16/10/2003

Czechs assist MoD in destroying Russian chemical weaponry

The UK has welcomed the contribution of the Czech Republic to a Ministry of Defence-led project helping Russia to destroy its chemical weapons stocks.

The Czech Republic will provide around £45,000 towards construction of an electricity substation that will support the chemical weapons (CW) destruction facility at Shchuch'ye, in the Urals. Around four million Russian CW artillery munitions will be destroyed at Shchuch'ye – about 95% of the Russian stockpile.

The electricity supply project follows the UK's first project at Shchuch'ye, which was construction of a water supply for the destruction facility. That project was completed on budget in Spring 2003 at a cost of £2 million.

Assistance with Russian chemical weapon destruction is a key element of the G8 Global Partnership against the spread of weapons and materials of mass destruction. The UK has announced that it will contribute up to US$750 million (around £446 million) over the 10 years of the Global Partnership, and that up to US$100 million (around £60 million) of this could be made available to assist Russia with the destruction of its chemical weapon (CW) stockpile, on top of the £12 million announced in 2000.

Adam Ingram, the Armed Forces Minister, said: "We look forward to working closely with our Czech and Russian colleagues in implementing this assistance.

"Such arrangements with other donors are already in place and we would welcome further commitments to help bring the chemical weapons destruction facility at Shchuch'ye into operation at an early date."

(gmcg)

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