Activity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory)

Basic Political Developments

http://www.prime-tass.com/news/calendar/_Russian_calendar_Key_events_for_March_30/-103/%7B22BC79E9-4DE2-471A-8388-9085354753C7%7D.uif

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=16100369

30.03.2011, 06.03

BRUSSELS, March 30 (Itar-Tass) - A roundtable meeting on Russia and NATO cooperation on anti-ballistic missile (ABM) system is to be held here on Wednesday. The meeting has been organized by the influential international analytical center, the East-West Institute, which on a permanent basis holds expert conferences on key problems of our times.

The forthcoming discussion will involve Dmitry Rogozin, Russia's Permanent Representative at NATO and special representaitves of theRF president oninteraction with NATO on ABM, Robert Bell, a defense adviser to the US Permanent Representative at NATO, Francois-Xavier de Donnea, head of tje Foreign Affairs Committee of the Belgian House of Representatives, as well as diplomats, journalists, scientists, and experts on security.

Two main subjects are to be discussed: political and mlitary-technical aspects of Russia and NATO cooperation on ABM.

A decision to launch interaction in the sphere of defense was made by the leaders of Russia and NATO in November last year in Lisbon. Experts are currently at work with a view to determining a common vision of principles on which Russia and NATO would be building their anti-missile defense systems.

At the present stage, the positions of Russia and the Alliance differe from each other. NATO suggests establishing two anti-missile defense systems that would be independent of each other. The two systems would interact in monitoring the airspace and in exchanging intelligence data.

Russia, for its part, suggests creating mutually complementary systems, not independent ones. The systems would operate on a sectoral principle would not be deployed facing each other: i. e. a Russian ABM would not be directed towards the west while a NATO's one towards the east.

Russia also suggests limiting the capabilities of those systems to intercenpt intermediate-range missiles and thereby gettting a guarantee that NATO's ABM system may not be used for blocking Russia's nuclear missile potential.

Speaking on Tuesday on the results of the regular session of the Russia-NATO Council (RNC) at ambassadorial level, Dmitry Rogozin acknowledged that so far "there is no special progress on ABM".

"We have not yet received legal guarantees from the Alliance that the ABM will not be directed against Russia's strategic potential," Rogozin said. He pointed out that this issue would be examined at an RNC session at ministerial level in Berlin on April 15. Russia and NATO hope to reach a compromise on ABM by the time of an RNC session at Defence ministers' level, slated for June.

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=16100498&PageNum=0

30.03.2011, 03.39

MOSCOW, March 30 (Itar-Tass) - The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Austria, Sergei Lavrov and Michael Spindelegger meer here on Wednesday to discuss economic and cultural cooperation, as well as the situation in Japan and Libya.

RF Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich pointed out, "The Austrian Minister will focus on preparations for Austrian President Heinz Fischer's official visit which is planned for May. The sides will also analyze the state of bilateral relations and the course of preparation of a number of intergovernmental agreements".

Economic cooperation between the two countries will be also an important subject of discussion during the meeting. The two countries' trade turnover runs at about $6,000 million. Austrian cumulative investments in the Russian Federation amount to $3,700 million, including direct ones amounting to $2,200 million. Cumulative Russian investments in the Austrian economy run at over $790 million, including $52 million direct ones.

More than 1,200 Austrian firms operate in Russia. At present the sides take interest mostly in energy and transport projects. Austria's participation in the South Stream gas pipeline project is under discussion. The Russian side supported construction by Austria and Slovakia of a branch of the Friendship oil pipeline.

Cultural and humanitarian contacts traditionally figure importantly in Russia-Austrian relations. In particular, a Vienna Ball has been held in Moscow every year since 2003. A Moscow Ball was arranged in Vienna for the first time in 2007. On the initiative of the Russian and Austrian Academies of Sciences, a joint commission of historians was set up in 2008 for an in-depth study of bilateral relations in the19th-20th centuries.

The two Ministers are also to discuss international matters of of current importance, primarily the situation in Japan, with due regard for the hard state of affairs at the Fukushima -1 NPP, as well as within the context of the provision of humanitarian aid to the victims of the devastatingtsunami and earthquake.

Yet another theme that worries the world community is the situation in Libya. The Russian and Austrian Foreign Ministers are to discuss the situation and the military operation in the Jamahiriya, taking into account the holding of an international conference in Britain on the situation in that Arab country.