PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, September 4 (AVN) - A group of US experts has completed its work at several nuclear installations of the Russian Defence Ministry in the Far Eastern region of Kamchatka, a competent source in the Troops and Forces of the Russian Northeast said on Monday.
The group comprised US Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson, Deputy Secretary of Defence Ted Collins, Ambassador to Russia James Collins, General Consul in Vladivostok Elisabeth Rickerman, several atomic energy experts and officers of the energy and defence departments, the source told the Military News Agency. Among them was a reporter of the Washington Post, Michael Dobbs, but despite that, the command of the Pacific Fleet and the Troops and Forces marked all aspects of the group's work as classified for the Russian press.
The Russian party was represented at Kamchatka by officials of the Kurchatovsky Institut research centre, Defence Ministry, Pacific Fleet Staff, as well as over 10 agents of the Federal Security Service (FSB).
The US experts were especially interested in the 49th ship repairing plant in the town of Vilyuchinsk, also a nuclear submarine base, the source claimed. The United States is planning to finance construction of two used nuclear fuel and submarines scrapping plants in the town.
According to the source, the parties completed and signed a corresponding agreement in the course of the visit. Data obtained by the Agency says over USD150m would be provided for the works.