Washington, Dec 13 (RIA Novosti) The US House of Representatives has passed a defence policy bill authorising $178 million for nuclear security in Russia.
Of the total allocated sum, $93 million will be spent on destroying strategic offensive armament in Russia, while around $48 million has been set aside for the storage of nuclear weapons, and some $38 million for the safe transportation of nuclear arms under the Cooperative Threat Reduction Programme.
The programme is designed to help Russia and other former Soviet states secure sensitive nuclear, chemical and biological materials in order to prevent both accidents and the weapons falling into the hands of terrorist groups.
The bill was passed by the House of Representatives in a 370-49 vote Wednesday, but has yet to be approved by the Senate and signed by President George W. Bush. It sets overall US spending on nuclear and chemical security measures in former Soviet states at $428 million, up $80 million in 2007.
Other countries have also made contributions to nuclear security programmes, including decommissioning of Russian nuclear submarines, as well as shutting down plutonium production facilities, regarded as a nuclear non-proliferation threat and a major safety risk.
The programme envisages their replacement with fossil fuel energy plants to provide heating and employment in nearby areas.
This year saw Russia increasing spending on nuclear and radiation safety tenfold, from $7.4 million in 2006 to $110 million, according to the country’s nuclear chief Sergei Kiriyenko.
The bill sets the US’ overall defence budget at $964 billion for 2008.