year, Greenpeace exposed a Russian vessel dumping radioactive waste in the Sea of Japan setting off a wave of international protest. No new Russian efforts to dump waste at sea have been uncovered but there are persistent rumours indicating that ocean dumping could resume.

Greenpeace, who has continued to observe Russian radioactive waste operations, believes the country must now accept permanent adherence to the ocean dumping ban. Greenpeace believes there are no real technical obstacles to Russia accepting the ban, only a lack of political will.

Besides this contentious issue, next week's LC meeting is expected to pursue negotiations on the revision of London Convention Articles. Parties agreed to revise the 1972 convention in 1996 to keep it in line with contemporary environmental policy. Military vessel dumping and the incorporation of a Precautionary Approach to the environment, among other topics, are expected to be addressed.

This will be the 17th Consultative Meeting of Parties to the London Convention which regulates the dumping of waste at sea worldwide.

WHAT: Annual meeting of the London Convention
WHEN: October 3 - 7, 1994, starting 10 A.M.
WHERE: IMO Building, 4 Albert Embankment, London

Contact: Blair Palese, Remi Parmentier, Clif Curtis, Greenpeace
Communications: ++4471-833-0600.

Joey, 20 Okt 1994