Saratov Chemical Weapons Destruction Plant to Be Opened on December 15

The Gorny chemical weapons destruction plant in the Saratov Region will be opened around December 15, 2002. Saratov Regional Governor Dmitri Ayatsov made this announcement yesterday after returning from a meeting of the state commission for chemical disarmament in Moscow.

According to the governor, although President Putin will take the final decision on opening the plant, a state inspection committee will start work at the plant on December 1. Ayatsov announced that agreement had been reached on utilising the by-products from processing mustard gas and lewisite stored in Gorny, and on additional financing for the plant. Approximately USD 1.5 million will be spent on equipping the plant with an alarm system and other security measures.