17 March 2004 15:33
Russia`s Federal Nuclear Centre carries on without cutting lab staff
[Presenter] Secret and super-secret towns that are not indicated on maps are celebrating their anniversary today [17
March]. Exactly 50 years ago, a decree was issued in the Soviet Union on the establishment of closed towns. Their
territories could not be penetrated by foreigners and their citizens knew nothing about shortages. Our correspondent in
Nizhniy Novgorod Region Vitaliy Kalugin reports from Sarov - the home of atomic and hydrogen bombs - on how people live
in closed cities today. [Passage omitted]
[Correspondent] The reduction in combat elements of strategic offensive weapons has not affected employees of secret
laboratories. The Federal Nuclear Centre still employs 23,000 people. Defence contracts are in place as well as salaries
paid on time.
[Gennadiy Karatayev, head of Sarov administration] If there is no bomb there will be another weapon [designed]
according to the same principles. These principles are known only to the Federal Nuclear Centre, other institutes know
little about them. Therefore, the Federal Nuclear Centre has naturally a fairly long future. [Passage omitted]
[NTV Mir] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
