Canadian PM satisfied with agreement on financing elimination of soviet weapons of mass destruction

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien favourably spoke of the agreement on financing the projects for the elimination of the weapons of mass destruction of the former Soviet Union to the value of 20 billion dollars, which was adopted at the G-8 summit in Kananaskis.

Addressing the news conference after the completion of the summit, the Canadian Prime Minister said that in the next ten years the United States will allocate ten billion dollars for these purposes. According to him, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain and Italy will also make their contributions. However, the participation of Japan in the projects is not yet clear, said Jean Chretien. He explained this situation by economic difficulties which that country is experiencing now.

As was pointed out by the Canadian Prime Minister, who presided at the G-8 summit, these projects will concern the elimination in the first place of the weapons of mass destruction and the phasing out of nuclear submarines. Jean Chretien said that Canada, within the framework of carrying out the project, can, for example, render assistance to Russia in eliminating two or ten such submarines. He also pointed out that for the work over these projects bilateral agreements with Russia will be needed.

The head of the Canadian government said that in his opinion it is very important to implement this plan, because we must prevent a possibility of capturing these weapons of mass destruction by terrorists.

I am very much satisfied with the achieved agreement, stated Jean Chretien. The Canadian Prime Minister said that the course of the implementation of the agreement would be considered at the next summit of the eight countries next year in France.