£30m to tackle Russia's nuclear legacy
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Igor Ivanov, the Russian Foreign Minister, will today sign a landmark agreement that
enables the UK to start spending £30m tackling Russia's nuclear Cold War legacy.
Projects can begin immediately to dismantle decommissioned nuclear submarines and safely store tonnes of spent nuclear
fuel, a total commitment of up to £20m.
The UK is also committing £10m to the Northern Dimension Environmental Programme. Managed by the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development, this Programme will include several major projects to deal with spent nuclear fuel and
other nuclear waste, all of which will complement the UK's bilateral activities.
The UK will join the Arctic Military Environmental Co-operation (AMEC) programme which includes practical work on
dismantling submarines. It will be signed by the UK's Parliamentary Under Secretary for Defence, Ivor Caplin onboard the
Russian Frigate Neustrashimiy, currently moored at Greenwich, London, for the State Visit.
Jack Straw said:
"Tackling WMD proliferation is one of this Government's highest priorities. Our co-operation with Russia on dealing with
its nuclear legacy is a crucial part of this - and I'm delighted that during this State Visit we have been able to sign
an agreement that enables many new UK projects to begin."