Senator Dick Lugar Celebrates Opening Of Largest Nunn-Lugar WMD Destruction Project

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May 28, 2009 -- Shchuchye, Russia -- U.S. Senator Dick Lugar said today that the Nunn-Lugar Chemical Weapons Destruction Facility here is a testament to U.S.-Russian “cooperation and our shared dedication to addressing the threats posed by weapons of mass destruction.”

More than a decade in the making, the facility will destroy nearly 2 million chemical weapons shells and nerve agent that has been stored here since Soviet days. It is arguably the largest facility in the world destroying chemical munitions, and is currently the only operating facility that can accommodate the destruction of 2 million munitions.

“The path to peace and prosperity for both Russia and the United States depends on how we resolve the threats posed by the arsenals built to fight World War III. Thankfully that confrontation never came. But today we must ensure that the weapons are never used, and never fall into the hands of those who would do harm to us or others. The United States and Russia have too much at stake and too many common interests to allow our relationship to drift toward conflict. Both of our nations have been the victim of terrorism that has deeply influenced our sense of security,” Lugar said in a speech here.

“The experience of the Nunn-Lugar program in Russia has demonstrated that the threat of weapons of mass destruction can lead to extraordinary outcomes based on mutual interest. As new dangers emerge in third countries, the U.S. and Russia must work together around the world and aggressively pursue any non-proliferation opportunities that appear. Together we can utilize the Nunn-Lugar concept to address global threats.”

On at least a dozen occasions over the past decade Lugar has interceded to keep the Shchuchye project on track. The program was challenged by congressional opposition and restrictions, contractual problems, cost over runs, and delays. “Our own national security is bolstered by a vigorous international campaign to contain and eliminate all chemical weapons stockpiles. Global terrorists remain on the prowl, looking for new targets and, no doubt, new weapons. Destroying the huge cache of weapons at Shchuchye will make Americans safer,” Lugar said.

Lugar co-authored the Nunn-Lugar program in 1991 with then Sen. Sam Nunn (D-GA). Lugar also led, with then Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), the 1997 Senate ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which helped spur Russia to agree to the treaty. Chemical weapons at Newport, in Lugar’s home state of Indiana, have already been eliminated in compliance with the treaty. The U.S. and Russia continue to work on destruction at other locations in both countries.

Shchuch’ye is located about 1,000 miles east-southeast of Moscow. Approximately 14 percent (about 5,460 metric tons) of Russia’s nerve agent stockpile is stored at the site in munitions. “The stockpile poses a threat because of the size and lethality of the weapons. In 1999, a Russian Major and I demonstrated the proliferation threat posed by these weapons by easily fitting an 85 mm shell, filled with VX, into an ordinary briefcase. Room was available for at least two more shells. One briefcase alone, could carry enough agent to kill thousands of Americans,” Lugar said. The nerve agents, including VX, Sarin and Soman, will be neutralized into nonlethal bitumen (tar) and stored in secure bunkers. The munitions shells are also destroyed in the process.

TWO VIDEOS SHOWING THE SHCHUCH’YE STORAGE FACILITY MAY BE FOUND AT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDcnqJik6Pw&feature=channel_page and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSOwSdcTxUs&feature=channel_page.

Lugar and Nunn last visited Shchuchye in August 2007 to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Nunn-Lugar program. The opening ceremonies will be Lugar’s fourth visit to Shchuchye, the previous as part of the ongoing oversight inspections.

The U.S. provided $1 billion for the facility. In addition, Russia, Canada, the Czech Republic, the European Union, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom supported the project. It is the largest Nunn-Lugar project.

The Nunn-Lugar program has provided U.S. funding and expertise to help the former Soviet Union safeguard and dismantle its enormous stockpiles of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, related materials, and delivery systems. In 2003, Congress adopted the Lugar-initiated Nunn-Lugar Expansion Act, which authorized the Nunn-Lugar program to operate outside the former Soviet Union to address proliferation threats. In 2004, Nunn-Lugar funds were committed for the first time outside of the former Soviet Union to destroy chemical weapons in Albania. In 2007, Lugar announced the complete destruction of Albania’s chemical weapons.

The Nunn-Lugar scorecard now totals 7,514 strategic nuclear warheads deactivated, 752 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) destroyed, 498 ICBM silos eliminated, 143 ICBM mobile launchers destroyed, 643 submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) eliminated, 476 SLBM launchers eliminated, 31 nuclear submarines capable of launching ballistic missiles destroyed, 155 bomber eliminated, 906 nuclear air-to-surface missiles (ASMs) destroyed, 194 nuclear test tunnels eliminated, 438 nuclear weapons transport train shipments secured, upgraded security at 24 nuclear weapons storage sites, and built and equipped 18 biological monitoring stations. Perhaps most importantly, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Belarus are nuclear weapons free as a result of cooperative efforts under the Nunn-Lugar program. Those countries were the third, fourth and eighth largest nuclear weapons powers in the world.

Lugar makes annual oversight trips to Nunn-Lugar sites around the world.

The Nunn-Lugar program: http://lugar.senate.gov/nunnlugar/
The Nunn-Lugar scorecard: http://lugar.senate.gov/nunnlugar/scorecard.html

Source: Senator Dick Lugar