INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Kyrgyzstan ratified an agreement with Russia on Wednesday for the mass decontamination of radioactive areas that pose a threat to the local
population.The mountainous central Asian country, a former Soviet republic, is still suffering the environmental consequences of uranium and
other heavy metals mining during the Soviet era.Ninety-two sites contain more than 300 million cubic meters of toxic and radioactive
waste."The agreement between the Kyrgyz and Russian governments to cooperate in the rehabilitation of territories in Kyrgyzstan affected by
uranium extraction and the mining industry has been ratified," President Sadyr Japarov's office said in a statement.The agreement aims to
"ensure the safety of the population living in areas where there is waste from former uranium mines."Without decontamination, natural
Asian region, potentially contaminating millions.Russian state-run nuclear giant Rosatom is also running nuclear waste decontamination
efforts in neighboring Central Asia countries Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.Kyrgyzstan held a separate ceremony on Wednesday marking
hangover from the Soviet Union."The disposal of the rocket fuel component 'Samin' will significantly reduce the risk of an environmental
emergency and enhance the safety of the local population," Deputy Defense Minister Emil Osmonov said.The fuel will be transported to Germany
to be destroyed next month, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which supported the work, said in a statement.The EU
and World Bank have also allocated funds to help restoration efforts.
