TOKYO, Aug. 2 Kyodo - The Japanese government and a U.S. think tank will jointly host a seminar in Tokyo to promote international cooperation on accelerating the dismantling of decommissioned Russian nuclear submarines with the participation of Russia, the United States and Australia, the Foreign Ministry said Sunday.

The ministry will also call on Norway, Britain, South Korea and Canada to take part in the seminar, which aims at strengthening the countries' network to promote the dismantling of the subs, it said.

It will ask lawmakers as well as government officials of the participating countries to take part in the seminar, the ministry added.

The seminar will feature reports on the current state of the dismantling operation as well as an exchange of opinions on the future tasks in the operation.

Japan has been involved in the effort to dismantle decommissioned nuclear subs left around Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakstan after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Tokyo has pledged a total of $200 million for the work -- $100 million at a 1993 summit of the leaders of Group of Seven nations in Tokyo, and another $100 million at a 1999 G-7 summit in Cologne, Germany.

With the cooperation of Japan, the dismantling of a submarine in Vladivostok is expected to be completed this fall and the dismantling of another will start next year.

There are 50 such Russian subs to be dismantled in Europe and 40 in the Far East.

August 02, 2004 10:06:01