Russia destroys chemical weapons stockpile

disclaimer: image is for illustration purposes only

Moscow (UPI) Sep 22, 2010 The Russian Federation has destroyed 19,300 tons of Soviet-era chemical weapons stockpiles. Minpromtorg head Viktor Kholstov presented a report on the ongoing chemical weapons elimination program to a meeting of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security, Komsomol'skaia Pravda reported.
Kholstov told committee members that the destroyed weapons represent 48.3 percent of Russia's remaining existing stockpiles, adding, "It means that we fully complied with the third stage of target dates for the destruction of stockpiles of chemical weapons. The main source of financing for the destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles -- is the federal budget."
Kholstov said that when the first stage of the destruction was completed April 29, 2003, the amount of destroyed ammunition was 400 tons, with an additional 8,000 tons eliminated up to April 2007. Under the third phase of the program, 18,000 tons, or 45 percent of all remaining stocks were to be destroyed.
"However, this task was completed last Nov. 25 and by Sept. 1 this year we have already destroyed 19.3 thousand tons of weapons," Kholstov added.