News Review Special Edition

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International Developments, October 1 - November 15, 2002

Russia CW Destruction Plans Reviewed

The 'Fourth National Dialogue Forum on the Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention in the Russian Federation', organised by the Russian branch of Green Cross International, was held in Moscow in mid-November. The opening day (November 11) heard a statement from Rogelio Pfirter, Director General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague, delivered by Huang Yu, Director of OPCW External Relations. The statement concisely surveyed the main issues involved in the struggle to eliminate Russia's vast, 40,000-ton chemical weapons (CW) stockpile:

"Five years ago, on November 5, 1997, the Russian Federation took the historic step of ratifying the CWC. It thus assumed its obligations under the Convention, including to declare and destroy its chemical weapons stockpiles and to destroy, or convert to purposes not prohibited under the Convention, all the CW production facilities. ... The Forum will consider the current status and perspectives in the implementation of the Convention in the Russian Federation at the end of the year 2002. Indeed, it is time to take stock of developments. ... The participation of the Russian Federation in the activities of the OPCW has been marked by considerable success in a number of respects. In the last couple of years, positive changes have taken place in the approach to implementation, with a businesslike manner, which is proving to be of great value. In this regard, we have seen the development of excellent working relations with the Russian State Commission on Chemical Weapons Disarmament, headed by Mr. [Sergei] Kirienko, with the Russian Munitions Agency headed by Mr. [Zinovy] Pak, and with the Permanent Representation of the Russian Federation to the OPCW in The Hague, headed by Ambassador [Alexander] Khodakov. ... Verification activities in Russia are proceeding in a satisfactory manner, in cooperation with the Russian Munitions Agency as the National Authority, which is kept fully informed about the results of each inspection in the Russian Federation. ... But it is the destruction of CW stocks that presents the biggest challenges. There have been positive signs along the way. The Russian stockpiles of Category 2 and 3 chemical weapons have all been destroyed, on or before the time limits set by the Convention. I also note with appreciation the considerable increase in the Russian Federation's own funding of its CW destruction programme in the past couple of years. ... The OPCW continues to encourage its member states...to do more in relation to the assistance they provide for the Russian destruction programme. In this respect, we are greatly heartened, and warmly welcome the 10-plus-10 billion dollars pledged [by the US and the G-8] for these and related WMD purposes over the next 10 years. In 2001, the Russian Federation adopted and presented its new CW destruction programme for Category 1 CW - the largest stockpiles - which provides for the extension of various deadlines in accordance with the provisions of the Convention. Last month, as you know, the Seventh Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the CWC, approved in principle the extension of the two first intermediate deadlines, with some details to be worked out at a later stage and in the understanding that the issues relating to the extension of remaining deadlines would be addressed at the next session of the Conference in 2003. I am confident that Russia's concrete steps in these areas will encourage and be met by parallel and also concrete measures by donor countries."

Sergei Kirienko told delegates to the Forum (November 11) that Russia planned to spend $116 million on chemical disarmament in 2003, up from $16 million this year. Notwithstanding this increase, Zinovy Pak (November 11) noted that "Problem No. 1 today is a lack of certainty in funding, from both the Russian budget and the budget of donor countries." Speaking to reporters, Pak added that the US Congress was currently complicating the situation by only approving funds for strengthening security around existing CW storage sites rather than building new destruction facilities. As reported in recent issues - see in particular Disarmament Diplomacy No. 64 (May/June 2002), pp. 62-63 - there is unease in Congress over both the veracity of Russia's CW-stockpile declaration and the adequacy of its stockpile destruction programme.

Note: under the terms of the CWC, Russia is obliged to destroy its CW stocks by April 2007; provision is, however, made for a five-year extension to be granted. Russia has requested, but not yet been awarded, such an extension. Moscow has also requested a revision of its destruction timetable to include the following intermediate deadlines: destruction of 1% of the stockpile by April 2003; 20% destruction by April 2007; 45% destruction by April 2009; 100% destruction by April 2012.

Reports: Russia's top chemical weapons official says uncertainty in funding threatens disarmament program, Associated Press, November 11; Moscow holds weapons disposal conference, Global Security Newswire, November 11; Address by R. Pfirter, Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to the Fourth National Dialogue Forum [on] Russian Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, November 11, 2002, OPCW website (http://www.opcw.org).

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© 2002 The Acronym Institute.