SECTION 1. NUCLEAR WEAPONS REDUCTION AND CONTROL

1. Russian Lawmakers to Discuss Disposal Progress Today (Global Security Newswire, 6 April 2004)

    The board of the upper house of the Russian Parliament, the Federation Council, is scheduled today to discuss the progress made in disposing of Russia's vast stockpile of chemical weapons and on implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, according to ITAR-TASS.

Meanwhile, Russian officials are criticizing delays in international funding to aid Russia's chemical weapons disposal efforts, according to Izvestia.

While countries promised to provide Russia with $1.3 billion in chemical weapons disposal aid between 1992 and 2003, the actual sum provided was $268 million, Munitions Agency Director Viktor Kholstov said.

Sources in the Munitions Agency said that while Russia lacked adequate funding of its own to destroy its chemical weapons when it ratified the convention in 1997, it now can provide about $200 million annually for such efforts.

"We will accomplish the task with the Western assistance or without it," said Munitions Agency Deputy Director General Vyacheslav Kulebyakin. "With it, however, we will accomplish it much faster," Kulebyakin added. (http://www.nti.org/)

2. Russia on Verge of Placing New-Age Mobile ICBMs into Use: Minister (excerpted) (Agence France Presse, 26 April 2004)

    Russia next week will test-launch another mobile Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missile, perhaps the last one before putting it into use, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Monday.

The 47-tonne missile, which carries one nuclear warhead, is seen by Russia as a future backbone to its nuclear defenses. It compares to the U.S.-built Minuteman-3.

Yury Solomonov, who heads the Moscow Institute of Technology that constructed the missile, said its mobile version could become operational by 2006, ITAR-TASS reported.

Russia already has ground-based Topol-M rockets on standby.

The last test of the mobile missile was accomplished last week, with it traveling its maximum distance of 11,500 kilometers (6,900 miles) before hitting a target on the Kamchatka peninsula.

"The test was successful," the Russian defense minister said in televised comments, reporting the mission's progress to President Vladimir Putin.

"We have one more test, after which point we can reach a decision on utilizing this weapon," Ivanov said.

[...] (http://www.afp.com/)

3. Russia Set To Join Antiproliferation Group (Daily Yomiuri Online, 30 April 2004)

    Russia is expected to join the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), an international program to stamp out proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including ballistic missiles, possibly before a Group of Eight summit meeting scheduled for June in Sea Island, Ga., a government source said Thursday.

The PSI currently comprises 14 countries including Australia, Britain, Japan and the United States. The members currently are coordinating over whether to formally admit Moscow to the PSI at a meeting to mark the first anniversary of the group's founding in late May, according to the source.

Russia would be the last country among the G-8 nations to join the PSI. Moscow's participation is likely to further strengthen global efforts to prevent proliferation of WMD by countries such as North Korea.

Russia is likely to attend the two-day commemorative assembly that is scheduled to be held from May 31 in Krakow, Poland, the city where U.S. President George W. Bush proposed the initiative in May last year.

The 14 member states and several associate members including Turkey meet to discuss proliferation and conduct joint military exercises.

The 14 basically have agreed on Russia's participation in the PSI, the source said.

Since Russia, the world's second-largest nuclear power, has great influence over neighboring countries, its participation in the PSI is expected to enhance enforcement of joint activities such as inspections of ships and airplanes to block the illegal transportation of WMD and the transfer of related technologies. The three-day G-8 summit meeting scheduled to begin in Georgia on June 8 is expected to make strengthening the framework for the prevention of proliferation one of its top priorities.

The United States has been calling for Russia to join the PSI ahead of the summit meeting to expand and strengthen the group. (http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/index-e.htm)

4. RF, U.S. Scientists, Military, Offs Discuss Asia-Pacific Security (excerpted) (ITAR-TASS, 5 May 2004)

    Partakers of the seminar entitled "Challenges of the twenty first century and security policy in the Asia-Pacific region: outlook from Russia and the United States" that opened here on Wednesday focused attention on strengthening security and expanding cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Russian and U.S. scientists, politicians and military experts pay special attention to the North Korean nuclear problem, China's role in the Asia-Pacific region and international investment projects in Russia's Far East.

[...] (http://www.itar-tass.com/)

5. Russia Can Scrap Written-Off N-Submarines by 2010 (excerpted) (ITAR-TASS, 13 May 2004)

    If the present rates of scrapping written-off nuclear submarines of the Russian navy are maintained, Russia can complete this work by the year 2010, said on Thursday deputy head of the Russian Nuclear Energy Agency Sergei Antipov in an interview with TASS. According to the deputy head, agency's companies annually scrap 15 written-off nuclear subs.

Antipov holds talks at the German Foreign Ministry on Russian-German cooperation in fulfilling the Agreement on implementing multilateral nuclear-ecological programme in Russia.

The Russian navy wrote off 193 nuclear subs as of April 1, 2004. As many as 96 of them have been already scrapped, while 35 are in the process of cutting. Another 62 submarines wait for their scrapping. A total of 55 of them have nuclear fuel aboard. Antipov emphasized that Russia "has no apprehensions that these submarines can be a radiation source". There is no danger either (thanks to reliable protection) that terrorists will lay hands on radioactive materials.

Three billion dollars are needed to carry out comprehensive scrapping of the remaining N-submarines. Russia annually appropriates 65-70 million dollars for this purpose. If Western countries refuse to help Russia in settling this problem, it can do this on its own. However, it will take 40 years rather than the planned 10-12 years in this case, Antipov added.

[...] (http://www.itar-tass.com/)

6. Rice, Putin Seek Way Forward in Iraq (excerpted) (Moscow Times, 17 May 2004)

    U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice wrapped up her three-day visit to Moscow on Sunday saying she had fresh assurances of Russia's support for U.S. efforts to stabilize the situation in Iraq.

But the two countries still remained at loggerheads over how much control the planned Iraqi caretaker government will have over security and other key issues.

"I think we, the United States and Russia, share a common understanding of how we should move forward," Rice said in a Russian voice-over in a television interview aired after she completed her series of meetings with top Russian officials, including a closed-door meeting with President Vladimir Putin.

In a short interview aired on NTV television's "Namedni" program Sunday, Rice said the United States and Russia had a shared interest in preventing destabilization in Iraq. She offered a generally positive assessment of U.S.-Russian relations, but was noticeably short on details.

"Everyone agrees that the most important thing at the moment is to give Iraq stability and pass a UN Security Council resolution. I hope we will be able to prepare the text of this resolution with help of our Russian partners" among others, she said.

Rice met with Putin on Saturday to deliver a personal letter from President George W. Bush with "general affirmation of our desire to work with them [the Russians] on Iraq and on the broader partnership," a senior U.S. diplomat told reporters Sunday.

Rice also met with Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, as well as Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov and chief of the presidential administration Dmitry Medvedev.

While Iraq dominated Rice's visit, she discussed a wide range of other issues with Russian officials traditionally high on the agenda between the two countries - energy cooperation, terrorism, weapons proliferation, Iran's nuclear program, developments in former Soviet republics and the Middle East, according to the U.S. diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Rice also "underscored our continued interest in democratization, the rule of law and independent media in Russia" and "a peaceful solution in Chechnya," but made no linkage to other issues in U.S.-Russian relations, the U.S. diplomat said.

[...]

Rice also discussed with Russian officials the Middle East and recent developments in former Soviet republics, including Adzharia, Nagorny Karabakh and Transdnestr, the U.S. diplomat said.

Sergei Ivanov also briefed Rice on the security situation in Uzbekistan after his recent trip to Tashkent, while Fradkov briefed her on the Russian government's ongoing economic and administrative reforms.

On energy cooperation, Russian officials acknowledged that the decision to cancel EЧonMobil's operatorship of the Sakhalin-3 offshore field "remains on the table," the U.S. diplomat said. Regarding the overall U.S.-Russian energy dialogue, Rice said the results were "a little bit disappointing" as it has stalled, she said.

[...] (http://www.moscowtimes.ru/)

7. CIS to Discuss Common Nonproliferation Position (Global Security Newswire, 17 May 2004)

    Defense ministers from the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States are expected to develop a common position on nuclear nonproliferation this week during a meeting in the Armenian capital of Yerevan, Russian government sources said today.

The agenda for the meeting, scheduled to be held Friday, includes discussion of coordinating a common nonproliferation position as part of preparations for next year's planned Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty review conference, according to the source. This week's scheduled meeting will be chaired by acting Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov and will be attended by all CIS members except Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, ITAR-TASS reported. (http://www.nti.org/)

8. Russian Parliament Knows what June G8 Summit will mainly Discuss (RIA Novosti, 19 May 2004)

    The G8 summit will spotlight the security sphere, head of the State Duma international affairs committee Konstantin Kosachev said at a press conference in Moscow on Wednesday.

"It is especially topical now since the two main threats - international terrorism and WMD proliferation - have been aggravated," Kosachev pointed out.

According to him, the North Korean nuclear problem and the problem of non-proliferation treaty adjustment should be discussed above all in this context.

"This treaty works well de-jure but de-facto it does not take into account new realities, that is the situation when India, Pakistan and Israel - the countries possessing nuclear weapons - are not signatories to it," Kosachev stressed.

According to him, the Sea-Island G8 summit scheduled for June 8-10 should discuss the economic situation in the world, taking into account the unprecedented growth of oil prices. This situation has both positive and negative aspects for all G8 states, Kosachev believes. He stressed that coordination of actions on this issue could be very important for the OPEC.

The deputy also pointed out that the humanitarian cooperation within the G8 framework should also be discussed. The point at issue is cooperation, above all in the spheres of education, science and culture, Kosachev concluded. (http://www.rian.ru/)

9. Kazakhstan Ratifies Treaty on Cooperation in Protecting Eurasec Countries' Borders (RIA Novosti, 20 May 2004)

    Kazakhstan's parliament ratified, on Wednesday, the treaty on cooperation in protecting the borders of the countries within the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEc), which involves Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.

"The parties to the treaty shall maintain cooperation to prevent acts of terrorism, illegal movements of arms and ammunition, explosives, poisonous substances, illicit drugs and psychotropic medications, radioactive material and other contraband items on their borders. They also pledge to fight illegal migration and religious extremism whatever form it may take," Bolat Zakiyev, Kazakhstan's frontier service director and deputy chief of the national security committee, said at a plenary meeting of the Kazakh senate on Thursday.

Under the treaty the signatory countries must provide airspace, airports and airfields, landing grounds, navigation and weather information for each other's frontier services and aircraft.

The EurAsEc countries signed the treaty in Moscow on February 21, 2003.

The law on the ratification of the treaty has been handed over to Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev for signing. (http://www.rian.ru/)

10. CIS Defense Ministers to Coordinate WMD Non-Proliferation Efforts (ITAR-TASS, 21 May 2004)

    CIS defense ministers have welcomed the Russian Foreign Ministry's proposal for coordinating the Commonwealth member countries' positions on the issue of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov has said.

"In the context of preparations for an international WMD non-proliferation conference due in 2005 the participants in the session unanimously supported proposals for coordinating the positions of our countries on this crucial world issue," Ivanov said after a meeting of the CIS defense ministers.

Much attention at the meeting was paid to the operation of a common CIS anti-aircraft defense system.

"A draft of the special purpose program for the comprehensive protection of the CIS armed forces against the likely enemy's air attack will be submitted to the CIS heads of state council later on Friday. The program's adoption will be an important and very effective measure to advance diversified cooperation in that field."

The CIS defense ministers adopted a number of important decisions concerning the training of CIS armies in 2005, operation of the collective peacekeeping force in the CIS, measures to enhance the security of flights by military aircraft, creation of a unified communication system and perfection of cooperation in the sphere of hydro-meteorological support.

"The adopted decisions can be regarded as another concrete step towards wider military cooperation and stronger relations of trust and mutual understanding among the CIS member-states," Ivanov said. (http://www.itar-tass.com/)

11. Weldon Speaks of Boosting Missile Defense Cooperation with Moscow (Associated Press, 26 May 2004)

    A U.S. congressman on Tuesday spoke in favor of expanding technical cooperation with Russia in the development of an anti-missile system the United States is determined to build.

U.S. Representative Curt Weldon, R-Pa., praised the decade-old Russian-American Observation Satellite program, or RAMOS a joint effort to permit early detection of missile launches but said follow-up projects are needed to engage Russia in missile defense activities.

Projects ranging "from the use of Russian radar systems to the potential involvement of Russia in targeting and other aspects of missile defense" are being considered, said Weldon, who is heading a congressional delegation to Moscow and was accompanied by four senior leaders from the U.S. missile defense agency.

After years of fervent protests against U.S. plans to build nationwide defenses against ballistic missiles, President Vladimir Putin reacted calmly when Washington withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002 in order to deploy such a shield. Putin said the move was a mistake but not a threat to Russia.

U.S. officials have tried to soothe Russian concerns about American plans for a missile shield by talking about prospects for cooperation on anti-missile systems.

The RAMOS program was begun under President George H.W. Bush as a measure aimed to build trust not long after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Satellites and other means of detecting and tracking missiles in flight are crucial to defending against attack. Interceptor rockets cannot work properly if they aren't cued to their target in time.

Weldon, who is vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said he had earlier suggested to Russia's military leadership that cooperation based on Russian technology such as air defense missile systems, or on boost-phase interceptors, be considered.

The American delegation had meetings with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, members of Russia's parliament, military officials and business representatives.

Among the issues discussed was the need for increased investment in Russia. Weldon said the delegation had offered support for a new U.S.$50 million venture capital fund in Russia.

On international affairs, Weldon said that Russia should play a critical role in Iraq and that "the effort there to deal with the terror cells is as important to Russian security as it is to American."

Emphasizing Russia's role in finding a lasting settlement on the Korean peninsula, Weldon said Russia can help by providing energy support to North Korea and by transporting energy through North Korea for purchased by South Koreans, Japan and Chinese." (http://www.ap.org/)

12. Russia for Iran Abiding By Its Nuclear Commitments (RIA Novosti, 27 May 2004)

    Russia is for Iran's abiding by all its commitments in the nuclear sphere, Alexander Yakovenko, official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, told the RIA Novosti news conference.

Asked to comment on the statement by Iranian President Mohammad Khatami that Teheran can resume uranium enrichment and end inspection of its nuclear facilities if the International Atomic Energy Agency does not agree to Iran's participation in the June sitting of the IAEA Board of Governors, Alexander Yakovenko said he knows nothing about the statement.

"On a broader plane, I can say that we come out for active cooperation between Iran and the IAEA. An intensive level of contacts has already been reached", he said.

"We hope that Iran will abide by its obligations on not only the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty but also the additional protocol to the IAEA Guarantees Agreement, which it has just signed". Alexander Yakovenko stressed.

On Thursday the Iranian president said that a decision by the IAEA on Iran's participation in the Board of Governors' sitting will have a say on Teheran-IAEA cooperation. "We have voluntary discontinued work on uranium enrichment and we are voluntarily fulfilling the inspections decision. We can end it all at any time", Khatami said. (http://www.rian.ru/)