Norwegian-Russian nuclear waste cooperation put to the test
Photo: Bellona
The Russian entry ban on Norwegian Defence Ministry official Ingjerd Kroken might sour relations in Norwegian-Russian nuclear waste cooperation. A researcher believes the high-ranking official was rejected entry to Russia last week, because of Russian authorities’ inproper spending of Norwegian aid money. Norway only last year allocated 60 million NOK (7,5 mill. EUR) to nuclear cleanup operations on the Russian Kola Peninsula.
Researcher Pavel Bayev from the International Peace Research Institute (PRIO), believes the Norwegian money, allocated to the dismantling of nuclear-powered subs and other projects, might have been wasted on corruption. –It was no coincident that she was stopped, Mr. Bayev says. –The message is that they do not want any questions about how the Norwegian money have been spent, and no attention on what has actually been done, he adds.
Ms. Kroken has been the Norwegian Defence Ministry’s representative in the Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation (AMEC), and was last week going to follow up several projects in the Russian North.
Photo: Retired Russian sub (K-159) (Bellona.no)
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