Russia 111005 Basic Political Developments

Russia to grant 1.6 mln rbl humanitarian aid to Kyrgyzstan

http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/10/05/58185287.html
Oct 5, 2011 09:58 Moscow Time

Russia is to provide humanitarian aid to Kyrgyz disabled children worth 1.6 million rubles, an official with the Kyrgyz Ministry of social protection of population said Wednesday.

The money will be spent on buying upgraded wheelchairs for 50 disabled children. All the wheelchairs meet the international standards and were made in compliance with individual recommendations. (TASS)

Lithuania and Russia to build bridge across Nemunas River

http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/transport/?doc=46730
Danuta Pavilenene, BC, Vilnius, 05.10.2011

The 8th session of the bilateral Lithuanian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical, Humanitarian and Cultural Cooperation took place on 3-4 October in Klaipeda. The plenary session was chaired by Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Azubalis, reported BC the MFA. At the session, the Commission signed an agreement on the construction of a new bridge across the River Nemunas (Neman).

"Despite the remaining issues of our common perception of history on the bilateral agenda that will take some time, today, as we are marking the 20th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations, we can say that our relations are dynamic and pragmatic. A busy agenda of the Intergovernmental Commission testifies to this fact," Azubalis said after the meeting. At the session, the Commission signed an agreement on the construction of a new bridge across the River Nemunas (Neman) between Panemune and the region of Sovetsk. It is believed that this bridge will ensure easier communication between Lithuania and the Kaliningrad region, and will help to boost trade. That this will reduce border congestion and will improve the wellbeing of local people in Panemune, because the traffic will be moved away from the city centre and into the suburbs, is not less important.

 

Lithuania welcomes the increase in trade with Russia and would like Russia to join the World Trade Organisation and to sign a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the EU as soon as possible. During the session, Russian representatives were acquainted with Lithuania's concerns about obstacles for the Lithuanian language teachers to work at schools in the Kaliningrad region. The officials were invited to find a long-term visa solution, which would allow the Lithuanian language teachers to work unhindered. "Bearing in mind the statistics of the Russian language teaching in Lithuania, we have every right to expect that in the Kaliningrad region and elsewhere no artificial hindrances will be put in the way of the Lithuanian language teaching. We have also called for the Lithuanian language to be made an optional subject in Russia," said the minister. It was repeatedly stressed that Lithuania had still not received all the answers to its serious and legitimate concerns about the construction of the nuclear power plant in the Kaliningrad region. Azubalis assured the Russian delegation that Lithuania's firm determination to demonopolize the energy sector was unchanging.

 

The minister also encouraged Russia to open a dialogue on difficult issues. "I have encouraged Russia to open dialogue on the joint evaluation of the past, the restoration of justice, the compensation for the occupation, problems of the investigation of crimes (e.g., in January 13th case) and the perpetuation of the memory of the victims," Azubalis said.

Atomstroyexport opens office in Turkey

http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/economy/18587.html
Atomstroyexport, a Russian nuclear engineering company, has opened an office in Turkey, RIA Novosti reports.


The office was opened at the Yeshilovajik Village of the Mersin Province. It is the 12th office of Atomstroyexport in ten states. The office was opened to help the general contractor of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant to optimize construction and expand participation in the project.


Plans for the next year are to build all the necessary infrastructure and start building auxiliary facilities, a town for builders and maintainers of the power plant.


Atomstroyexport is a leading company of the Rosatom State Corporation for construction of nuclear facilities abroad.

Russia to create Air and Space Defence Force

http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/10/04/58160682.html
Oct 4, 2011 19:28 Moscow Time

Russia will create Air and Space Defence Forces by the 1st of December. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev insisted on the necessity to form them during his State of the Nation address in November last year. The new forces will be based on Russia’s Space Force.

According to the commander of the Space Force, Lieutenant-General Oleg Ostapenko, the first phase of the move will be devoted to the development of the first space echelon that warns of a missile attack. As a whole, the new forces will be an integrated system of space surveillance and missile, space and air defence aimed at averting external threats.

Although experts support the idea, they call in question the possibility of uniting a large variety of weapon-systems under a single command. All agree that on the 1st of December, one can talk about Air and Space Defence Forces in general terms because this will be a huge military structure, says a military expert Alexander Khramchikhin:

“A real defence of the territory will hardly be created within 20 years even if everything goes smoothly. Moreover, the new forces will be created on the basis of the Space Force, which is only ten years old and has never had means to hit targets although such means will sharply strengthen the Air and Space Forces. It will be a serious problem to manage these systems properly,” Alexander Khramchikhin said.

Some experts disagree with him. The main thing is to implement the idea, says head of the Military Forecasting Centre, Anatoly Tsyganok:

“First and foremost, specialists have to be trained. There should be a military Academy that will train officers. Weapons have to be developed, and contract-soldiers have to be trained. Until recently, the creation of the Air and Space Defence Forces has been under question. A decision has been taken, and I believe that Russia will create Air and Space Defence Forces in 2-3 years,” Anatoly Tsyganok said.

The formation of the new forces is taking place on against a complicated foreign policy background. Talks with the U.S. on the creation of a joint global missile defence system are stuck. Russian experts believe that Russia must develop its own missile defence system in any case before a compromise is reached with the Americans. The main obstacle is that Washington is rejecting to conclude a legally binding agreement on not directing the missile system that is being developed in the West against Russia. According to Russian ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin, disregard of Russia’s worries might lead to the point of no return. The creation of the Air and Space Defence Forces is a compulsory measure, but it will give the country a real feeling of self-defence says Dmitry Rogozin. The ideal situation would be Russia’s partners realizing the necessity of creating a joint global missile defence system. At present, this is a dream of distant future.

Radar outside Kaliningrad to enter trial run in 2011 - commander http://www.militarynews.ru/EMAIN.ASP

NATO cannot use obsolete Ukrainian radars against Russia - Space Troops (Part 2)

http://www.militarynews.ru/EMAIN.ASP

U.S. shows interest in Russia's joint missile defense proposals - Gen. Ostapenko (Part 2)

http://www.militarynews.ru/EMAIN.ASP