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G8 OKs scrapping Russia's nuke stockpiles
By Kathy A. Gambrell
UPI White House Reporter

CALGARY, Alberta, June 27 (UPI) -- G8 leaders Thursday approved a plan to spend $20 billion to scrap Russia's plutonium stockpile over the next decade.

"This is an effort to bring to bear more resources -- an estimated $20 billion over 10 years from the G7 countries and Russia to deal with the destruction of weapons of mass destruction," U.S. national security adviser Condoleezza Rice said. "Given the terror threat that is (cited) by those who worry about the legacy of these weapons of mass destruction, we think it's a very important initiative and we're delighted to get it done."

President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the issue during a bilateral meeting earlier Thursday. The West fears that terrorists may get their hands on the stockpiles.

The so-called 10-10-10 agreement gives Russia $10 billion of American funds plus another $10 billion from the other six members of the G7 over a period of 10 years.

Foreign policy analysts said the 10-10-10 agreement was an old issue and it remained to be seen whether this year's discussions represent a fresh infusion of commitment and funds.

Bush met with Putin in Moscow a little more than a month ago to sign off on a pact sanctioning a bilateral reduction in nuclear weapons, effectively supplanting the three-decade-old Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

During talks Thursday, Bush and Putin also discussed the WorldCom Inc. scandal and its impact on world markets.

"I'm concerned about the fact that there are some corporate leaders who have not upheld their responsibility," Bush said. "If you are a responsible citizen, and you run a corporation in America, you must fully disclose all assets and liabilities, and you must treat your shareholders and employees with respect."

Putin said the world was watching the U.S. economy.

"During the general discussion there at the G8 meeting, the president paid attention to this issue," Putin said. "And for me and my other colleagues, it was very important to listen to the president's opinion, because under the circumstances of the globalized community and world, a lot depends on the state of the U.S. economy these days."

The two leaders sat side-by-side in the Delta Lodge Hotel where they appeared comfortable with each other, with the Russian head of state calling his U.S. counterpart by his first name. They sat in wing-backed chairs that nearly touched.

"I'd like to emphasize that the president and I are having very good personal relations, and our colleagues in our capitals also note that interaction between our countries is becoming very efficient, not only from the viewpoint of bilateral relations and solving bilateral issues, but also as regards the resolution of major international problems," Putin said.

Bush also said he was "very pleased" with the response he received from European leaders on the Middle East, calling the feedback "very positive." European leaders appeared uncomfortable about Bush's plan for Palestinian statehood and his call for Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's ouster.

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