Russia not to resume nuclear test: Defence Minister

Russia today declared it would not resume nuclear tests despite the unilateral abrogation of 1972 Anti-ballistic missiles treaty by the US.

Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov made this statement before a visit to the country's only remaining nuclear test ground on Novoya Zemlya Island in the Arctic Circle.

"The State Duma has ratified the Comorehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) We have a law, and we shall comply with it," Ivanov was quoted by RIA Novosti agency.

Ivanov underscored that Russia would remain committed to the CTBT even though certain countries including the United States have not ratified so far.

"This is Russia's only nuclear testing-grounds, and we want to see the state it is in, what are its problems and servicemen's living conditions, and what is to be done for the project to remain a normal testing-ground," Ivanov said explaining the purpose of his tour.

In recent years Russia has been carrying out 'sub-critical' tests to verify is nuclear arsenals, permitted under CTBT.

Ivanov launched world's largest "Akula" class (Typhoon) nuclear submarine "Dmitry Donskoy" at Severodvinsk after 12 year long refit Wednesday.

The submarine of the size of a nine-storey four block apartment building would join existing four similar submarines of the Russian fleet for the deployment of new generation nuclear missiles capable of neutralising the proposed US national missile shield, Russian media reported PTI 06271417 R NNNN
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Moscow, June 27, 2002 (PTI)