Russia, U.S. Open Antinuclear Trafficking Center

Russian and U.S. officials are expected to announce today the opening of an antinuclear trafficking center, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, July 20).

The Russian customs service and U.S. Energy Department are collaborating on the project, intended to help keep terrorists from obtaining radioactive materials.

The United States is also helping to fund radiation-detecting equipment at Russian border posts, AP reported (Associated Press/MosNews.com, July 21).

Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Department inspectors have finished checking a military installation in southern Russia in accordance with the Russian-American Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, ITAR-Tass reported today.

“Military specialists from the U.S. accompanied by representatives of the Russian National Center for Reduction of Nuclear Risk have inspected a large air base stationed near Engels,” said a Russian Defense Ministry official.

The Pentagon experts found no violations of the treaty’s provisions, the official said. 

Heavy bombers that can carry nuclear weapons are deployed at the base (ITAR-Tass, July 21).

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