Russia Complains of Lack of CW Destruction Aid

Western nations have failed to meet their promises to fund chemical weapons destruction programs in Russia, a Russian official said in an interview published yesterday (see GSN, May 8).

“We have received only $450 million of the overall pledged amount of assistance,” said Federal Industry Agency deputy chief Viktor Kholstov.  “As far as the U.S. is concerned, work costing only $238 million has been accomplished, while the U.S. pledged more than $1 billion.”

Kholstov also criticized French and British contributions (Rossiyskaya Gazeta, June 14).

One expert noted last year that Moscow counts only funds it receives directly, rather than money directed by Western nations to contractors supporting the chemical weapons disposal effort (see GSN, Dec. 6, 2006).

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