Russia 110929 Basic Political Developments

Russia 110929

Basic Political Developments

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  Ukrainian delegation in Moscow for gas talks – minister: Delegation of "Naftogaz Ukraine" has left on Thursday, Sept. 29, in Moscow for gas talks with Russia's OAO "Gazprom". This was announced by Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine Yuriy Boyko.
  
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  Russia to insist U.S., NATO take realistic approach to missile threats - envoy to NATO
  
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    Russia-NATO Chicago summit possible if progress made on missile defense – Rogozin
    
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  NATO provoking another conflict in Balkans – Rogozin
  
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    Ambassador demands investigation of NATO’s firing at Kosovan Serbs
    
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  Russia supports Jordan’s reform drive - During a meeting with Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, which was held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings on Tuesday, the two sides discussed the latest regional developments, especially those taking place in several Arab countries. They also stressed the importance of ongoing cooperation and coordination vis-à-vis issues of mutual concern.
  
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  UNSC may agree measures on Syria - Russia's UN ambassador
  
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    EU, Russia inch towards compromised draft text in UNSC on Syria Politics  
    
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  Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov’s Conversations in Berlin - They substantively examined topical international issues, including pan-European security and Russia-EU and Russia-NATO cooperation, and the situation in different regions of the world.
  
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  Poland and Russia differ on Smolensk disaster autopsy findings - The news threatens to undermine the entire series of autopsies carried out in Russia in the wake of the plane crash which killed President Lech Kaczynski and 95 others in western Russia last year.
  
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  Russian military power worries Nordic region - “A rise in Russia’s military operations in the Baltic Sea region is cause for concern among Baltic states Finland, Sweden and Poland, Estonia’s military chief said.
  
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  Russia moves to bolster Arctic military presence - Anton Vasilev, a special ambassador for Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was quoted this week by the Interfax news agency as saying his country would be beefing up its presence in the Arctic, and that NATO was not welcome there.
  
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  Cruiser Adm Kuznetsov to leave for Mediterranean in Nov - Verification is under way of a list of foreign ports to be visited by the Russian ships, including an update in view of the developments in the Middle East and North Africa. The question of the Russian ships' participation in joint exercises together with the navies of countries in the region is being worked out as well, the MNH officer pointed out.
  
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  Greece, Russia meet on Rodos to discuss investments - “Our interaction in shipbuilding has been good but I know that Greek ship owners want more contracts with Russian companies. At the moment, Greek ship owners are a major force in shipping,” Kedikoglu added.
  
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  Turkmenistan, Russia discuss joint projects in Ashgabat - The forum will present economic opportunities for Russian regions, in particular, Omsk, Chelyabinsk and Saratov, as well as trade organizations and industrial structures. In addition, bilateral talks are expected to be held with representatives of ministries and departments, heads of private companies, and Turkmen firms.
  
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  Russian-Turkmen trade reaches 2 bln dollars in first half of 2011
  
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  “Moscow May Use Karabakh Trump Card Against BP” - "But they have such a serious lever as Karabakh. They may push the button at any moment to create instability, suspending the project," he said, adding that Russia would not be disappointed in case Turkmenistan refuses to join the project.
  
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  Russia's Hermitage cancels exposition in Japan over nuclear fears
  
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  Russian MPs are expected in the occupied territory - Today a delegation of the Russian Federation Council headed by First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Defence and Security Yevgeny Serebrennikov is arriving in Tskhinvali.
  
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  Georgia says yes to US missile defense but no to Russia in WTO
  
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    Saakashvili: U.S. Stopped Russia Bombings
    
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  Azerbaijan exports to Russia much more energy than it receives - An agreement on the parallel operation of power system of Azerbaijan and Russia is at the consultation stage, Shedrin said.
  
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  Pro-Russian Activists Quarrel In Ukraine's Crimea
  
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  Final conf on e-gov't project to be held at EU Moscow office - Cooperation between Russia's regions and the European Union (EU) in promoting the establishment of an electronic government of Russia has entered the finishing straight.
  
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  United Russia submits election list led by Medvedev
  
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    Russia’s Election Commission admits lists of candidates for parliamentary elections
    
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  Russians living in poverty 'up by 2 mln since 2010'
  
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  Russia plans over 15 space launches for Q4 2011
  
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    Glonass-M to be launched from Plesetsk early on Oct 2 morning – source
    
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    Russia set for launch of Proton-M carrier rocket with Mexican satellite
    
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  The gigantic Typhoons will be scrapped for metal - ­The world’s largest submarines did not fit into the limits of the START Treaty   
  
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  Firefighters extinguish 18 forest fires in Russia's Siberia over past 24 hours
  
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  Blast on motorway in Dagestan presumably targeted at local official
  
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  Estonian investments come in Dagestan - Within several days, the representatives of "Bell BOATS" and "MIRODON" have been examining the opportunities for companies' participation in investment projects in Makhachkala.
  
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  Shakira to attend Chechen president's birthday bash
  
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  New clue in Chechen killings - Six former Chechen commanders were all killed in Turkey over the past four years with the same weapon produced by an arms factory near Moscow for the Russian Military Intelligence Service, or GRU, according to Turkish police sources.
  
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  Caucasus Muslims Office: Interethnic and interfaith understanding to bring happy future in Caucasus
  
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  Russia doesn’t blame Muslims as terrorists: CG - H E Consul General of the Russian Federation Andrey V. Demidov has said that his country keenly sought friendly relations with the Muslims of Pakistan.
  
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  Church official asks journalists no to turn conversation from attempts to justify pedophilia to discussing novels
  
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    Russian church wants novels banned
    
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  Deputy mayor promises not to prolong building of 200 new churches in Moscow "for decades"
  
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  Moscow housing inspection chief dismissed - "Obyedkov is relieved of the position and discharged from the city's civil service on his own initiative as he retires on a pension," the source aid.
  
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  Barracks fire in St Pete brought under control, over 200 evacuated
  
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  Moscow close to bottom on world list of cities convenient for living
  
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  Reuters PRESS DIGEST - Russia - SEPT 29
  
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    www.vedomosti.ru
    
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    Russian state officials spent more than 4.5 billion roubles ($141 million) in 2007-2009 to acquire expensive executive cars, the daily says citing a research compiled by a parliament deputy.
    
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    Russia eyes introducing obligatory Director and Officers Liability Insurance for chairmen of the boards of major state companies.
    
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    www.kommersant.ru
    
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    The European Commission antitrust probe into Gazprom's supplies to its European customers could allow the EU to get more leverage on the company, the daily says.
    
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    The first test launch of Russia's fifth generation intercontinental ballistic missile has failed, the daily says.
    
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    www.ng.ru
    
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    The earnings of 21.1 million Russians, or 15 percent of the country's population, were below living standards in the first half of 2011, the paper cites official statistics.
    
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    www.rg.ru
    
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    Prime Minister Vladimir Putin awarded a medal named after Russia's prominent 20th century reformer Pyotr Stolypin to a top Kremlin official Vladislav Surkov. ($1 = 31.746 Russian Roubles) (Writing By Tatiana Ustinova)
    
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  RIA Russian Press at a Glance, Thursday, September 29, 2011
  
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  Editorial: Another reason not to join the Russian army - The Russian army is having a hard time filling its ranks with draftees. About half of all potential recruits never show up for induction. Bribes to obtain medical deferments are common, and there is no real social stigma attached to draft dodging.
  
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  FT: Putin's intended return as president unleashes open rebellion within the Kremlin - Mr Medvedev’s entire presidency (Mr Putin was constitutionally prohibited from a third successive term) now appears to have been an elaborately constructed play, whose final act was the return of the former KGB colonel to his job next March.
  
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  Yet Another Example of The Economist's Awful Russia Coverage - We have been asked a lot recently about the "Russia: Time to Shove off" piece that ran in the Economist earlier this month.
  
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  Yet Another Example of The Economist's Awful Russia Coverage - By Mark Adomanis