Construction of Chemical Weapons Disposal Facility Launched in Russia

Text of report in English by Russian state news agency ITAR-TASS

Bryansk, 10 June: The foundation stone of Europe’s largest plant for the destruction of chemical weapons will be laid near the town of Pochep in Bryansk Region on Tuesday [10 June], the spokesperson for the information centre for chemical disarmament told ITAR-TASS on Tuesday.

The construction is to be completed in the middle of 2010. About 19 per cent of Russia’s arsenal of chemical weapons is stored near Pochep.

The disposal of chemical weapons is taking place under a federal programme that was adopted in 1996 in accordance with the international convention banning chemical weapons.

The Pochep plant will be Russia’s sixth enterprise for the destruction of chemical weapons, with three operating facilities situated near the settlement of Gornyy, Saratov region, at Kambarka, Udmurtia, and at the settlement of Maradykovskiy, Kirov Region.

The two other chemical weapons disposal facilities are being prepared for launch, one in the settlement of Leonidovka, Penza Region, the other in the settlement Shchuchye, Kurgan Region. [Passage omitted]

Originally published by ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in English 0601 10 Jun 08.

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