MOSCOW. Jan 22 (Interfax-AVN) - The U.S. will make about USD160m available in 2003 to assist the Russian chemical weapons disposal program, said Sergei Kiriyenko, chairman of the State Commission for Chemical Disarmament.
"The U.S. budget has reserved USD50m for this year. About USD110m was not spent in previous years," Kiriyenko said at a press conference at the Interfax main office on Wednesday.
Next year, the U.S. is prepared to spend USD120m on the Russian chemical weapons disposal program.
Kiriyenko announced that in 2002, an agreement was reached with the U.S.: "if funding is unfrozen, the amount reserved for this year and the amount that was not spent in the previous years will also be unfrozen." The agreement was concluded during Kiriyenko's visit to the United States.
"The USD50m reserved for this year have precise addressing. USD15m will be spent on safety of storage at both the facility in Shchuchye and the facility in Kizner, where one of our oldest arsenals is located. We put it into the category of the least protected facilities," Kiriyenko said.
"Everything has been done in compliance with valid instructions there, but the facility is old, and in general, the security system leaves much to be desired. We are to complete the installation of the most up-to-date security system in the facility before July, using U.S. funds, among others. USD35m will be spent on the construction of facilities in Shchuchye," he said.
"I believe that the bulk of funds that can be received for previous years should also be spent on the Shchuchye facility," the chairman added.