ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE

Dear Sir/Madam,

We are pleased to invite you to attend the Fourth Public Hearing on Chemical Weapons Destruction organized by Green Cross Russia, in cooperation with Global Green USA and Green Cross Switzerland. The hearing will take place in Kizner and Izhevsk (Udmurt Republic, Russia), May 25-28, 1998. The hearing brings together Russian federal, regional, and local officials, military, non-governmental organizations, academia and the public for open and informal discussions and consideration of plans for destruction of the Kizner chemical weapons stockpile. The hearing is endorsed by the authorities of the Udmurt Republic, the Russian government, public organizations, scientists, and citizens.

Recently, the Russian Federation has approved legislation governing chemical weapons destruction and has ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention. The Russian chemical weapons destruction programme is in its startup phase and the construction of destruction facilities in Gorny and Shchuch'ye has been or should be initiated in the near future, respectively. However, past experience has shown that chemical weapons destruction facilities are an intensively disputed issue, leading at times to open confrontation between the public and authorities. While few oppose chemical weapons destruction, different stakeholders approach the problem of destruction with a wide variety of possible solutions. Also, local communities are increasingly demanding improvement in their local infrastructure in return for their support of plans for destruction.

Under a motto of "From Confrontation to Cooperation", the Green Cross hearing aims to build mutual understanding between the public, environmental organizations, authorities, and the military on next steps needed, and at promoting practical activities to solve the complex and interrelated environmental, health, technical, and social issues. The hearing is designed to facilitate an exchange of opinions between citizens and authorities. The hearing is open to all interested parties throughout Russia and abroad.

The hearing will be held on Tuesday (May 26) in Kizner and on Wednesday (May 27) in Izhevsk. Experts will present their assessments on medical, environmental, legal, technical, and educational problems. Government, legislative, and military officials as well as the governors or deputy-governors of the seven stockpile regions will give updates on their current efforts and activities. By 22. 4. 98, presentations from following organisations have been announced:

* Government of the Russian Federation

* Ministry of Defence, Department of the Commander of the Troops of Radioactive, Chemical and Biological Protection * President's Committee on Problems of the Chemical and Biological Weapons Convention, RF

* State Committee on Environment Protection, RF * Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM), RF * Federal Department of Medical, Biological and Emergency Problems, Ministry of Public Health and Medical Industry, RF * Institute of the Federal Department of Medical, Biological and Emergency Problems, Ministry of Public Health and Medical Industry, RF * GosNIIOKhT (Moscow)

* Giprosintez (Volgograd)

* State Design Institute #31 of Special Construction, Ministry of Defence, RF.

* Government of the Udmurt Republic

* State Soviet of the Udmurt Republic

* State Committee on Environment Protection * Department of Public Health

* Committee on the Problems of the Chemical Weapons Convention, Government of the Udmurt Republic

* Administration of the Kambarka Area

* Administration of the Kizner Area

* Udmurt State University

* Institute of Applied Mechanics of the Russian Academy of Science, Ural branch * Institute for Natural and Technogenic Disasters (Izhevsk).

* "Health to Children", Saratov

* "Union for Chemical Safety"

* Centre of Environmental Initiatives Support * Green Cross Russia.

* Swedish-Russian Co-operation Project in Kambarka * EU/TACIS programme.

The hearings will be facilitated by Green Cross Russia with the co-operation of Global Green USA and Green Cross Switzerland, and will be conducted with a commitment to open, objective, and respectful exchange of information. A joint final declaration will be produced and proceedings will be available to the public (in Russian with English abstracts).

There is no fee for the hearing, but travel costs are, if you are not informed otherwise, expected to be covered by the participant. * Round trip airfare, Moscow-Izhevsk, approximately $ 310 (flight days 25.5. 1005, back 28.5. 0920 or 1700)

* Round trip train fare, Moscow-Izhevsk, is $ 150 (four beds compartment) - $ 300 (two beds compartment) (travel days 24.5. 1730 (arr. 25.5. 1400) and back 28.5. 1000 (arr. 29.5. 0624)

* Hotel and board is approximately $ 50-80/day.

If you would like to attend the hearing, please write, fax, or email Green Cross Russia (address below) with your name, address, and affiliation by May 10. Green Cross Russia will be available to help with travel arrangements and/or visa applications. You will receive a draft programme shortly (via email) in Word- and ASCII-format.

For more information please contact:

Within Russia:

Green Cross Russia
Prof. Sergey Baranovsky
Tel. +7--095--923 72 87
Fax +7--095--923 68 33
email gcrus@glas.apc.org

Within Western Europe:

Green Cross Switzerland
Dr. Stephan Robinson
Tel. +41--61--382 91 97
email greencross@ubaclu.unibas.ch

or when absent

Green Cross International
Tel. +41--22--789 16 62
Fax +41--22--789 16 95
email

Within North America:

Global Green USA
Dr. Paul Walker
Tel. +1--202--879 31 81
Fax +1--202--879 31 82
email rudy@igc.apc.org

All applications to attend the hearing should be sent to Green Cross Russia.

Sergey Baranovsky, Paul Walker, Stephan Robinson

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