MOSCOW. Nov 10 (Interfax-AVN) -- Russia will have to dispose of 8,000 tonnes of chemical agents before 2007 as part of the second stage of its national program, Viktor Kholstov, deputy head of the Federal Industry Agency, said on Wednesday.
As for next year's disposal plans, 11.169 billion Russian rubles ($389.01 million) in budget funds will be allocated, Kholstov told a Moscow-based forum on Russia's compliance with the Convention for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
"This is twice as much as was allocated for these purposes in 2004," he said.
Top priority will be given to building chemical weapons disposal facilities in Kambarka and Maradykovsky, he said.
"The facility in the village of Maradykovsky will be built in two stages. The first phase of the disposal process there will envision decontaminating VX chemical agents. This work is due to begin in 2006. The final stage of disposing of these VX chemical agents is scheduled for 2007," he said.