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At issue is the so-called 1992 Nunn/Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Program. It's based on a Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DRRA) initiative. Its to "secure and dismantle weapons of mass destruction and their associated infrastructure in former Soviet Union states."
In May 2009, Russia opened a facility to decommission chemical weapons. Earlier in 2012, efforts ended. On October 10, CTR ones did entirely. Itar Tass explained, saying:
"Russia intends to dispose the nuclear arsenals by its own forces. Russia explains this decision by the fact that the country does not need any allocations any longer, but needs to curb the leaking of the classified information."Nunn/Lugar "is discriminatory for Russia and does not take into account".changes, which took place since its signing in the hard 90s for our country."
Moscow doesn't oppose Russia/Washington cooperation. At issue is updating and negotiating fair terms. Nunn/Lugar ends in May 2013. US deals are heavily skewed one-way. A Foreign Ministry statement said new arrangements should be "based on the principles of equal rights and mutual respect."
Not good enough, claims the NYT. "There will be plenty of losers from Russia's recent decision to end two decades of cooperation with Washington on cleaning up nuclear and chemical weapons sites left over from the cold war.""".the world must watch as Russia's unsecured weapons and materials remain a temptation for terrorists of all varieties to buy or steal for use in future attacks."
Ending Nunn/Lugar "is perverse and reckless," claimed The Times. (It's) all too typical of President Putin's sour, xenophobic and self-isolating worldview."
It followed "expell(ing)" USAID. It "sponsor(s) human rights, civil society and public health programs"." Perhaps they were "too successful," said The Times"."too threatening to Mr. Putin."
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