KIZNER (Republic of Udmurtia), December 19. /ITAR-TASS/. The Organization for the prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) appreciates Russia’s efforts in eliminating chemical weapons and its wish to contribute to world security, Deputy Director-General Grace Asirwatham said at the opening of Russia's last eliminating facility in Kizner.

The launch of the facility was a concrete step toward eliminating weapon reserves within the deadlines stipulated in the Chemical Weapons Convention, she said adding that Russia, as a reliable partner, confirmed its intention to destroy its reserves of chemical weapons and ensure the world that will never have chemical weapon again.

The 2011 decisions to prolong the time of Russian federal program running till December 31, 2015 did not harm the Convention’s integrity and allowed Russia and other countries to work without interruption, Asirwatham said.

Russia is eliminating chemical weapon in four stages. The first stage that destroyed 400 tonnes was completed on April 23, 2003 in Gorny settlement (Saratov Region), followed by destruction of 8,000 tonnes of chemical agents (finished by April 2007) and 18,000 tonnes eliminated by November 25, 2009.

In the now launched final phase, the Kizner facility will play the key role in large-scale elimination of extremely dangerous organophosphate nerve agents. Since the middle of the 20th century, its storage facilities have been holding 5,680 tonnes of chemical warfare agents, 14.2% of the overall amount of 40,000 tonnes.