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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">April 26, 2005 <i>(12:00 p.m. EDT)</i><br>
No. 72</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">CANADA SIGNS SECOND AGREEMENT </span></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">TO HELP RUSSIA DISMANTLE NUCLEAR SUBMARINES</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today announced the signing of a second
agreement for $32 million to assist Russia in the dismantlement of its decommissioned
nuclear-powered submarines. The initiative is part of Canada’s pledge to contribute up
to $1 billion over 10 years, under the G8-led Global Partnership Against the Spread of
Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction. </span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">“Our dismantlement assistance continues successfully to address proliferation and the
environmental risks associated with the spent nuclear fuel of submarines from Russia’s
Northern Fleet,” said Mr. Pettigrew. “This initiative is a concrete expression of Canada’s
international security and non-proliferation agenda.”</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Russia currently has 49 retired nuclear submarines in the Barents Sea region awaiting
disposal. Canada’s contribution will be used to assist in towing eight Victor Class
submarines to the Zvezdochka shipyard and the subsequent de-fuelling of four, as well
as the full dismantlement of three of those eight submarines. The remaining
submarines will be dismantled under future agreements. </span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Canada’s previous $24.4 million agreement, which was announced in August 2004,
covered the de-fuelling and dismantling of three Victor class submarines. De-fuelling of
the three submarines has been completed. The first submarine has been fully
dismantled and the second is more than half-completed. The third submarine will be
berthed in dry dock in early May in preparation for dismantlement.</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">In all, Canada’s Global Partnership Program expects to dismantle 12 nuclear-powered
submarines over four years, at a total cost of approximately $116 million. Canada is
also working through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to
ensure that the spent nuclear fuel removed from the submarines is safely secured and
stored.</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Our assistance for submarine dismantlement is made possible by a bilateral agreement
signed at the June 2004 G8 Sea Island summit. This agreement provides a framework
that governs cooperation between Canada and Russia on Global Partnership projects.
Other countries also involved in submarine dismantlement efforts are the United States,
the United Kingdom, Norway, Japan and Germany.</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Additional information on Canada’s Global Partnership Program can be found at
<span style="color: #ff0000"></span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221053159/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/foreign_policy/global_partnership/menu-en.asp"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/foreign_policy/global_partnership/menu-en.asp</span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #ff0000"></span><span style="color: #000000">.</span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">- 30 -</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">Sébastien Théberge<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs<br>
(613) 995-1851</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221053159/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></p>
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