Russia 110328 Basic Political Developments

Russian-American commission on START implementation meets in Geneva

http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/03/28/48058532.html
Mar 28, 2011 06:30 Moscow Time

The first meeting of the Russian-American commission on implementation of the START Treaty will be held on Monday in Geneva. The sides will discuss technical matters, it was specified at Russia’s UN headquarters.

On March 22, Moscow and Washington have begun to exchange data on strategic forces.

As reported by the U.S. Assistant Secretary Rose Gottemoeller, the Americans regard the Treaty as a bridge to further reduce nuclear arsenals of both countries.

The document was signed by Presidents Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama on April 8th last year. It entered into force on February 5th after ratification by the parliaments of Russia and the United States.

Moldovan foreign minister to visit Moscow

http://en.rian.ru/world/20110328/163240455.html

Topic: Transdnestr conflict settlement

07:58 28/03/2011

Moldovan Foreign Minister Yury Lyanke will pay a working visit to Moscow on Monday, the Foreign Ministry reported.

Lyanke will meet with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss bilateral relations and the Transdnestr settlement.

The talks on the future of Moldova's breakaway republic of Transdnestr in the "five-plus-two" format, involving Russia, Ukraine, the OSCE, Moldova, Transdnestr, with the United States and the EU as observers, have been frozen since February 2006.

The Moldovan minister will also meet with a number of other officials and political scientists.

Lyanke last visited Russia in May 2010.

CHISINAU, March 28 (RIA Novosti)
Russia, Kyrgyzstan FMs to focus on bilateral agreements

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=16092807&PageNum=0

28.03.2011, 01.22

BISHKEK, March 28 (Itar-Tass) -- Foreign Ministers of Russia and Kyrgyzstan Sergei Lavrov and Ruslan Kazakbayev will meet here on Monday to sign a bilateral cooperation program for this year, the press service of the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry told Itar-Tass on Sunday. The Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry reported that a forthcoming visit of the country’s foreign minister in Moscow is official and will be made at the invitation of his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

“During the consultations the foreign ministers of Kyrgyzstan and Russia will discuss bilateral cooperation and interaction in international and regional organizations,” the press service reported. Kazakbayev and Lavrov will focus on “the implementation of the agreements,” which were reached during the recent working visits of Kyrgyz Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev and an official visit of Kyrgyz Parliament Speaker Akhmatbek Keldibekov in Russia.

On March 17-18, Atambayev reached several agreements for the development of bilateral trade and economic cooperation at the negotiations with Russian governmental officials. The Bishkek authorities stated they are ready to sell the Kyrgyzgaz controlling stake to Gazprom and a considerable stake in the Dastan joint stock company. This enterprise was earlier incorporated in the Soviet military and industrial complex. Meanwhile, Russia did not rule out the country’s participation in the construction of a Kambar-Ata-1 hydropower plant in Kyrgyzstan. This project is estimated at more than two billion dollars.

Alongside, Kyrgyzstan refused from the claims, which the previous Kyrgyz authorities had made over a higher rental fee for Russia’s operation of the Kant military base. Atambayev recalled that the republican authorities asked Russia to create this military base to ensure Kyrgyz security. “Those who forgot it have no memory and conscience,” the Kyrgyz prime minister believes. Alongside, Russia decided to cancel the export duties for the fuels and lubricants in this Central Asian country.

“I believe that the economic integration of our countries should be continued and interregional ties between the regions in Kyrgyzstan and Russia are an efficient mechanism in this process,” Atambayev said at the Kyrgyz-Russian economic forum in Bishkek several days ago. “In this respect, I pin high hopes on our republic to join the Customs Union and on Russia to enter the World Trade Organization,” Atambayev noted. Meanwhile, he believes that Kyrgyzstan’s admission in the Customs Union “has some shortcomings.” However, the republican government is already “minimizing the losses and risks related to this step.” “All of us could make sure that Russia is ready to support us in this issue. This shows once again that Russia is our long-standing partner and the main strategic partner for our country,” he pointed out.

According to preliminary reports, the Kyrgyz-Russian trade exceeded one billion dollars in the previous year.

Karabakh mediators present fact-finding mission's report

http://www.news.az/articles/politics/33303

Mon 28 March 2011 04:51 GMT | 6:51 Local Time

Karabakh mediators were in Vienna.

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Ambassadors Bernard Fassier of France, Robert Bradtke of the United States, and Igor Popov of the Russian Federation) were in Vienna, where they briefed the Minsk Group and Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut on their recent and upcoming activities as mediators of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The Co-Chairs also presented the 'Report of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs' Field Assessment Mission to the Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan Surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh,' the Executive Summary of which is posted on the OSCE website: http://www.osce.org/mg/76209.

The harsh reality of the situation in these territories has reinforced the view of the Co-Chairs that the status quo is unacceptable, and that only a peaceful, negotiated settlement can bring the prospect of a better, more certain future to the people who used to live in the territories and those who live there now. The Co-Chairs intend this report to be forward-looking -- offering all parties a vision of how these areas could contribute to peace and prosperity, rather than being a source of tension and conflict.

 
The Co-Chairs will travel again to the region in the near future to continue discussions on the Basic Principles, building on the positive momentum of the March 5 Sochi summit. They also will develop with their interlocutors concrete measures to fulfill the commitments made at Sochi regarding investigations – with the participation of all sides – of ceasefire violations.

Noting the continuing importance of restraint by the sides both on the ground and in public statements, the Co-Chairs consider unacceptable any use or threat of force, including against civil aircraft. In that respect, they strongly condemn the senseless cycle of killings and retaliations along the front lines. They reiterated their long-standing position that all sides should prepare their populations for peace, not war.

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SF: Russia must stop violation of the sovereignty of Libya.

http://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/20110328120516.shtml

28.03.2011, Moscow 12:05:16 The Federation Council believes that Russia should take a restrained but firm in dealing with the events in Libya, to hinder the process of violating the sovereignty, the erosion of state borders. "We need, on the one hand, self-restraint, but on the other hand - and the strength, perseverance in carrying out a peaceful settlement," - says the senator, Colonel-General, Doctor of Military Sciences, Vladimir Kulakov.

He related the events in Lebanon and the region at large with too long a stay in power, the leaders of these states. "For too long duration of the reign of individual state officials could not stimulate further socio-economic development of nations", - believes Kulakov. He recalled that the events that began with Tunisia and Egypt, caused a chain reaction among many countries in North Africa and the Middle East. Similar events are taking place today in Jordan, Libya, Syria and many other countries, the press service of the Federation Council. According to the senator, "this situation benefited the Western countries, primarily the U.S., as well as France and Britain, are now transferred to NATO command of the operation."
"The decision of the Security Council was due to the closure of the sky over Libya. But the next step was the decision of the Libyan air strikes, - said Vladimir Kulakov, describing the military operation in the region. - After the air phase should be above ground, completing the operation. At the same time as ground-based opposition groups used, and the role of the Air Force - a coalition aircraft. " "This development is threatening the sovereignty of States," - he said, recalling that the U.S. has repeatedly been implementing a similar scenario during the bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999., The Gulf War in 1991., The invasion of Iraq in 2003. "The American forces are present today in many countries - stated V. Kulakov. - It is not accidental and may lead to an escalation of tensions around the globe."
"Today, when Western politicians are often made careless statements about our country, for it can be seen to intervene in the sovereign affairs of Russia, - the senator said. - In the same way the West can announce support for the opposition, which may be armed and to exploit .

Poll: One third of Russians believe Gaddafi will be overthrown

Today at 10:16 | Interfax-Ukraine

Moscow, March 28 (Interfax) - While 41% of Russians prefer to refrain from forecasts about how the situation surrounding Libya could develop, 33% think Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi will be overthrown, and only 11% believe Gaddafi could retain power, a poll the Public Opinion Foundation conducted in 43 regions of Russia on March 19-20 has shown.

As many as 85% of Russians are aware of the events in Libya, where the opposition has attempted to overthrow Gaddafi, who has ruled the country for more than 40 years.

As many as 46% are inclined to hold a neutral position toward the conflicting parties, 18% support the opposition and only 7% Gaddafi.

The supporters of the Libyan opposition explain their position by low living standards in Libya, the dictatorial regime, and the people's exhaustion from Gaddafi's long-standing rule, or say simply that "the people are always right."

Those who support the Libyan leader suggest that the unrest had been provoked by Western countries eying Libyan oil and call Gaddafi a worthy ruler who has done a lot for his country.

Read more: http://www.kyivpost.com/news/russia/detail/100987/#ixzz1HsQiTlmg

Radiation level not exceed norm in Primorsky territory

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=16092889&PageNum=0

28.03.2011, 03.48

VLADIVOSTOK, March 28 (Itar-Tass) -- The radiation level in the Primorsky Territory makes 14 micro-roentgens per hour and does not exceed the normal level on Monday, the press service of the Primorsky emergencies department told Itar-Tass.

The reinforced radiation monitoring continues in Primorsky Territory. Some 193 planted and mobile radiation measuring posts are involved in the radiation monitoring. The specialists from the Russian weather forecasting agency, the Far Eastern customs department, the Ministry of Health and Social Development, the Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom, the Interior Ministry, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Defence Ministry are engaged in the radiation monitoring. The radiation measurements are made every hour not only on the land, but also by aircraft and vessels. All radiation measuring results are passed to the Primorsky territorial emergency management center.