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2004 budget provides funds for chemical weapons disposal: Ozerov
Moscow, Oct 14: The Russian government`s draft budget for 2004 earmarks only half the funds needed for chemical weapons disposal, and the shortfall threatens further delays in the disposal of the world`s largest chemical stockpile, a lawmaker said today.
Moscow, Oct 14: The Russian government's draft
budget for 2004 earmarks only half the funds needed for
chemical weapons disposal, and the shortfall threatens further
delays in the disposal of the world's largest chemical
stockpile, a lawmaker said today.
Viktor Ozerov, chairman of the Defense and Security
Committee in the Federation Council, the upper house of
The Parliament, said the draft budget allocates USD 179 million for
chemical weapons, while USD 386 million are required, according
to the Interfax military news agency.
The program has been under-funded for the past several years, and the shortfall is expected to total more than 60 per cent by 2004, Ozerov said. As a result, Russia will not be able to live up to its most recent pledge to dispose of 20 percent of its chemical weapons by 2007.
The disposal effort has already been significantly delayed. In 1997, Russia committed itself to destroying the stockpile of 44,000 tons, within 10 years. However, in 2001 the government changed its target date to 2012 because of a lack of funds.
Bureau Report
The program has been under-funded for the past several years, and the shortfall is expected to total more than 60 per cent by 2004, Ozerov said. As a result, Russia will not be able to live up to its most recent pledge to dispose of 20 percent of its chemical weapons by 2007.
The disposal effort has already been significantly delayed. In 1997, Russia committed itself to destroying the stockpile of 44,000 tons, within 10 years. However, in 2001 the government changed its target date to 2012 because of a lack of funds.
Bureau Report