FINANCING OF PROGRAM FOR BUILDING FACILITIES TO DESTROY CHEMICAL WEAPONS TO BE INCREASED IN RUSSIA

MOSCOW, November 10 (RIA Novosti) - "In order to take the necessary measures to set up two facilities for destroying chemical weapons in Kombarka and Maradykovsky, the federal budget for 2005 envisages an increase of the funds for building these facilities - 11,160 million rubles ($1 = 28.65 rubles), which more than double the sum earmarked for this purpose until recently," deputy head of the Federal Agency for Industry Viktor Kholstov stated at the public forum-dialogue Fulfillment of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons by Russia: State and Prospects by the End of 2004.

According to him, the facility at Gorny settlement is already really functioning. By the end of 2005 this facility must destroy all the chemical weapons which are kept there today, namely 1,142 tons of toxic agents.

The Kombarka facility will be set up by 2005, and from 2006 till 2009 it will be destroying chemical toxic agents; the Shchuchye facility will be completed in 2008 and will function till 2012; the Maradykovsky facility will be put into operation by 2005, and will destroy chemical weapons in 2006-2010.

The Pochep facility will be built by 2007, and will operate in 2008-2012; the facility at Leonidovka wil also be completed by 2007 and will finish destroying the stockpiles of chemical weapons and toxic agents, kept there, in 2012; the Kezmer facility will be completed in 2008 and from 2009 till 2012 will engage in processing chemical weapons.

In keeping with the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (Russia ratified the Convention in 1997), the chemical weapons possessed by Russia must be destroyed prior to 2012.

Under this document, the chemical weapons are to be destroyed in four stages: the first stage has already been completed, 1% of chemical weapons were destroyed in 2003. By the year 2007 20% of all the stockpiles of chemical weapons must be destroyed, 45% of them must be destroyed in 2009, and the destruction of chemical weapons must be completed in 2012.

The program for destroying chemical weapons in Russia is financed from two sources - from the budget and from Western countries.

"The real cost of the construction of facilities for destroying chemical weapons (in Russia) is $3 billion. The foreign gratuitous aid makes up around 7% of the needed sum - it stands at $217 million," Mr. Kholstov said.