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Ukrainian Foreign Ministry States That Al-Hayat Newspaper's Information
about Ukraine's Turning Nuclear Ammunition over to
Al-Qaida Terrorists is Absolutely Groundless
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
February 10, 2004

As the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated on Monday, articles in Ukrainian and foreign mass communication media, with reference to the Al-Hayat newspaper, about Ukrainian scientists' turning nuclear ammunition over to Al-Qaida terrorists in 1998 are absolutely groundless. On Sunday, the pan-Arab al-Hayat newspaper quoted sources close to al Qaeda as saying the group bought the weapons in suitcases in a deal arranged when Ukrainian scientists visited the Afghan city of Kandahar in 1998.

Ukraine had no nuclear weapons in 1998 because the ex-Soviet republic had transferred all of them to Russia by June 1, 1996. All transfers were verified three times by Ukrainian and Russian officials. Ukraine had observed all agreements on giving up its share of the Soviet nuclear arsenal inherited after the 1991 break-up of the Soviet Union. Tactical weapons had been sent to Russia for destruction in 1992 and warheads from strategic missiles by 1996 -- in line with an accord signed with Moscow and Washington in 1994.

In 1993, Ukraine signed a pact with the United States and Russia volunteering to lay down its arsenal of some 1,900 nuclear missiles inherited from the Soviet Union. Ukraine conscientiously adheres to its obligations under the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. Ukraine and USA cooperate on the constant basis holding joint working group sessions on non-proliferation and export control. The last one took place in January 2004. The Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry is not ruling out the possibility of suing the pan-Arab Al-Hayat newspaper for publishing an article aimed at undermining Ukraine's image. According to Mr. Lubkivskyi, Ukraine "reserves the right to act in accordance with the situation" because a blow has been dealt to its international image.

He stressed that the newspaper's allegations has been rejected not only by officials at the Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry, but also by a broad spectrum of the Ukrainian public, political scientists, and scientists. "It was misinformation, and the possibility of similar things happening in the future cannot be ruled out," Mr. Lubkivskyi said. According to him, detractors are attempting in this manner to weaken Ukraine's position not only in Iraq, but also on the international arena. Therefore, according to him, the Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry will take all possible protective measures to "neutralize appearance of similar publications" in the future.