Disarmament Diplomacy

Issue No. 58, June 2001

News Review

Russia Approves New CW Destruction Plan

On June 14, the Russian Cabinet approved details of a revised, cheaper programme for destroying its 44,000-ton chemical weapons (CW) stockpile. At the core of the plan is a proposal - put forward earlier this year by Zinovy Pak, head of the Munitions Agency in charge of CW elimination - to reduce the number of destruction facilities from seven to three. This sweeping reorganisation, said to be likely to halve total programme costs, is intended to facilitate the following destruction timetable: 1% of stocks eliminated by 2003; 20% by 2007; 45% by 2008; 100% by 2012. Under the terms of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), ratified by Russia in 1997, the target date for complete elimination is 2007, although provision is made to allow for consideration of an extended deadline. The new Russian plan reportedly confirms that the government will seek an extension from 2007 to 2012. According to Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov (June 14): "We can no longer tolerate this situation. Today we must clarify the programme of destroying chemical weapons stockpiles and be certain the programme will be fulfilled." The same day, a Russian Foreign Ministry statement expressed hope that the new plan would mark a turning point in the long struggle to meet CWC obligations:

"The [revised] programme has been drawn up on the basis of new conceptual theses with due consideration of the real economic situation. Provision is made for specifying the phases and dates for the destruction of chemical weapons, liquidation of facilities for their destruction, and ensuring of national and international control. The programme will soon be officially submitted to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Moscow hopes that the adoption of a specified programme to destroy chemical weapons will become an additional stimulus for our foreign partners in implementing joint projects for giving Russia technical assistance in the elimination of the world's largest arsenal of chemical weapons."

Total costs for elimination of the stockpile have previously been estimated in the $7 billion range. Moscow has repeatedly expressed disappointment at financial assistance provided by other countries. The US has so far provided $260 million of a designated $888 million assistance package for the nerve-agent destruction facility at Shchuchye in the Ural Mountains, due to start operation in 2004. Since 1999, however, the remainder of the sum has been withheld by Congress pending clarification of Russian plans and commitments. At a flag-raising ceremony at Shchuchye on June 8, former Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko, head of the Chemical Disarmament Committee charged with coordinating fundraising efforts, told officials from the US, Canada and the EU: "Common security cannot be created by one country alone. The chemical weapons stockpiled by the people of the world don't belong to one country, they are a common problem and we [all] bear responsibility for them... Last year, Russia wasn't fulfilling its obligations and wasn't supplying enough money. The situation has changed markedly this year. We can present a fully developed programme. Russia now stands on the threshold of real progress in her efforts to destroy chemical weapons... Clearly this project can only succeed if Russia sustains and increases its resolve, and the international community must continue as full partners with Russia in this effort. ... This year, the [US] Congress has a real reason to change its policy." One US official present at the ceremony, Paul McNelly of the Defense Department's Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Programme, was clearly inclined to agree, telling reporters (June 8): "They've met every demand. I'm hoping this will convince our Congress that there is a united effort here." The CTR Programme Director, Retired Army General Thomas Kuenning, also in attendance, was equally positive: "I'm convinced they have the intent to do everything possible to comply with the treaty..."

Shchuchye is home to 14% of Russia's stockpile. The two other destruction facilities envisaged in the new destruction programme will be located in Gorny, in the Saratovskaya region, and Kambarka, in Udmurtia.

Reports: Russia needs funds to destroy arms, Associated Press, June 8; Russians renew pledge to destroy chemical arsenal, Los Angeles Times, June 9; Russia lacks money to get rid of its nerve gas, The Guardian, June 11; Russian Cabinet Oks destruction plan, Associated Press, June 14, Russian Foreign Ministry Statement, Document 1122-14-06-2001, June 14.