Viktoriya Voloshina Izvestia (Moscow), March 15, 2001, p. 2
SUMMARY:
Deputy Premier Ilya Klebanov says the Kursk International Foundation cannot raise the money for the operation. Foundation Secretary Rio Praaning refers to the European Union which wants Moscow’s cooperation in the ecological program concerning nuclear wastes in Russia. Money for the operation in the Barents Sea will come immediately if Russia cooperates.
Families of Kursk submariners discuss two official statements made the same day. “Klebanov says it will be difficult for Russia to scrape up $25 million for the operation. Meanwhile, Kozhin of the Presidential Affairs Directorate does not doubt that $170 million for reconstruction of the state residence in Strelnya will be surely found in the federal budget.”
The decision was made at the meeting of Kursk families to raise some money and send it to Klebanov. Families rely on the psychological aspect of the gesture rather than on anything else.
