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Victor Ivanovich Kholstov was appointed as Director General of Russian Munitions Agency
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On completion of construction of the first starting complex of Russian facility
for destruction of chemical weapons

     August 21, 2002 Russian Munitions Agency represents for Russian and foreign guests the first starting complex of Russian facility for destruction of chemical weapons (FDCW) built in Gornyi of Saratov region, the development of which is being carried out in accordance with Federal Target Programme "Destruction of Stockpiles of Chemical Weapons in the Russian Federation". The second starting complex is planned to be available at the end of current year. After that a simultaneous launch of all facility is planned.

     The bill presentation is called to demonstrate the readiness of Russia to follow its international obligations, to consolidate efforts with foreign partners in implementation of the Programme. The completion of construction of the first stage of FDCW is obvious confirmation, that, despite the well-known economic difficulties, Russia, showing the political will, develops the process of chemical disarmament, introducing heavy contribution to eradication of antihuman legacy of the past.

     The history of the construction of the facility for CW destruction in Gornyi testifies arduous path, which had to overcome, before the today's presentation became possible. It was conceived as the first facility for CW destruction in Russia still in the early 1990's. It was supposed to build it during four years in 1994-1998. However neither in fixed dates, neither later in 1996-1999 there was no success to develop full scale construction of the facility in Gornyi due to difficulties of transition period in the economy and the complicated financial position of Russia.

     In 2000 and 2001 the President and the Government of the Russian Federation took the cardinal measures for unconditional execution of the Convention on Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. The state process control system of chemical disarmament in Russia is developed: the State Commission on Chemical Disarmament is approved and there is determined one federal executive power body - Russian Munitions Agency, that had become the state customer of works on destruction of chemical weapons. It performs functions of the National Authority of the Russian Federation on fulfillment of the Convention on Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

     The precised Federal Target Programme "Destruction of Stockpiles of Chemical Weapons in the Russian Federation" elaborated by Russian Munitions Agency is approved by the Government of the Russian Federation in July of 2001. It takes into account the real economic possibilities of Russia. The distinctive feature of the new programme became the reduction of total volume of expenditures and search for ways of substantial increase of annually allocated financial resources on its realization.

     The measures taken made it possible as early as 2001 to increase in 6 times as compared with 2000 - with 500 millions up to 3 milliards roubles, and in 2002 in once, up to 5.6 milliards roubles budgetary allocations for carrying out of chemical disarmament process in Russia.

     The concentration of allocated budgetary funds for completion of development of the facility in Gornyi has become an important factor for determination one of major tasks for 2001-2002. So if in 2000 the amount allocated for CW destruction facility totaled 260.3 mln roubles then in 2001-2002 years the amount of financial means, allocated for construction works in the industrial area and the social area, reached 3 billions 280 mln. roubles, i. e. increased by 13 times.

     Thanks to such financing level and strenuous work of builders, the quantity of which has reached more than 3000 persons this year, the construction of more than 60 facilities of first starting complex has been completed by August of current year. To the most important of them are:
  • industrial buildings for destruction of war gases;
  • transformer substations;
  • power supply and thermal systems;
  • water supply and sewerage systems;
  • boilers;
  • fire station;
  • dining rooms and etc.
     Objects of socially domestic sphere:
  • two three storey buildings with 36 apartments;
  • 27 houses and boiler with thermal systems in Mikhaylovskiy;
  • 27 houses in Octyabrskiy;
  • two blocks of 18 flats in Gornyi.
     A major contribution to creating facility made by foreign partners rendered the gratuitous assistance. Germany, involved in the construction of the facility in Gornyi since 1993, was the main State Donor. By the present time it had allocated the financial resources at the amount of 68.3 millions Deutschmarks. In 2002 FRG is continuing to render assistance at the amount of 5.5 millions euro to Russia for completion of construction of facility. We are grateful to the EU, allocated 4.95 millions euro for production, supply and mounting of specific equipment for that facility, as well as to Netherlands, paid 2 millions euro for part of created power system, and Finland, rendered the assistance for equipment in Gornyi for safety technical control system. In particular, a complex of stationary and portable gas detectors for the sum of 3.6 millions Finnish marks was supplied.

     Just thanks to disinterested business approach and constructive cooperation of these countries, free of any political terms, their aspiration for increasing assistance to the great degree it became possible to complete the construction of the first Russian starting facility for destruction of chemical weapons in August of 2002. And today Russia informs tax payers and the public of FRG, Netherlands, Finland and other states donors, on what objectives their means have gone, by its presentation.

     The successful completion of constryction of the first starting complex on destruction of chemical weapons in Gornyi, became possible mostly thanks to permanent attention, which was given to this paramount task by the State Commission on Chemical Disarmament, headed by Mr. S.V. Kirienko, plenipotentiary representative of the President of the Russian Federation in Privolzhskiy Federal District. It is impossible not to point out the direct assistance and the all-round support in the solution of various problems of the administration and organizations of Saratov region .

     Priority task of Russian Munitions Agency in the development of plant for destruction of chemical weapons is to ensure safety of population living in adjacent regions and personnel of the facility. The problem of reliable and secure technology for destruction was repeatedly discussed at the highest scientific level. Leading Russian institutes and designers were involved in selection of technical solutions, corresponding hard ecological and sanitary standards. About 20 research and development works by volume on support of progressive technical solutions, safeguarding of safety and protection of population as well as environment have been performed. Independent Russian experts as well as the conclusion of Organization on Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) confirm the rightness of decisions taken.

     All the amendments and addenda, which have been introduced by Russian Munitions Agency and embodied in life in the course of development of the facility made it possible to lessen in 4 times the amount of dangerous operations. Such dangerous phases as anamolysis and bitumination are excluded from destruction processes of war gases.

     As a whole the facility for destruction of chemical weapons will start its operation upon completion of start-up works and achievement of necessary conditions of reliability and security. The facility exploitation with lines on destruction of lewisite and mustard will begin in December of 2002. It is planned to destruct not less than 400 tons of poison gases and hereby to implement Russia's obligations under the Convention to destroy 1% of chemical weapons of category 1 during the period from beginning of operation till April of 2003. 1142 tons of poisonous substances are to be destroyed at the facility by 2005.

     Detoxication products, obtained as a result of destruction of lewisite and mustard have the toxic level, comparable with toxicity of many chemical products in common use in the industry.

     So, due to mustard destruction the reactive bulk of the third class of toxicity (low-toxic) is being obtained. For instance, acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, vanillin, toluene belong to this toxicity class.

     During the destruction of lewisite the reactive bulk belonging to the second class of danger is being obtained. Benzene, dichloroethane, and aniline belong to this class.

     The stockpiling and processing of detoxication products will be carried out at enterprises of Russian Munitions Agency, which have all necessary infrastructure for ensuring of such works. During this process would decide a number of state tasks like the extra load of industrial capacitis, which due the strength of implementation of deep conversion remained unloaded, the occupancy of fit qualified staff and etc. The facility is important because the experience of its construction and operations would be used during the construction of the full scale facility in Udmurtiya (Kambarka), the task of which is destroy to 20% of chemical weapons by 2007.

     Successful completion of the construction of the first starting facility in Gornyi in August of 2002 is an evidence of stipulated use of resources of the federal budget, allocated for chemical disarmament, confirmation of the course towards destruction of chemical weapons in Russia, developed by the Government of the Russian Federation.

     Demonstrating to the international community the first starting facility in Gornyi, Russia relies on the continuation and expansion of cooperation with its foreign partners. Such collaboration are successfully developed with Germany, offered its participation in the construction of FDCW in Kambarka, with Italy, UK, Canada, exerting a number of projects being carried out on FDCW in Shchuchye of Kurgan region.

     We would like to believe that the structural position would be takeb by USA, which according to existing agreement take obligations to build the industrial zone of facility in Shchuchye where is planned to destroy the most part of Russian stockpiles of chemical weapons.

     The important role can be played by OPCW called up in maximum degree to promote quick and economic destruction of chemical weapons in Russia.

     The statement of the leaders of "G8" on "global partnership against spread of armament and materials of mass destruction", made in Kananskis (Canada), undoubtedly will give the novel impulse to the chemical disarmament. This historic statement signifies a new stage, outstanding feature of which is the awareness by the world community, that the quickest disposal of chemical weapons is a general objective.