Russia destroys chemical arms
Russia: Russia has fulfilled its commitment with the UN’s
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons by destroying
12,000 tons of chemical arms before March 1st, Russia’s Federal Service
for Environment, Technology and Nuclear Oversight Chief Nikolai Kutin
announced.
Such amount accounts for 30 per cent of Russia’s stockpile, Kutin
added.
In a third phase to be concluded this year, Russia will destroy up to
45 per cent of its chemical weapons. Another four chemical disposal
centres will be built.
KutinA’s statements are optimistic compared to an early announcement
by the director of a federal body dealing with the destruction of
chemical weapons.
At that time, Valery Kapashin, who leads the Federal Department for
the Safe Storage and Disposal of Chemical Weapons, warned that Russian
commitments to dismantle chemical weapons were challenged by the current
global economic slowdown.
We expect the funding of all tasks and facilities to be reduced by
three per cent to 15 percent due to the complicated situation in the
country amid the global financial crisis,” Kapashin said.
According to the official, if this happens Russia will only be able
to implement the (project’s) third stage with great effort.
If funding falls more than 15 percent we will not be able to fulfill
any of our commitments, he added.
The Chemical Weapons Convention requires Russia to eliminate its
40,000-metric-ton stockpile of chemical warfare materials by April 2012.
Moscow has previously said it would meet the deadline, though observers
have questioned that assertion.
Moscow, Prensa Latina |
