Russia 110705 Basic Political Developments
Russia and NATO agree to wait until Chicago
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- Atmosphere favorable for Russia-Japan dialog on peace treaty – Naryshkin
- Russia, Japan set up commission of historians on peace treaty.
- Russia ready to increase supplies of energy resources to Japan.
- Russia to render assistance to quake-hit Japan - Naryshkin.
- Atmosphere in Russia-Japan peace treaty dialog gets better.
- Russia, Japan have similar stances on Libyan settlement- Naryshkin.
- Hong Kong forum discusses Asian foreign investments in Russia.
Russia and NATO agree to wait until Chicagohttp://en.rian.ru/analysis/20110705/165028339.html 11:29 05/07/2011 RIA Novosti political commentator Andrei Fedyashin The visiting NATO-Russia Council in Sochi on July 4 (the third in the entire history of our postwar relations with the bloc) decided once again to postpone the discussion of American missile defense in Europe. This time the pause will last until the next NATO summit and G-8 meeting in Chicago in May 2012. This is inspiring because Chicago is essentially the home city of President Barack Obama - he was a senator from Illinois and Chicago is the state's biggest city. Obama has already established his headquarters there for the 2012 elections. Matters have not yet come to radicalism After the council meeting, President Dmitry Medvedev told NATO ambassadors that he was pleased with its results. "I think, in general, we are all inspired by the results that were achieved. I was told that the session of the NATO-Russia Council that just concluded was quite productive on the whole." This is good news. Recently, these sessions have been looking more and more like meetings between people wearing different hearing aids. Everyone hears only what they want to hear and offers different, sometimes contradictory, interpretations of what was said. But this time NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced that concerning the missile defense project, "we are starting to see things in the same way," and that it is better to come to a good agreement on the issue, rather than a quick one. The second part of the statement is clear, nobody would argue with that, but the first part is vague, and it is not clear what Rasmussen meant. It's also intriguing that he suggested waiting until Chicago where, as he hopes, "we will reach an agreement on European missile defense." The council took place at the ambassador level, at which people generally don't expect any breakthroughs. But after the talks, Medvedev hosted NATO ambassadors. There were persistent rumors to the effect that Medvedev will present NATO with an ultimatum: either we resolve the issue within a year (either they fully integrate Russia into a new missile defense system, or we arrange it on a sectoral basis, whereby Russia and NATO would have their own defense sectors) or Moscow will take appropriate steps. Moscow may develop its missile defense forces, deploy new missiles on its borders or even withdraw from the New START Treaty that Medvedev and Obama signed in April 2010. These were the options presented by Dmitry Rogozin, Russia's envoy to NATO. It's good that matters have not yet come to these radical solutions, even with a pause that will last till next May when Chicago will host the NATO and G-8 summits. Rogozin is a pugnacious and emotional man, but he would hardly have made such stern warnings without knowing Medvedev's position. In principle, Russia is capable of taking these steps, but it must consider the economic and political price of doing so. This would mean huge spending on a new arms race. In the case of the hypotonic Russian economy, this is akin to a person with acute anemia donating blood. It is unlikely that we could cope with this in the long run. The economies and finances of the NATO countries are far from brilliant either, but it is still easier to find the funds through a collective effort, although the United States would pay for most of it anyway. A pause until U.S. elections This is a special demand of the United States, because this is "their" system. It is hard to imagine that Obama would fully renounce his plans of modernizing missile defense in Europe a little more than a year before the presidential elections. He has already changed George W. Bush's plans, and a second concession to Russia would be a too luxurious gift to the Republicans. The U.S. economy is not doing very well, and if it gets worse and Obama yields again to Moscow's pressure on missile defense, he can hardly expect to stay in the White House for another term. And reaching an agreement with the Republicans will be next to impossible. Probably we'll have to take an actual pause on this issue, and it will last longer than the May meetings in Chicago. Most likely, it will last till the end of the U.S. elections. It is clear to everyone that an agreement on missile defense must be reached not with NATO, but with the United States, individually. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov continuously repeats that the council operates on a special basis. He spoke to this again in Sochi, remarking that the council "works on an equitable national basis: one country, one vote, not NATO plus Russia." In other words, we must agree not with NATO, but with each member of the council separately. It's unclear, then, why we need a council if we have to reach individual agreements with its members. Does NATO know that each of its members can make individual decisions in the council? But if this is the scheme, there is nothing to be done about it. The council was set up at the Russia-NATO summit in Rome on May 28, 2002. NATO's official site designates its main purpose as follows: "The (NRC) is a mechanism for consultation, consensus-building, cooperation, joint decision and joint action. Within the NRC, the individual NATO member states and Russia work as equal partners on a wide spectrum of security issues of common interest." But for the time being it seems more like a mechanism for the permanent search of something that can never be found. There is no guarantee that it will be found in Chicago. Perhaps we really should join NATO, and check the bloc for sincerity. In that case all problems will disappear at once, and we'll celebrate the grand Day of Russia's accession to NATO. The views expressed in this article are the author's and may not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti. July 05, 2011 09:07 Atmosphere favorable for Russia-Japan dialog on peace treaty – Naryshkinhttp://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=256772 TOKYO. July 5 (Interfax) - A more favorable atmosphere has formed between Russia and Japan for discussing the problem of peace treaty, said presidential chief of staff Sergei Naryshkin, who is wrapping up his brief visit to Tokyo. While in Tokyo he met with Prime Minister Naoto Kan , other government officials, lawmakers, public figures and businessmen. "The problem of peace treaty was discussed, of course. A new atmosphere has formed in the dialogue between Russia and Japan - a more favorable atmosphere for discussing the current issues. The Japanese side agrees that the dialogue must proceed only in a quiet atmosphere and without preconditions," he said. "Our relations have been on the upsurge in all areas. Following a sag due to a global crisis, trade is expected to reach the pre-crisis level. Political contacts are becoming more trustful, which is typical of the current stage in our relations," Naryshkin said.
http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c154/179266.html 5/7 Tass 37 TOKYO, July 5 (Itar-Tass) — Russia and Japan have set up a joint commission of historians to look into problems of a peace treaty and the territorial dispute. The first meeting of the commission may be held already in December, the head of the Russian president’s administration, Sergei Naryshkin, said in Tokyo on Tuesday. “At the present moment a commission has been set up to study thorny issues in the history of relations between Russia and Japan. Earlier, we repeatedly offered to set up such an organisation,” Naryshkin said. “We believe that different approaches to peace treaty issues are determined a lot by differences in points of view on causes and results of WWII. I expect that the first meeting of historians will be held already next December,” Naryshkin stressed. He also said that the Russian side of the group would be led by rector of Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) Anatoly Torkunov. The Japanese side of the commission will include specialists from the National Defence Academy of Japan, Naryshkin said. A more favourable atmosphere exists at the present moment for discussing a peace treaty between Russia and Japan, he stressed. During his visit, Naryshkin met in Tokyo with Prime minister Naoto Kan, other top officials from the Japanese government, parliamentarians, public representatives and business people. “The problem of a peace treaty was of course discussed at these meetings. A more favourable atmosphere in a dialogue between Russia and Japan has developed of late, it has become more favourable for discussions on existing problems,” he said. “The Japanese side agrees that the dialogue must be maintained only in a calm atmosphere, without setting forth preliminary conditions,” Naryshkin stressed. 09:00 05/07/2011ALL NEWS
http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c154/179264.html 5/7 Tass 53 TOKYO, July 5 (Itar-Tass) — Russia is ready to further increase supplies of energy resources to Japan hit by a major earthquake and tsunami last March, the head of the Kremlin administration, Sergei Naryshkin, told reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday. During his brief visit to Tokyo, which ends on Tuesday, Naryshkin met with Prime minister Naoto Kan, other top officials from the Japanese government, parliamentarians, public representatives and business people. “Cooperation in the economic sphere, first of all in the energy sector, was also in the focus of attention,” Naryshkin said. “The energy sector of Japan was most hard hit as a result of the disaster,” he added. Russia has already met Japan halfway. “We have not only expressed readiness to increase supplies, but have also rendered such assistance,” Naryshkin stressed. “Russia is ready to further increase supplies of energy resources to Tokyo,” he added. Naryshkin also noted the importance of cooperation between the two countries in increasing the safety of nuclear power plants. “After the Chernobyl disaster, we have a rich experience and we are ready to share it with the Japanese colleagues,” the head of the Kremlin administration stressed. 09:28 05/07/2011ALL NEWS
http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c154/179276.html 5/7 Tass 30 TOKYO, July 5 (Itar-Tass) — The head of the Kremlin administration, Sergei Naryshkin, expressed confidence on Tuesday that Japan would manage to quickly restore the regions hit by a massive quake and tsunami last March, and pledged that Russia would render all necessary assistance in that. Naryshkin said it at a meeting at Japan’s Friendship Exchange Council. The chairman of the Council, Ken Matsuzawa, expressed gratitude to Russia for support. “We will never forget this help,” he stressed. “For three decades our organization has been making efforts to improve Japan’s ties with other countries,” he said. Ken Matsuzawa also expressed hope that “our present meeting will become a new start for mutual understanding as well as for creating a climate for the settlement of problems”. “I am glad to welcome everybody at this meeting which is being held already for the seventh time and has become traditional. I highly value the atmosphere of openness and trust at these meetings,” Naryshkin said, for his part. “These meetings are very important for shaping our policy in relations with Japan,” he added. Naryshkin expressed deep condolences in connection with the March disaster and pledged Russia’s support. “I have no doubts that Japan will shortly restore the damaged regions, and Russia will offer necessary assistance,” he said. The Friendship Exchange Council was set up in 1983 as an independent public organization with an aim to contribute to the development of mutual understanding and friendly relations with foreign countries. The committee for the development of cultural and economic exchanges between Russia and Japan was set up within the framework of the Council. It brings together representatives of Japanese political, business, public and scientific circles. 08:11 05/07/2011ALL NEWS
http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c154/179241.html 5/7 Tass 39 TOKYO, July 5 (Itar-Tass) — A more favourable atmosphere exists at the present moment for discussing a peace treaty between Russia and Japan, the head of the Kremlin administration, Sergei Naryshkin, told reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday. Naryshkin ends on Tuesday a brief visit to Tokyo. During his visit, Naryshkin met in Tokyo with Prime minister Naoto Kan, other top officials from the Japanese government, parliamentarians, public representatives and business people. “The problem of a peace treaty was of course discussed at these meetings. A more favourable atmosphere in a dialogue between Russia and Japan has developed of late, it has become more favourable for discussions on existing problems,” he said. “The Japanese side agrees that the dialogue must be maintained only in a calm atmosphere, without setting forth preliminary conditions,” Naryshkin stressed. “Our relations develop at the present moment on the line of ascent on all directions,” he noted. “After recession as a result of the global crisis we expect that trade will reach the pre-crisis level in 2011,” he said. “Political contacts get increasingly trust-based. This is also a characteristic feature of the present stage of our relations,” Naryshkin stressed. 08:09 05/07/2011ALL NEWS
http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c154/179240.html 5/7 Tass 38 TOKYO, July 5 (Itar-Tass) — Russia and Japan have similar stances on the settlement of the Libyan conflict, believing that a full ceasefire is needed, the head of the Kremlin administration, Sergei Naryshkin, told reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday. “At talks with the Japanese leadership we discussed vital international problems, the most acute of which is a military conflict in Libya,” Naryshkin said. He said “several days ago Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sent a message on that issue to leaders of world powers, including to Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan”. “At talks in Tokyo we confirmed that Russia and Japan have similar stances on the settlement of the Libyan conflict,” he stressed. “A full ceasefire and the use of all instruments of diplomatic settlement are needed,” Naryshkin said. 11:31 05/07/2011ALL NEWS
http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c154/179350.html 5/7 Tass 85 HONG KONG (XIANGANG), July 5 (Itar-Tass) — Participants in the Russia – Capital Raising and Investment Summit business forum on possibilities for attracting Asian capitals in Russia, which opened on Tuesday, mark big potentials of cooperation between Hong Kong and Russia in the investment sphere. According to Russian Consul General Sergei Gritsai, more and more Russian companies open their missions in Hong Kong, including Renaissance Capital and Kaspersky Lab. The diplomat noted that along with New York and London, Hong Kong is on the list of three leading global financial centres. “The experience of Hong Kong is useful in connection with plans to set up an international financial centre in Moscow,” he added. The Hong Kong stock exchange can become “a financial bridge” for Russian companies interested in getting access to markets of mainland China and Asia, President of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd. Ronald Arculli said. The Russia – Capital Raising and Investment Summit is held in Hong Kong already for the second time. Representatives of financial and investment companies, 250 people all in all, take part in it. One of the organizers of the forum, the publisher of the Asianinvestor magazine, Jonathan Hirst, told Tass that plans are to make this forum annual. Directory: gifiles -> attach attach -> British Forces – Akrioti, Greece Griffin Fighter Squadron (84 Squadron raf) MoD announced possible Typhoon and Tornado arrivals to the base France attach -> Russia 110204 Basic Political Developments attach -> Unclassified//for official use only attach -> Adaptability Sustainment attach -> Pop-up 1 ("C" Chechnya) Header Text: Emir of the Caucasus Emirate Doku Umarov Image attach -> Russia and Islam are not Separate attach -> Chapter 13: The Northern Caucasus attach -> Russia 100209 Basic Political Developments attach -> The evolution attach -> The devolution Download 320.43 Kb. Share with your friends:
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