Russia is set to eliminate 1 percent of its chemical weapons arsenal one month ahead of schedule, ITAR-Tass reported Saturday (see GSN, March 5).

Russia’s sole chemical weapons disposal plant, located in Gorny, is on track to complete the destruction of 400 metric tons of mustard gas within a week, one month ahead of schedule, according to sources.  Russia is expected to begin disposing of lewesite stockpiles in the second quarter of this year after commissioning new upgrades for the Gorny plant (Rosa Magasumova, ITAR-Tass, April 19 in FBIS-SOV, April 19).

On Monday, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov designated Col. Gen. Viktor Kholstov to become head of the Russian Munitions Agency, which oversees the chemical weapons disposal effort.  Former agency Director Zinovy Pak was replaced because he reached retirement age (Associated Press, April 23).

Meanwhile, Italy is set to provide Russia with more than $1 billion in aid for arms disposal efforts, Kasyanov said Saturday.  The aid will go toward helping Russia dispose of its chemical weapons stockpiles and to recycle decommissioned nuclear submarines (see GSN, April 18; Interfax, April 19 in FBIS-SOV, April 19).

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