In The Hague today, Norway and the UK have entered into an agreement to cooperate on assistance to the Russian programme for the destruction of chemical weapons. Norway will provide NOK 9.2 million to be used to ensure reliable power supplies to a facility at Shchuch’ye in central Russia where large amounts of nerve gas are to be destroyed in the next few years.

Norway has already allocated a similar amount to an American project being carried out at the same site. This grant will be disbursed as soon as Congress has approved the US project.

"These allocations are an expression of Norway’s broad-based involvement in support of Russia’s own efforts to rid itself of the chemical heritage from the Soviet era", said Foreign Minister Jan Petersen. He also emphasised how pleased he was to see the substantial increase in Russia’s own efforts in this field.