Translated By Roohi Khan

31 October 2008


India - NDTV Khabar - Original Article (Hindi)

Russia today dismissed America’s claims, in which it mentioned Russia’s nuclear weapons having being stolen or lost on a large scale in the 1990s. According to a statement issued on Friday by Russia’s Defense Ministry, this claim made by America’s Defense Minister Robert Gates has been dismissed as baseless.

It is to be noted that Mr. Gates had said last Tuesday that at the beginning of 1990, large numbers of Russia’s nuclear weapons had been stolen or lost. He said, “I am quite sure that even Russia does not have any information about the exact number.” According to the Ministry, these kinds of charges are completely without base. It said in its statement that in the 1990s Russia had to face some serious problems but despite these it had ensured that firm arrangements were in place for the protection of its nuclear weapons. In addition, in 2005, in a pact signed with America in Bratislava, both countries had even discussed ensuring highly technical arrangements for the protection of their nuclear facilities. Following this, the protection of the nuclear facilities and nuclear material was made even stronger.