Vol. 480 No. 6
40 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the contact, if any, his Department has had with the Russian authorities in relation to recent media reports that a number of nuclear weapons have disappeared and may be in the hands of terrorists. [14738/97]
The Government would naturally be extremely concerned if the media reports that a number of Russian nuclear weapons had disappeared and might be in the hands of terrorists were to be confirmed. Such an occurrence would be a particularly grave matter. However, I have seen no evidence substantiating these reports. The Russian Government has emphatically denied ever producing portable nuclear devices, described as "nuclear suitcases" in the reports, saying that no state could afford to manufacture and maintain such devices. The Russian Government has also reiterated that all of its nuclear weapons remain under its control. I have no reason to doubt these assurances.
