EU GATHERS NONPROLIFERATION CONFERENCE








BRUSSELS, MARCH 7 (from RIA Novosti's Viktor Onuchko) - The European Union is convening a conference on disarmament and mass destruction weapon nonproliferation. To gather in Brussels, March 8-9, it will be presided by Sweden as EU acting chair country, and the European Commission.


	The conferees will sum up progress made on related programmes in Russia and other CIS countries.


	The European Union regards itself as leader of international disarmament and nonproliferation efforts, and has allocated 550 million euros since 1992 to promote the cause.


	The technical expert conference will be a third in its kind. It will concentrate on closer programme coordination with an emphasis on research and expertise.


	A majority of the expected 170 delegates represent government offices of EU countries, Russia and other CIS countries, the USA and Japan. Spokesmen of NATO and the Organisation for Chemical Arms Prohibition have been invited.