Brussels, 12/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - The conference on non-proliferation and disarmament organised by the EU in Brussels on 8 and 9 March, enabled 170 delegates to exchange views on the most important aspects of nuclear safety, notably regarding enriched uranium or plutonium weapons, the destruction of chemical weapons and the reconversion of military scientists and laboratories into the civilian field. Other than EU representatives, there were delegates from the United States, Japan, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Moldova.
At the end of the conference, while recognising that the conference had not given rise to "major decision", Ambassador Stefan Noreen, member of the private office of the Swedish Prime Minister stressed that it had enabled the EU to confirm its commitment to non-proliferation and disarmament. He explained that all participants had stressed the need for additional efforts at international level to back the non-proliferation and disarmament programme in Russia and in the new independent States. "The strongest message came from Russia" which confirmed its commitment to beginning its programme in 2002 for the destruction of 400,000 tonnes of chemical weapons present on its territory,) said Mr. Noreen. "We are all disappointed with the slow pace of progress," the Swedish Ambassador nevertheless pointed out, explaining that this was doubtless linked to both the lack of financial means and problems of oganisation within the Russian Federation.. The process of dialogue and cooperation has now to be sustained and the international community has to intensify its support for Russia, he said, recalling that the EU (Commission and Member States) has contributed a total of 551 million euro to disarmament in Russia, over the period 1992-2001. "On the side if the Swedish Presidency, we would like additional funds to be provided", he stipulated, adding that the EU's financial commitment also needed complementing by other international partners.