Russia refuses Norway's nuclear inspection

Norway has spent, in the course of a five year period over 400 million kroner on nuclear security and the clearing up of nuclear waste in Russia. But the Russians continue to refuse inspections of the damage caused by nuclear test explosions at Novaja Semlja. The Norwegian authorities dare not put force behind their demands for inspection, writes Aftenposten newspaper. 'We are not using any pressure because it would not help to deal with Russia in this way. It would make co-operation very difficult', said Torbjoern Norendal, special officer at the Foreign Office's security policy department, to the newspaper. In the period 1955-90 over 130 nuclear test explosions were carried out at Novaja Semlja, and experts have calculated the cumulative effect to be 273 megatonnes of TNT. Norway has taken the initiative to scientificly map the environmental damage in the military area. But the Russians are refusing to allow inspection by other countries. Norway has granted 343 million kroner to make nuclear power stations safe and for clearing up efforts and, in addition another 61 million kroner will be used for the same aim. Norway will therefore spend 404 million kroner in the 1995-99 period. The leader for Parliament's foreign affairs committee, Haakon Blankenborg, regrets the Russians' lack of openness. 'It is a pity that scientific investigations, which could give us information about the environment in the north, are being prevented', he said. 'Clearly there is a problem. We are very interested in carrying out our goals, but don't want to pressurise the Russians', said Norendal, who would not encourage Norwegian politicians to use the 343 million kroner to pressurise them. 'We must hope for the best', said a colleague. Jesper W Simonsen (V), who sits on the government committee for nuclear matters, agrees. 'We cannot set an ultimatum but must build up confidence. If we want to avoid Minatom and the defence authorities getting even more power, we must ensure that the Russian environmental committee feel that they have us behind them. There is talk of diplomacy and manoeuvring ', he said to Aftenposten newspaper. Alison James