KANANASKIS, Canada -- The world's leading industrial powers meeting at the Group of Eight summit have agreed to spend $20 billion decommissioning nuclear weapons in the former Soviet Union.
The impetus for the massive cash boost for President Vladimir Putin came from a desire by the West to prevent nuclear material getting in the hands of terrorists.
Some observers said the promises Putin won of financial aid to deal with 30,000 nuclear weapons and stocks of enriched uranium and plutonium overshadowed the G8's moves on aid for Africa, which analysts said offered little in the way of extra cash. (Africa aid plan criticised)
The nuclear decommissioning plan was strongly backed by the Bush administration, which is providing half of the money. It was also supported by Japan and Europe as part of the G8's efforts to curb global terrorism.
President Vladimir Putin had already won for his country a seat at the world's top table for showing "remarkable economic and democratic transformation" and Russia will host the summit in 2006.
The $20 billion 10-year deal was sealed only hours before the summit ended.
"I must admit that I didn't think we would succeed," said Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, who hosted the meeting.
But the plan was short on detail, including explaining exactly who would foot the bill.
"We commit ourselves to prevent terrorists, or those that harbour them, from acquiring or developing nuclear, chemical, radiological and biological weapons, missiles and related materials, equipment and technology," a G8 statement said.
Terrorism has long been a topic at annual summits of the Group of Eight, where the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States meet to discuss joint approaches to international affairs.
But the issue took on new urgency this year after the September 11 attacks in the United States, and the possibility that groups like al Qaeda -- blamed for the attacks -- might acquire radioactive material to build a nuclear bomb, or a "dirty bomb."
"The attacks of September 11 demonstrated that terrorists are prepared to use any means to cause terror or inflict appalling casualties on innocent people," the G8 said in its statement.
Amid G8 promises of $1 billion of debt relief for Africa, and support for the transitional administration in Afghanistan and for Latin American reform, Russia's Vladimir Putin probably took home the biggest political prize -- an invitation to host the 2006 summit and acceptance as a full fledged G8 member.
Putin declined to say where the summit might be held.
"My esteemed colleague ... Jacques Chirac was not even prepared to say where the next summit would take place in France, and you want me to tell you where the 2006 summit is going to take place in Russia?" he said, drawing laughter from reporters.
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