Armenian, Russian officials discuss Karabakh process

Armenian, Russian officials discuss Karabakh process

Tue 15 February 2011 05:52 GMT | 6:52 Local Time

Armenian Minister, Russian Deputy FM discuss Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

At their meeting in Yerevan Feb. 14, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Russian Deputy FM Grigoriy Karasin discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

The Armenian foreign office informed that Grigory Karasin is on a visit to Yerevan to take part in interagency consultations.

At the meeting the sides discussed Armenian-Russian military strategic partnership and a wide range of practical issues related to bilateral alliance.

The sides expressed their satisfaction with an active regular dialogue between the Armenian and Russian leaders, which services as a basis for further development of mutually beneficial cooperation. The sides also discussed the implementation of high-level bilateral agreements.

The sides also exchanged views on a number of regional problems, particularly on the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.   

News.am

Armenian Constitutional Court to consider military base agreement with Russia

http://news.am/eng/news/47937.html

February 15, 2011 | 10:35

On February 15, Armenian Constitutional Court (CC) will consider the Armenia-Russia agreement on the prolongation of Russian military base in Armenia.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am reported previously, on December 24, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan sent the Armenian-Russian agreement prolonging Russia’s military presence in Armenia to the Constitutional Court . After CC studies the constitutionality of the agreement, the document will be submitted to the Armenian Parliament for approval.

The protocol amending the Armenian-Russian agreement on the Russian military base in Armenia was signed during RF President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Armenia, August 19-22.

http://www.ukrainianjournal.com/index.php?w=article&id=11984

Journal Staff Report

KIEV, Feb. 14 – Kiev has abandoned its demand for the establishment of a midline in the demarcation of the border in the Azov Sea, according to an article in the Dzerkalo Tyzhnia Ukraine (Mirror Weekly) newspaper on Saturday. Last week a group of Russian diplomats headed by the special representative of the Russian president on the delimitation and demarcation of the state border of Russia with the neighboring CIS countries, Alexander Golovin, came to Kiev with its proposals on the demarcation of the Kerch Strait, according to the newspaper. The officials held talks in strict secrecy with a small group of Ukrainian experts headed by Ambassador-at-Large Viktor Kyryk.

15 February 2011, 10:02

Ukrainian leaders accused of 'lobbying' Moscow Patriarchate's interests

Kiev, February 15, Interfax - The Our Ukraine Party has demanded that the country's supreme leadership "stop meddling" in the affairs of the Orthodox Church.

"We are condemning the encroachment on the statutory rights of the believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate, multiple instances of violent and deceitful seizure of this religion's cathedrals in favor of the Moscow Patriarchate, with the tacit connivance and unofficial assistance by the authorities," the party said in a letter to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich and Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov.

"We are protesting against the authorities' interference in the religious activities, which manifests itself, in particular, in the resumption of the KGB-style pressure by law enforcement on the clergy with a view to induce them to cooperate, as the leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Lubomir Huzar stated recently. Also, there have been multiple reports that the authorities are urging Orthodox priests from the Kiev Patriarchate to become subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate," the opposition said.

The authorities are public demonstrating their loyalty to one religious denomination - the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, including through budget earmarks, Our Ukraine said.

Lavrov to hold talks with William Hague, David Cameron

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=15953920&PageNum=0

15.02.2011, 03.17

LONDON, February 15 (Itar-Tass) - The programme of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s visit to the UK on Tuesday will begin with talks at the Foreign Office with British Foreign Secretary William Hague. After that he will meet Prime Minister David Cameron at his residence at 10, Downing Street.

The Russian minister plans to discuss a wide range of issues of bilateral relations and topical international issues, in particular, European security and cooperation on the project of European missile defence between Russia and the EU and within the Russia-NATO Council, as well as the situation in the Middle East, in Afghanistan, Iran’s nuclear programme.

On the eve of the Russian minister’s visit to London, The Times published an editorial, which noted that over the past five years, the relationship of Great Britain and Russia was essentially as tense as at the height of the Cold War. London-Moscow ties remain on a much less favourable basis than Russia’s relations with other Western European countries, according to the newspaper. Both sides admit that something must be done here.

Nevertheless, the situation around Moscow-based correspondent for The Guardian Luke Harding before the visit of the Russian foreign minister to London has shown that mechanisms of interaction exist between Russian and British authorities that allow them to effectively solve emerging problems, when the parties are interested in it. The British Foreign Office said that it was pleased that the Russian authorities decided to extend the accreditation of Harding. The journalist on February 12 returned to Russia and received his press card.

Diplomatic circles, describing the relations between Moscow and London, note that “elements of their improvement in the economic sphere and at the level of political contacts have been observed recently.” According to local observers, “the new coalition government of the United Kingdom seeks to intensify ties with Russia.” David Cameron’s first visit to Moscow is planned this year. Itar-Tass learnt that the British side, considering the timing of this trip, offers autumn - most likely, November.

“Minister Lavrov’s visit falls on a turning point,” believes the British Foreign Office. “Moscow’s Domodedovo airport explosion in January sharply underlined the overall security threat we face from international terrorism. This is just one of many serious challenges, including nuclear non-proliferation and climate change, which we must deal with.”

Great Britain is interested in closer cooperation with Russia in combating terrorism, the source said. “Countering terrorism is one of the spheres where we seek to explore possibilities for closer cooperation with Russia - within a well-defined framework. A complete ban on our bilateral contacts with the FSB (Federal Security Service) remains. This, however, should not be regarded as a straitjacket that does not allow any cooperation in countering terrorism,” stressed the Foreign Office.

“During the visit, major attention will be paid to our constructive dialogue on major issues of international politics and security,” the British Foreign Office official noted. “Egypt, Iran, the Middle East peace process, Afghanistan, nuclear non-proliferation, as well as energy and climate security - all these issues will be on the agenda.”

The parties also intend to pay attention to the discussion of cultural ties. A series of events in 2011 aimed at promoting Russian culture in the UK is called upon to give a new impetus to cooperation in this sphere. They include the organisation of an exhibition devoted to the 50th anniversary of the first manned space flight, as well as Russia’s participation as a special guest at the annual London Book Fair.

The Russian foreign minister on Tuesday will open the Russian Business Week at the London School of Economics, which is one of the leading British and international higher educational institutions training economists and businessmen. This year, the issue of turning Moscow into an international financial centre will occupy a significant place at this important forum, which is a venue for exchanging views on key issues of Russia’s economic agenda. The Business Week will continue through February 18.

“Moscow hopes that the Russian foreign minister’s visit will allow to strengthen positive trends in relations with Britain,” Russian foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said ahead of the visit. “Of late we register springs, elements and symptoms of their improvement, including that in the economic sector and at the level of political contacts.” Experts reiterate that Russia is one of Britain’s main trade partners. Over 1,000 British companies are operating in Russia. According to experts’ estimates, the two countries’ trade exceeds 17 billion U.S. dollars. Moreover, Britain is one of Russia’s largest foreign investment partners.

In the afternoon, after ending his programme, Sergei Lavrov will leave London for Rome.