News
Publish date: May 9, 1997
Written by: Igor Kudrik
News
On April 24, the US Ministry of Defence revealed plans to allocate an additional 214,3 million USD to Russian nuclear safety upgrades, according to RIA News. The funds are allocated through the Nunn-Lugar fund, established some three years ago and primarely intended for security measures in regard to Russian nuclear weapons. Originally at 750 million USD, only some 200 million of the fund’s money has been spent since its creation.
Prior to the visit, the US Defence Minister stated intentions to increase the financial aid to Russia through the programs on nuclear weapons dismantling and chemical weaponry elimination. However, warnes RIA News, this ministerial intention may be criticised by the Congress, since the Russian Parliament signed but did not ratify the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. According to the last statement from the Russian Parliament, the Convention is to be ratified this autumn.
An accident aboard numerous Volgoneft oil tankers in the Kerch in mid December clearly show what can happen to aged ships when they are operated in bad weather—and when economic and military objectives are prioritized over the lives of crews and environmental safety.
In this news digest, we monitor events that impact the environment in the Russian Arctic. Our focus lies in identifying the factors that contribute to pollution and climate change.
A survey of events in the field of nuclear and radiation safety relating to Russia and Ukraine.
A visit last week by Vladimir Putin and a Kremlin entourage to Astana, Kazakhstan sought in part to put Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation, on good footing with local officials.