MOSCOW, January 28 (Itar-Tass) - Russia and Switzerland signed on Wednesday an intergovernmental accord on cooperation in destruction of chemical weapons in Russia.

Russian Munitions Agency director-general Viktor Kholstov and Swiss charge d’affaire Ann Boti have signed the deal.

The Swiss parliament decided to issue 17 million francs for disposal of chemical weapons on a world scale.

Boti said part of these funds, 15 million francs (about 2 million dollars) was slated for Russia.

A 500 million euro instalment has been issued for the first stage of destruction of chemical weapons in the city of Shchuchye, Kurgan region.

Switzerland is a signatory of the international convention banning the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons.

The document prescribes the liquidation of chemical weapons in the years to 2012.

In June 2003, Switzerland joined the Global Partnership programme against proliferation of weapons and materials of mass destruction developed at the initiative of the Group of Eight nations.