SNEZHINSK, Southern Urals, March 31 (AVN) - President-elect Vladimir Putin addressed the field meeting of the Atomic Energy Ministry enlarged Assembly here on Friday.
Putin called to "preserve and strengthen the nuclear weapon system as a basis of Russia's security." At the same time he stressed this did not mean the increase of nuclear arsenals. "Russia is continuing and will continue the negotiations on further strategic arms reduction, with the aim making the world more secure, to free it from excessive arms."
According to the president-elect, this goal is envisaged by the ratification of START-2 and further steps in the direction of START-3. The Defence and Foreign Ministries have already been ordered to intensify consultations on the subject with the State Duma lower house of parliament, leaders of factions and parliamentary groups.
"Today we need a new, thoughtful and reasonable conversion. Otherwise all the budget allocations for the atomic industry will be useless," Putin went on to say. The atomic industry lays within the sphere of strategic interests and its success defined the status of the state, as a power able to protect itself from any aggression.
"We must increase our potential of nuclear containment," he added.
As to the ecological problems of the nuclear weapons industry, Putin thought that there was certain progress there. However this happens not because of the application of new technologies, but rather due to the production decrease.
Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev, who also addressed the meeting, added, that the Defence and the Atomic Ministries have prepared a draft presidential decree on urgent measures for social support of the military and civil personnel of the nuclear weapons industry.