Andrei Poskakukhin Vremya MN, March 13, 2001, p. 1
SUMMARY:
Praaning refers to Deputy Premier Ilya Klebanov’s statement to the effect that financial difficulties call for postponement of the operation in the Barents Sea. He sees the way out in the political will of the involved parties. Putin should make an announcement in Stockholm that Russia is prepared to handle two tasks with its foreign partners all at the same time – lifting the Kursk from the seabed and handling nuclear wastes in line with the European Union’s MNEPR program. Unfortunately, agreement on the ecological program is stuck in the Russian Duma.
Praaning says countries of the West will immediately provide money needed for the operation in the Barents Sea in response to Putin’s announcement and without waiting for the formal approval of the MNEPR by the so far uncooperative Russian parliament.
