People’s Daily: Rogge: No worry on preparations of 2014 Sochi Olympics

RIA: Kazakh parliament ratifies deal on post-Soviet rapid reaction force

Kazakhstan's parliament ratified an agreement on Thursday on establishing a post-Soviet security group's rapid reaction force.

The creation of a powerful military contingent in former Soviet Central Asia by members of the Russian-dominated Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is seen as Moscow's bid to counterbalance NATO. But its formation has run into problems caused by the regional rivalries of some members.

Speaking at a plenary session, the Central Asian state's defense minister, Bolat Sembinov, said the rapid reaction force is designed "to improve the security of the CSTO members against the backdrop of existing and potential threats," including terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, natural disasters and to enhance the organization's role in ensuring international security.

The CSTO comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Observer status is enjoyed by Iran, India, Mongolia and Pakistan.

Five of the seven members signed the agreement in February 2009. Belarus, which initially refrained from signing the deal because of a trade dispute with Russia, joined it later last year.

Uzbekistan has so far refused to join the force, saying it opposes stronger Russia's role in Central Asia. Uzbekistan is also at odds with regional neighbor Kyrgyzstan, which hosts a Russian airbase.

The Collective Rapid Reaction Force held two-week military exercises in southern Kazakhstan in October 2009, with more than 7,000 personnel from Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan taking part.

Russia's security strategy until 2020, recently approved by President Dmitry Medvedev, envisions the CSTO as "a key mechanism to counter regional military challenges and threats."

ASTANA, February 4 (RIA Novosti)

04.02.2010, 09.53

VLADIVOSTOK, February 4 (Itar-Tass) - A ceremony marking Sergei Darkin's entering a third term of governorship in Russia's Primorsky (maritime) Territory was held here on Thursday. His second term expired today. His nomination as Governor for a third term had been confirmed by the members of the Territorial Legislative Assembly on January 11.

In accordance with the Charter of the Primorsky Territory, Darkin took an oath of office and will govern the Territory in the next five years.

Among the guests of honour present at the ceremony were Viktor Ishayev, presidential plenipotentiary representative in the Far Eastern Federal District, Vyacheslav Fetisov, Member of the Federation Council upper house of the Russian parliament, Elmira Glubokovskaya, Member of the State Duma lower house of parliament, and His Eminence Sergiy, a representative of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Sergei Darkin was born in the town of Bolshoi Kamen, Maritime Territory, on December 9, 1963. In 1985 he graduated from the Far Eastern Higher Nautical Engineering School named after Admiral Nevelskoy, and then worked there as a teacher. In the1990s he did business, heading a number of industrial enterprises in the Far East. In1999 he graduated from the Far Eastern State Academy of Economics and Business. After completing a post-graduate course, he worked at the Vladivostok merchant seaport as stevedore and a shift superintendent if the first cargo handling district.

In 2001 Darkin was elected Governor of the Primorsky Territory for the first term. He polled slightly more than 40 percent of the vote. In February 2005, Darkin became the first regional governor confirmed in his capacity in accordance with a new procedure. At that time, 35 out of 36 members of the Territorial Legislative Assembly voted for his confirmation.

The residents of the Territory remember the second term of Darkin’s governorship for the start of the implementation of large-scale projects. Thus, preparations began in Vladivostok for a 2012 summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. The city began to build a Far Eastern Federal University on the Russkiy (Russian) Island, new roads and two gigantic bridges. A new port, Kozmino, was built near Nakhodka to become the end point of the Eastern Siberia--Pacific Ocean oil pipeline transportation system, and a car assembly plant, the first one in the Far East, emerged in the Territorial center. The immediate plans are to build oil and gas industry enterprises and install a gas supply service in the region.