The Hague, 28 August 2002

On 21 August 2002, the Russian Federation in a ceremony held in the Saratov region unveiled the chemical weapons destruction facility at Gorny. In fact, this important event signifies the beginning of the real destruction of Category 1 chemical weapons in the Russian Federation in the framework of the revised Russian chemical weapons destruction programme. This revised programme envisages the destruction of 1% of its chemical weapons stockpile by 2003; 20% by the year 2007; 45% by the year 2009; and 100% of the total stockpile by 2012.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of United Kingdom, Canada, Finland, Germany, Italy, Sweden, The Netherlands, USA, European Union and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. The Member States mentioned above have played a signifcant role in facilitating the construction of the chemical weapons destruction plant in Gorny. This further underscores the importance of international donors’ assistance inimplementation of the destruction of chemical weapons in Russia.