DECLARATION OF ZO SZOPK Košice 2013
DECLARATION OF ZO SZOPK Košice 2013
AGAINST MINING AND PROCESSING OF RADIOACTIVE MINERALS
IN KOŠICE AND IN SLOVAKIA
WE ARE SURPRISED BY THE FACT THAT IN SPITE OF ITS MEDIALIZATION THE PROBLEM OF URANIUM MINING AND PROCESSING IN KOŠICE IS NOT CONSIDERED IMPORTANT ENOUGH BY THE GOVERNMENT TO BE SERIOUSLY DEALT WITH AT THE GOVERNMENT MEETING IN KOŠICE
In Košice at the "Čermeľ - Jahodná - U, Mo, Cu ores" exploration territory a geological exploration with the aim of future uranium mining is being carried out by the Ludovika Energy company. The intention to mine uranium has been for a long time opposed by general public as well as by the affected municipalities (the Košice Self-governing Region, the City of Košice and other affected communities). Nevertheless, the minister of economy Malatinský gave Ludovika Energy a mining promise on 14 December 2012 when he signed with its Canadian parent company a so-called Memorandum of understanding. He has done so on his own - without discussing the matter in the government, without communication with the minister of ecology nor the affected municipalities and without any political support.
WE ARE CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT OF SLOVAK REPUBLIC TO DECLARE THE MEMORANDUM NULL AND VOID AND TO WITHDRAW FROM IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ! Without a governmental mandate we consider the memorandum - in accordance with the mayor of Košice - a legally irrelevant document, which has a dangerous potential of creating pressure on the country, though.
Based on a protest of the General Prosecutor's Office the minister of ecology Žiga on 7 August 2013 cancelled his earlier decision renewing the licence for geological exploration of the area. Ludovika Energy has submitted an appeal against that. In the appeal it replaces weak legal arguments with threats of reclaiming not only money invested in the exploration (20 million EUR) but also of other compensations of "several hundred millions" for alleged wasted investments.
WE ARE CALLING ON THE MINISTER OF ECOLOGY ŽIGA TO REFUSE THE APPEAL OF LUDOVIKA ENERGY (IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS ANTI-URANIUM DECLARATIONS) AND - BY RETURNING LEGALITY TO THE LICENCE-RENEWAL PROCESS - NOT TO GIVE AN EXCUSE TO RECLAIM ANY COMPENSATIONS. We expect him to fulfil the mission of his ministry, i.e. the protection of environment.
The city council of Košice has approved two valid resolutions declaring a negative opinion on uranium mining in the city territory while the council of the Košice Self-governing Region has approved a ban on mining and its incorporation into the mandatory part of the land use plan. In other areas in Slovakia with uranium ore deposits, too, the general public is strictly against exploration and mining. In spite of this public interest, mining companies are tirelessly trying to find ways allowing them to succeed in licensing negotiations or - in case their requests are refused - to succeed in reclaiming unacceptable financial compensations from the state.
WE ARE CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT OF SLOVAK REPUBLIC TO INTRODUCE A MORATORIUM ON MINING AND PROCESSING OF POLYMETALLIC ORES CONTAINING RADIOACTIVE MINERALS FOR THE WHOLE TERRITORY OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC. Only in this way it is possible to systematically guarantee a legal protection of the citizens, the environment and the country against negative influences of such risky mining projects on the health, the ecology and the economy.
On behalf of the citizens refusing uranium mining and processing in Košice
ZO SZOPK (basic unit of the Slovak association for preservation of nature and countryside) Košice 2013
JUDr. Mgr. Ladislav Rovinský - chairman
mobile: +421 905 384171, tel./fax: +421 55 6428629
In Košice on 2 October 2013
KONTAKT & FEEDBACK https://uranium-kosice.webnode.sk/contact-us/