Report on Eastern Europe, Russia, Caucasus and Central Asia – issue # 5/2009

Russian President makes visit to Vatican

03.12.2009, 23.57

VATICAN CITY, December 3 (Itar-Tass) – Russian President Dmitry Medvedev made a brief working visit to the Vatican Thursday night, in the course of which he had a conversation with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Secretary of State or foreign minister of the Holy See and an audience with Pope Benedict XVI. After a brief conversation with Monsignor Bertone, Medvedev was escorted to the audience with Benedict XVI, who received him in the throne hall decorated with Rafael’s ‘The St Peter’ and “The St Paul’ by Bartolomeo della Porto. The Russian President and the Pope exchanged presents. On the Russian side, this was a lacquer box showing Moscow’s downtown Cathedral of the Savior, which is currently the main church of the Russian Orthodox Church. Another present was 22 volumes of the Orthodox Encyclopedia. Medvedev recalled that Benedict XVI received the first volumes of this momentous encyclopedia from Vladimir Putin, then Russian president. He added that the new volumes have been printed since then. Benedict XVI remarked on this that he would scarcely be able to read all of this. “I hope others will help you,” Medvedev answered. The Pontiff, on his part, presented the Russian President with the Russian text of his latest Encyclical Letter titled ‘Caritas in Veritate’ (‘Love in Verity’) and a 17th century lithography by Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini. A spokesman for the Prefecture said the lithography is a historical document from the library and it shows the fa•ade of the St Peter’s Cathedral the way it looked in the 17th century. Medvedev also received a medal showing the Pope side-face and a containing a deed of gift.

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=14603605&PageNum=0

Lukashenko says Berlusconi’s visit to Minsk shows EU backing

19:22 01/12/2009

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko described on Tuesday the visit of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to Minsk as a "gesture of support" for Belarus from the European Union. Berlusconi, who arrived in the Belarusian capital on Monday to discuss economic cooperation with Lukashenko, is the first EU leader to visit the ex-Soviet state in recent years. MINSK, December 1 (RIA Novosti) "Berlusconi’s visit is certainly [a gesture of] support from the European Union. Leaning on such a powerful politician is a big deal," the Belarusian leader said. Lukashenko said the global recession has lightly affected the Italian economy. "Their bank system is well preserved, they have money to burn, and cooperation with us is advantageous for them," he said. "Everybody would like to cooperate [with Belarus], but he [Berlusconi] was not frightened and arrived in Belarus," the president said. "I know the reaction of the others: Silvio has outstripped us. The others also want to work here. But who came first will obtain better conditions." During the meeting in Minsk, the Belarusian and Italian leaders signed an agreement on economic cooperation. A range of other agreements, including in the tax, energy, and security spheres, were also signed by representatives of the two states.

http://en.rian.ru/exsoviet/20091203/157086214.html

Medvedev, Berlusconi discuss Iran, Afghanistan

03.12.2009, 17.04

ROME, December 3 (Itar-Tass) — Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi “have had a detailed discussion of the Iranian nuclear problem and the situation in Afghanistan,” the Russian president’s press secretary, Natalia Timakova, said on Thursday. The two leaders welcomed the signing of an agreement between Russia’s gas giant Gazprom and Italy’s ENI on the South Stream gas pipeline project. “Berlusconi briefed the Russian president on his recent visit to Belarus and his meetings with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev,” Timakova said.

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=14601945&PageNum=0

Berlusconi praises Russia’s European security initiatives

18:59 03/12/2009

ROME, December 3 (RIA Novosti) Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said on Thursday he thinks "highly" of the Russian president’s European security proposal. "President Medvedev has sent me a detailed letter on European security, which reflects a new approach to the Euro-Atlantic region, I think highly of it. We are studying this document and consider it important," he said. He added that he would discuss the proposals with his NATO counterparts "during the forthcoming NATO council meeting, to be held in Brussels next week." Russian President Dmitry Medvedev proposed drawing up a new European security pact in June 2008, and Russia published a draft of the treaty on Sunday, sending copies to heads of state and international organizations, including NATO.

http://en.rian.ru/world/20091203/157088084.html

Lavrov to "reset" relations with NATO

04.12.2009, 06.00

BRUSSELS, December 4 (Itar-Tass) — Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will participate on Friday in the first Russia-NATO ministerial meeting after the five-day war in the Caucasus last year to “reset” relations spoiled by Georgian attack on South Ossetia and subsequent Russian retaliation. Three documents have been prepared for the meeting, including a road map on Russia-NATO relationship, instruction to ambassadors to carry out the first joint analysis of security threats, and a plan to streamline Russia-NATO Council performance. “All the three documents have been agreed and are awaiting approval by the ministers. Russian approaches were taken into account,” Russia’s Ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin said. The general analysis of threats causes most interest, as ambassadors will have to clarify who threatens NATO and Russia and from where. Russian and western military believe the analysis will expose coincidence of threats. If so, it will prove the necessity of strategic cooperation between Russia and NATO. As for Russia-NATO Council reform plans, Russia insists it has to focus on streamlining Euro-Atlantic security system. Rogozin said the Council will “reject political bureaucracy in favor of practical work, in particular, by creating separate dialogue formats at the level of experts for each cooperation vector, first and foremost, in Afghanistan.” The ministers will also give a general assessment of Russia-NATO relations, including contradictions on CFE Treaty, the situation around South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and alliance enlargement plans. Preparations for the first visit to Russia by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on December 15-17 will also highlight the meeting.

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=14603446&PageNum=0

Lukashenko declares commitment to stronger ties with Russia

17:13 03/12/2009

MINSK, December 3 (RIA Novosti) Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has reiterated his commitment to boosting ties with Russia during a meeting with a Russian presidential envoy on Thursday. The Belarusian president said that worsening relations with Russia would result in his "political death." "Let’s be sincere - I’m not going to abandon this policy [towards Russia], but we will also improve ties with our neighbors," he said at a meeting with the Russian president’s envoy to the Volga Federal District, Grigory Rapota. He added that improving ties with Ukraine and the European Union will not lead to worsening relations with Russia. "Russia should understand that we, as a state, should first of all build normal relations with our neighbors," the Belarusian president said.

http://en.rian.ru/exsoviet/20091203/157086214.html

Russia Premier has ’warm feelings’ towards Belarus

03.12.2009 14:14

MOSCOW, 3 December (BelTA) – Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin said that he has warm feelings towards Belarus and its leadership. Vladimir Putin made the statement during an annual televised question-and-answer session with Russian citizens on 3 December.

“We have very kind, warm feelings towards the entire Belarusian nation, the entire country and Belarus’ leadership,” said Vladimir Putin when asked about why he did not respond to criticizing remarks made by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.

“Certainly, Belarus’ leadership would like to have more advanced relations with us,” said Vladimir Putin. “It may be possible. But, I strongly believe, it should be synchronized with integration processes inside the Union State. The deeper the integration is, the more opportunities to switch to domestic Russian prices and standards there will be”.

Speaking about supplies of Belarusian machines to Russia, Vladimir Putin remarked that they are granted free access to the Russian market, but in view of the crisis phenomena in the Russian economy Russia is not ready to let Belarusian producers to participate in subsidized machinery purchases.

“Routine problems may produce certain tension but, on the whole, Belarus’ leadership and the Belarus President are adherents of integration processes, of rapprochement with Russia, and we value it a lot,” stressed the Russian Prime Minister. “We have seen the most vivid manifestation of these feelings and this policy lately. It is connected with the signing of the documents on creating the single customs space, the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan”.

Vladimir Putin said the Customs Union creation was an important integration decision. “It may be one of the most important post-Soviet decisions because it is truly the real way towards real integration,” he said. “We strongly expect these processes to advance fast and produce tangible results not only for economic operators but living standards of our people”.

Speaking about Union State social achievements, Vladimir Putin underlined that a lot had been done. In particular, he mentioned freedom of movement granted to the citizens of the two countries, similar employment standards. “We will continue working with our Belarusian friends in this area,” assured the Russian Premier.

http://www.belta.by/en/news/politics?id=458091

Vladimir Putin: integration in post-Soviet space is Russia’s priority

03.12.2009 14:23

MOSCOW, 3 December (BelTA) – Although the accession to the WTO remains Russia’s strategic goal, its priority is the integration in the post-Soviet space, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said in live television broadcast on 3 December.

“We are very happy about the way the formation of the Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus is going on now,” Vladimir Putin said. “After the Customs Union is established, we will have to join the WTO either within the Customs Union or independently holding very serious consultations and agreeing all the positions with our partners from the Customs Union,” the Russian Premier added.

http://www.belta.by/en/news/politics?id=458099

Belarus, Russia, Ukraine to organize Victory Parade exhibition

03.12.2009 14:52

MINSK, 3 December (BelTA) – The leading museums of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine are planning to present a unique project, the Victory Parade exhibition, to mark the 65th anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War. The statement was made by Culture Minister of Belarus Pavel Latushko at a session of the steering committee on preparing and holding the celebrations to mark the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Republic of Belarus from the Nazis and the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War on 2 December.

The exposition will display colours, original documents including the German unconditional surrender document, personal things of outstanding military leaders. The exhibition is expected to open in Moscow in May 2010. It will arrive in Minsk in September 2010 and will be displayed in Kiev in 2011.

Exhibitions to mark the anniversary will be held in many Belarusian establishments. By 9 May 2010 the National Library of Belarus jointly with the leading museums of the country plans to organize a national exhibition, the Soviet Poster 1941-1945. In 2010 the Belarusian State Academy of Arts is going to hold an art exhibition, We Remember the May of 1945. Libraries, educational establishemnts, museums, clubs throughout the country will hold thematic and museum exhibitions, meetings with war participants and other events.

http://www.belta.by/en/news/culture?id=458129

Putin denies backing Tymoshenko’s presidential bid

15:39 03/12/2009

MOSCOW, December 3 (RIA Novosti) Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Thursday he was not backing Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s presidential bid. He said they had "a good working relationship," but "I do not support Yulia Tymoshenko in the election" slated for January. Putin, who met with Tymoshenko on November 19 in the Ukrainian city of Yalta, said after the meeting that the Ukrainian prime minister was not an easy partner, though it was comfortable to work with her. "As you know, we have special relations on the party level with the Party of Regions," the Russian premier said during his annual televised question-and-answer session. A total of 18 candidates have been registered to run in Ukrainian presidential elections. Tymoshenko, along with Viktor Yanukovych, the leader of the Party of Regions, are seen as leading contenders.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20091203/157084594.html

Medvedev does not rule out running for second term in 2012

03.12.2009, 19.02

ROME, December 3 (Itar-Tass) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Thursday he does not rule out running for the second term of office in the 2012 presidential election, yet he "won’t be elbowing" with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. As he addressed a news conference in Rome, he said that one must have really good chances of being elected to decide to run for presidency. "Prime Minister Putin said he doesn’t rule out a possibility of running /for the presidential office/ in 2012/ and I don’t rule it either," Medvedev said. "We’re close enough to each other and we understand each other well and we work together," he said. "I think we’ll be able to come to terms on how to stay away from elbowing and how to take a decition that’ll be rational for the whole of the country," he said. Along with this, Medvedev believes a person seeking nomination should have a big enough support among the Russians. "Only if Mr Medvedev and Mr Putin have at least some chance of being elected /shall they run for the office — Itar-Tass/," Medvedev said. "We don’t know the future or what the situation will be like in a few years from now but anyway we’ll behave like responsible politicians and I feel quite confident about that," he said.

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=14602634&PageNum=0

Main points of Putin’s annual Q&A session

20:54 03/12/2009

MOSCOW, December 3 (RIA Novosti) Prime Minister Vladimir Putin fielded a wide range of questions from the Russian public during his live TV and radio phone-in on Thursday afternoon. During his time as president, Putin held six live phone-ins. Today’s session was held in Gostiny Dvor, an exhibition center in downtown Moscow used as the venue of United Russia party congresses. Putin answered more than 90 questions in 4 hours and 2 minutes, beating his previous record of 3 hours and 8 minutes. Russians were able to submit questions by phone, online, and via text message. A large share of the questions reflected concerns over social problems. Putin’s main points: Domestic issues:
 The Russian Armed Forces must keep up with modern challenges to reliably ensure national security
 Russia will continue to rely on its own defense industry to develop and produce new weaponry
 Much has been done to defeat terrorism in Russia, but the threat has not been eliminated
 Radical measures will be taken to end the surge of militant violence in the North Caucasus, but a new war is not expected in the region
 It is necessary "to act in a tough way" against the terrorists responsible for the recent attack on the Nevsky Express train
 Police crime must be dealt with relentlessly, but there should be no discrediting of the force
 Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin’s legacy remains ambiguous, and his achievements should be remembered as well as the crimes against the nation Economic issues:
 The Cold War-era Jackson-Vanik Amendment that restricts U.S. trade with Russia is an "anachronism" hindering Russia’s World Trade Organization accession bid
 The worst of the economic crisis is now over
 Inflation in Russia could be under 9% this year
 Russia’s GDP will decline 8.5-8.7% and industrial output 13% in 2009
 Despite the crisis, growth in Russia’s agriculture sector this year will be 0.5%
 Russia’s economy has managed to avoid grave consequences from the current global economic crisis, unlike after the 1998 financial meltdown
 The Russian aircraft industry is facing a bright future
 The Russian government is ready to provide extra support to the ailing car giant AvtoVAZ if its restructuring proves to be effective
 A new Lada car based on a new platform must be developed by Avtovaz
 Russian steelmakers will cope with the problems caused by the crisis, and will boost production in the post-crisis period
 Proceeds from the sale of assets of the now defunct oil company Yukos were spent on establishing a fund for housing and utilities sector reforms
 New power producers should honor commitments on investment in the expansion and modernization of generating facilities
 The situation in Russia’s light industry has improved since the Cherkizovo market was closed in Moscow
 Russia wants to increase support for the agricultural sector by joining the WTO
 The legacy of the Soviet planned economy and expectations that the government will solve all problems hamper Russia’s development
 The government will allocate 18 billion rubles ($620 million) to the Amur shipyard in the Russian Far East Personal issues:
 He has no plans to quit politics
 He has good relations with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
 He has yet to decide whether to run for president in 2012
 He does not consider himself a "great" person and does not suffer from depression Social problems:
 The Birth rate in Russia will grow by over 3% in 2009
 Prices on medicines will stabilize in 2010 when new legislation comes into force
 The Russian government will spend 10 billion rubles ($341.45 mln) to buy used cars
 Russian authorities will continue reducing the number of officials in the country
 Ministers and other officials will make more trips across Russia and visit companies more frequently
 The introduction of a state monopoly on alcohol production and sale would not solve all problems facing the sector
 Russia’s super-rich should give up their ostentatious spending habits and use their wealth to benefit their country
 The Russian government will spend 250 billion rubles ($8.6 billion) to cut mortgage rates to 10%-11% in 2010
 The Russian government is considering giving more authority to the industrial safety regulator, Rostekhnadzor, in efforts to prevent accidents similar to the August 17 disaster at a Siberian hydropower plant that killed 75 people Foreign affairs:
 He does not back Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s presidential bid
 A cut in energy prices for Belarus should coincide with Minsk’s integration into the Union state with Russia
 Wishing ill to other countries, including the U.S., is pointless Environmental issues:
 Putin pledged to help the conservation of endangered polar bears
 Russian wildlife experts are trying to revive the population of Caucasian leopards, and some have been sent to Russia from the former Soviet republic of Turkmenistan
 The Russian government will work to ensure that the construction of facilities for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi does not harm the environment

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20091203/157089118.html

Head of Dagestan district administration killed, driver survives

30.11.2009, 17.51

MAKHACHKALA, November 30 (Itar-Tass) — A criminal case has been opened into the assassination of the head of the Magaramkent district administration, Abrek Gadzhiyev, on three charges of the Criminal Code – assassination, attempted murder and illegal trafficking of weapons and ammunition. Gadzhiyev, 35, came under submachine gunfire at 101, Imam Shamil Prospect at around 6.00 am Moscow time Monday. Gadzhiyev, who was in a Toyota jeep with his driver, died of wounds instantaneously. His driver, Arsen Alekhanov, wounded in the shoulder, was hospitalised and underwent surgery, Senior Aide to Chairman of the Dagestani SKP Nizami Radzhabov told Itar-Tass. The assassin had left the submachine gun of 5.45 millimetre on the murder scene.

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=14587687&PageNum=2

SKP chief urges to step up train blast probe

02.12.2009, 17.16

MOSCOW, December 2 (Itar-Tass) - Chairman of the Investigation Committee under the Prosecutor General’s Office (SKP) Alexander Bastrykin urged to step up the probe into the Nevsky Express train blast. "Today, the SKP chief chaired a session of the headquarters for investigating this criminal case," SKP spokesman Vladimir Markin said. "He urged the investigators, forensic experts and detectives to step up investigative actions aimed at ascertaining all the circumstances of the terrorist attack and the identity of the perpetrators," the spokesman added. Taking part in the Wednesday session were personnel of the SKP main investigation department, senior investigators and senior officials from regional law-enforcement bodies, including the departments of the Federal Security Service for the Tver and Novgorod regions. An explosion derailed the Moscow-Petersburg train on the Alyoshkino-Uglovka stretch at 21:48, Moscow time, on November 27. The train was travelling at some 200 kilometres per hour. Twenty-three passengers died on the spot, two died in ambulances on the way to hospitals, and another victim died in a Moscow hospital on Monday. On Tuesday, the death toll rose to 27. According to the Federal Security Service, the bomb yield was about seven kilograms of TNT. It blasted a one-meter wide and 70 centimetre-deep crater on the tracks. Two train cars overturned. A criminal case was opened over the articles on "terrorism," and "illegal turnover of explosive devices and explosives." Ninety-five people remain in hospitals. Of those, 13 are in serious condition. Seventy-seven people are receiving treatment at St Petersburg hospitals, 17 in Moscow hospitals, and one in a Novgorod region hospital. Markin also said some 100 meters from the train crash scene, a jacket was found with several letters apparently written by a convicted person. "Investigators are ascertaining the owner of the jacket and his possible involvement in the crime. "Investigators are checking houses in the villages located in the area of the accident. At the crash scene, 33 SKP investigators are at work," the SKP spokesman said. Investigators working on the case also question witnesses in Moscow, St. Petersburg and the Tver and Novgorod region. There were two explosions at the train crash scene. Both were classified as terrorist attack. The investigators believe the second explosion targeted the SKP personnel who were inspecting the scene. Demolition experts from the Federal Security Service (FSB) carried out an expert examination of fragments of the bomb set off in the afternoon on November 28, in close proximity to the SKP investigators. It was ascertained that the bomb was remotely controlled, and that it was set off from a mobile phone, according to the spokesman. "This gives the reason to the investigators to believe that the second explosion targeted the investigators working at the scene," Markin said. The Moscow region authorities, Russian Railways and the Russian government pledged financial assistance to the victims of the Nevsky Express explosion. At a special conference on Saturday, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev conveyed his condolences to the victims’ families. Meanwhile, a representative of the headquarters for investigation of the train blast said the version about "the Caucasus connection" is harmful to the probe. "The speculations in the mass media, rumours and suppositions are inventions, harmful to the investigation," a high-placed law-enforcement officer said. These rumours concern "four people of "Caucasian looks" allegedly seen on the eve of the tragedy by residents of the village of Lykoshino, situated four kilometres from the scene of the accident, mysterious jeeps, gypsies and what not," he said. "One should not interfere with the professionals looking for the criminals whose actions claimed people’s life," the officer said. Given the fact that the Nevsky Express crash is not the first accident on the railway stretch between the Tver and Novgorod regions, local authorities intend to take measures to prevent the recurrence of such accidents. An additional police post will be set up in one of the nearest villages, a Tver region administration official told Tass. Earlier, leader of Chechen militants Doku Umarov claimed that the train blast had been staged by his men, but Russian law-enforcement bodies and Chechnya’s Interior Ministry dismissed the allegations, saying Umarov has no capability to stage large-scale terrorist attacks in Chechnya and elsewhere. "He has a small group of gunmen by his side at present; he cannot issue orders or coordinate actions by separate gangs; because he’s afraid to go on the air," a Chechen police official said.

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=14596935&PageNum=0

Railway to install total track monitoring after train blast

04.12.2009, 04.03

ST. PETERSBURG, December 4 (Itar-Tass) — The Oktyabrskaya railway that links St. Petersburg and Moscow will arrange “total monitoring” of the 650-kilometer long track following the explosion of the Nevsky Express passenger train by terrorists on November 27 that took a toll of 26 lives. Video surveillance systems and thermal observation devices will be installed. The project worth three billion rubles will be designed shortly, according to head of the railway security center Pavel Sazonov. The system will provide for “total surveillance” of the track and objects. Mobile groups will be on the round-o’clock duty, watch the situation on monitors real time, and rush to the scene in case of danger, Sazonov told a press conference on Thursday. President of the Russian Railways Company Vladimir Yakunin told the NTV channel on Thursday the surveillance system will be “independent of external sources and impossible to switch off.” However, despite technical support, Yakunin called on residents along railways to inform police of any strangers in their villages. “Assistance is necessary in such situations. In the West dozens of ladies would call police if a stranger appears all of a sudden,” Yakunin said. He also said his company will work to make passenger cars safer, as many people in derailed Nevsky Express cars were killed or wounded by flying debris. “Work will be carried out with industrialists and researchers on technical conditions of modern rolling stock. Jointly with law enforcers we shall analyze everything that has been done in the sphere of safety before the derailment of Nevsky Express and what has been already done after the accident,” Yakunin said.

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=14603603&PageNum=0

230 militants neutralized in N. Caucasus this year - ministry

At least 230 militants have been killed by federal forces in the North Caucasus since January and many arms caches confiscated, Deputy Interior Minister Nikolai Rogozhkin said on Friday. Over 7,000 people have been arrested and more than 100 kilos of drugs confiscated, along with nearly 200 firearms. About 10,000 police and Interior Ministry troops have taken part in over 130 antiterrorist drills held in the outgoing year.

Dec 4, 2009

http://english.ruvr.ru/2009/12/04/2500309.html

Russia eyes new arms markets in Asia-Pacific region

16:1701/12/2009

MOSCOW, December 1 (RIA Novosti) Russia is planning to strengthen its positions as a key supplier of weaponry in the Asia-Pacific region by seeking new customers at a major arms show in Malaysia, state arms exporter Rosoboronexport has said. The biennial Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition started on Tuesday through December 5 at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Center in Malaysia. "We will conduct extensive talks with out current partners and potential customers in the sphere of military-technical cooperation during the LIMA-2009 show," Rosoboronexport Deputy General Director Viktor Komardin said. Komardin, who heads the Russian delegation at the show, expressed hope that LIMA-2009 would mark a new step in the development of military-technical ties between Russia and Asia-Pacific countries. According to Rosoboronexport, Russia will traditionally showcase a variety of combat aircraft, air defense systems and naval equipment at the LIMA-2009 exhibition. The line of combat aircraft includes Su-35 Flanker-E and MiG-35 Fulcrum-F multirole fighters, Yak-130 combat trainer and various models of Mi and Ka helicopters. Since the mid-1990s, Vietnam has purchased 12 Su-27 and 12 Su-30MK multirole fighters from Russia, while Indonesia has bought five Su-27 and five Su-30MK aircraft, and Malaysia 18 Su-30MKM planes. Russian-made air defense systems will be represented at the show by Tor-M2E, Buk-M2E and Pantsir-S1 systems. Russia will also exhibit small and medium displacement surface ships that are in great demand in Southeast Asia, including the Mirage and Mangust patrol boats, the Molniya missile boat, Amur-1650 diesel submarine and Piranha compact submarines.

http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20091201/157054620.html

Russian military announces large-scale Vostok-2010 drills

13:49 01/12/2009

MOSCOW, December 1 (RIA Novosti) The Russian Armed Forces will conduct large-scale Vostok military exercises in Siberia and the country’s Far East in 2010, the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday. The exercises will be part on the annual training cycle in the Russian military, aimed at improving combat readiness and interoperability of the various branches of the Armed Forces. "The main event of the combat training in 2010 will be the Vostok-2010 strategic exercises, which will involve units of the Siberian and the Far Eastern military districts, the Air Force, Airborne troops and the Pacific Fleet," the ministry said in a statement. So far this year, the military has conducted the Caucasus 2009, Zapad 2009 and Ladoga 2009 strategic exercises, and 15 brigade-level and 161 battalion-level drills. Russia holds Vostok strategic command-and-staff exercises every two years. More than 8,000 troops took part in Vostok-2008.

http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20091201/157052775.html

Russia’s defense industry to grow in 2010

Next year the Russian armed forces will get more than 30 ballistic missiles and 11 space complexes. Presiding over a meeting on the development of this country’s defense-related industries outside Moscow on Monday Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said that cutting-edge rocket and space technology was the backbone of Russia’s security and nuclear deterrence and urged improvements to production quality and efficiency. Mentioning the government plans to bring the overall size of defense orders up to 1.175 trillion rubles next year, Putin voiced confidence that the defense industry’s impressive scientific and industrial potential would play an important role in the country’s drive for economic modernization.

Nov 30, 2009

http://english.ruvr.ru/2009/11/30/2457140.html

Vietnam could become key importer of Russian weaponry

14:48 04/12/2009

MOSCOW, December 4 (RIA Novosti) Vietnam could become a key importer of Russian weaponry if several contracts on the purchase of diesel submarines and aircraft are signed in the near future, a Russian newspaper said. According to the Vedomosti business daily, Moscow and Hanoi are close to sign deals on the purchase of six Kilo class diesel-electric submarines and 12 Su-30MK2 Flanker-C multirole fighters. The submarine contract, worth an estimated $1.8 billion, includes the construction of on-shore infrastructure and training of submarine crews and will be the second largest submarine contract concluded by Russia since the Soviet era after the 2002 deal on the delivery of eight subs to China. Russia has built Kilo class submarines for India, China and Iran. Vedomosti also cited sources in Russia’s aircraft manufacturing industry as saying a new contract on the delivery of 12 Su-30MK2 fighter jets in addition to eight aircraft of the same type ordered by Vietnam in January 2009. The new contract could be worth at least $600 million, not including the price of on-board weaponry. In addition, Russia could sign a deal with Vietnam on the delivery of a large number of Mi-17 helicopters, a source in the Russian Helicopters company said during the LIMA 2009 arms show in Malaysia on Wednesday. According to Russian military analyst Konstantin Makiyenko, the new deals will push Vietnam to the top of the list of major buyers of the Russian weaponry, as the share of China and India in Russia’s arms exports is gradually declining.

http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20091204/157097433.html

Moldovan politicians debate language, mark Romanian National Day

December 02, 2009

For the first time in a decade, Moldovan leaders held official celebrations in Chisinau on Romania’s National Day and renewed calls for closer ties between the two countries, which share a common language and history, RFE/RL’s Moldovan Service reports. Moldova’s acting president, Mihai Ghimpu, became the country’s first leader in more than a decade to lay a wreath at a monument in downtown Chisinau on the holiday on December 1. Ghimpu, who has confessed to being a "unionist" but has promised not to seek union with Romania in the near future, told reporters today that this is his "national day," too. "This is the day for all Romanians, and I am a Romanian," Ghimpu said. "I have laid flowers to honor our ancestors and I want to wish all Romanians happiness and good health. I want good ties [with Romania] and let’s not forget that we cannot deny our blood ties." Also today, at a different event, Ghimpu hinted at a possible change to the Moldovan Constitution to change the name of the country’s official language from "Moldovan," as it is now, to "Romanian." Some top government institutions in Chisinau have already made that change on their websites, where the language-icon has become "RO" for Romanian instead of "MD" for Moldovan. Other government offices have avoided the dilemma by placing national flags on the site instead of language names.

’One Language, Two Countries’ Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)

http://politicom.moldova.org/news/moldovan-politicians-debate-language-mark-romanian-national-day-204714-eng.html

PCRM and PDM united when it is about Moldovans from Moldova

The Communist MPs demanded again that the dismissal of the Head of Parliament Mihai Ghimpu be discussed at the sitting after he declared that Romanians live in Moldova on December 1, on Romania’s National Day.

Info-Prim Neo, 3 December 2009, 14:27

The Communists asked support from the Democratic Party (PDM). The Democratic MPs did not back them, but had their own replies to Mihai Ghimpu. The issue was not included in the agenda as there were not enough votes, Info-Prim Neo reports. The proposal to discuss Ghimpu’s dismissal was submitted by Communist MP Grigore Petrenko, who reminded the Speaker that not only Romanians live in Moldova, but also other peoples including Moldovans. Mihai Ghimpu recommended Petrenko to look in his CV, which says that he is Romanian and speaks Romanian. "I voted for the independence of this state that the Communists Party had destroyed during eight years," the Speaker said. Democratic MP Dumitru Diacov said Russians, Romanians, Moldovans and other peoples live in Moldova. "Shall I not forget about you, Mister Diacov?" Ghimpu asked. Another Communist MP, Victor Stepaniuc said Moldova is the rightful successor of the Moldovan state created in 1359 and of that founded in 1917. "I think we must remember that on December 2, 1917 the people voted for a democratic, not Bessarabian republic," he said.

http://www.azi.md/en/story/7444

Marian Lupu will be only runner in rerun presidential race

Only one candidate will be registered as runner in the second round of the presidential elections set for December 7.

Info-Prim Neo, 4 December 2009, 11:09 The leader of the Democratic Party (PDM) Marian Lupu, the presidential candidate of the Alliance for European Integration, is the only candidate who submitted the documents to the special commission for the election of the head of state by the December 3 deadline, the commission’s head Ion Plesca told Info-Prim Neo. The necessary set of documents was lodged with the commission on December 3 in the evening. Ion Plesca said the commission will come together on December 4 to register Marian Lupu as a candidate. Lupu is backed by more than 20 members of the Alliance. The PDM’s president of honor Dumitru Diacov said earlier that he wanted at least several Communist MPs to support Lupu’s candidacy as well. "As far as I know, they did not want to put their signatures as they do not want to anticipate the discussions at the plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the PCRM," Diacov said. The parliamentary group of the Communists Party did not field a presidential candidate and did not take part in the first round of the presidential elections on November 10. According to politicians and analysts, a part of the Communist MPs consider the early elections inevitable, while others hope to find a compromise by December 7. "The polls say 60% of the population want the head of state to be elected and do not want early elections. I have never heard arguments that Lupu is not fit for the post of President. "If the Communists do not vote again, they will provoke early elections and there is no grantee that the situation will not repeat. There is always a risk that two-three votes will not be enough for voting the head of state in. Why should we then play such games?" Diacov asked rhetorically. In the first attempt on November 10, Marian Lupu did not gain the necessary number of votes. Only the 53 members of the parliamentary coalition voted in favor of him. Under the legislation, the President of Moldova is elected by 3/5 of MPs. Thus, Marian Lupu needs eight more votes from the Communist Opposition.

http://www.azi.md/en/story/7469

The leader of Moldovan communists and the American ambassador discussed about the "political situation from Moldova"

The leader of the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM), Vladimir Voronin and Asif Chaudhry, American ambassador to Chisinau, had a meeting on Thursday.

DECA-press, 4 December 2009, 11:32

The meeting was held a few days before the second round of elections of Republic of Moldova president. According to a press release of PCRM, Voronin and Chaudhry discussed about "the political situation from the Republic of Moldova and made exchange of opinions referring to the ways of overcoming the situation". During the discussions, the two parties made exchange of opinions related to the Moldo-American cooperation in different fields.

http://www.azi.md/en/story/7470

Moldova asks Russia to withdraw troops from Dniester region

December 04, 2009

Moldova has expressed "concern about the protracted presence of foreign troops" on its territory and asked for the withdrawal of Russian servicemen and armament from its breakaway Dniester region.

Moldovan Foreign and European Integration Minister Iurie Leanca said at the 17th meeting of the OSCE Council of Ministers on 1 December that the full withdrawal of Russian troops and armament in line with decisions of the OSCE Summit in Istanbul would help "overcome the crisis around the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and will be an important measure to bolster confidence and security in order to solve the conflict with the Dniester region".

Leanca said that the Moldovan authorities were aware of the contribution of the current peacekeeping mission to stability in the region, but noted that the time was ripe to start talks to transform it into an international mission of civil observers.

Leanca also spoke in favour of resuming settlement negotiations in the five-plus-two format immediately and unconditionally. He noted that this was the only internationally recognized mechanism, the goal of which was to find a mutually acceptable, long-term and viable solution to the Dniester issue by assigning the region a special status based on Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Infotag news agency

http://politicom.moldova.org/news/moldova-asks-russia-to-withdraw-troops-from-dniester-region-204734-eng.html

Members of Moldova’s AEI at odds over constitutional reform

December 04, 2009

The representatives of the four member parties of the ruling Alliance for European Integration have different opinions about the adoption of a new constitution. Some members of the alliance say that the head of state should be elected by people, while others say that he should be elected in parliament with a simple majority of votes. At the same time, the opposition Communist Party does not agree with any of these proposals.

Marian Lupu, Democratic Party leader and the alliance’s nominee for the post of president, speaking at a news conference: "Knowing that about 80 per cent of Moldova’s citizens support the idea of electing the president nationwide, a thing confirmed by the latest opinion polls, I support this desire of our society."

Prime Minister Vlad Filat and Liberal Democratic Party leader also supports this initiative.

At the same time, Liberal Party leader and parliament speaker and acting President Mihai Ghimpu and Our Moldova Alliance leader Serafim Urechean support the idea of electing the president in parliament.

Urechean: "The president should be elected by parliament with 50 plus one votes."

Meanwhile, the opposition Communist Party categorically opposes the amendment of the current constitution or the adoption of a new constitution.

Serghei Sirbu, Communist Party lawyer, speaking at a news conference: "The amendment of the constitution or the adoption of a new constitution is not a solution. The issue can be solved only through negotiations. Now the parties cannot reach a compromise because some politicians have too high political ambitions."

On 1 December, acting President Mihai Ghimpu signed a decree creating a commission in charge of proposing solutions to overcome the deadlock related to the election of the president either by amending the constitution or by adopting a new constitution. Members of the commission are leaders of the Alliance for European Integration, judges and lawyers, experts in constitutional law. The Communists have not yet delegated their two members to the commission. If this happens, then the decree will be amended, Mihai Ghimpu said. Pro TV, Moldovan private TV company

http://politicom.moldova.org/news/members-of-moldovas-aei-at-odds-over-constitutional-reform-204736-eng.html

Most Moldovans support nationwide presidential election - poll

December 04, 2009

As many as 74 per cent of Moldova’s population support the idea of electing the country’s president in nationwide elections, according to the results of a survey conducted by the centre for sociological surveys and marketing CBS AXA and the IDIS-Viitorul Institute for Development and Social Initiatives.

The survey was conducted among 1,085 respondents in 12 districts.

"If a presidential election were held next Sunday, then one third of respondents would vote for Democratic Party leader Marian Lupu," the executive director of the IDIS-Viitorul institute, Igor Munteanu, told a news conference today.

The leader of the opposition Communist Party and ex-President Vladimir Voronin would be supported by 18 per cent of respondents, former Prime Minister Zinaida Greciani by 10 per cent and Moldova’s current Prime Minster Vlad Filat by 6 per cent.

According to the opinion poll, 56 per cent of the population is against the organization of a new early parliamentary election.

"People believe that a new election would divert attention from problems that should be solved in the country," Munteanu said.

Yet, in case of a new early parliamentary election, the opposition Communist Party would win 33 per cent of votes and the ruling Alliance for European Integration 35 per cent.

"Thirty-four per cent of respondents believe that the Communist Party would have to be blamed for a possible early election," the expert said.

Meanwhile, the survey shows that every third Moldova’s citizen would like to live in the EU, up to 7 per cent in the CIS and 8 per cent in a renewed Soviet Union.

Infotag news agency

http://politicom.moldova.org/news/most-moldovans-support-nationwide-presidential-election-poll-204737-eng.html

Ukraine’s Youth Party to support Yanukovych at elections, party’s congress decides

13:26

Ukraine’s Youth Party will support presidential candidate Viktor Yanukovych, the press service the party has reported. The Youth Party took this decision at its eighth congress on Saturday. The party also approved an address to Ukraine’s young citizens that says "we should elect and defend our choice. Not vote just for a person and the biography of a presidential candidate, but for real programs and a team of professionals, for ways that will lead Ukraine out of a state of collapse. Empty addresses and slogans, and populism must be left in the past." "We were on the Maidan in 2004. Together with the majority of young people we defended the principles of freedom, new views of the reform of the state, but instead we received crisis after crisis, anarchy and total chaos. [We have seen] chaos in all its forms, in all branches of power, and that’s why we should acknowledge our historical mistakes and join with a person who is ready and is able to break a chain that is ruinous for Ukraine," the reports says. The address to the future Ukrainian president includes a number of requirements regarding issues that worry the Youth Party. "We see Viktor Yanukovych as a leader of the nation, who will be able to realize the above-mentioned requirements of the Youth Party of Ukraine," the report said.

07.12.2009

http://www.interfax.com.ua/eng/main/27070/

Leonid Maltsev: The Armed Forces of Belarus reach a higher level of efficiency

The major goal of the Armed Forces is to ensure stability and military security of the country, State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Leonid Maltsev said in the Defense Ministry on 5 December.

According to him, Belarus is one of those few countries that has been able to reform the Armed Forces smoothly and without failing, made a great headway in their development and construction.

“The operative strategic army exercise West 2009 demonstrated that the Armed Forces reached a brand new level in their quality,” he said.

Leonid Maltsev stated that the Defense Ministry has yet a lot of difficult goals to reach. “We should guarantee peaceful development in any conditions,” Leonid Maltsev said.

In his words, Belarus has adopted the Armed Forces construction and development concept up to 2020. In the area of technical planning Belarus needs the Armed Forces construction and development plan for 2011-2015 as the implementation of the previous one completes in 2010. The new plan necessitates a state armament programme in accordance with the approved concept.

Leonid Maltsev thanked the officer corps of the Defense Ministry for a great contribution to the construction and reforming of the Armed Forces of Belarus.

Monday, 7 December 2009

http://www.belta.by/en/pointOfView?id=459427&pointOfView=1