U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar will make the following comments at the opening ceremony for the Shchuchye Chemical Weapons Destruction Facility on Friday, May 29, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. (2 a.m. EDT):
I am honored to join you in celebrating the opening of the Chemical Weapons Destruction Facility here in the Kurgan Oblast. This is an important achievement that is a symbol of our cooperation and our shared dedication to addressing the threats posed by weapons of mass destruction.
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.
Seventeen years ago, former Senator Sam Nunn and I understood that a unilateral effort to address the threats posed by weapons of mass destruction would not succeed. We challenged the United States and our former enemies to work together. The Nunn-Lugar Program succeeded in convincing Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan to remove all of the nuclear weapons from their territories. In addition, it became the primary tool through which the United States works with Russia to safely destroy nuclear, chemical and biological arsenals. Together, our countries have eliminated more nuclear weapons than the combined arsenals of the United Kingdom, France and China. Even during moments of tension between our countries, the Nunn-Lugar program has remained a constant. Both sides recognize the importance of this endeavor to our mutual security and the welfare of our children and grandchildren.
No one would have predicted 20 years ago that American officials and contractors would be working with their Russian counterparts to destroy chemical weapons stored just a few miles away. Nine years ago, a Russian major took my photograph showing how an 85mm shell filled with nerve gas could be carried in a simple brief case. In Washington, that photo became an important symbol of the challenge we faced.
This is my fourth visit to the Kurgan Oblast. I have watched this facility emerge from a birch forest and tracked its subsequent progress carefully. The hospitality of the people has been wonderful and your dedication to the responsibilities imposed by these weapons has been remarkable. Your burdens have been shared by the people of my home state of Indiana. Near our western border we too had a large facility with dangerous chemicals. The process of destroying those chemicals was completed in 2008. We are grateful that this was done safely and pray for the same result here.
The road to this day has not been smooth. There have been delays caused by the apprehension of the U.S. Congress; bureaucratic obstruction; problems with Russian funding; and contractor disputes. Through it all, Americans and Russians worked together to resolve difficult challenges. The product of their efforts stands behind me today.
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.
Our joint work here has already produced impressive results beyond the borders of Russia. In 2002, new leaders in Albania discovered 16 tons of chemical weapons that a previous government had failed to declare under the Chemical Weapons Convention. The government in Tirana recognized the risk and promptly sought assistance. Using personnel and expertise developed here, all the chemical weapons were destroyed. Our success in Albania owes much to the important lessons learned from cooperating here at Shchuchye.
The list of American and Russian professionals that have made this world a safer place through their work and sacrifices here are too numerous to list. But I commend the work of the Department of Defense, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and the Parson Company and would like to single out the work of three Americans: Jim Reid, Paul McNelly, and Colonel Zane Mitchell. Gentlemen: you have my thanks and that of all Americans and Russians. Untold horrors were prevented by your commitment and work ethic. I also want to recognize the work of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, led by my friend Sam Nunn. NTI joined the governments of Canada and the United Kingdom to support the construction of the railroad bridge that helps securely transport the munitions to the destruction plant. NTI joined 14 governments in contributing to this project.
Moscow and Washington have proven that former enemies can work together to achieve shared security benefits. Our policies toward one another have frequently been characterized by ambiguities and difficult choices. But this facility is testament to the fact that we can make progress on areas of collaboration that are essential to our common interests. I remain optimistic that we will summon the courage and perseverance required to move our nations toward mutual successes.
Thank you for the opportunity to share these thoughts with you today.
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