AFF/CHEMICALS

USA SHOULD HELP RUSSIA CLEAN UP CHEMICAL WEAPONS DEPOTS

CHEMICAL WEAPONS AT RUSSIAN DEPOTS POSE A GLOBAL RISK

PAUL MANN February 26, 2001 Aviation Week & Space Technology SECTION: WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS; Vol. 154, No. 9; Pg. 28 HEADLINE: WMD Cleanup Funds Sought //VT2002acsln

In his report, based on a series of personal on-site visits in Russia, Lugar challenges critics who claim the chemical weapons at Shchuchye ''pose no more than an environmental threat to the local Russian population. This contention is dangerously wrong. The size and lethality of the weapons I observed are clearly a direct proliferation threat to the American people. They are small, portable and deadly in the hands of terrorists, religious sects or paramilitary units. Let us not forget these weapons were created to kill American military personnel.'' The Shchuchye elimination facility would be able to destroy about 880 metric tons of weapons annually, Lugar estimates.

MILLIONS OF RUSSIAN CHEMICAL WEAPONS NEED TO BE DESTROYED BY USA THREAT REDUCTION PROGRAM

PAUL MANN February 26, 2001 Aviation Week & Space Technology SECTION: WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS; Vol. 154, No. 9; Pg. 28 HEADLINE: WMD Cleanup Funds Sought //VT2002acsln

A leading senator hopes to overcome past House opposition and obtain Nunn-Lugar funds to dismantle literally millions of Russian chemical weapons, including Scud missile warheads, that are believed to constitute a grave proliferation threat.

Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.) will press his colleagues to approve Pentagon funds to build an elimination facility at the Shchuchye chemical weapons site in Russia's Kurgan region, where 2 million ground-launched chemical weapons are housed. Made up of modern artillery shells and Scud missile warheads, this immense stockpile of chemical weapons is in excellent working condition, Lugar says in a detailed report based on a December visit to Shchuchye and other Russian sites that house the world's largest inventories of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Lugar's office provided Aviation Week & Space Technology with an advance copy of the report.

THE USA NEEDS TO SUPPORT THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS ELIMINATION FACILITY THIS YEAR

PAUL MANN February 26, 2001 Aviation Week & Space Technology SECTION: WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS; Vol. 154, No. 9; Pg. 28 HEADLINE: WMD Cleanup Funds Sought //VT2002acsln

Conservative House Republicans have held up funds the past several years for an elimination facility at Shchuchye, but Lugar aides are hopeful that the change in leadership of the House Armed Services Committee in the new 107th Congress will clear the way to proceed with construction. Some $ 35-75 million in Nunn-Lugar finance will be needed. The exact figure will depend on the Pentagon's forthcoming budget request for 2002.

''THIS YEAR IS A CRITICAL YEAR,'' a Lugar aide said, because European funds already pledged to construction will dry up if the U.S. does not come through with its share of the financing. Russia has the infrastructure in place at Shchuchye to enable construction to begin this spring. The startup will be financed with prior-year Nunn-Lugar funds, the aide said.