PRESS CONFERENCE BY UKRAINE

12 June 1996

Press Briefing

19960612 FOR INFORMATION OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT ONLY

The Permanent Representative of Ukraine, Anatoli M. Zlenko, this morning announced that his country had, on 1 June, completed "a crucial event in the process of denuclearization of the world": the withdrawal of all its nuclear weapons to the territory of the Russian Federation, for future dismantling under the supervision of Ukrainian observers.

Speaking at a press conference at Headquarters, he cited a statement by his President which affirmed Ukraine's commitment to the process of nuclear disarmament and to eliminating the threat of nuclear annihilation. That statement had been circulated as an official document of the General Assembly, he said.

Mr. Zlenko said that from the first days of its independent development, Ukraine had affirmed three basic principles -- not to accept, manufacture or acquire nuclear weapons. As early as 1992, Ukraine had voluntarily removed all tactical nuclear weapons inherited from the former Soviet Union.

He cited international agreements which had determined the mechanism of nuclear disarmament in Ukraine, specified financial and material aspects of assistance and made it possible to schedule and organize the process of withdrawal. They also addressed such questions as practical arrangements for silo elimination, re-manufacture of rocket motors and the impact of the process on the environment.

Mr. Zlenko said Ukraine had met with complete understanding for its efforts from its nuclear disarmament counterparts -- the United States and the Russian Federation -- as well as from other countries which had expressed willingness to help. Along with its renunciation of nuclear weapons, Ukraine had received security assurances from the Russian Federation, the United States and the United Kingdom. It had also received assurances from France and China.

The President of Ukraine had urged all States, and primarily the nuclear-weapon States, to support the process of nuclear disarmament, Mr. Zlenko said. It was hoped that Ukraine's action would create a positive impetus on the eve of the possible signing, by the end of June, of the comprehensive test-ban treaty. In the meanwhile, his country was aware that the threat of use of nuclear weapons still existed in the world, and that some States sought to acquire and produce such weapons. That was a matter of concern. Nevertheless, Ukraine would continue to demonstrate its commitment to comprehensive nuclear disarmament.

Where did the nuclear warheads go when they were dismantled? a correspondent asked. Mr. Zlenko said they had been transferred to the

Ukraine Press Conference - 2 - 12 June 1996

territory of the Russian Federation. Asked if the disarmament process had come under international supervision, he cited Ukraine's agreement with the Russian Federation, which placed the process under Ukrainian control, with the possibility of inviting international experts. "The destruction will be under international control."

Asked how many warheads Ukraine had possessed, he said there had been a little over 2,000 warheads, located on 176 missiles.

A correspondent asked whether any compensation had been provided by the Russian Federation. Mr. Zlenko said that, under a January 1994 agreement, the Russian Federation undertook to send 100 tons of fuel to Ukraine for its nuclear-power plants. The United States agreed to pay $60 million to the Russian Federation in support of that process. For its part, Ukraine had agreed to transfer 200 nuclear warheads over a 10-month period. Separate agreements would be concluded for the continuation of the process.

Asked if the warheads had been destroyed or transferred, Mr. Zlenko said there was no possibility of destroying them on Ukrainian territory; they would be destroyed on Russian territory with Ukrainian participation. Ukraine was only to destroy its silos, as well as two very toxic propellants.

Answering a question about environmental concerns raised by the process, Mr. Zlenko said that was considered to be a big problem. Each silo took up a great deal of territory and, unfortunately, most were located in active agricultural areas. A single glass of one particular fuel element could render toxic a very large area. Special containers were therefore required. Ukraine needed assistance in that process, and countries such as the United States, Germany and Japan were committed to helping as much as possible. However, 14 mainly European Union countries had yet to fulfil the commitments they had made.

Asked how many silos remained, Mr. Zlenko said there were 176 silos, which had housed a total of 176 missiles.

How much aid had been provided so far by the United States and Germany? a correspondent asked. Mr. Zlenko said the United States had promised $175 million, a figure which was raised to $350 million after Ukraine joined the regime under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Japan, which originally promised $15 million in assistance, had raised that figure to $50 million.

Would Ukraine welcome technical assistance in addition to financial aid? a correspondent asked. Mr. Zlenko said their main need was for financial assistance. His country knew how to cope with silo destruction. However, the question of fuel containers was a matter of concern, including the proper use of technology for processing two of the most toxic fuel elements. Agreements had already been reached with France, United Kingdom and Germany regarding the processing of those fuels, he said.

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