WELLINGTON, July 2 (Xinhuanet) -- New Zealand will continue its commitment to help Russia in destroying chemical weapons, Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff has indicated.

    Goff made the stance when he met his newly appointed Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Jakarta Thursday night, according to a government statement here Friday.

    The Ministers, who are both attending the ASEAN Regional Forum,discussed the dangers of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the statement said.

    Goff said his talks with Lavrov highlighted the need to ensure that such weapons, and the materials from which they are constructed, never fall into the hands of terrorists.

    "Minister Lavrov responded positively to the fact that New Zealand will soon be making a solid practical contribution to disarmament work in Russia."

    Goff said New Zealand was contributing 1.2 million NZ dollars (about 756,000 US dollars) toward the destruction of chemical weapons at Shchuch'ye, where the bulk of Russia's remaining chemical weapons stockpile will be destroyed.

    The New Zealand's contribution is part of the G8 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, launched by G8 leaders in 2002.

    Goff said a Memorandum of Understanding about New Zealand's contribution to the Shchuch'ye chemical weapons destruction project would be signed shortly in Moscow. Enditem