.. Global Partnership progress
TOKYO—Wealthy Group of Eight (G-8) donor nations are coming up short on financial aid pledged for Russia to dismantle its Soviet-era nuclear and stockpiles and help other countries keep nuclear material from falling into the hands of terrorists, experts said at an international weapons conference held here on Tuesday.
Nils Bøhmer/Bellona
Weapons specialists from governments and think-tanks around the world gathered at the June 7th "Reviewing Global Partnership: Its Achievements for International Security and Cooperation" to evaluate progress in eliminating weapons of mass destruction and protecting stored nuclear waste in Russia.
Aid for these efforts was pledged by the G-8 in 2002 when it met in Kananaskis, Canada and promised at least $20 billion over 10 years toward dismantlement projects in Russia via the so-called Global Partnership Proramme.
Former US Senator Sam Nunn said the pledges of $17 so far billion fall short of the Kananaskis goal and he stressed that only a fraction of that amount had actually been spent and that the international community was not doing enough to meet its commitments. He urged delegates to consider the risks of inaction.
``Today <...> it is possible that a small group of terrorists could acquire nuclear weapons in one nation, launch a nuclear attack in another nation and stagger the security and the economy of every nation,'' said Nunn, according to the Associated Press. <snip>
Nils Bøhmer, Charles Digges, 2005-06-08 14:48
http://www.bellona.no/en/international/russia/nuke_industry/co-operation/38388.html