RESOLUTION OVER LIFTING THE U-BOOTS " KURSK " WOULD KNOW WITH THE NEXT
RUSSIA EU SUMMIT SEIZED








The HAGUE, 12 March (of RIA Nowosti rIA-Nowosti-Korrespondent Andrej
Poskakuchin).  A concrete resolution for the problem of lifting the
submarine " Kursk " could be made with for March the planned Russia
European Union summit in Stockholm.  Like the Dutchman Rio Praaning,
secretary of the international " Kursk" fund, opposite RIA Nowosti
explained, could the differences of opinion between Russia and its
international partners in the question of the financing of the
operation for lifting the submarine be regulated there.

The nature of these differences exists, thus Praaning, in different
conceptions of a participation of Russia at the implementation of the
ecological European Union program for the removal of the nuclear
wastes in the northwest of Russia.  The EU insists on the fact that
Russia and the EU close first an agreement over this program and take
afterwards on this basis the operation for lifting in August 2000 the
submarine sunk in Anfriff.  The Russian page explains, said Praaning,
it nothing would have against a Junktim between lifting the " Kursk "
and the program, it would like however first the western assistance
for lifting the submarine to get and only thereafter with the
ecological program deal with themselves.

The Staatsduma supports the agreement over the implementation of the
program, determined Praaning, while the EU affirms its readiness to
help Russia with lifting the submarine " Kursk " as soon as the
Staatsduma gives its agreement for the agreement.

Praaning expressed hope that of Russia would make president Vladimir
Putin with the forthcoming Russia European Union summit in Stockholm a
declaration, which would open a compromise between Russia and its
partners to enable and to an imminent accommodation of the operation
to lifting the " Kursk " the way.

Praaning is the view that the west would supply immediately not the
termination of the procedure in the Staatsduma to a formal approval of
the agreement to be waiting and for lifting the " Kursk " to necessary
means, should Putin Russia agreement for parallel lifting of the
submarine and the implementation of the program of the dumping of the
nuclear wastes give.

At the vortag of Russia vice-prime minister Ilja Klebanow had
indicated the fact that lifting the sunk submarine in view of the
delay of the signing of a contract between head offices the design
engineering department ruby in St. Petersburg, in which the submarine,
and which international consortium, which is to take over a lifting,
on end of the summer or at the beginning of the autumn is shifted.
Klebanow attributed to difficulties with the finding of the necessary
means.

Praaning, which coordinates the mobilization of the means of western
states for the operation for lifting the " Kursk ", explained:  "
either the western countries will supply the necessary 50 per cent of
the total necessary for the operation, or will give it at all no cash
".  He meant with it that this total was to amount to at least 70
million US Dollar, during Russia according to the
declarations/agreements obtained before one half - 35 million dollar -
will supply.