Global Green News
Tenth Annual Russian National Chemical Dialogue
Green Cross Russia, Green Cross Switzerland, and Global Green USA, all national affiliates of Green Cross International founded by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1993, are pleased to announce the forthcoming Tenth Anniversary Russian National Dialogue on the Chemical Weapons Convention and chemical weapons destruction in Moscow in October 2008.
Chemical Weapons Convention: A key international agreement for the control and demilitarization of weapons of mass destruction, the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) today includes 184 member states, six of which have declared chemical weapons stockpiles. Russia, which holds the world's largest stockpile, has been a State Party to the Convention since 5 November 1997.
Chemical Weapons Destruction: Russia has put great efforts in recent years into chemical weapons demilitarization. Spending on its destruction program has increased dramatically from prior years, and now surpasses $ 1 billion per year. In June 2008, Russia opened a fourth destruction facility at Leonidovka in the Penza Oblast (350 miles SE of Moscow). The Leonidovka facility is the second to be largely funded by the Russian government. The Leonidovka opening follows by 21 months the opening of its first nerve agent destruction facility in Maradikovsky in the Kirov Oblast on September 8, 2006. Two additional CW destruction facilities for older chemical agents - lewisite and mustard - were largely funded by Germany and opened in Gorny in the Saratov Oblast in December 2002 and in Kambarka in the Udmurt Republic in March 2006.
Two more destruction facilities in Pochep in the Bryansk Oblast and Shchuch'ye in the Kurgan Oblast may also open later this year or next, while the seventh CW stockpile in Kizner in the Udmurt Republic is scheduled to begin destruction in late 2009 or 2010. Russia has neutralized approximately 30% of its declared stockpile, and has until April 29, 2012 to reach full destruction. Russia is assisted currently by 16 countries within the framework of the G-8 Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction.
National Dialogue: The annual Green Cross/Global Green National Dialogue has been and continues to be a unique meeting place for all stakeholders in the ongoing chemical weapons destruction process. The two-day conference brings together representatives from Russian chemical weapons stockpile regions; federal ministries and agencies responsible for the implementation of the Russian chemical weapons destruction programme; countries providing assistance to the Russian Chemical Weapons Destruction Program; the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW); and Russian and foreign non-governmental organizations, academia, and the mass media. The meeting provides a unique platform to discuss the state of Russian chemical weapons destruction, including legal, environmental, economic, technical, health, and social issues; to define challenges ahead; to understand next steps needed for the safe, timely, and environmentally sound destruction of chemical weapons; to provide updates on global chemical weapons destruction efforts; and to consider the implementation of the CWC in its wider international context.
A New Dialogue Model: A new, more interactive, theme-specific organization will be applied this year in order to allow for better communication and information sharing among all stakeholders.
Day One: During the first day of this annual Dialogue, presentations by federal representatives will bring participants up to date on the current status of the Russian Destruction Program, while representatives from the stockpile areas will provide regional and local perspectives. International participants will provide an overview of the ongoing international assistance programs, and will address the continuation of international partnership and support for the safe and timely elimination of Russia's CW stockpile.
Day Two: The second day of the Dialogue will focus on theme-specific workshops that will address pressing challenges during current destruction operations. With Russia starting operations at more facilities this year, it is necessary that this year's discussions at the Dialogue focus on public health studies and implications regarding populations at chemical weapons stockpile sites. The sessions will also include discussions on lessons learned in Russia, the United States, and elsewhere.
A different, most current topic will be addressed each succeeding year. Themes for future-years discussions include: emergency preparedness at the facilities and in local communities; second stage treatment of hydrolysate; and facility decontamination, conversion, and other options for communities and facilities beyond CW destruction completion dates.
Please RSVP by 10 October 2008
In Russia: Green Cross Russia, tel. +7 (495) 925 69 97, fax +7 (495) 254 61 02, email gcrus@online.ru
In Europe: Green Cross Switzerland, tel. +41 (43) 499 13 18, fax +41 (43) 499 13 14, email roland.brunner@greencross.ch
In North America: Global Green USA, tel. +1 (202) 222 07 00, fax +1 (202) 222 07 03, email pwalker@globalgreen.org or cion@globalgreen.org
The Dialogue is open to the public. Attendance is free; travel, visa, and accommodation are the responsibility of participants. Proceedings will be available after the event in hard copy and electronically in English and in Russian. Prior proceedings may be found here.
