On Recommendations on Russian deadline extension request.
With respect to the request of the Russian Federation for extension of the intermediate and final deadlines for the destruction of its Category 1 chemical weapons, the Executive Council recommends that the Conference at its Seventh Session...
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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.
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International control of chemical weapons in
Russia. In 2001 Russia rendered assistance in carrying out ispections
of the facilities by the Organization on CW Prohibition. During the
year 8 facilities of former CW production, 6 facilities of CW stockpiling
and 7 facilities of destruction of CW of category 1, 2, 3 were inspected.
Total duration of inspections of only destruction facilities of category
2 and 3 totals more than 9 months. And the cost of the inspection of
facilities in Russia in 2001 exceeded 35 millions roubles. Russian Munitions
Agency 15.12.2001.
Russia completely destructed chemical weapons
of the third category. The total amount of destructed chemical weapons
(CW) of category 3 includes: inert bodies of aircraft munitions - 4737
units, inert bodies of rockets parts - 3 units, propellant charges -
85324 units, explosive charges - 239960 units, that corresponds to 100%
of units of CW storage. The basic part of CW of category given was destructed
on CW destruction facilities in limits of stockpiling arsenals Leonidovka,
Maradykovskiy and Pochep. The works were carried out in strict accordance
with normative-legal acts on protection of life and health of facilities'
staff as well as citizens, living in limits of zone of protective measures
and environmental protection. In the process of these works constant
presence and the instrumental analytical inspection of CW destruction
processes on the part of international inspection teams of Organization
on Prohibition of Chemical Weapons were provided. Russian Munitions
Agency 15.12.2001.
USA overhaul their programme on chemical disarmament.
The US department of defense recently has completed the comprehensive
revision of the programme on chemical disarmament. The revision of the
programme is explained by the novel and more exacting provisions of
national and state environmental protection as well as by increasing
expenditure on the necessary equipment and construction. The adjusted
plan envisages the reconsidering and the prolongation on 3-6 years of
fixed dates of completion of CW stockpiles destruction at six from eight
facilities: Aberdeen (Maryland) from 2004 up to 2007; Anniston (Alabama)
from 2006 up to 2011; Newport (Indiana) from 2005 up to 2010; Pine Bluff
(Arkansas) from 2005 up to 2009; Tuel (Utah) from 2003 up to 2008; Yumatilla
(Oregon) with 2005 up to 2011. The revision of the programme is connected
exclusively with schedule of works on destruction of CW stockpiles,
rather than with activity modification, like the closure of facilities
by the law of United States, rather than by Convention. Russian Munitions
Agency 15.12.2001.
The completion terms of destruction of stockpiles
of chemical weapons in Russia are dependent on USA. In a speech
on the 27th session of Executive Council of OPCW Director General of
Russian Munitions Agency Z.P. Pak declared, that the Russian Programme
of Chemical Weapons Destruction according to available agreements is
strongly associated with assistance from USA. In existing situation
with "freezing" of American assistance Russia is able to fulfill its
obligations under the Convention but in the process inevitably the programme
of full scale chemical weapons destruction would be adjusted. 27th Session
of EC OPCW, December 4-7, 2001.
The completion terms of chemical weapons destruction
in Russia are to be prolonged. OPCW conciders of issue on granting
Russia the delay in relation to its commitments on observance of mediate
terms of stockpiles destruction of chemical weapons of category 1. The
recommended deferral is associated with commitment of the Russian Federation
on destruction of all CW of category 1 by April 29, 2012. The intermediate
terms of CW destruction are prolonged: second stage 20% - till April
29, 2009; third stage 45% - till April 29, 2007; terminating fourth
stage 100% - till April 29, 2012. 27th Session of EC OPCW, December
4-7, 2001.
Implementation of the Convention on Prohibition
of Chemical Weapons by Russia: present state and prospects toward the
end of 2001. On the public forum-dialoge held in November in Moscow
the Russian problems of destruction of chemical weapons, including legal,
economic, social issues and environmental protection, were discussed.
The representatives of central ministries and organizations talked about
the state of the matter and prospects of chemical weapons destruction.
Representatives from regions of CW storing have illuminated regional
problems. Now in all regions of storing and forthcoming destruction
of chemical weapons the responsible understanding of this problem has
been formed, both on the side of local authorities, and on the part
of population, and the sequential practical steps on the way of chemical
disarmament are taken jointly with federal center. The considerable
attention on forum has been given to international cooperation in work
and elaboration of suggestions on the improvement of interaction between
nations in the field of chemical disarmament. There were noted positive
trends in increasing of means, allocated by Russia from federal budget
for timely implementation of the Convention. The establishment of State
Commission on Chemical Disarmament by the President of the Russian Federation
is an essential moment. This finds the understanding among governments
of foreign states. Over the past year along with USA and FRG many other
countries expressed the desire to participate in grant-in-aid to Russia.
In most speeches it was pointed out, that the forum-dialog with participation
of representatives from CW storing regions, federal structures and departments,
public organizations, foreign states is of exceptional importance in
quickest and environmentally safe destruction of chemical weapons. Moscow,
hotel Renaissance, November 12-13, 2001.
Order of SCC of the Russian Federation of 16.11.2001,
No 1093 "On introduction of changes in Appendix 4 to Order of SCC of
Russia of 23.05.96, No 315". The Order determines the procedure
of implementation of the Provision on Control over External Economic
Activities in respect of chemicals, equipment and technologies, which
can be used for development of chemical weapon. The Provision was adopted
by the Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation of 24.09.2001
No 686. The Annex 4 to Order of SCC of Russia of 23.05.1996 No 315 "On
control over export of goods which can be used for development of mass
destruction weapon and rocket means of its delivery" was also adopted
and a number of measures on implementation of Order is determined.
The Security Council has embarked on chemical
weapons destruction. The total destruction of warfare chemical agents
is planned to complete in 2012.The session of the Security Council
of the Russian Federation, specially devoted to problems of destruction
of chemical weapons (CW) in Russia took place on December 10, 2001.
The Security Council concludes work on fulfilment of Russia's obligations
on implementation of the Convention on Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
and Their Destruction. In summer of 2001 the government reanimated the
Programme of CW Destruction, changing essentially the original version.
It was recognized advisable to focus its attention on building not all
seven CW destruction facilities, but only on two or three of that number
- in settlements of Gornyi (Saratov region), Shchuchye (Kurgan region)
and Kambarka (Udmurt Republic). The schedule of performance of four
stages of CW stockpiles destruction was adjourned, on the average, on
5 years. The President of the Russian Federation has determined the
final date of destruction of all CW - on April 12, 2012. In ensuring
of it in 2001 the funding of measures on destruction has already grown
in 6 times in a comparison with 2000, that made up about 3 billion roubles.
The total costs of CW destruction are defined in 3 billion dollars.
These sums would be obtained on 70% from Russian federal budget, and
the remainder world be obtained by States Donors, among which are first
of all USA (one third of total), and also the UK, Germany, Italy, etc.
On the initiative of federal powers the articles, related with chemical
disarmament today are revised. Beginning from 2003 they'll be excluded
from state defense order and be indicated on selected line in budget.
Along with transfer of financial resources, the appropriate specialists
pass from Ministry of Defence to Russian Munitions Agency, a body, responsible
for the chemical disarmament. In the field of construction of CW destruction
facilities the course on infrastructure building around those objects
by priority rates is taken. Thus, the construction of the facilities
shall be without detriment to social sphere of regions and hereby the
protest of public forces, speaking against building of facilities for
CW destruction will be neutralized. Before that the allocated means
often were spent not according to their assignment, but the construction
of the facilities thus were freezed. As concerns further use of facilities,
related to CW, on international requests CW destruction facilities are
to be destroyed on completion of work on the whole. For Russia it is
reasonable to reprofile part of them on the civil product, what for
is imperative to gain corresponding international certificate. Today
the certificates are obtained for six facilities, and the Security Council
of the Russian Federation is sure, it will be possible for them to obtain
certificates on rest facilities presumed to conversion up to 2012.
The USA join inspection of chemical weapons.
"Washington Times" of December 20, 2001, states that former Russian
Prime-Minister Sergey Stepashin, today the chairman of the Accounts
Chamber of Russia, declared yesterday, that Russia and USA have concluded
the agreement on joint audit of dramatic Russian Programme on Destruction
of CW Stockpiles. The agreement was reached in negotiating with leader
of the Main Control Department of USA David Worker. During the examination
the efficiency of equipment for CW destruction and what, the American
money, allocated to this Programme, are spent for would be checked.
The Congress paid up the 2-year amount of USA deposit into the Programme
on CW Destruction in August. Russia spent on the Programme 100 million
dollars this year and 200 million dollars in the budget 2002 will pledge.
But, as S. Stepashin has added, the presumed contribution of 2 billion
dollars from USA would be decisive, if the Programme would be further
developed. S. Stepashin said, that the joint American-Russian inspection
will sustain the confidence, that the Russian Programme is accomplished
appropriately. The Russian representative put forward a proposal, that
the part of means, which Russia shall be spending on CW utilization
(is valued at 10-15 billion dollars for nearest decade), could go in
the defined offset of those debts (67 billion dollars), which Russia
owned to USA still from Soviet era. Vice President Richard Cheney, at
the meeting with Stepashin through a space bridge, had agreed to create
the working group to examine this proposal and questions of long-term
financing of the Russian Programme. S. Stepashin has also discussed
with representatives of the Main Control Department the problem of interaction
in the field of establishment of financial blockade against transnational
terrorism, but with congressional leaders of USA - the problem on cancellation
of Jackson-Venik prohibitive amendment, currently in force with respect
to the trade with Russia. S. Stepashin declared, that the collaboration,
with which he has occurred this week in Washington, reflects close American-Russian
links after September 11.