New money to eliminate Cold War legacy
PR Newswire
January 15, 2007
(For personal use only)

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE News Release (005/2007) issued by The Government News
Network on 15 January 2007
National and global security has been boosted by international co-operation
to eliminate the legacy of Cold War weapons, Foreign Office Minister Geoff
Hoon said today.

Launching the 2006 Annual Report on the Global Partnership at Chatham House,
Mr Hoon highlighted the UK's close co-operation with Russia and former Soviet
countries and announced a further £2 million commitment to enhance physical
protection of nuclear and radioactive materials in Central Asia.

Mr Hoon said:
"The UK has made significant progress in fulfilling the commitments that
were made at the G8 Kananaskis Summit in 2002 to address the threat posed by
weapons and materials of mass destruction from the countries of the former
Soviet Union.

"In 2006 there has been continued close co-operation between the members
of the Global Partnership. A third nuclear submarine has been dismantled in
partnership with Norway and we have funded a £21 million new storage facility
in northern Russia to enhance the security of nuclear materials."

DTI Energy Minister Lord Truscott said:
"Addressing cold war nuclear legacies will remain a major international
challenge for the next few years. The £2million announced today is just
another example of our continued commitment and will provide important
enhancements to the physical security of nuclear facilities in Armenia,
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

"Working together at the request of the states involved, from creating over
1,000 new jobs for former nuclear weapon scientists and engineers to ensuring
spent nuclear fuel from nuclear submarines are made safe and secure, we are
already providing security benefits for all our citizens."

Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Adam Ingram said:
"This year has seen real progress in Global Partnership assistance to Russia
as it destroys its stockpile of Chemical Weapons. By managing funds worth
over £70M, Britain is playing a key role in helping eliminate over 40,000
tonnes of chemical warfare agent which in the wrong hands would pose a real
threat to security both in Russia and the rest of the world.

"Nearly 2 million chemical weapons are to be destroyed at a facility at
Shchuch'ye in Russia. 2006 saw substantial progress by the UK in implementing
procurement and construction projects. Last month we placed an order worth over
£4M for equipment which will help complete the facility's electricity supply.

"In July 2006 Britain and Canada agreed to join in helping to construct
a second facility at Kizner in Russia which will see the destruction of a
further 2 million chemical weapons."

Notes to Editors
1. The £2 million funding announced today will be provided to the Nuclear
Security Fund at the International Atomic Energy Agency. It is aimed at
improving physical security in line with international standards at key
nuclear facilities in Central Asia. The projects will be managed by the IAEA
in close collaboration with UK experts.

2. The UK's Global Partnership Annual Report 2006 is available online at
www.dti.gov.uk/energy/nuclear/fsu/index.shtml

3. At the 2002 G8 summit at Kananaskis in Canada, leaders pledged to provide
up to $20 billion over ten years for a new Global Partnership Programme
aimed at the non-proliferation of materials of mass destruction. The Prime
Minister announced that the UK would make available up to $750 million to fund
projects. The signing of bilateral agreements with the Russian Federation in
June 2003 was the final stage in building a firm foundation for the Global
Partnership programme. The UK is entering into negotiations with other former
Soviet Union countries including the Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

4. UK Global Partnership programmes cover a range of nuclear and chemical
weapons safety and security projects. DTI manages the nuclear portfolio and
MOD manages the programmes of Chemical Weapons destruction. FCO leads on
policy aspects.