£30m to tackle Russia's nuclear legacy

£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."

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