APPEAL OF PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS

Large amounts of chemical weapons in the Russian Federation have created problems concerning the safe stockpiling and future destruction of chemical weapons, and has attracted the attention of the population, politicians, militaries, scientists, experts, public movements in countries throughout the world.

Most of Russian political forces support the process of the chemical weapons destruction and provisions of the Convention banning the chemical weapons use. The Public Forum held in Moscow on November 4, 1998, devoted to the first anniversary of the Convention ratification by Russia, was one of the steps of its realization.

Now, governmental and public organizations are carrying out vast outreach activities in all areas, where the chemical weapons are stockpiled. Measures have been taken towards the destruction of the weapons, and comprehensive surveys have been conducted with the citizens' health and environment states. In some areas, works on potential risks assessment due to the long-term chemical weapons stockpiling were made.

Mutual contacts and cooperation is going on with business circles of some countries on joint activities aiming at the Convention provisions realization. One may highly appreciate the American financial assistance in constructing facilities for the chemical weapons destruction in Shchuch'ye, Kurgan Oblast, or the cooperation with Germany on the development and supply of equipment for the similar facilities in the Saratov Oblast, or with Great Britain, Switzerland and Sweden on the support of outreach offices.

At the same time, the public is very concerned by the fact that, as a result of financial difficulties in Russia, the necessary financial means have not been allocated for the first stage of the implementation of the Federal Program on the chemical weapons destruction. It is inadmissible that the problems of the social infrastructure construction are tackled very badly. This jeopardizes the scheduling of the chemical weapons destruction defined by the Convention.

The organizations signing this appeal outline that Russia confirmed its adherence to chemical disarmament by the Convention ratification as a main condition of the provision of safety for the population and sustainable development of the world community.

We unanimously think that only open and close international collaboration of scientists and experts, militaries, politicians and public movements aiming at the joint constructive searching of optimal methods of the chemical weapons destruction will promote the Convention fulfillment.

The Russian public is very frustrated about financing the works on the chemical weapons destruction at the first stage and appeals to the countries that signed the Convention to expand and strengthen international cooperation in this field to assist Russia to fulfill its international obligations.

We appeal to all states, intergovernmental organizations, foundations, and to all who understand the importance and necessity of the chemical weapons destruction, to support the process of chemical disarmament in Russia by technical and financial means that will finally save the world from a serious danger which may become a disaster for mankind.

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