Russia on Track to Destroy Chemical Weapon Reserves by April 2012

Russia is set to meet its international obligations to destroy its chemical weapons stockpiles by April 2012.

As part of its obligations, the country has established a facility in Pochep to destroy the Soviet-era weapons, technological watchdog Rostechnadzor said.

The Pochep dismantled four bombs in the first day of its operation and is expected to scrap about 19% of Russia’s stockpiles, according to RIA Novosti.

The plant is the sixth facility built by Russia that will allow complete destruction of munitions as well as the chemical agents and products of detoxification.

Russia signed the Chemical Weapons Convention, banning the development, production, stockpiling, transfer and use of chemical arms, in 1993. It has destroyed half of its chemical weapons arsenal to date.