Miroslav Antic-SNN
Sat, 08 May 2004 14:07:44 -0700
The First International Conference on Environmental Recovery of Yugoslavia - ENRY2001, was held from 27-30 September 2001 in the Jugopetrol Business Center, Milentija Popovica 1, 11000 Belgrade.
The Conference was initiated by Prof. Dr. Jasmina Vujic from the
University of California at Berkeley (California, USA) and Dr. Tatjana
Jevremovic from Purdue University (Lafayette, Indiana, USA), with an objective
of initiating the overall environmental recovery of Yugoslavia through the
presentation of existing problems in Yugoslavia, discussion of modern
technologies for site remediation, and defining future directions for
scientific, financial, legal and social aspects of restoring and protecting the
environment.
A large number of domestic and foreign experts quickly joined this
initiative because they realized the urgency of initiating tangible actions for
the recovery of environmental situation in Yugoslavia. At the beginning of a
Third Millennium, besides global environmental pollution problems, Yugoslavia is
facing the problems of a seriously endangered environment and natural resources,
significant environmental pollution around industrial complexes, and dramatic
degradation of living conditions and public health because of a decade of
devastating economic sanctions and, in particular, the NATO bombing in 1999.
Because these problems include some of the most complex issues and
challenges for science, technology and society in general, the team of experts
that was involved in organizing the conference included scientists and experts
from universities, various institutes, industry, and health institutions in
order to cover a wide range of issues such as technology, science, physical
chemistry, geophysics, biology, agriculture, medicine, and psychology. As a
result of the devoted work of this group of experts, the Conference was
organized in less than eight months, despite very challenging political
instability in Yugoslavia and in the entire world. It must be emphasized that
the Serbian Unity Congress was involved in the Conference organization from the
very beginning, and supported continuing efforts the as the first sponsor. From
the large number of contributors, only the key personnel leading the efforts of
different committees are listed here (the complete list can be found at www.enry2001.org): Mr. Milan Gavrilovic
(EPS) and Prof. Dr. Jasmina Vujic were Co-Chairs of the Scientific Committee,
Prof. Radisav Vidic (University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA) and Prof. Mihajlo
Mesarovic (CWR University, USA) were Co-Chairs of the International Program
Committee, Mr. Jadranko Simic (Federal Ministry for Labor, Health ad Social
Policy) and Dr. Zorka Vukmirovic (AAOM) were Co-Chairs of the Local Program
Committee, Dr. Zora Zunic (Vinca Institute) and Dr. Tatjana Jevremovic were
Co-Chairs of the Organizing Committee. Executive Committee was comprised of Dr.
Srba Jovic (Aerospace Computing Inc., USA), Prof. Dragan Veselinovic (PMF), Dr
Tatjana Jevremovic, Dr Vojin Joksimovic (USA) and Prof. Jasmina Vujic
(USA).
A number of domestic scientific and higher education institutions, industrial firms, domestic and foreign non-governmental organizations, and business and professional societies joined the efforts to organize this Conference. Sponsorship by the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Governments of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Republic of Serbia significantly enhanced the visibility and importance of this Conference. Honorary sponsors of the Conference were the President of the FRY, Dr. Vojislav Kostunica, and the Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch, His Holiness Pavle. Honorary Chair of the accompanying program “Youth and Environmental Protection” was HRH Princess Jelisaveta Karadjordjevic.
The conference opening was on September 27, 2001 in the “Jugopetrol”
Business Center, Milentija Popovica 1, New Belgrade. The opening ceremony was
attended by more than 400 participants and numerous journalists. The welcoming
address by the conference Co-Chairs, Prof. Dr. Jasmina Vujic and Dr. Tatjana
Jevremovic was followed by a message from the President of Yugoslavia, Dr.
Vojislav Kostunica, that was delivered by Ms. Borislava Kruska, president of the
City Assembly of Pancevo. Prof. Jasmina Vujic delivered a message from His
Hollines, Patriarch Pavle. Dr. Zoran Djindjic, the Prime Minster of Serbia,
greeted conference participants and delivered a firm commitment from the
government of Serbia for environmental improvement and announced a formation of
a new Ministry for Natural Resources and Environment as well as passage of new
environmental legislation. Princess Jelisaveta Karadjordjevic stressed the need
for enhancing knowledge and understanding of the environment and emphasized the
role that youth can play in that process. Mr. Gaudenz Ruf, the Swiss Ambassador
to Yugoslavia who represented the general conference sponsor, Swiss Agency for
Development and Cooperation (SDC), greeted the conference participants. He
discussed traditional Swiss participation in humanitarian activities around the
world and emphasized that the Swiss government is ready to help Yugoslavia
realize some of its environmental projects with financial assistance in 2001 in
the amount of 50 million DEM. Dr. Tanja Knezevic addressed the participants in
front of federal institutions, while Prof. Dr. Dragan Domazet, Minister for
Science, Technology and Development for the Serbian government, discussed a new
program for scientific development of Serbia until 2010 that will insist on the
development of new technologies that are in compliance with the needs for
environmental protection and improvement. The opening ceremony included the
address from Mr. Branislav Lecic, Minister for Culture in the Republic of
Serbia, Prof. Dr. Marija Bogdanovic, Rector of the University of Belgrade, and
Dr. Krunoslav Subotic, Director of the Institute for Nuclear Sciences – Vinca.
One of the General Sponsors, The Serbian Unity Congress, was represented by Mr.
Miroslav Djordjevic who emphasized that this Conference points towards a real
possibility of establishing the collaboration between our experts in the country
and abroad on projects of utmost importance for the country. He urged the
participants to implement the positive experiences from this Conference in
future projects. Conference participants were greeted by Slavica
Lazic-Vuksanovic from the Federal Institute for Maintenance and Development of
Inland Waterways and Mirjana Bozidarevic, Pesident of the Stari Grad Municipal
Assembly. The Conference organizers also received a letter of support from HRH
Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia.
The conference included 142 presentations from about 320 authors from 21
countries (presentations were organized in about 40 sessions which were held in
two halls), ) as well as three teleconference presentations from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Over 200 experts from all fields,
including about 40 from abroad (about 10 were of Serbian origin), participated
in the Conference. More details about the Conference, including the entire
program, can be found at http://www.enry2001.org.
One group of Conference presentations focused on the consequences from
the destruction of industrial complexes resulting from NATO bombing, damage to
the environment throughout the period of economic sanctions, specifics of the
air, water, and soil degradation, damages to the biodiversity, food quality,
medical and psycho-social consequences for the population, etc. The second part
of the Conference was devoted to the technologies and approaches for the
remediation of the environment, issues in organizing such activities, and
required activities for future protection of the environment. The third group of
presentations were specific proposals for remediation and recovery of industrial
complexes and other “hot spots”. We will emphasize only several interesting
sessions: Environmental Impact of War in Yugoslavia, Status of Environment in
Yugoslavia Prior to the NATO Air Strikes, Environmental Consequences Caused by
Destruction of Industrial Facilities, Degradation of Ground Water Environment,
Toxic and Heavy Metal Contamination, Biomedical Effects, Psychosomatic and
Social Consequences, Ground Water and Soil Remediation, Environmental Recovery
and Organizations and Projects, and Experiences and Potential in Nuclear and
Alternative Energy Sources.
Special attention should be given to three seminars by the U.S. EPA that
were organized by Dr. Walter Kovalick, Director of the Technology Innovations
Office, together with Drs. Jasmina Vujic and Radisav Vidic. These seminars
discussed latest methodologies for identification and ranking of contaminated
sites and application of the latest and most economic technologies for their
remediation. The U.S. EPA also generously donated numerous copies of various
reports and CDs that were distributed among Conference participants. All three
seminars are available for downloading in PowerPoint format at http://clu-in.org/enry/ The two seminars
organized by Prof. Dr. Marija Todorovic entitled “Renewable Energy and Material
Resources, Environmental Technologies, Ethics and Nonpathological Development
for Sustainability” are also worth emphasizing here.
Special achievement of the Conference comes from a significant number of
presentations that focused on the possible health impact of depleted uranium
ammunition used during the NATO bombing campaign in 1999. A total of 19
presentations from authors coming from 9 different countries were given in 4
consecutive sessions regarding: (a) the use of DU weaponry, and (b) measurement
techniques and sampling methodology. Together with domestic experts, 11
prominent world experts from 8 institutes for the first time offered their
independent measurements and assessment of the situation in Bosnia, Kosovo and
southern Serbia. Lively discussion followed in the Discussion Pannel.
Conclusions from this Pannel are included in the general conclusions from this
Conference. Depleted uranium sessions were organized by Dr. Zora Zunic (Vinca
Institute) in collaboration with Dr. Jasmina Vujic. The DU papers from the
Conference will be also published in a special issue of Archive of Oncology, a
scientific journal published by the Institute for Oncology from Sremska
Kamenica, Yugoslavia. Experts from abroad also visited the southern Serbian
region around Vranje and locations of Bratoselce and Pljackovicu, where depleted
uranium ammunition was used.
A number of activities and manifestations accompanied this Conference.
The “Youth and Environmental Protection” program was organized under the
patronage of Princess Jelisaveta Karadjordjevic and in collaboration with the
Children’s Friends Society from Belgrade. This program included a competition
among elementary and high school students in literary and artistic works focused
on the environment as well as the organization of various environmental and
ecological projects. Selected works were displayed at the Conference site while
most of the paintings and other artistic works were auctioned and monetary
contributions were given to humanitarian projects. The best paintings were
reproduced on greeting cards that were also sold during the Conference.
The awards in the “Youth and Environmental Protection” program were given
by Princes Jelisaveta Karadjordjevic: 18 awards for paintings, 3 awards for
literary works, 6 awards for projects and 5 awards for teachers. The first place
was awarded to the project “Water from Lok – Our Treasure” that was achieved
through collaboration between two elementary schools: “Svetozar Miletic” from
Lok and “Isidora Sekulic” from Sajkas. The students from these two schools
received outstanding reception by Conference participants during their
presentation on Friday, September 28, 2001. A short documentary about their
region was followed by the presentations of the main ideas of the project
including possible implementation. The model of the ecological park that is to
be built around a spring of medicinal water was on display throughout the
conference. Second and third place in the category of elementary schools were
awarded to “St. Sava” school from Rumenka and “Crnjanski” school from Belgrade,
respectively. The first place in the high school group was awarded to Aleksandar
Pavic, student of the “Vera Blagojevic” high school from Sabac for his paper on
“Impact of Sabac Industry on the Environmental Condition of the Sava River”. His
paper will be published in the Conference proceedings and he will represent
Yugoslavia at the ecological conference in Canada next year. Second and third
place were awarded to the Ecological group from the “Vuk Karadzic” high school
in Loznica.
Several excellent documentaries were shown during the Conference:
“Natural Heritage Under the Bombs” produced by Institute for Protection of
Nature of Serbia; “Pancevo Spring 99” – producer Cine Pro from Pancevo, author
Milos Nikolic, photography Bogdan Petrov, music Dragan Nikolic; “Nis in the Hell
of War” – produced by NTV, RTV-5 and RTV “Belle Amie, author and director Mr
Novica Randjelovic); “Gatherer of the Herbs” (author Slobodan Popovic) and
“Survival of Degenerics” produced by the ZOOA Wildlife Society in collaboration
with ECO-Studio from Belgrade.
The owner of “Jefimija” Gallery Slavica Mladenovic decorated the
Conference hall with hand-made authentic Serbian rugs and table covers, and
invited all participants to the “Jefimija” Gallery “ exhibition at the Russian
House on September 27th. Association “Hi Neighbor” displayed and sold selected
needlepoint and other hand-made craft by refugees as a part of the Program for
Social Integration and Psychological Support. Panel exhibition by several cities
presented their local ecological problems and suggestions for possible
solutions.The Conference was greeted by the Hot-Air Baloon Competition
participants on September 27th – the Aerotrade baloon was carrying the ENRY2001
banner. All participants were invited to a cocktail party at the Belgrade City
Hall by a Mayor of Belgrade Radmila Hrustanovic (on September 28th), where a
beautiful musical program was prepared by the Academic Choir «Spanac».
Although the participation of a larger number of international
organizations and companies was expected by the organizers of the Conference, an
unstable political situation in Yugoslavia and abroad did not allow it. However,
having in mind that this is the first conference in a series of similar events,
the organizers hope to bring in a large international paricipation in the
future.
The Conference location was moved form «Sava Centar» to the
Jugopetrol Bussiness Center,after a generous offer by Jugopetrol to become a
general sponsor of the Conference.The follwing sposors were responsible for the
success of the Conference:
(a) General Sponsors - Swiss Agency for
Development and Cooperation (SDC), UNESCO, NIS – Jugopetrol Beograd, Plovput
Beograd, and Serbian Unity Congress, USA;
(b) Main Sponsors - Ministry of Science, Technology
and Development, Serbia, Yu; Federal Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Care,
Yu; Ministry of Health and Social Policy – Serbia, Yu; Ekokec, Realestate Agency
- Belgrade, Yu; Ericsson, Belgrade,Yu; Hydrometeorological Institute-Serbia, Yu;
Jaroslav Cerni Institute, Belgrade, Yu; Electric Power Industry of Serbia, Yu;
Individuals, USA; Publicum, Yu; Renaissance Travel, USA; Stari Grad
Municipality, Belgrade, Yu; Studenica Foundation, USA; The Hercegovina Charity
Fund, USA; The Serbian Benevolent Society, USA; Uno Martin, Sabac,
Yu;
(c) Sponsors - Aerotrade, Belgrade, Yu; AppliCation,
Belgrade, Yu; GEMAX, Belgrade, Yu; Individuals, Japan; Jefimija Gallery,
Belgrade, Yu; NIS – Oil Refinery, Belgrade, Yu; Revision Agency, Belgrade, Yu;
Simpo Company, Water Factory Rosa, Vranje, Yu.
The preliminary
conclusions were formulated and accepted during the last day of the Conference.
Several working groups were formed to work on the final conclusions. The overall
agreement was that the Conference was very successful in the presentation and
analysis of the environmental problems caused by the NATO bombing and a long
period of economical sanctions, as well as in outlining the ways to remediate
the situation. These are some important preliminary conclusions and
recommendations:
Prepared by
Prof. dr Jasmina Vujic
University of California,
Berkeley, CA, USA
In collaboration with:
Mr Dragoljub Antic,
Research Associate
Institute for Nuclear Sciences – Vinca, Belgrade,
Yu
Member of the ENRY2001 Organizing Committee
and
Dr Zorka B.
Vukmirovic, Scientific Advisor
AAOM, Beograd, Yu
Co-Chair of the ENRY2001
Program Coomittee