Wikileaks.org



Russia 110614Basic Political DevelopmentsGADDAFI READY FOR IMMEDIATE START OF TALKS WITH NATO, OPPOSITION – ILYUMZHINOVKREMLIN WAS AWARE OF ILYUMZHINOV'S VISIT TO TRIPOLI, WHERE ILYUMZHINOV INFORMED GADDAFI OF MOSCOW'S OFFICIAL POSITION – PRIKHODKOLibya leader "healthy, adequate" - FIDE president. SCO Summit AstanaConcert, firework display to greet participants in SCO summit. President Lauds Iran's Close Ties with SCO Member States - Speaking to reporters prior to his departure for Astana, Kazakhstan, Ahmadinejad said that his visit is aimed at elaborating Iran's stands regarding regional and international developments during the meeting. Kazakh PM meets with Hu Jintao in AstanaKazakhstan for organising SCO Anti-Drug Centre. SCO, CSTO sign security cooperation accordSCO, UN Office on Drugs and Crime sign cooperation memorandumChina prepared to cooperate in fighting terrorism – Hu JintaoRegional cooperation: SCO summit opens today SCO: 10 years of evolution and impact – by Vladimir RadyuhinMoscow wants clear scenario for Middle East, North AfricaRussia is for clear scenario of M East, N Africa events - Medvedev. Russian, Uzbek presidents note growth in bilateral tradeMedvedev wishes Russia-Uzbekistan contacts developed progressively. Medvedev arrives in Tashkent for talks with Uzbek presidentMedvedev arrives in Tashkent for working visitTurkmenistan and Russia hold joint scientific and innovation forumRussia sees energy co-op with China "unique"China Gas Deal Could Reach $700Bln Over 3 Decades China, Russia ties on sound base - By Dmitri Trenin (China Daily)Russia waits for EU proposals on resumed veggie supply - Russia is anticipating EU proposals pertaining to resumption of deliveries of European vegetables to this country’s market, says Russia’s chief sanitary doctor Gennady Onishchenko.India, Russia to talk military ties - . During his four-day visit, Kumar will hold talks with his Russian counterparts on issues ranging from joint exercises to procurement projects. Singh is expected to talk about joint development projects, such as the fifth generation fighter as well as the Gorshkov aircraft carrier. Russian-Indian JV to develop Brahmos-2 hypersonic missile Cause of foreigners’ death were bullet injuries, tribunal told - Contrary to the claims of the police and FC officials, the two major witnesses disclosed before the inquiry tribunal on Monday that the cause of deaths of the five foreigners in the Kharotabad incident was bullet wounds, while driver of the vehicle confided that he recorded his previous statement at the behest of police.Russian envoy calls for stronger SL-Russia ties Third Russian Emergencies Ministry plane heads to YemenRussian EMERCOM plane evacuates 39 people from YemenRussian, Italian ministers to meet on June 23Tuesday June 21, 2011 - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visits France.Russia, France sign Mistral contract Mistral knows its worth - Russia and France reach an agreement on the purchase of helicopter carriers Pacific Fleet ships back homeGeorgia sticks to requirements for Russia at WTO talks Eduard Kokoity to head South Ossetia for third termArmenia, Russia discuss supplies of radiation, chemical and biological protection weaponsRussian police detain 8 associates of former Kyrgyz president. Kyrgyzstan says discussing Bakiyev ally's extradition from RussiaScandal in Russia over official's plane hold-up - The pilot on the flight last week from the Siberian city of Irkutsk to Moscow was told he could not take off until regional governor Dmitry Mezentsev had arrived for the flight from an over-running meeting.RF govt presidium to consider measures to reduce jobless rate. Debate over raising the retirement age reignites Russia still suffering from brain drain30 percent of Russians between 18 and 24 years want to leave the country.Medvedev’s Police Revamp Shows Progress in Graft Fight, VTB SaysInterior Ministry to have rotation once in five years - The Russian Interior Ministry will have staff rotation once every five years, Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev said, RIA Novosti reports.Stopped criminal cases as result of suspects’ death to be checkedDuma to examine auto tech inspection bill in second reading. Sergei Mironov to enter upon his duties in State Duma TueSK to question former court secretary re Yukos case. Optic fiber comm line to link Sakhalin isle and mainland. Radiation background normal in Russia’s Far East. Five new wildfires fixed in Russian Far EastFrance Arrests Chechen - The?suspect, who was not immediately identified, was arrested June 6 in?a police raid in?an apartment in?a tough area of?the southeastern city of?Nice that is home to?many Chechen expatriates, the?officials said. He is suspected of?ties to?rebel leader Doku UmarovRussian imam killed outside village mosque in DagestanImam killed in Russia's Dagestan region Dutch soccer star Ruud Gullit is under threat of dismissal after spending less than one season as trainer of the Chechen club Terek Grozny.Court to sentence human rights activist for slander on Kadyrov. Shaun Walker: An awkward reminder of violent tensions in the CaucasusNo Lack of Suspects in Budanov Killing - By Natalya KrainovaITAR-TASS Russian press review. RIA Russian Press at a Glance, Tuesday, June 14, 2011In Moscow, many children are losing their disability status, report parentsAdult indifference fails children in needNational Economic TrendsTariff growth in 2012 to be capped, but may still be above inflation FACTBOX-The Russian Direct Investment FundBusiness, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussionsRussian Shares Decline Globally as Oil Retreats to Four-Week LowRussia Considers Export Duty For Thermal Coal, Kommersant SaysRussian Phosagro says to float in London, MoscowPhosAgro officially announces plans for IPO in London, Moscow (Part 2)Sberbank more than doubles net profit in M5 Russian Mobile Operator MegaFon Buys NetByNet for $270 MillionRussian firms to invest in new port on Black seaNon-commodities sectors to power huge expansion for Russian marketsActivity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory)Russia to Grant Tax Breaks for Small Fields, Kudryashov SaysIntroducing duties of Blue Stream gas requires agreement changes with Turkey's concurrence – sourceRosneft loses another international partner as Chevron quits Black Sea dealRPT-Med Crude-Urals weakens in Med, shuts arb from NorthGazpromCNPC, Gazprom to resume gas price negotiations June 14Gazprom LNG subsidiary signs 15-year contract with Sovcomflot for two ships ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Full Text ArticlesBasic Political Developments06/14 12:12 ? GADDAFI READY FOR IMMEDIATE START OF TALKS WITH NATO, OPPOSITION – ILYUMZHINOV TRANSLATIONGaddafi told of readiness for immediate commencement of negotiations with NATO and the rebels in BenghaziJune 14, 2011 12:1Moscow. June 14. INTERFAX.RU - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has expressed readiness to start talks with NATO and the rebels in Benghazi."Gaddafi is ready, without preconditions, to immediately start negotiations with the NATO leadership and representatives of the rebels in Benghazi, " - told Interfax on Tuesday, the president of FIDE Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. WAS AWARE OF ILYUMZHINOV'S VISIT TO TRIPOLI, WHERE ILYUMZHINOV INFORMED GADDAFI OF MOSCOW'S OFFICIAL POSITION - PRIKHODKO NEWSLibya leader "healthy, adequate" - FIDE president. Tass 87 MOSCOW, June 14 (Itar-Tass) — President of World Chess Federation (FIDE) Kirsan Ilymzhinov, who met with Libyan leader Muamar Gaddafi on Sunday, told Business FM radio he had found him "quite healthy and adequate." "He invited me for a meeting. We were together for more than two hours, talking, drinking tea and playing chess. He (Gaddafi) is a quite normal person, (he's) adequate. We had a calm, friendly talk," Ilymzhinov said. When asked about tighter security for the Colonel, he said "Gaddafi understands that he is being hunted, and wonders who has the right to condemn him, his relatives and his associates to death." The FIDE president also underlined that their meeting had take place in a government section in central Tripoli, in the Colonel's office. Also, Ilyumzhinov said he had visited Gaddafi several times at home, if it could be called "home." "The Colonel lives in a tent. He regards himself a Bedouin," he said. As for whether the Libyan leader lives in Tripoli, Ilyumzhinov answered: "I don't even know. I've never asked him. I'll ask when I see him again." The FIDE president said he had not coordinated his visit to Tripoli with the Russian authorities and never received any instructions. He visited Libya within the framework of his African tour to discuss the prospects for chess playing in the country. According to Ilyumzhinov, he had reached a preliminary accord to hold a large international chess contest in Tripoli this autumn. The local authorities said chess would become part of compulsory school program from October 1, 2011. 03:50?14/06/2011ALL NEWSConcert, firework display to greet participants in SCO summit. Tass 6 ASTANA, June 14 (Itar-Tass) — The leaders of the member-countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) arrive here on Tuesday. On June 15, they will meet in the Palace of Independence at a session of the SCO Council of the Heads of State. The leaders of SCO member-countries, Observer and Dialogue Partner countries will be arriving in the capital's airport from 11:00 to 17:00, local time, an official at Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry has told Itar-Tass. Chinese President Hu Jintao has been staying in Astana since June 12. Upon timing his seventh official visit to Kazakhstan to coincide wit the SCO jubilee summit, Hu held talks with President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Within the scope of the talks the two leaders signed a Joint Declaration on the development of all-round strategic partnership, as well as a number of bilateral agreements on specific areas of cooperation, including the nuclear power industry and the oil and gas sector. The delegations of Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan will arrive in Astana on Tuesday. The Foreign Ministry official told Itar-Tass that, ahead of the principal day of the summit proceedings, a concert is to be given to the guests on the occasion of the SCO's 10th jubilee. A spectacular firework display is being prepared in the Left-Bank administrative and business district of the Kazakhstani capital. On the sidelines of Tuesday festive events, talks with the Kazakhstani President are to be held by Dmitry Medvedev who arrives in Astana from Uzbekistan at the close of his working visit there. The Russian president is also expected to meet with Presidents Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran. SCO Secretary-General Muratbek Imanaliyev said Monday, "In this jubilee year, a broader spectrum of matters is suggested for discussion at the SCO summit than previously". The principal items on the summit agenda are to sum up the results of SCO activities over the past decade, determine orientations for further development, and exchange views on international and regional problems. "The presidents will speak on matters connected with trade, economic, scientific, and technical cooperation between countries. I am deeply convinced that highly interesting and useful ideas and recommendations will be expressed on the part of our (SCO countries') leaders. They will discuss security issues, with the context and range of discussion in this respect being rather extensive. I'd say that a wider set of problems than before will be touched upon," Imanaliyev said. A number of documents have been already prepared for the Heads of State of SCO countries to sign. The main of them will be an Astana Declaration on the SCO's 10th jubilee. The Declaration is expected to seal the point that the SCO has become an effective mechanism for the elaboration of important decisions and recommendations that make an increasingly tangible contribution to regional security, to the buiding of confidence, mutual understanding and economic cooperation and that SCO activities are in demand on the part of both the SCO member-countriers and other members of the world community. At the summit, Kazakhstan is to turn SCO presidency over to China for the period of 2011-2012 until next summit. Within the period of its presidency, Kazakhstan has carried out more than 100 activities at various levels. President Lauds Iran's Close Ties with SCO Member States number: 9003240655 12:17 | 2011-06-14TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who left Tehran for Astana to take part in the 10th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting, praised Iran's amicable ties with SCO member states. Speaking to reporters prior to his departure for Astana, Kazakhstan, Ahmadinejad said that his visit is aimed at elaborating Iran's stands regarding regional and international developments during the meeting. The Iranian president further underlined Iran's regional influence and added that that the Islamic Republic of Iran plays effective and key role in international developments. The 10th SCO meeting is to kick off on June 15. Ahmadinejad is due to meet his Russian and Chinese counterparts on the sidelines of an upcoming summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Kazakhstan. Ahmadinejad is due to meet with a number of senior officials to be participating in the summit, including Russian and Chinese Presidents Dmitri Medvedev and Hu Jintao. The Iranian president is also slated to have meetings with high-ranking Kazakh officials on the sidelines of the SCO summit to discuss bilateral ties and cooperation between the two neighboring states. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization which was founded in 2001 in Shanghai, China, by the Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Russian, Tajik, Uzbek and Chinese heads of state. Iran currently holds an observer status in the group and applied for full membership in a request filed on March 24, 2008. SCO member governments include China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as four formally designated observer countries, namely Iran, India, Mongolia and Pakistan. 12:12?14/06/2011ALL NEWSKazakh PM meets with Hu Jintao in Astana. Tass 130 ASTANA, June 14 (Itar-Tass) —— Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov discussed with Chinese President Hu Jintao issues of cooperation in different fields of economy. Hu Jintao is staying in Astana on a state visit on the eve of an SCO summit due to open here on Wednesday. “The sides discussed issues of joint implementation of the projects in the field of transportation and processing of energy resources, in the agro-industrial complex and non-raw material sectors of economy,” the official page of the Kazakh prime minister in the social network Facebook says. Masimov and Hu Jintao also considered “prospects for development of trade, investment, transit-transport, border cooperation and interaction in the use of transborder water resources.” On Monday, the Chinese president held talks with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, on the results of which a package of documents was signed. 11:38?14/06/2011ALL NEWSKazakhstan for organising SCO Anti-Drug Centre. Tass 122 ASTANA, June 14 (Itar-Tass) — Kazakhstan intends to initiate to leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation /SCO/ organising a permanent structure for fighting illegal turnover of drugs – an Anti-Drug Centre, Kazakhstan’s Prosecutor General Askhat Daulbayev told the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper in an interview. The new structure should coordinate law enforcement authorities and special services of the SCO member-countries in fighting turnover of drugs. Besides, the Anti-Drug Centre should work out special projects. In order to raise effectiveness of the joint work, Kazakhstan’s prosecutor general suggests establishing an interstate investigation and task force to fight drug trafficking. Representatives of law enforcement authorities of the SCO member-countries should unite in working groups to analyse and forecast situation in bordering territories, to present suggestions on joint organisational and practical activities. “We believe it necessary to organise a two-level mechanism of solving the task in the framework of the agreement between the SCO member-countries on cooperation in fighting illegal turnover of drugs,” Daulbayev said. “In addition to the existing upper level, the council, we should have authorities of the second level – working groups of experts for tighter and more productive cooperation between prosecutors.” “This mechanism may become an effective architecture of cooperation and coordination of the SCO’s anti-drug activities,” he added. The prosecutor general mentioned in the interview that it is necessary to organise a system of international inspections and observes to control production of drug-containing plants in Central Asia, like the OSCE and the UN have a permanent monitoring of the situation in the region. SCO, CSTO sign security cooperation accord 14, 2011 11:16 Moscow TimeBy working together the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Collective Security Treaty Organization will be able to boost the countries anti-terrorist effort in Central Asia.?CSTO chief Nikolai Bordyuzha said this when signing today a cooperation accord between the two organizations in the Kazakh capital Astana.? He also said that virtually all participation countries had first-hand knowledge of what international terrorism is really all about.June 14, 2011 10:22SCO, UN Office on Drugs and Crime sign cooperation memorandum. June 14 (Interfax) - Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretary General Muratbek Imanaliyev and Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Yury Fedotov signed a memorandum of mutual understanding in Astana on Tuesday.The memorandum paves the way for cooperation in a number of key areas, including the crackdown on drug trafficking and drug consumption, as well as measures to counter organized crime, international terrorism, trafficking in humans and other forms of cross-border crime, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime said in a press release.This agreement is important, bearing in mind the specifics of crime in the modern-day world, Fedotov said.Countries cannot successfully counter threats posed by drugs, organized crime and terrorism acting on their own, he said.Cooperation at the regional and international levels should serve as the world's response to criminals who refuse to recognize any borders, Fedotov said.tm(Our editorial staff can be reached at eng.editors@interfax.ru)China prepared to cooperate in fighting terrorism – Hu Jintao 14, 2011 10:32 Moscow TimeChina is prepared to promote cooperation with other countries in fighting terrorism, says the Chinese President Hu Jintao.China will continue to ensure further change in international antiterrorist interaction in the spirit of equitable and mutually beneficial cooperation to protect peace and stability in the region and the world at large, President Hu said in an interview with the Russian mass media.He specifically emphasized the point that a comprehensive approach and coordinated political, economic and diplomatic efforts are required to root out the causes of terrorism.Regional cooperation: SCO summit opens today Qaiser ButtPublished: June 14, 2011ISLAMABAD:? Top leaders of China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asian states will meet at Astana, Kazakhstan, and likely to focus on extremism and separatism during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit scheduled to be held on June 14, Tuesday (today).The SCO leaders are also likely to take up issues related to regional and global peace, security, cooperation and economic development.The 10th summit meeting of the SCO will be attended by heads of states and leaders of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, India, Sri Lanka, Belarus and other members of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).President Asif Ali Zardari will also address the summit to highlight Islamabad’s perceptions on the issues. He will seek a permanent SCO membership for Pakistan.President Zardai is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with SCO leaders on the sidelines of the summit.Terrorism and drugs smuggling will also be on the agenda of the two-day conference.Pakistan is already cooperating with Central Asian States and Russia against the Islamic extremism, more so with China.Beijing is concerned over the growing incidence of extremism and separatism in China.Last month, China, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan conducted counter-terrorism drills in Xinjiang where separatists have staged attacks to undermine the Beijing rule.Beijing conducted a similar exercise with Kazakhstan in 2006.China is also concerned with the presence of a number of its citizens among the Muslim militants in Afghanistan who are said to be linked with al Qaeda.The increasing influence of al Qaeda in the Central Asian states and drugs smuggling into Russia from Afghanistan is a cause of serious worry for Moscow.According to the SCO Secretary-General, the SCO summit will approve an anti-drugs strategy for 2011-2016.Chian, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are full members of the SCO, while Pakistan, India, Iran and Mongolia are observer states. Sri Lanka and Belarus are participating as dialogue partners, while Commonwealth of Independent States, Turkmenistan and Asean representative are attending as guests.Published in The Express Tribune, June 14th, 2011.SCO: 10 years of evolution and impact RadyuhinThe dangers of the endgame in Afghanistan will be high on the minds of SCO leaders as they seek to energise the group's regional policies at the Astana summit. The 10th anniversary summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan, on June 15, will be a historic event in terms of the security group's evolution and its impact on the line-up of forces in the region.The leaders of the six-member SCO are expected to induct Afghanistan as an observer and flag off the process of admitting India and Pakistan as full members. The moves will place Afghanistan at the top of the SCO agenda and dramatically increase the weight and reach of the organisation. It will also be a major victory for Russian diplomacy.Russia has been steadily working to include Afghanistan in the SCO's zone of responsibility. The SCO established a contact group with Afghanistan, and President Hamid Karzai has attended all its recent summits as a special guest. Russia has also formed a quadrilateral grouping with Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan to promote multilateral economic projects. Its efforts met with understanding in Kabul as it sought to diversify its external relations. According to Russian officials, President Karzai made the request to join the SCO during his visit to Moscow in January.Moscow has also consistently championed the admission of India to the SCO to balance China's dominance and strengthen the grouping's clout. “Geopolitically, the induction of India will help refocus its interests from the West towards Russia and Asian states,” said Dr. Alexander Lukin, director of East Asia and SCO studies at the Russian Foreign Ministry's Institute of International Relations.China has long resisted SCO expansion citing lack of standards and procedures. However, fears of chaos in Afghanistan and a spill-over of instability to neighbouring regions of Central Asia and China in the wake of the planned drawdown of the U.S.-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) have prompted the SCO to review its unofficial moratorium on admitting new members.According to SCO Secretary-General Muratbek Imanaliyev, the summit in Astana will endorse Afghanistan's application for observer status and approve a memorandum on legal and financial obligations of would-be member-states. After that, he said, “we can start negotiations with the nations applying to join the SCO.” Currently the SCO comprises China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan are observer states, while Belarus and Sri Lanka are dialogue partners.Pakistan formally applied for full SCO membership in 2006, Iran filed its application a year later. Last year, India registered its desire to upgrade its observer status to full membership. Iran, for now, stands disqualified under a SCO provision that aspiring candidates must not be under United Nations sanctions or involved in an armed conflict. That leaves India and Pakistan as the only credible candidates.President Dmitry Medvedev last month publicly voiced support for Pakistan joining the SCO “together with other candidates.” Moscow recently turned around on its frosty relations with Islamabad hoping to make Pakistan play a more constructive role in Afghanistan. A joint statement issued during Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's visit to Moscow voiced “support for Afghan-led and Afghan-owned efforts towards promoting national reconciliation in Afghanistan.”Unique consensusThe lifting of the moratorium on SCO expansion is the result of a unique consensus that has emerged among its members in recent months on the role the security group should play in the region as the U.S.-led NATO forces prepare to pull out of Afghanistan. It is based on the shared belief that the problem of Afghanistan can be solved only in a regional format and that the SCO is the best instrument for facilitating such a solution.“The SCO believes with good reason that Afghanistan holds the key to the future of the entire region,” Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, whose country holds the rotating chairmanship of the SCO, said in an article devoted to the Astana summit. “We cannot rule out that the SCO may have to bear the brunt of resolving many problems that Afghanistan will face after the withdrawal of the international coalition forces in 2014.”Ahead of the SCO summit in Astana, Russia voiced concern that the situation in Afghanistan would deteriorate in the coming months and years. “The unfolding process of handing over responsibility from the NATO forces to the Afghan authorities will heighten tension. The situation in Afghanistan is steadily worsening,” Russia's special envoy to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov told a recent press conference in Moscow. “The security forces of Afghanistan — police and the army — are not ready to assume control even in a few provinces, let alone the entire country.”The U.S. had 10 years to create a combat-ready army in Afghanistan, Mr. Kabulov said, but time had been lost. Russia was providing transit and other assistance to the coalition forces to help them finish the job and go. “The presence of U.S. military bases in Afghanistan on a long-term basis can greatly aggravate the situation in the region and become a source of tension,” Mr. Kabulov said.However, experts warned that Washington had no intention of leaving the region. “Afghanistan takes a back seat in the U.S. calculus,” said Sultan Akimbekov, director of Kazakhstan's Institute of World Economy and Politics. “Washington's main goal is to get entrenched in Central Asia under the cover of combating terrorism.” He spoke at an international conference on Afghanistan and regional security held in Almaty on June 9-10 as a curtain raiser for the SCO summit in Astana.“I think by 2014, the Americans will redeploy their forces in Afghanistan. They will most likely stay at several bases in southern and central regions and move their main forces to the country's north, with subsequent relocation to Tajikistan, southern Kyrgyzstan and probably Uzbekistan,” said Dr. Alexander Knyazev, Russia's leading expert on Central Asia who helped organise the conference.The U.S. already has an airbase near the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek in the north and plans to set up a military training centre in the south of Kyrgyzstan and an anti-narcotics training facility in Tajikistan. “These bases will have nothing to do with the fight against terrorism, but will serve as bridgeheads for U.S. geopolitical and geo-economic designs against Russia, Iran and China,” Dr. Knyazev said.The expert believes that the U.S.' hidden agenda in the region also includes fragmentation of Afghanistan into two or more ethnically defined parts in keeping with the concept of creating “controlled crises.”The dangers of the endgame in Afghanistan will be high on the minds of the SCO leaders as they seek to energise the group's regional policies at the Astana summit. Russian officials admit though that the SCO at this stage has limited possibilities to influence the situation in Afghanistan. The Russian President's special representative for SCO affairs, Leonid Moiseyev, said the traumatic experience of the 10-year war the Soviet Union waged in Afghanistan made Russia and the new Central Asian states reluctant to work on security issues in Afghanistan.“We are ready to work on the perimeter borders of Afghanistan and use the potential of observer states, Iran first of all,” Mr. Moiseyev said at a media event in Moscow last week. “But inside Afghanistan, SCO member states are ready to work only on an individual basis and mainly on economic issues.”The SCO's most successful project so far is the Regional Antiterrorism Structure (RATS) set up in 2004. The member-states have since conducted several major anti-terror military drills. Another area where the SCO has acted in concert is in fighting drug trafficking from Afghanistan. The Astana summit will approve an anti-narcotics strategy for 2011-2016.New challengesThe proposed expansion poses new challenges for the 10-year-old SCO. “The main question facing the SCO today is whether it will develop as a discussion club that occasionally makes loud statements or evolve into a serious international mechanism on a par with or probably more influential than the ASEAN or APEC [Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation] forum,” said Dr. Lukin of the Moscow-based Institute of International Relations.The expert called for organisational reforms to strengthen the SCO, first of all by enhancing the role and independence of the Secretariat, whose officials today are more accountable to their respective Foreign Ministries than to the SCO Secretary General. The consensus principle of decision-taking also needs to be modified to allow joint programmes to go ahead even if a member is unwilling to take part. The expert urged Russia to drop its “shortsighted” opposition to the Chinese proposal for setting up a SCO bank that would create a much needed mechanism for financing multilateral projects and enable the SCO to make full use of the economic potential of new members.“Given the unpredictable situation in Central Asia, where one cannot rule out events similar to the ‘Arab awakening', the SCO may soon be called upon to prove its worth as the most representative regional organisation,” the Russian expert said.Moscow wants clear scenario for Middle East, North Africa 14, 2011 11:20 Moscow TimeMoscow wants the developments in the Middle East and North Africa to follow a clear scenario. Russia is open for the discussion of existing problems with all interested neighbour-states, including Uzbekistan. This came in a statement by the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during his talks with his Uzbek counterpart, Islam Karimov, in Tashkent earlier today. The world is currently facing a period of serious trial. This year, 2011, began with the so-called Arab spring, which created an altogether new situation in the Arab East and North Africa. All signs are the consequences of that crisis will be manifest for a long time, Medvedev said.??11:13?14/06/2011ALL NEWSRussia is for clear scenario of M East, N Africa events - Medvedev. Tass 119 TASHKENT, June 14 (Itar-Tass) — Russia is interested in a clear scenario for events in the Middle East and Northern Africa. It is open for discussions of the problems with all involved states, including its neighbours, Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev said during a meeting with his Uzbekistan’s counterpart Islam Karimov on Tuesday. “Today, the world faces very serious challenges,” he said. “This year began with the so-called Arab Spring, which emerged a brand new situation in the Arab East and in Northern Africa.” “The consequences of what we witness there are most likely to continue over a long period,” Medvedev said. He highlighted the fact that Russia is interested “in having events in that region develop under a clear and predictable for us scenario, as we are connected by unseen ties with many of those states.” “Those are not only economic or trade relations, they are many humanitarian and cultural connections, and they may be very positive, but they may be complicated, too, and sometimes they may be of a destructive character,” Medvedev said. Russia and Uzbekistan “should discuss what is happening with our close neighbours so that national interests of our countries and our people are guaranteed,” he added. “Russia’s position has always been very open,” he said. “Regarding many issues, we call each other, have rather detailed discussions how to behave, reconcile our foreign policies in many directions.” “This reflects the relations of trust between Russia and Uzbekistan,” Medvedev assured. “This is also how we are going to act in future.” Karimov agreed that “Russia and Uzbekistan cannot stay away from everything concerning security and stability of the region, and thus what happens in Northern Africa and in the Middle East, and how the situation in Afghanistan is developing.” Tashkent and Moscow should “exchange views and suggest joint positions, should agree on the issue to be solved in near future.” June 14, 2011 11:35Russian, Uzbek presidents note growth in bilateral trade. June 14 (Interfax) - Russia is one of Uzbekistan's largest trade partners and it will strengthen these positions, said President Dmitry Medvedev."Russia remains Uzbekistan's major trade partner, which is a very gratifying. I want such contacts to expand further," Medvedev told Uzbek President Islam Karimov in Tashkent on Tuesday.Karimov agreed that Russian-Uzbek economic relations have been broadening "at a good pace." "Our trade grew by more than 40% in 2010, which indicates that the continuing global economic and financial problems amid a global crisis have not impacted relations between Uzbekistan and Russia," Karimov said.Medvedev in turn said that, "despite a serious crisis in the world economy, trade between Russia and Uzbekistan has increased by 35%-40%. We have different figures, but they show anyway that growth has been quite impressive and that our relations are of truly strategic nature," Medvedev said.Very strong ties have been built between Moscow and Tashkent, he said. "We regularly exchange views on all issues, both multilateral and bilateral, and maintain regular contact by telephone," Medvedev also said.He thanked Karimov for receiving him while on his brief visit and said that the talks would be effective despite his short stay in Tashkent.Sd(Our editorial staff can be reached at eng.editors@interfax.ru) 11:47?14/06/2011ALL NEWSMedvedev wishes Russia-Uzbekistan contacts developed progressively. Tass 123 TASHKENT, June 14 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia is Uzbekistan’s major trade partner and it intends to strengthen these positions, Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev said during a meeting with his Uzbekistan’s counterpart Islam Karimov on Tuesday. “Russia will remain Uzbekistan’s major trade partner, which is good,” Medvedev said. “I would like our contacts to develop progressively.” Karimov agreed that the Russia-Uzbekistan’s economic relations “have positive dynamics.” “Over 2010, our trade turnover grew by over 40 percent, which proves that despite the continuing world crisis phenomena of economic and financial character, these processes do not affect the relations between Uzbekistan and Russia,” Karimov said. “Despite the major crisis phenomena in the world economy, the trade turnover between the RF and Uzbekistan has grown by between 35 and 40 percent,” Medvedev said. “Our statistics are different, but they both show the positive growth, which means that our relations are truly strategic.” Moscow and Tashkent have established “very close contacts,” he said. “We are regularly exchanging views on all issues – both on multilateral and bilateral ones, we exchange calls all the time.” Medvedev arrives in Tashkent for talks with Uzbek president 14/06/2011Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has arrived in the Uzbek capital Tashkent for a meeting with his counterpart Islam Karimov.The two heads of state will discuss security issues in Central Asia and cooperation in the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking, Russian presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko said.Special attention will be paid to the situation in Afghanistan.The visit precedes the two leaders' trip to the Kazakh capital Astana for a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional security body, due June 14-15.Medvedev and Karimov will also exchange opinions on the prospects of boosting bilateral trade and economic cooperation, as well as interaction in international organizations.According to Russian data, trade in 2010 grew 35.4% to $3.4 billion.Medvedev is accompanied by Prikhodko and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.MOSCOW, June 14 (RIA Novosti)01:06?14/06/2011Top NewsMedvedev arrives in Tashkent for working visit, June 14 (Itar-Tass) — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has arrived in Tashkent on Tuesday for a working visit.Presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko told journalists on the eve of the trip, "It is expected that prospects for stepping up bilateral trade-and-economic interaction, including that in the fuel-and-energy sector, will be discussed during (upcoming) talks with Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov." However, Prikhodko declined to specify which particular projects were meant.14.06.11 00:30 Turkmenistan and Russia hold joint scientific and innovation forum hosted the first Turkmen-Russian Scientific-Innovation Forum on June 13. A high-level delegation of Russia arrived in Ashgabat to participate in the forum. The delegation is composed of the heads and leading specialists from over 40 different agencies, organizations, the Academy of Sciences, universities and research institutes of Russia.Among the participants are the Federal Agency “Rossotrudnichestvo”, the Russian-Turkmen Business Council, the Institute of Earth Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), the Russian Institute for Construction and Operation of Pipelines and Energy Facilities, the Oil and Gas Institute of RAS, the Russian Institute of Plants named after Vavilov, the State Corporation on Promotion of Development, Manufacturing and Exports of High Technology Industrial Products “RosTechnologies”, the International Union of Instrument Engineers and Specialists in Information and Telecommunication Technologies, the Supreme Mining Council of Russia.The Turkmen side is represented by representatives of several ministries and departments, the Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Oil and Gas “Turkmengas”, the National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna of the Ministry of Nature Protection, the Institute of Antiseismic Construction of the Ministry of Construction, a number of specialized of research institutes, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and higher education establishments of the country.Experts of both countries discussed cooperation in the field of innovative solutions in science and technologies, reduction of production energy costs, increasing competitiveness in the international energy markets, active use in the economy of solar energy, wind, thermal water and biogas as a supplementary energy sources, development of the energy sector in accordance with high level modern requirements.Russia sees energy co-op with China "unique"(Xinhua)Updated: 2011-06-14 10:55ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- There was a great scope and enormous potential for the "unique" energy cooperation between Russia and China, Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko told Xinhua in St. Petersburg on Monday.Shmatko made the remarks at a press conference after a seminar sponsored by the Russian Energy Ministry on development of fuel and energy.Answering a question raised by Xinhua on Sino-Russian energy cooperation, Shmatko said the bilateral energy cooperation was "unique" in form and scale.Shmatko noted there were still rooms for the further development of the bilateral cooperation in various fields, including the fields of electric power, energy equipment manufacturing, coal, and renewable and clean energy.The two countries have reached an agreement on Russia's oil supply to China, and they were expected to reach a similar agreement in energy cooperation, Shmatko said."The bilateral cooperation in these fields is of strategic significance for both parts," Shmatko said.At the end of May, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan visited Russia and attended the seventh round of the Sino-Russian energy negotiators' meeting. During their talks, the two sides reached consensus on several issues of common concern.The Sino-Russian crude oil pipeline project was put into operation on January 1 this year, which was seen as a breakthrough in bilateral energy cooperation between the two countries.China Gas Deal Could Reach $700Bln Over 3 Decades June 2011Combined ReportsChina may have to?pay $700 billion over 30 years for?Russian gas under a?long-term contract being negotiated by?the countries, if the?world's biggest energy user agrees to?pay European prices, Sanford C. Bernstein said."Assuming European prices at?the China border of?$350 per thousand cubic meters, then this deal alone could be worth $700 billion over 30 years, contributing 2 percent to?Russian GDP each year," Neil Beveridge and?Oswald Clint, senior analysts at?Bernstein, wrote in?a research note late last week. An?accord is likely to?be signed ahead of?President Hu Jintao's visit to?Russia this week, they said.Russia plans to?supply as much as 68 billion cubic meters a?year of?natural gas to?China from?Siberia through two pipelines yet to?be built. Gazprom said it asked China National Petroleum, the?country's largest energy producer, to?continue the?gas-supply talks on?Tuesday in?Moscow after seeking to?resolve terms last week.A western pipeline will transport 30 bcm a?year, while an?eastern link will export 38 bcm annually, Gazprom says on?its web site. Investment in?the project by?Russia and?China could total $100 billion, with first gas to?be delivered in?2015 through the?western route, according to?Beveridge and?Clint."Given the?enormous capital costs and?Chinese surplus foreign exchange reserves, it is likely that China will provide debt financing for?the project," the?analysts said. "Moreover we expect China to?seek upstream equity participation in?return for?market access as part of?any agreement."Russia's ambassador to?China said late last week that the?two countries are still negotiating the?pact and?it would be inappropriate to?set a?date for?the companies involved to?conclude the?deal. (Bloomberg, Reuters)China, Russia ties on sound base Dmitri Trenin (China Daily)Updated: 2011-06-14 07:59Sino-Russian relations are usually wrapped in high-sounding rhetoric, but they are essentially very pragmatic. For China, Russia is a geopolitical "safe rear" and, in economic terms, a major resource base. For Russia, China is a huge market just across the border and a valuable geopolitical partner. The fundamentals of the relationship are solid and not likely to change in the short or medium term. When President Hu Jintao visits Russia on Wednesday, he and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will duly celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between the two countries. But the main expectation this time will be the finalization of the 30-year agreement, under which Russia will supply China with 68 billion cubic meters of gas annually over the next 30 years from 2015. When finalized, the agreement will strengthen China's energy security and diversify Russia's gas exports. Until now, the principal issue between the two countries has been the price of Russian gas for China. Gazprom wanted it to be as close to the lucrative European formula, whereas its Chinese partners based their calculation on the price of coal in China which Russian natural gas will replace. No compromise is ever popular with all the sides involved. Critics in China will worry about inflation, and those in Russia will argue that the pipeline would put China as the only buyer in a more advantageous position. Yet at the end of the day China will secure an important resource for a very long term. As for Russia, it will gain a foothold in a growing market and strengthen its bargaining position vis--vis Europe. The real issue for Gazprom is to produce enough gas for all its customers, East, West and at home. Russia's energy projects are a means to spur regional development in Siberia and along the Russian Pacific coast. For Moscow, this is the principal geopolitical challenge of the 21st century. Partnering with China is vital in this, even if it is not exclusive. In an effort to develop their sparsely populated, but resource rich territories Russians are now reaching out to Japan and South Korea as well as across the North Pacific - to the United States and Canada. China recently became Russia's biggest trading partner and is likely to hold that distinction this year. Yet economic relations are only part of the story. Moscow and Beijing cooperate at the global level, from the UN Security Council to the BRICS grouping, where they share similar notions about state sovereignty and territorial integrity and have a joint interest in winning more influence for major non-Western countries, such as themselves. At the regional level, Sino-Russian cooperation is particularly salient in Central Asia. They are de facto co-leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, (SCO) which, like the Sino-Russian treaty, also marks its 10th anniversary this year. In a decade, the SCO has proven itself useful in a number of ways: allowing China to pursue its interests in the former Soviet republics without inviting a backlash from Russia, giving Russia a window and some leverage on China's behavior there, providing Central Asian countries with room to maneuver between Beijing and Moscow, and serving as a platform for top-level multilateral diplomacy in continental Asia. Sino-Russian summits have become almost routine. Medvedev last visited China in September. There are annual meetings at the prime ministerial level. All the important ministers in the two governments and other senior officials have their own regularly scheduled meetings. The bureaucratic infrastructure is thus in place. At the other end of the spectrum, there are millions of ordinary Chinese and Russian people on both sides of the border who visit each other's country every year. Chinese studies are becoming a hit in Russia. The civilizational divide between the two countries has stopped being a barrier. This is not to say that there are no suspicions or tensions. But they have been few and far between. It has to be mentioned that the Chinese leadership handled Russia's post-Soviet transformation wisely, refraining from celebrating Russia's decline. The Russian leadership, on its part, managed China's steep rise without losing its head. This is a sound foundation for developing bilateral relationship even further. To move forward, there needs to be more dialogue among both countries' intellectuals. As opinion leaders, these people have a task of projecting the relationship on a broader perspective, beyond the pragmatic gas deals and the officials' festive rhetoric. Russians want to hear about China's long- and medium-term national strategies, the Chinese leaders' and public's view of the world and of Russia's place within that world. They want to satisfy themselves that China is committed, now and in the future, to good-neighborly relations with Russia. In return, Russians need to tell their Chinese interlocutors that their biggest, all-consuming task is domestic modernization. They need to intimate that Russia will continue as an independent strategic actor, confident enough to be fully responsible for the sovereign decisions it takes. They need to communicate that in the 21st century Russia will be paying more attention to Asia and will see itself as a Euro-Pacific country. What these mean is that Russia and China will interact much more - and hopefully more happily - in the future than they did in the past. The author is the director of the Carnegie Moscow Center. Post-Imperium: A Eurasian Story is his latest book. Russia waits for EU proposals on resumed veggie supply 14, 2011 07:08 Moscow TimeRussia is anticipating EU proposals pertaining to resumption of deliveries of European vegetables to this country’s market, says Russia’s chief sanitary doctor Gennady Onishchenko.According to Onischenko, Russia remains committed to the agreements reached at the recent EU-Russia summit in Nizhny Novgorod on prospects for resuming vegetable supplies from Europe.In early June, Russia introduced a blanket ban on import of European vegetables over the E.coli outbreak scare in a number of EU countries. According to recent reports, the disease has claimed 35 lives, mostly residents of Germany.India, Russia to talk military ties Trust of India , Express news service Tags : ie, briefs Posted: Tue Jun 14 2011, 03:14 hrsNEW DELHI: India and Russia will discuss military ties and procurement projects during Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar and Defence Production Secretary R K Singh’s visit to Moscow that started on Monday. During his four-day visit, Kumar will hold talks with his Russian counterparts on issues ranging from joint exercises to procurement projects. Singh is expected to talk about joint development projects, such as the fifth generation fighter as well as the Gorshkov aircraft carrier. Russian-Indian JV to develop Brahmos-2 hypersonic missile NovostiJune 13, 2011The Russian-Indian joint venture Brahmos Aerospace will start developing a new Brahmos-2 hypersonic missile this year, Brahmos Aerospace Director Alexander Maksichev said on Sunday. "During the year, we are planning to start work on a hypersonic missile, Brahmos-2. This will be a completely new missile,' he said on the sidelines of a conference on the 10th anniversary of the first launch of the Brahmos missile. Maksichev said the JV intended to start the tests of airborne Brahmos missiles next year. "We expect to be able to start the tests of Brahmos missiles launched from aircraft. Various types of aircraft, including Su-30 MKI fighters, are expected to be armed with these missiles," he said. Established in 1998, BrahMos Aerospace Ltd manufactures supersonic cruise missiles based on the Russian-designed NPO Mashinostroyenie 3M55 Yakhont (SS-N-26). The BrahMos missile has a range of 290 km (180 miles) and can carry a conventional warhead of up to 300 kg (660 lbs). It can effectively engage targets from an altitude as low as 10 meters (30 feet) and has a top speed of Mach 2.8, which is about three times faster than the U.S.-made subsonic Tomahawk cruise missile. Sea- and ground-launched versions have been successfully tested and put into service with the Indian Army and Navy.Cause of foreigners’ death were bullet injuries, tribunal told Ejaz KhanTuesday, June 14, 2011 QUETTA: Contrary to the claims of the police and FC officials, the two major witnesses disclosed before the inquiry tribunal on Monday that the cause of deaths of the five foreigners in the Kharotabad incident was bullet wounds, while driver of the vehicle confided that he recorded his previous statement at the behest of police.ìSHO Airport police station Fazlur Rehman and ASI Raza Khan had forced me to record a false statement before the tribunal?, said driver Atta Muhammad, whose taxi was hired by the five foreigners on May 17.Appearing before the tribunal, the driver said that the SHO and ASI instigated him to record the statement that the foreigners carried hand grenades. ìWhen I refused them, the police officials, with a lust of promotion, told me that on my (driver) false statement they would be promoted. At that time I was in the custody of the police and I had to record the statement of their choice before the tribunal due to fear of police,? he maintained.Earlier, submitting the post mortem report of the five foreigners before the tribunal, Police Surgeon Dr Baqir Shah of the Bolan Medical Complex Hospital stated that five bodies of the foreigners had been brought to the hospital on May 17 and after preliminary examinations, the post mortem was conducted on May 20.He disclosed that out of the three Chechen women, who had been killed in the Kharotabad incident, one was seven-month pregnant and was identified as Olga Sherada. The fetus had also been killed in the incident, the surgeon added. During her post mortem, six bullets were recovered from her body which pierced at different parts of her body, he said.Baqar Shah stated that during the post mortem of one of the deceased, who was identified as Aziz Megamedov, burn wounds were also found besides the bullet injuries. The real cause of death of Aziz was the bullets that had hit him, he added. He said that the post mortem team had retrieved 21 bullets from the bodies of all the five foreigners and some of them had also sustained injuries caused by small pieces of iron material and it is not necessary that these pieces were splinters of hand grenade, he added. Later, the tribunal adjourned its proceedings till Tuesday.Russian envoy calls for stronger SL-Russia ties , 14 June 2011Suraj A Bandara “The friendship between Russia and Sri Lanka is not confined only to diplomatic relations but has expanded its horizons with people to people contacts in the spheres of culture, politics and sports, Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka Vladimir P. Mikhaylov said. He was addressing a function held to coincide the National Day of Russia at the Russian Cultural Centre recently. Members of the Sri Lanka-Russia Parliamentary Association and Sri Lanka-Russia Friendship Association graced the occasion and promised to work jointly in enhancing bilateral relationships. He added that relations between Sri Lanka and Russia continued unaffected under different governments in Sri Lanka. He was of the view the relations between the two countries should be further strengthened. Russian businessmen are keen on embarking on investment opportunities in Sri Lanka and have signed agreements to be partners of Sri Lanka’s economic growth. “Both countries marked a significant achievement in bilateral cooperation. The visit of the Russian Foreign Minister to Sri Lanka in 2009 and President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s first visit to Russia in 2010 were significant moments in both countries, he recalled. “There is no doubt that friendly relations between Russia and Sri Lanka will further develop for the benefit of the peoples of both countries, he noted. Petroleum Resources and Industries Minister and President of Sri Lanka Russia Parliamentary Association Susil Premajayantha thanked the Russian government for the continuous support extended to Sri Lanka. The minister added that Russia was a true friend who always stands by Sri Lanka at difficult times. Third Russian Emergencies Ministry plane heads to Yemen 14/06/2011A third Russian Emergencies Ministry plane has left Russia for Yemen to evacuate Russian and CIS nationals, the ministry reported.Two Emergencies Ministry evacuation flights from Yemen brought 175 Russian and CIS citizens, including 59 children, to Moscow on Monday.Anti-government protests against Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has been in power for 33 years, have been taking place for nearly five months. The protests have recently escalated to frequent gun battles between Saleh loyalists and hundreds of members of Yemeni opposition tribal groups.Several hundred people have reportedly been killed in Yemen since February, pushing the country to the brink of a civil war.Russia has already recalled 14 diplomats and their families from its embassy in Sanaa and general consulate in Aden.There are about 800 Russians remaining in Yemen.MOSCOW, June 14 (RIA Novosti)09:00?14/06/2011Top NewsRussian EMERCOM plane evacuates 39 people from Yemen, June 14 (Itar-Tass) — A plane belonging to the Russian Emergencies Ministry (EMERCOM) is on its way from Yemen to Russia, evacuating 39 people, including Russian nationals and citizens of CIS countries, who wished to leave the country, a ministry representative said on Tuesday.“Today, at 08:15 Moscow time, an Il-62 plane took off from the airport of the city of Aden heading for Moscow,” he said. The EMECOM officer also said that there are 20 children among the passengers. Twelve of 39 passengers are Russian nationals.06/14 10:35 ? Russian, Italian ministers to meet on June 23 - France to July 12 Jun 14, 2011 11:00am ISTTuesday June 21, 2011 PARIS - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visits France.Russia, France sign Mistral contract 14, 2011 10:31 Moscow TimeRussia and France have signed a contract on the acquisition of Mistral helicopter-carriers by Moscow from Paris.The Moscow-based daily Kommersant quotes an unidentified source as saying that the two sides signed the contract in Paris on the 10th of this month.The first two ships are due to be built in France and will cost Russia 1.2 billion euros.Moscow and Paris negotiated the acquisition of helicopter-carriers since early this year, after the two countries signed an intergovernmental agreement to that end on January 25th .Mistral knows its worth: 14 June, 2011, 04:14Edited: 14 June, 2011, 08:50 Russia and France reach an agreement on the purchase of helicopter carriers Ivan Safronov Jr., Elena Kiseleva On Saturday, the French newspaper, La Tribune, reported that France and Russia have signed a contract on the sale of four Mistral helicopter carriers. Kommersant’s sources have confirmed this information, adding that the contract was signed on June 10. Under the contract, the ships will be equipped with a naval tactical data system; contractual provisions do not include the transfer of technologies to Russia. The first two helicopter carriers will be built at the French shipyards and cost Russia €1.2 billion.?????? ?A source, familiar with the course of the negotiations, told Kommersant that a Rosoboronexport delegation had signed a contract with the French company DCNS on June 10 in Paris. Two of the first helicopter carriers will be built at the shipyards in Saint Nazaire, and cost around €1.2 billion. The source had also confirmed the report, published by La Tribune, asserting that the ships will be equipped with the SENIT-9 naval tactical data system. These technologies will not be transferred to Russia.? ?Recall that the issue concerning the transfer of the shipbuilding technologies was the main disagreement in the Mistral deal. Russia insisted on the inclusion of the licenses and technical documentation on certain ship systems (such as the SENIT-9) in the transaction value of €980 million, while France insisted on €1.15 billion. In the end, France’s price was adopted, but without the transfer of technologies.??? ?Negotiations on the purchase of Mistral continued for nearly two years. The first reports on the transaction appeared in September of 2009, and the official dialogue was launched on March 2, 2010. Negotiations were twice marred with international scandals. ?The first scandal was sparked when the Defense Ministry surprised France with the announcement that, instead of purchasing the Mistral directly from the DCNS, it would do so through a tender (in which, in addition to the French shipbuilding companies, German, Spanish, and South Korean companies were scheduled to participate).? ?The French authorities were forced to reassure the trade unions of the shipyard in Saint Nazaire, which builds the Mistral ships. Subsequently, members of the Russian delegation had entered into a preliminary agreement with the DCNS on the purchase of two ships for €1.15 billion, but eventually announced that they are willing to purchase them for no more than €980 million (read Kommersant’s March 3 issue). The most recent scandal was associated with the resignation of the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Nikolay Borisov, as well as the Deputy Defense Minister, Vladimir Popovkin, who currently heads the Federal Space Agency.???? ?In addition to the international, there have also been national scandals. The conflict between the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), the Defense Ministry and Rosoboronexport, was followed by the dismissal of the head of the Military-Technical Department at USC, Vladimir Belukov – the corporation’s only specialist with experience in foreign trade, who was responsible for the preparation of the pre-contract documentation. According to Kommersant’s sources, Mr. Belukov was basically accused in derailing USC’s plans to become a full-fledged participant in the preparatory process of this contract.???? ?After this, Rosoboronexport had entered into bilateral negotiations with the French DCNS. And after difficulties had emerged with the cost of technologies, the Defense Ministry representatives were also removed from the negotiations on the purchase of Mistral, as they were found to have been responsible for the scandal. Since then, all negotiations have been handled by Rosoboronexport. On May 26, following Dmitry Medvedev’s meeting with Nikolas Sarkozy during the G-8 summit in Deauville, the French president had announced that the parties had reached a final agreement on the supply of the Mistral helicopter carriers. A contract for the supply of the ships could be signed within the next 15 days, then promised Mr. Sarkozy, but eventually added that the exact date of signing the contract has yet to be determined. According to him, it would definitely happen before June 21. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s visit to France had been scheduled for this date, Mr. Sarkozy explained earlier, so it would be nice to finish by that time. Rosoboronexport has signed the contract on time. Presumably, the singing of the contract will be officially announced in June 21.?? ?“This acquisition is expected to justify itself,” says Kommersant’s source, familiar with the situation on the part of the Defense Ministry. “The purchase of these ships will help strengthen the naval forces of Russia.” “First, this is a major personal achievement of Mr. Sarkozy,” says Konstantin Makiyenko, an expert with the Center for the Analysis of Strategies and Technologies. “We hope that with the signing of this contract, from now on, the DCNS will not consider supplying missile corvettes to the Georgian naval forces (Gowind – Kommersant), as it did before 2008.” Rosoboronexport refused to comment. The USC and the Defense Ministry representatives claim not to have any information regarding the signing of the contract.Pacific Fleet ships back home 14, 2011 10:29 Moscow TimeA task force of three Russian Pacific Fleet ships returned to its hope port of Vladivostok on Tuesday?after completing a lengthy, three-nation tour of duty in the southern seas. ??During their ?voyage the Admiral Panteleyev destroyer and a rescue tug visited Singapore, Indonesia and China and took part in the IMDEX-2011 ?international maritime defense exhibition.Georgia sticks to requirements for Russia at WTO talks , 14.06.2011, Tbilisi 11:15:11.Georgian Foreign Ministry has denied reports by some Georgian opposition politicians that Georgia has abandoned its requirements blocking Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) after Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's meeting with U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden.??????Georgia's requirements for Russia remain unchanged, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze said at a news briefing. She confirmed that Georgia is ready to press ahead with the negotiations. ??????Georgia demands a control of customs checkpoints at the Abkhazian and South Ossetian borders. Eduard Kokoity to head South Ossetia for third term initiative group is collecting signatures for a referendum on in South Ossetia. Their goal is to gain a legal opportunity for President Eduard Kokoity to head the country for the third term, RES reports.Kokoity said on June 13 that he will not participate at the presidential elections in November 2011, regardless of the decision that the Supreme Court would make on the referendum.The Supreme Court will make its decision on June 14.Initiators of the referendum, headed by South Ossetian Deputy Defense Minister Ibragim Gasseyev, the goal of the referendum is not just to allow the president to keep power but to continue the course for independence, democratic development and further strengthening of ties with Russia.A young state must not allow people who may put its future at risk to rule it, the message says.Armenia, Russia discuss supplies of radiation, chemical and biological protection weapons 14, 2011 | 12:21 The Armenian military delegation has arrived in Russia to discuss possible supplies of equipment and weapons of radiation, chemical and biological protection.It is assumed that if the talks are successful, Russia will supply weapons to Armenia.“The delegation will be received by head of radiation, chemical and biological protection troops General Major Yevgeny Starkov,” said Seregy Vlasov, representative of Russian MOD.According to Vlasov, the relationship between ministries of both countries in the field of radiation, chemical and biological defense have developed since 2004 in the format of an annual exchange of delegations.11:08?14/06/2011ALL NEWSRussian police detain 8 associates of former Kyrgyz president. Tass 107 BISHKEK, June 14 (Itar-Tass) — Russian police jointly with law-enforcement bodies of Kyrgyzstan detained eight associates of the former Kyrgyz leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev. All the detainees had been on the international wanted list for possible involvement in crimes committed in the territory of the republic, an official at Kyrgyzstan's Interior Ministry told Itar-Tass on Tuesday. "Among the people convoyed to Bishkek from Russia are persons from the company of former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. The investigators believe they might be involved in financial fraud, masterminded by the former president's younger son Maxim Bakiyev," the police official said. For example, Sergei Kostyuk was a member of the commission for the management of AziaUniversalBank's assets in April 2010, before the revolutionary events in Kyrgyzstan. The new Kyrgyz leadership assumes that the Bakiyevs had made all their payments through that bank. "Another three persons from this group are suspected of organizing the ethnic clashes in the south of the republic in June 210," the Interior Ministry said. On June 10, 2010, ethnic Kyrgyz clashed with Uzbeks in the southern Osh region. The conflict spread to the neighboring Jalalabad region and claimed 400 lives. Some 2,300 people were injured during several days of fierce confrontation. Kyrgyzstan says discussing Bakiyev ally's extradition from Russia 14/06/2011MOSCOW, June 14 (RIA Novosti)A close confidante of the family of Kyrgyzstan's former president has been arrested in Moscow and discussions have begun on his extradition from Russia to face fraud charges, Kyrgyz investigators said on Tuesday.Sergei Kostyuk, the former head of AziaUniversalBank, was arrested on June 8 after a joint operation by Kyrgyz and Russian investigators, Kyrgyz chief investigator Tilek Alibayev said."They detained eight criminals who are on the interstate and international wanted list, three of whom were suspects in criminal cases related to the events of June 2010 in the south of the country," Alibayev was quoted as saying by the Kyrgyz news website 24.kg. The other detainees were not identified.Violent clashes between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks broke out a year ago in the southern city of Osh near Kyrgyzstan's border with Uzbekistan. Several hundred people died in the violence, which followed the ouster of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev earlier in the year.Kostyuk was a moneyman for Maxim Bakiyev, the former president's son."[He] could shed some light where the money in the accounts of the Bakiyev family came from," Alibayev said. "The question of his extradition is now being resolved."He added that Kostyuk is accused of fraud in connection with the diversion of millions of dollars of public funds into the accounts belonging to the Bakiyev family and their associates.Maxim Bakiev is thought to be living in England, while his father has been living in Belarus since he was given refuge by President Alexander Lukashenko after fleeing Kyrgyzstan in April 2010.Scandal in Russia over official's plane hold-up(AFP) – 1 hour agoMOSCOW — A pilot for Russia's flag carrier Aeroflot was Tuesday hailed as a hero by bloggers for indignantly objecting to a command by air traffic control to delay his flight to allow a top official to board.The pilot on the flight last week from the Siberian city of Irkutsk to Moscow was told he could not take off until regional governor Dmitry Mezentsev had arrived for the flight from an over-running meeting.The Aeroflot pilot's indifference to the ranking of the official have made the leaked tapes of the exchange an Internet sensation in Russia and the latest example of the increasing use of the net to expose the excesses of the elite."I'd rather vote for him in the elections than (President Dmitry) Medvedev," wrote one user on YouTube, where the exchange has now been listened to almost 350,000 times after its posting by prominent blogger drugoi."Bravo comrade!"Showing a defiance of authority still rare in Russia, the pilot bluntly says the governor has no right to hold up passengers and even suggests the press should be invited to find out what is happening.Pilot: "I was told to get in touch with you, what's the problem?"Controller: "The top official needs to get here and then we will allow take-off."Pilot: "Well, let the top official fly on his private jet and I will fly these passengers."This not a charter but a scheduled flight... kindly make sure your top official does not turn up late for the flight and then he can fly with us."I have already closed the doors and I am not going to allow anyone else on the plane."Controller: "We are not going to let you take off."Pilot: "Please invite the television and journalists here to find out why a scheduled flight is being delayed."Eventually, the flight took off one hour late with Mezentsev on board."Courageous pilot! Respect to these guys," wrote another blogger on Youtube.The Kommersant daily said the resonance of the scandal risked ending the career of Mezentsev, who is already enduring low popularity and is under pressure from ruling party United Russia after poor local poll results."I apologised to the passengers, I explained the situation," Mezentsev said in an interview with the pro-government Izvestia newspaper Tuesday in a clear attempt at damage-limitation."I only use scheduled flights. I have headed this region for two years and not once have I used a private VIP jet"02:15?14/06/2011ALL NEWSRF govt presidium to consider measures to reduce jobless rate. Tass 8a MOSCOW, June 14 (Itar-Tass) — The Russian Government Presidium on Tuesday will consider measures to reduce unemployment, to implement Federal purpose-oriented investment programmes in the first quarter of 2011, and Russia's participation in financing the Fund for the capitalization of Russian banks. Tatyana Golikova, Minister of Health and Social Development, will be the rapporteur on the agenda item concerning efforts to ease strain on the labour market, a government press service official said. The implementation of additional measures under regional programmes aimed at reducing unemployment in 2009-2010 resulted in averting an uncontrolled increase in unemployment rate, forecast in most regions (The number of jobless registered by the agencies of employment services decreased from 2.3 million as of the beginning of 2010 to 1.6 million as of January 2011; the registered unemployment rate diminished from 2.8 percent to 2.1 percent of the economically active population), and in checking the dismissal of about 2.8 million workers, thereby easing tension on the labour market and maintaining social stability in society. In 2011, the implementation of regional programmes will be continued. Provision has been made in the Federal budget for the allocation of 27,800 million roubles for these purposes. Debate over raising the retirement age reignites of FinlandJune 10, 2011Reports of the pension reform working group in Russia's upcoming economy development Strategy 2020 project find that raising the general retirement age is inevitable if the pension system is to remain solvent. The working group says the pension age should rise starting in 2015. An often-mentioned solution would be to raise the retirement ages of both men and women to 63 by 2030. The current retirement age is 60 years for Russian men and 55 years for Russian women. Furthermore, the number of years in the workforce to be eligible for a full pension should be increased from the current five years to 15 or 20 years. The proposed changes are not sufficient to put Russia's pension system on a steady footing. In addition to the current financing problems, the stability of the pension fund will be affected by a decline in the number of people paying into the pension system. The size of the Russian labour force has already started to shrink with the diminished size of cohorts entering. At the same time, the pensioner population is growing. Thus, renewal of the pension system is inevitable, even if it has been less than ten years since the last major pension reform.Pensions are an important income source for the bulk of Russian households. According to a survey by the Moscow-based Independent Institute for Social Policy, nearly half of Russian families are entirely or partly dependent on pension income. More than a quarter of the Russian population receives a pension, and pensioners often help out their children and family members with their pensions. Over a quarter of pensioners are still working after reaching retirement age, and pension income is an important supplement for low wages. Hence, from a social perspective, raising the retirement age is an extremely touchy subject.Russia still suffering from brain drain 30 percent of Russians between 18 and 24 years want to leave the country.One fifth of the Russian population are potential emigrants, a new sociological survey shows. Most willing to leave are the young and the educated.A recent survey shows that the number of potential Russian emigrants increased from 5 percent in 1991 to 21 percent in 2011.The Russian Public Opinion Research Center on Friday published a survey showing that 21 percent of the respondents were willing to move abroad and seek permanent residence and another 20 percent would like to receive employment abroad.The largest emigration potential is among Russia's younger age group between 18 and 24 years (30 percent for permanent residence and 28 percent for employment). 29 percent of the respondents with higher education are ready to pack up and move abroad.According to official numbers, more than 1.2 million Russians left the country in course of the three last years, Vedomosti reports. 40 percent of these had higher education.The public opinion research center said 75 percent of Russians would still remain where they are. These non-potential emigrants are mostly elderly people (93 percent), people with a lower education level (85 percent), and those who are not internet users.1.600 people living in 46 regions in Russia were interviewed during the first week of June 2011.Text: Trude PettersenMedvedev’s Police Revamp Shows Progress in Graft Fight, VTB Says Scott Rose - Jun 14, 2011 9:40 AM GMT+0200 Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s decision to replace three deputy interior ministers last week shows the “substantive nature” of his effort to revamp the country’s police and fight abuses of power, VTB Capital said. The changes, initiated in February 2010, are “likely to be seen as the most-telling litmus test of the president’s commitment to anti-corruption rhetoric,” Alexey Zabotkin and Aleksandra Evtifyeva, analysts at VTB Capital in Moscow, wrote in a research note e-mailed today. Progress so far has “been more than satisfactory.” Medvedev has already replaced about 100 of 450 senior officers undergoing a recertification process and selected six of Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev’s deputies, according to VTB Capital, the investment-banking unit of Russia’s second- biggest lender. The latest changes were announced June 11 on the Kremlin website. The police overhaul was aimed at reducing corruption and improving the force’s public image after a series of scandals, including the April 2009 shooting rampage of a police major in a Moscow supermarket. A new law governing police, including a more stringent code of conduct, took effect on March 1. Under the changes, police officers will receive larger salaries after undergoing recertification. To contact the reporter on this story: Scott Rose in Moscow at rrose10@. To contact the editor responsible for this story: Balazs Penz at bpenz@. Interior Ministry to have rotation once in five years Russian Interior Ministry will have staff rotation once every fiveyears, Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev said, RIA Novosti reports.The minister added that new authorities will have an opportunity tohave a fresh view on a situation and find solutions to problems.Nurgaliyev believes that the rotation system will be an instrumentagainst corruption. He reported that 31 people had been appointed in2011 and 47 in 2010 using the rotation mechanism. 194 chiefs wereappointed, 170 of them are at territorial structures of the InteriorMinistry, 6 – at education and scientific centers. 143 officers failedto undergo evaluation and take their posts as chiefs again.10,200 staff members of the ministry were employed. 5,000 still needemployment, Nurgaliyev said.11:37?14/06/2011ALL NEWSStopped criminal cases as result of suspects’ death to be checked. PETERSBURG, June 14 (Itar-Tass) — The Russian Constitutional Court will examine at an opening meeting a case on checking constitutionality of several provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code, permitting to shelve investigation of criminal cases as a result of suspects’ plaints by Sergei Alexandrin and Yuri Vashchenko, relatives of deceased suspects in criminal cases which were stopped in connection with their death, whose guilt was not fully proved, was the reason for examination of the case.In the opinion of the applicants, challenged norms run counter to the Russian Constitution, since they violate the principle of non-guilty presumption and the right to judicial protection. They regard as unconstitutional that immediate relatives have no right to object the stopping of a case in connection with the death of a suspect (the accused), to demand completion of an investigation and to forward a case to court of law for rehabilitation of the deceased.Besides, these norms do not provide for participation of immediate relatives in a court meeting and for taking into account their opinion on a possibility of stopping a case.Court hearings will also deal with circumstances of a criminal case on a car crash in the Leninsky Avenue (Moscow) with the participation of a LUKOIL top manager – company vice-president Anatoly Barkov. The case was shelved as a result of the death of suspect Olga Alexandrin.Her father appealed a decision of law enforcement bodies at Moscow’s Tverskoy District Court, insisting on continuing the investigation and forwarding the case to the court to establish possible innocence and rehabilitation of the daughter. However, the court found as legal the termination of the case and turned down the complaint.00:54?14/06/2011ALL NEWSDuma to examine auto tech inspection bill in second reading. Tass 12a MOSCOW, June 14 (Itar-Tass) — The long-awaited second reading of the motor vehicle technical inspection bill is to be held in the State Duma lower house of the Russian parliament here on Tuesday. The bill has been actually rewritten anew as compared with the previous wording. It seriously changes the current vehicle technical inspection procedure, the shortcomings of which were many times pointed out earlier this year by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev who demanded that the procedure be streamlined to the utmost. 02:35?14/06/2011Top NewsSergei Mironov to enter upon his duties in State Duma Tue, June 14 (Itar-Tass) — Sergei Mironov, ex -Speaker of the Federation Council upper house of the Russian parliament and the leader of the Just Russia party (JRP), will officially assume the powers of a Member of the State Duma lower house of parliament on Tuesday.The House faction of the JRP intends ceremonially to welcome Mironov aboard at a special meeting which will commence at 13:00.10:52?14/06/2011ALL NEWSSK to question former court secretary re Yukos case. Tass 108 MOSCOW, June 14 (Itar-Tass) — The Investigative Committee will question former secretary of Moscow's Khamovniki court Natalia Vasilyeva to check the statements by the lawyers of former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky, and his business partner, former MENATEP director Platon Lebedev. "Indeed the former Khamovniki court employee was summoned to the SK for questioning within the framework of the procedural check, carried out on the statements by Khodorkovsky and Lebedev's lawyers," SK spokesman Vladimir Markin told Itar-Tass. "The SK is also taking other measures to clarify the circumstances to which the applicant parties refer," he added. On May 17, Khodorkovsky and Lebedev's lawyers forwarded a statement to Investigation Committee chairman Alexander Bastrykin demanding that the SK open a criminal case against Khamovniki court judge Viktor Danilkin for wrongful sentencing. "We are demanding that criminal proceedings be instituted for perversion of justice, obstructing justice and other crimes committed in the course of the trial of the criminal case at Moscow's Khamovniki court," Khodorkovsky's lawyer Vadim Kllyuvgant told Tass. The plaintiffs believe that Danilkin's accomplices are "other persons from the leadership of the Moscow City Court and its judges, as well as SK and Prosecutor General's Office personnel." Khodorkovsky and Lebedev asked to open criminal proceedings under seven articles of Russia’s Criminal Code - perversion of justice, forgery by official, falsification of evidence, arraigning an innocent person, obstruction of justice, abuse of office powers and exceeding of authority." To vindicate their statement, they cited former Khamovniki court spokeswoman Natalia Vasilyeva, who had stated that the guilty verdict for Khodorkovsky and Lebedev had been written at the Moscow City Court, and that Danilkin had never drawn it. Vasilyeva also claimed pressure on Danilkin, during the trial and deliberation in the conference room. According to Khodorkovsky and Lebedev's lawyers, the content of the verdict gives valid reasons to claim that it was drawn by not the presiding judge, but persons who were not directly involved in the trial. Danilkin made assurances that he had written the verdict by himself, while adhering to all the norms of the law. The Moscow City Court called Vasilyeva's statement "provocation." Vasilyeva resigned soon thereafter. On December 30, 2010, Moscow’s Khamovniki district court sentenced former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky and his business partner, head of the MENATEP company Platon Lebedev, to 13.5 years in jail within the second criminal case, finding them guilty of oil theft and money laundering. The next day, their lawyers appealed the verdict at the Moscow City Court. On May 24, it reduced their jail term by one year. The verdict became effective. The new sentence extends the jail term for Khodorkovsky and Lebedev until 2016. Khodorkovsky and Lebedev were found fully guilty of theft and money laundering within the 2nd criminal case. The court classified the indictment under the 2010 amendments, which softened punishment for economic crimes. Handing down the verdict, judge Danilkin underlined that the business persons had sold the stolen oil in domestic and foreign markets at a much higher price than the producers' selling price. "The bulk of profits was expatriated and used to the benefit of the participants in the organized group," Danilkin said. "Khodorkovsky and Lebedev guilt was fully proven by the whole body of evidence examined by the court," according to the verdict. The court dropped criminal prosecution against the defendants on charges of stealing shares of "Eastern Oil Company," due to the statute of limitations. Meanwhile, Khodorkovsky and Lebedev petitioned for parole as they had served more than half of their term. It is Khodorkovsky's second petition for parole. In August 2008, the former Yukos CEO served four of eight years. Even if a court had sanctioned parole then, Khodorkovsky would have remained in custody anyway, as a suspect in the second criminal case against him. Head of the State Duma committee for civil, criminal and arbitration legislation Pavel Krasheninnikov said Khodorkovsky and Lebedev had fifty-fifty chances to get parole. "According to statistics, slightly less than 50 percent of parole requests are met," Krasheninnikov told Tass. Earlier this month, the European court for human rights acknowledged violations in Khodorkovsky arrest and custody, but did not recognize his case as politically motivated. 05:49?14/06/2011ALL NEWSOptic fiber comm line to link Sakhalin isle and mainland. Tass 46 VLADIVOSTOK, June 14 (Itar-Tass) — The laying of a new optical fiber communication trunkline has been started on the Sakhalin Island. The 700-km line will link the island region and the mainland. Four hundred and sixty kilometres of the line will run across Khabarovsk Territory, eight kilometres via the seabed of the Nevelskoy Strait from Cape Lazarev to Cape Pogibi in sakhalin's north-west and 230-240 km across the island proper, an official in the press servive of the Rostelecom-Far East Company told Itar-Tass on Tuesday. Nineteen kilometres of the optic fiber cable have been already laid from Cape Pogibi into the island's hinterland in the direction of Nysh Village. The building work is being done in very complex conditions of marshy ground. Builders have encountered an unexpected problem: the buiding operations have attracted bears that regularly roam the construction sites. The Company official pointedout, "The putting into operation of the optic fiber communication trunkline linking Sakhalin and the mainland will enable the Rostelecom to have its own resources to provide the population and enterprises of the Sakhalin Region with qualitative communication up to a new up-to-date digital level". 08:08?14/06/2011ALL NEWSRadiation background normal in Russia’s Far East. Tass 54 VLADIVOSTOK, June 14 (Itar-Tass) — Russia’s Far Eastern regions report no increases in radiation background levels on Tuesday, weeks after the accident at Japan’s Fukushima-1 nuclear plant, the press service of the regional centre of the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations reports. Radiation backgrounds in the Khabarovsk region were up to 16 microroentgen per hour, while in Khabarovsk – 14, which is below the permissible level of 30 microroentgen per hour. In Primorye radiation backgrounds don’t exceed 14 microroentgen per hour, while in the Jewish Autonomous region – 17 microroentgen. In the South Kuriles, the region closest to Japan, the natural radiation background levels are also within norm. There is no threat for the health of people across the Far East, the press service said. No cases of radioactive contamination have been reported after checks of transport vehicles, passengers, crews and cargoes at sea ports and airports in the entire Far East. 08:35?14/06/2011ALL NEWSFive new wildfires fixed in Russian Far East, June 14 (Itar-Tass) — Five new wildfires have been registered in Russia’s Far East over the past 24 hours, including four fires in Yakutia and one in the Amur region, the regional forestry department reported on Tuesday.All in all there are six wildfires engulfing the area of 274 hectares in the region, the sources said. There are no wildfires in other regions of the Far Eastern Federal District.A total of 1,212 wildfires have been fixed in the federal district this year. The blaze has destroyed over 456,000 hectares, including 338,000 hectares of forests. Yakutia, where fires have destroyed 294,000 hectares, is the hardest hit. Another 1,364 hectares of natural areas of preferential protection have been damaged by wildfires in the Amur, Magadan, Khabarovsk regions as well as in the Jewish Autonomous Region.France Arrests Chechen June 2011The Associated PressNICE, France — France has filed preliminary legal charges against a?nightclub bouncer from?Chechnya for?alleged links to?a terror group, officials said Saturday.The?suspect, who was not immediately identified, was arrested June 6 in?a police raid in?an apartment in?a tough area of?the southeastern city of?Nice that is home to?many Chechen expatriates, the?officials said. He is suspected of?ties to?rebel leader Doku Umarov.Russian imam killed outside village mosque in Dagestan 14/06/2011The imam of a village mosque in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Dagestan was shot dead on Tuesday morning, the Dagestani Interior Ministry said.Kurbanov was found with gunshot wounds on Tuesday morning near the mosque."The incident occurred on Tuesday morning in the village of Mikheyevka in the Kizlyar district of Dagestan. Unidentified men shot the Imam of the village mosque," a spokesman said. "[Ashurulav] Kurbanov died from his wounds at the scene."Religious leaders are frequently the victims of militant violence in Russia's North Caucasus. According to media reports, noted Russian Islamologist Roman Silantev said in December that around 50 moderate muftis have been killed for opposing Wahhabism.MAKHACHKALA, June 14 (RIA Novosti)? Imam killed in Russia's Dagestan region , 08:19 / Israel News The imam of a rural mosque in Russia's North Caucasus province of Dagestan was shot dead on Tuesday, Russian news agencies reported. The body of Ashurulav Kurbanov was found near the mosque in the village of Mikheyevka in the northern part of the province, Interfax and state-run RIA reported. Mainstream Muslim leaders are frequent targets of militants in Dagestan, a centre of the Islamist insurgency that persists on Russia's southern rim a decade after federal forces drove separatists from power in the neighbouring province of Chechnya. (Reuters)Dutch soccer star Ruud Gullit is under threat of dismissal after spending less than one season as trainer of the Chechen club Terek Grozny. club’s chairman and Chechnya’s president, Ramzan Kadirov, says on his website that he’s bitterly disappointed with the Dutch trainer. If Grozny lose their next Russian Premier League match, Mr Gullit will be asked to pack his bags.Last Friday, Grozny were beaten at home 4-2 by CSKA Moscow which at present tops the Russian Premier League. Grozny are third from the bottom in 14th place.President Kadirov hoped 48-year-old Mr Gullit’s leadership would result in his club breaking through to European-level competitions. However, Mr Kadirov complains that “Terek has never seemed so hopeless”. He accuses Mr Gullit of being more interested in nightlife than in football.(mw)? Radio Netherlands Worldwide10:34?14/06/2011ALL NEWSCourt to sentence human rights activist for slander on Kadyrov. Tass 26 MOSCOW, June 14 (Itar-Tass) — The magistrate’s division of Moscow’s Khamovnichesky Court is expected on Tuesday to announce a sentence on head of the Memorial human rights centre Oleg Orlov, accused of slander on Chechen head Ramzan Kadyrov. During the arguments of the sides, the prosecutor requested to recognise the defendant as guilty and to slap down on him a fine of 150,000 roubles. In turn, Kadyrov’s side insists on sentencing Orlov to three years in a colony with a general regime. The defendant and his defence lawyer requested the court to pass a non-guilty verdict. The head of the Memorial human rights centre is accused of “a slander” on Kadyrov for circulating information of the latter’s alleged guilt of assassinating woman human rights activist Natalya Estemirova. The Chechen head regards the statement by the Memorial head “a big smear mark on the Kadyrov family”. He said earlier that “Orlov’s accusation defames our honour, conscience and dignity. Therefore, we decided to resort to law”. Replying to the magistrate’s question, Kadyrov said that he wants Orlov to be called to criminal responsibility. At the same time, he did not ask for a definite punishment, noting that it should be prescribed by law. The republican head said that he had met Estemirova two times, but he had never scolded her and threatened, but only gave an advice concerning a TV interview and kerchief wearing. “She laughed while leaving me,” he added. Speaking of his opinion on Estemirova, Kadyrov called her “a good and normal woman and mother”. But at the same time, he confirmed his words, said in one of interviews that “she had never had honour, dignity and conscience”. “I used to meet her and I said: let us defend human rights jointly,” said the Chechen chief executive. “But she only spoke rubbish, and did not defend human rights.” However, according to Kadyrov, the human rights activist was useful for Chechnya. “She helped me so that everybody would say that there is democracy and the freedom of speech in Chechnya and that Estemirova freely upbraids the Chechen leadership,” he continued. “I needed her more than you. To kill her means to do me bad.” Earlier, Moscow’s Tverskoy Court already sentenced Orlov and the Memorial human rights centre to a fine for the Memorial head’s pronouncement about Kadyrov’s guilt of murdering Estemirova. Then, a criminal case was instituted against Orlov under the article “Slander”, providing for a punishment with a three-year prison term. Human rights activist Estemirova had been abducted in Grozny not far from her home on July 15, 2009. Her body was found on the same day 100 metres from the Kavkaz federal highway, near the village of Gazi-Yurt, Ingushetia. The investigation believes that the crime was committed likely in connection with Estemirova’s professional activities as well as to destabilise the situation in Chechnya and Ingushetia. Shaun Walker: An awkward reminder of violent tensions in the Caucasus migrant labourers come to Russia to work on construction sites and in menial jobs, and are often blamed for crimesTuesday, 14 June 2011 Russia's fragile ethnic balance has been threatened a number of times in recent months, and the killing of Yuri Budanov will be another worry for those who fear that the "national question" is the biggest threat to the country's security. Last December, gangs of Russians went on the rampage in Moscow to avenge the death of a football fan killed by migrants from the North Caucasus, with anyone of "non-Slavic appearance" a target. If it is proved that Budanov's murder was carried out by revenge-minded Chechens, then a further wave of revenge attacks could follow, creating a dangerous cycle.Aside from the legacy of the Chechen wars and the continuing Islamic insurgency in Chechnya and the rest of the Russian North Caucasus, the influx of economic migrants from the former Soviet states of Central Asia also contributes to tension. The migrant labourers come to Russia to work on construction sites and in menial jobs, and are often blamed for crimes. Last week the head of one Russian region promised to build a special camp to hold immigrants. Migrants to the far-eastern region of Kamchatka will be forced to move to the camp, which will be guarded by police, according to Vladimir Ilyukhin, the region's governor. The workers will live in special wagons designed for temporary housing, and will be brought to work each day on buses. "There will be police posted there who will ensure that order is maintained on the territory of the settlement," said the governor. Such rhetoric is not unusual. In April this year, the Federal Migration Service sacked its chief spokesman Konstantin Poltoranin for saying that "the survival of the white race is at stake" in Russia during a television interview. "We want to make sure the mixing of blood happens in the right way here," Mr Poltoranin said, explaining Russia's tough policies on asylum-seekers. At Budanov's funeral yesterday, there were calls to avenge his death. "The whole Chechen race needs to be exterminated, the whole of the Caucasus," said one young mourner, covered with tattoos, who gave his name as Sasha. "The Chechens are not a civilised race, but the Jews who run our country don't know how to deal with them. They've killed a Russian patriot and there must be revenge now."No Lack of Suspects in Budanov Killing June 2011By Natalya KrainovaIt remained a?mystery Monday who brazenly killed former tank commander Yury Budanov by?pumping four bullets into?his head as he left a?downtown Moscow building for?a smoke. But one thing is clear: Investigators have their work cut out for?them because Budanov had a?lot of?enemies.Initial fears proved unfounded that the?killing would spark ethnic rioting by?ultranationalists, who see Budanov as a?hero for?killing a?Chechen girl whom he suspected of?being a?rebel sniper in?2000. But ethnic tensions have been simmering for?months, and?Budanov's killing on?Friday threatens to?shatter the?fragile ethnic peace in?the country.Two senior United Russia members and?Public Chamber member Nikolai Svanidze speculated that nationalists were looking to?disrupt stability before December's State Duma vote and?the presidential election next March. Others said the?killing gave the?Kremlin a?chance to?score with the?voters ahead of?the elections.Budanov, 47, was shot dead in?broad daylight as he came out of?a notary's office on?Komsomolsky Prospekt. He wanted to?smoke, Gazeta.ru said.The unidentified assailant fired four gunshots to?his head in?front of?his wife and?walked away, RIA-Novosti said. Svetlana Budanova was unharmed but required psychological help to?deal with the?shock, Gazeta.ru said.Television footage showed Budanov's crumpled body lying facedown on?the sidewalk as people walked by?indifferently or watched from?the balconies of?nearby apartment buildings.The gunman had two accomplices, one of?whom, a?man of?Slavic appearance, drove him away in?a Mitsubishi Lancer, the?Investigative Committee said in?a statement. The?car was later found half-burned on?a nearby street along with the?handgun and?silencer used in?the shooting.Investigators provided city police with a?composite picture of?the killer but did not make it public or provide any details about his identity, including his ethnicity.Anyone charged and?convicted over the?killing faces up to?life in?prison, investigators said.Budanov became one of?the most divisive figures in?recent Russian history after being arrested in?2000 for?strangling to?death Elza Kungayeva, 18. He was also accused of?raping her, but the?court cleared him on?that count despite protests from?her relatives.Budanov pleaded guilty to?murder but said he believed that Kungayeva was a?sniper for?the insurgents and?said he had strangled her in?a fit of?rage during interrogations.Budanov, who sustained brain injuries during his service in?Chechnya from?1998 to?2000, was handed a?10-year prison term for?murder and?stripped of?his rank of?colonel by?the North Caucasus District Military Court.He walked free on?parole in?2009. Although he served a?total of?eight years behind bars, including pretrial detention, his release angered Chechen officials and?was criticized by?the Kungayevs, who moved to?Norway in?2003.Investigators were inclined to?see Budanov's killing as a?"provocation," Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said, Interfax reported. He did not name the?provocateurs but added that "the investigators have no information about ethnic groups being behind the?killing."Not everyone was convinced. Yabloko party head Sergei Mitrokhin and?Chechnya's representative in?the Federation Council, Aslanbek Aslakhanov, among others, said the?murder might be revenge by?Chechens or possibly Kungayeva's relatives.Kungayeva's father, Visa Kungayev, denied involvement and?said the?killing, although well-deserved, was not masterminded by?Chechens."A dog deserves a?dog's death, that's what I think," Kungayev told Lifenews.ru in?one of?several interviews he gave Friday. He could not be reached for?further comment, not returning repeated calls on?Monday, said rights champion Svetlana Gannushkina, who refused to?provide a?reporter with Kungayev's contacts without his permission.Gennady Gudkov, deputy head of?the State Duma's Security Committee, said the?killing might have been Chechen revenge or "mock revenge" staged by?nationalists to?provoke ethnic hatred, Dozhd radio reported.The mention of?a Slavic accomplice seemed to?lend weight to?the "nationalist" version, but Anton Tsvetkov of?the Officers of?Russia army veterans group said the?suspect could have been a?supporter of?the North Caucasus insurgency who converted to?radical Islam, Gazeta.ru reported. One such convert, Vitaly Razdobdko, has been linked by?investigators to?the suicide attack at?Moscow's Domodedovo Airport that killed 37 in?January.Chechen authorities never hid their dislike of?Budanov, who is viewed in?the republic as a?war criminal. Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov in?a 2004 interview with Izvestia vowed to?"give his due" to?Budanov should he be freed. He also criticized his 2009 release, but has not commented on?Budanov's death.Shortly after his release, Budanov was questioned in?connection with the?kidnapping of?18 Chechens, three of?whom were killed. He was not charged, and?the stage of?the investigation was not immediately clear Monday.Budanov told Izvestia shortly after his release that he expected to?be murdered "not for?revenge but for?political goals." He said he was prepared to?die "for Russia," adding that he only wished his future killers would spare his family. In?addition to?his wife, Budanov is survived by?an 11-year-old daughter and?a 23-year-old son, Izvestia said.Budanov never said who might be behind his death.Prominent journalist Alexander Minkin said the?killing might be used by?the Kremlin to?its advantage before the?elections, Radio Liberty reported. He did not elaborate, but some authorities pointed to?a threat of?ultranationalism during the?last election season of?2007 and?2008 as a?reason to?keep Vladimir Putin in?the Kremlin for?a third term.More murder theories were also raised, with Chechen ombudsman Nurdi Nukhazhiyev saying Budanov might have been killed by?other army officers who served in?Chechnya to?keep him from?testifying about their crimes, including the?theft of?army funds, Interfax said.Liberal Democratic Party head Vladimir Zhirinovsky said Monday that he could not rule out "the London angle" — an?apparent reference to?self-exiled Kremlin critic Boris Berezovsky who has been accused by?Kremlin supporters in?previous high-profile killings, including the?poisoning of?former security service officer Alexander Litvinenko in?2006.Investigators will no doubt also revisit the?2009 killing of?human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov, who represented Kungayev's family during Budanov's trail. While initial suspicion fell on?Budanov's supporters after the?lawyer's death, two nationalists were convicted of?killing him last month.Some critics said the?Kremlin must shoulder part of?the blame for?Budanov's death because of?its policy in?Chechnya, where the?government headed by?Kadyrov is given complete free reign by?Moscow in?exchange for?suppressing open insurgency.Zhirinovsky, who attended Budanov's funeral, said the?former colonel "paid with his life for?wrong state policies."Budanov's death prompted fears of?nationalist rioting similar to?December's event on?Manezh Square, where more than 5,500 people clashed with police after the?killing of?football fan Yegor Sviridov by?North Caucasus natives.Indeed, nationalists voiced online calls for?a new rally on?Manezh Square on?Saturday, Ekho Moskvy reported. Dozens of?police vans and?a water cannon were dispatched to?the site, where 12 people were briefly detained, the?report said. Police also prepared for?Budanov's funeral, assigning some 200 officers to?guard the?cemetery, which was first searched by?police dogs for?bombs.In addition, Interior Ministry troops and?traffic police were deployed to?Leningradskoye Shosse to?supervise the?funeral procession as it traveled from?a church in?Khimki just north of?Moscow to?a local cemetery.The funeral ended without any incidents. The?crowd numbered 300 to?600 people, including military veterans and?nationalists, Interfax said. A?military band played, and?soldiers fired automatic rifles into?the air as Budanov's coffin was lowered into?the grave.10:55?14/06/2011ALL NEWSRussian press review. Tass 94 MOSCOW, June 14 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia's president makes the Interior Ministry management’s large-scale reshuffle Over the past weekend Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev made a major reshuffle of the Interior Ministry’s top management. Those who lost positions include First Deputy Minister Mikhail Sukhodolsky, Deputy Minister Evgeny Shkolov, Deputy Minister and head of the ministry’s investigation committee Alexei Anichin, and Head of the ministry’s division supervising St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region Vladislav Piotrovsky, Kommersant writes. The first three officials, as the official version says, were dismissed following the rotation of the staff. In reality, the newspaper says, the dismissal of Alexei Anichin or Evgeny Shkolov may be considered as rotation, while the case with Mikhail Sukhodolsky is quite different: Sukhodolsky had a most prompt career in the Interior Ministry’s management and his transfer to work in St. Petersburg is considered by sources in the police authority as a demotion. Shkolov and Anichin have always been considered to be people of Vladimir Putin, the Vedomosti writes. Anichin studied with Putin at the legal department of the Moscow State University, and Shkolov served with him in Dresden (the GDR). Sukhodolsky’s career began thanks to Putin, too, a politician close to the Interior Ministry said. Anichin supervised at the Investigation committee economic cases, including resounding cases of the Hermitage’s Sergei Magnitsky and that of businessman Mikhail Gutsiriyev. A source, close to the certification commission at the presidential administration, says that the Kremlin did not have any claims against the dismissed deputy ministers, though there was a demand to ruin old connections, which they had gained over the service. Generally speaking, experts say, the reshuffling has shown that the position of Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev is strong and, at least before the presidential election, nothing threatens him, Moskovsky Komsomolets believes. Unlike the Interior Ministry itself – with the new appointments in the task force block and the investigation, more reshufflings are coming, which may affect the work of the divisions. X X X Colonel deprived of rank was buried with military honours Former Colonel Yuri Budanov was buried on Monday in Khimki, the Moscow Region. The ceremony was organized with top security measures. Despite the fact that the court deprived Budanov of rank and awards following his murder of Elza Kungayeva, who was 18, he was buried with military honours, like a hero. The police have not detained anyone who may be responsible for the murder of former colonel. Thousands of people came to participate in the farewell ceremony – his friends, former colleagues, and those who he had never known personally, Komsomolskaya Pravda writes. There were practically no young people, besides several nationalists wearing I am Russian t-shirts, and a small group of football fans. Eight paratroopers carried the coffin after the requiem service. They carried it around the church and headed for the catafalque. Here a stream of people poured. They shouted “Glory to Budanov” and started applauding. It is still not clear why Budanov was buried in Khimki, the Moskovsky Komsomolets writes. There is information that some officials at the city government used to serve with him and suggested assistance in the funeral and Budanov’s relatives accepted it. After the funeral the guard of honour of the Moscow Military Commandant’s Office fired in the air three times. The only missing part was Russia's anthem. Kommersant writes that as yet there are no evidences that any ethnic criminal group active in Moscow may be responsible for the crime. At the same time, detectives look into a version, where those interested in the crime and those who committed it may have invited a killer from a region, which is not connected either with Moscow or the North Caucasus. The newspaper refers to its source who is saying that according to another version Yuri Budanov might have been revenged not for the murder of Elza Kungayeva, but for a different episode of the second campaign in Chechnya. The newspaper writes that in February 2009, as Yuri Budanov was released on parole, Chechnya initiated another investigation suspecting the former colonel of being involved in kidnapping and murder of three locals. A representative of the Grozny’s branch of Russia's human rights centre, the Memorial, Minkail Ezhiyev, believes that relatives of the murdered Chechens are not involved in the murders of the former colonel. “They are ordinary peasants, who, even if they wanted, do not have an opportunity to organize this act of revenge in Moscow,” he said. X X X European vegetables may return to Moscow shops At the Russia-EU summit in Nizhny Novgorod Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev claimed that supplies of vegetables to Russia from Europe may be resumed soon “under guarantees of the European Union.” The vegetable embargo, imposed on June 2, will be lifted for specified products. The European Commission will provide quality guarantees with laboratory test results and a statement per each shipment that products are free from infection. Russia's Chief Sanitary Doctor Gennady Onishchenko told reporters that Russia agreed to resume supplies of certain vegetables as the sides agree on safety certificates for those, the RBC daily writes. “We are ready to resume the supplies under guarantees of the European Unions’ responsible authorities, this is true. For this purpose very soon specialists of Russia and the EU should agree on a certificate, this would confirm security of the products supplied to the Russian market. I believe this result is positive,” Dmitry Medvedev told a news conference following the discussions. The source of infection, which killed over 30, is not revealed still, the Vedomosti writes. On Friday, Germany lifted the warning on hazardous cucumbers, tomatoes and salad, while soy sprouts are still under suspicion. If Russia continues to cooperate that effectively with the EU in sanitary and phyto sanitary issues, it may join the WTO before the year ends, the European Commission’s President Jose Manuel Barroso said. The problem with vegetables from Europe has not affected much the talks on the WTO, Head of Department of Russia's Ministry of Economic Development and head of the Russian delegation at the WTO Maksim Medvedkov said. Russia has lost the game for cucumbers, the Novye Izvestia writes. While Russia and the EU argue about lifting of the vegetable embargo, market prices, despite optimistic forecasts officials gave, continue to grow, and prices for certain products are going beyond the limit. Businesses experiences big losses, as they have to change in emergency their logistics and to find new supplies to replace the European ones. A sales manager of a Moscow restaurant network, Ruslan Nenashev, told the newspaper that “tomato and cucumber prices have not grown, but eggplant prices have jumped from 40 to 200 roubles per a kilogram over several days. We managed barely to buy vegetables from our old supplier.” Wholesalers have rushed for suppliers from Uzbekistan and Turkey, and prices continue to go up, he said. X X X Gaddafi plays chess with Ilyumzhinov Kalmykia’s former president, president of the World Chess Federation, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, visited Tripoli and had a meeting with Libya’s leader Muammar Gaddafi. Worth mentioning, the visit did not have much to do with politics – they discussed mostly chess: a big tournament is due in Tripoli on October 1. At first, a meeting with Gaddafi was not on the agenda, the Komsomolskaya Pravda writes. Ilyumzhinov had a meeting with Muammar’s elder son Muhammad, who heads Libya’s Olympic Committee. Then Muhammad asked him to meet with the father. It was not possible to escape politics whatsoever. At that time, new bombs dropped by the Western coalition for “peaceful purposes”, exploded in Tripoli’s suburbs. Gaddafi asked Ilyumzhinov to see results of that “democracy mission.” Kirsan visited a ruined house, where a month earlier a son and three grandsons of Libya’s leader had died. “Now that I have lost my children, grandchildren, where shall I go? I shall stay here,” Ilyumzhinov quoted later Gaddafi as saying. Muammar commented on his quitting the power saying “They want me to leave. Where can I leave? I do not take any position.” Gaddafi found several minutes for a brief chess game. “He is an amateur, he knows how to make a simple checkmate,” Ilyumzhinov said about the colonel’s level. “But it was interesting to play with him.” Moscow took as private trip Kirsan Ilyumzhinov’s visit to Tripoli, Kommersant writes. “Nowadays, many individuals offer initiatives in Libya’s settlement, and the FIDE Chairman is among them,” Russia’s presidential envoy, Mikhail Margelov, said. He continued saying that on the eve of the trip he had suggested to Kirsan Ilyumzhinov “to be a White, to start with E2-E4 and to make it clear to Gaddafi that he is facing an end game.” Margelov added he was planning to go to Libya’s capital over the current week to participate in negotiations with representatives of Gaddafi’ s regime. Russian Press at a Glance, Tuesday, June 14, 2011 14/06/2011POLITICSPolice dispersed on Sunday a regular Day of Wrath, an opposition demonstration of Left Front taking place on the 12th day of each month in the past two years. Law enforcers detained over 30 young activists but did not arrest pensioners.(Kommersant)Belarusian authorities introduced tough restrictions on export of goods, which led to a protest rally on the border with Poland. The protest was violently dispersed by riot police who used batons and tear gas.(Kommersant)ECONOMY & BUSINESSMoscow will lift a ban on European vegetables in exchange for extra guarantees from Brussels on the products' origin, thus removing a major trade relations headache just days before the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.(Moscow Times)Microfinance corporations that charge up to 500% of annual interest are ready for competition: they will work with borrowers rejected by banks.(Vedomosti)SOCIETYIt remained a mystery Monday who brazenly killed former tank commander Yury Budanov by pumping four bullets into his head as he left a downtown Moscow building for a smoke.(Moscow Times)Jailed former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky has been transferred from Moscow to a prison camp in an undisclosed location, his lawyers said, decrying the move as an attempt to block a parole hearing.(Moscow Times)President Dmitry Medvedev made a major reshuffle in the top ranks of the Interior Ministry over the past weekend.(Kommersant, Vedomosti, Rossiiskaya Gazeta)DEFENSEThe Russian Foreign Ministry has voiced concern about a U.S. warship now just off its shores in the Black Sea, saying the unexpected visit raised further questions about U.S. plans to create a missile shield in Europe.(Moscow Times)La Tribune reported Saturday that France and Russia signed a contract on the sale of four Mistral helicopter carriers on June 10. Two of them will be built on French shipyards and will cost Russia 1.2 billion euros.(Kommersant)ITThe Russian communications regulator and police launched a joint campaign to pursue sellers of computer databases containing personal data. Legal experts say this won’t solve the problem of personal data theft.(Vedomosti)CONSTRUCTIONThe Etalon developer plans to build 220,000 sq m of housing in Moscow.(Vedomosti)In Moscow, many children are losing their disability status, report parents: 14 June, 2011, 06:44Edited: 14 June, 2011, 08:47 Disabled children who meet with the medical commission are increasingly being declared healthy. As a result, ill children and teenagers are deprived of essential medication. Aleksandra Gavycheva Relatives of children with disabilities have notified Izvestia that, since October 2010, there has been “a mass process” of removal of the disability status from terminally-ill children and adolescents. “I came across this case when we began registering our grandson as disabled,” Moscow resident Tatiana Abramova told Izvestia on June 13. “We went all the way to the federal commission. We were asked to arrive at 10 a.m., but spent 16 hours there. There were about eight people with whom I spoke. Mainly it was children with disabilities, but their disability status was removed. One of them is a boy from Yaroslavl. He has a genetic disease, and is unable to digest protein and needs to be on a special diet. He could, of course, eat as anyone else does, but that leads to dementia. Also, he is required to drink a foul-smelling boiled liquid. A bottle of this domestically-produced medicine costs 1,500 rubles, and lasts for two days. There is another, less-disgusting version. It’s imported, and costs 4,000 rubles. The boy had disability status, but it was removed in October 2010.”????? ?Together with his disability status, the young boy from Yaroslavl was deprived of benefits in the amount of 7,000 rubles, which his family viewed as their salvation. After all, the “disgusting medicine” alone cost them 15,000 rubles a month. And that is not considering his special diet, which is based on expensive fruits. Healthy armless children A nine-year-old girl from Saratov who was missing fingers was also declared healthy by the commission.“Why was she invited to Moscow? To see whether or not her fingers grew back?”, an outraged Abramova demanded to know. Tatiana Fedorovna’s grandson was not recognized as disabled, despite having an inoperable cerebral cyst. The boy does not attend regular school and suffers from severe headaches.? ?“When our case was denied, I asked an expert with the commission: ‘Is that okay that the child has a cerebral cyst?’ I was told: ‘Well, the cyst is an incidental finding; it does not affect anything, and the boy simply has migraines.’ Our boy has been seen by neurologists for 13 years, and the word ‘migraine’ has not been used anywhere once. That’s our story.” ?“There’s no money, thus the disability status is removed,” she said.The large-scale removal of disability status has become a trend confirmed by representatives of the Public Council for the Protection of Patient’s Rights.“We are often approached on this matter,” said Aleksey Starchenko, the organization’s executive secretary. The purpose of the mass denials of disability benefits “is to not produce disabled children” to avoid excess spending, he believes. ?“The Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development works with a number of disabled persons, allocates funding and establishes disability,” Starchenko said. “If everything is centered in the hands of a single organization, there is the temptation to match one thing with another. For example, say the budget has been set at 100 rubles. Then, they will try to match the number of disabled to the 100 rubles. There is simply no more money. That’s why the disability statuses are being removed.”In their present conditions, the disabled persons who have lost their benefits could lose their remaining health. “If before there was a type of disability, today it’s a functional approach,” explained the expert. “They determine how all of the organs function – kidneys, liver. Today, having a diagnosis does not equal having a disability. If when the diagnosis is made the organs are functioning well, that means you are not disabled and can return to work. And the most frightening thing is that, in this case, you will not get medication. If there is medicine, then the person’s disability is not aggravated. If there is no medication, then with time, the person turns into a wreck.”?? The situation has improvedIn the Moscow-based organization of the All-Russian Society of Disabled People, Izvestia was told that the problem was acute a few years ago, but in the last two years the situation has “improved.” The number of complaints they have received from parents has decreased. “In reality, the number of such claims has fallen in comparison to that of 2-3 years ago,” said the deputy chairman of the Moscow-based All-Russian Society of Disabled People, Valery Shkolnikov. A comment from the Ministry of Health and Social Development could not be obtained before press time.Adult indifference fails children in need: 14 June, 2011, 09:06Edited: 14 June, 2011, 09:54 Russia suffers one of the highest rates of teen suicide in the world. According to recent school polls, “ways to commit suicide” is one of the most popular internet searches among teenagers. Psychologists say parental indifference is often the cause.Just days before final exams, a TV crew reported on students gearing up for the adult lives that lie ahead of them. The teachers pointed to Polina Belova, their brightest student who, it seemed, had her future figured out.“I want to be a journalist,” said Polina. “I think this profession will open the doors to the world for me.”But instead of a school-leaving celebration, Polina's classmates gathered for her funeral. Sensing she may not be the best, she ended everything by hanging herself.“We had been getting ready for the exam for weeks and Polina was the one who worked the hardest of all. She solved a whole load of math problems and she was very nervous. She wanted to graduate as an A-grade student,” recalls one of Polina’s classmates.For many countries, the stress of exams in late December and early June sees peaks in the number of children taking their own lives. But in Russia, it is a year-round problem. Roughly 1,500 children and teenagers kill themselves every year – that is much higher than the average seen in the United States and Britain.“The problem is so out of hand that when I was informing the president about it, he found it hard to believe,” says? Pavel Astakhov, the country’s children's ombudsman. “But the figures are truly frightening. Every year up to 4,000 children make attempts on their lives.”Girls are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide, yet it is still boys who by a long way actually succeed in killing themselves.Igor Larov is different. He has tried to take his life three times, with the latest attempt being just six months ago.“I’d just had enough,” says Igor. “I was tired of fighting with my mum. My girlfriend left me. I was fed up with studying. I couldn't stand seeing the streets and hearing all this noise. I just wanted everything to end. And I wanted peace.”What is driving the problem in Russia is what experts call a low emotional literacy. Psychological or psychiatric help is underdeveloped and not easily available. Then there is the stigma.“Most suicides are attempted or committed in a state of emotional distress, which builds over time. There are warning signs. But even if parents notice them, many would rather ignore them than take their kid to a psychologist or psychiatrist,” says Boris Polozhy, psychologist. Added to that, there are continuing social and economic shifts, making it harder for parents to feed their children’s feelings, leaving little time to listen.There is a monument in the center of Moscow dedicated to children who have fallen victim to adult vices. Alcoholism, drug abuse, prostitution?– any one of those can drive a child to take his or her own life. But in the center of these wicked-looking figures stands one that seems far less frightening, almost commonplace. Yet it represents what experts say is the main reason Russia is leading Europe in the number of teen suicides. And that is indifference: seeing no evil, hearing no cries for help.National Economic TrendsTariff growth in 2012 to be capped, but may still be above inflation DialogJune 14, 2011The government is determined to cap tariff growth for infrastructure monopolies next year, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said last Friday. However, Putin said that so far he had not "had the heart" to sign a decree capping tariff growth for natural monopolies (rail, gas and electricity) in line with inflation. The authorities project 2012 inflation at 5.5-6.5%. The monopolies would be very sensitive to such a cap, as it would sharply restrain their development. Putin once again underlined that the approach must be properly balanced. Troika's view: We welcome the tone of Putin's statements. We take this to mean that the extent to which tariff growth is capped may be smaller than feared by the market, and the burden on the utilities sector will be less in 2012. Although some sort of caps will be put in place, we believe that the government will try to find a balanced decision, and the most likely option will be tariff growth consisting of inflation plus a few pp. This option has already been voiced by Gazprom Energoholding CEO Denis Fedorov (who around mid-May expected around 10% electricity tariff growth in 2012), Deputy Economic Minister Andrei Klepach and Federal Tariff Service Chairman Sergey Novikov. The latter recently said that a tariff growth range is being discussed - somewhere between the old tariff growth forecast and inflation. By June 15, the Economics Ministry plans to submit to the government alternative economic forecasts through 2014 that assume reduced tariff growth for natural monopolies. We still expect the government to allow for more favorable electricity tariff growth from 2013, after next year's presidential election. In this context, we still prefer OGK-4, which would be less negatively affected by a cut in gas tariff growth than other OGKs, we estimate. Moreover, OGK-4 will commission a total of 1,200 MW of new capacity by end summer, we expect, increasing its total installed capacity by 13% to 10,273 MW. The market usually takes news of new capacity commissioning positively. Alexander KotikovFACTBOX-The Russian Direct Investment Fund, Jun 13 2011June 13 (Reuters) - Russia will launch a $10 billion state-backed fund at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum this week that will co-invest with sovereign wealth and private equity funds in Russian companies. For a story: [ID:nLDE75C084]The goal:The fund is being set up to kick-start direct investment in Russian growth companies operating in sectors like IT, healthcare and infrastructure -- but not energy -- that are a play on the emergence of Russia's middle class. The RDIF will be capitalised with $2 billion a year over the next five years.It would invest $50-$500 million in deals as long as outside investors at least match it, dollar-for-dollar. It would have an investment horizon of 5-7 years. That means the fund itself would not own controlling stakes in businesses, but it could do so along with its investment partners.Investors:The fund targets sovereign wealth and private equity funds with at least $1 billion under management. It also seeks to partner strategic investors; companies with market capitalisation of at least $1 billion, or annual sales of $1 billion and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation) of $150 million.The structure:The fund will be a 100 percent subsidiary of state development bank Vnesheconombank, but have an independent governance structure and investment review process. Its main focus is Russia but it would be allowed to invest 20 percent of its capital outside the country. The approval of at least 75 percent approval of its supervisory board and investment committee would be required for this.Management:The fund will be headed by Kirill Dmitriev, who has co-run Delta Private Equity Partners and is stepping down as president of Icon Private Equity, a $1 billion fund, to take up the new position.Dmitriev will hire a 30-strong investment team and expects the fund to do its first deals in either the fourth quarter of 2011 or the first quarter of 2012.(Reporting by Douglas Busvine)? Business, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussionsRussian Shares Decline Globally as Oil Retreats to Four-Week Low Halia Pavliva - Jun 14, 2011 12:04 AM GMT+0200 Russian shares traded in London and New York fell yesterday as oil declined to a four-week low and Greece was assigned the world’s lowest debt rating. The Market Vectors Russia ETF, a U.S.-traded fund that holds Russian shares, slipped 1.1 percent, led by retreats for OAO Novatek, the nation’s second-largest gas producer, and coal miner OAO Mechel. OAO Rosneft, the country’s top oil producer, fell 0.2 percent in London and American depositary shares in OAO Lukoil, the country’s second-biggest oil company, sank 0.5 percent in New York. Russia markets were closed yesterday for a national holiday. The shares declined as speculation mounted that tighter monetary policy in China and Europe’s debt crisis will slow global economic growth. Crude oil, Russia’s biggest export, fell as fuel demand from China slowed and natural gas futures sank as forecasts showed temperatures will be below normal in the U.S. Northeast, reducing use of the power-plant fuel. “The outlook is still very uncertain for Russia,” Julian Rimmer, a trader of Russian shares at CF Global Trading, said on in e-mailed comments. “The global backdrop remains extremely vulnerable.” The Russian depositary index of shares traded on the London Stock Exchange fell 0.5 percent yesterday. The Thomson Reuters/Jefferies CRB Index of 19 raw materials fell 1 percent. Russia, the world’s largest energy exporter, also produces metals including steel, copper, nickel, palladium and aluminum. Oil and natural gas make up a quarter of its economic output. Oil, U.S. Stocks Oil fell 2 percent to settle at $97.30 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the lowest settlement since May 17. Prices are 32 percent higher than a year ago. U.S. stocks rose, rebounding from six weeks of losses, as a pickup in takeovers and the cheapest valuations in almost a year helped offset concerns about an economic slowdown. Emerging- market stocks declined, sending the benchmark index down 0.4 percent to the lowest level in almost three weeks. The 30-stock Micex Index fell 0.5 percent to 1,683.96 in Moscow on June 10, paring the gain last week to 3.1 percent. Rosneft dropped 1.1 percent. OAO Gazprom, the world’s largest gas producer, sank 1.3 percent and OAO Sberbank, Russia’s biggest lender, dropped 1.8 percent. The dollar-denominated RTS Index declined 0.8 percent to 1,926.02. In the week to June 8, Russia-focused equity funds saw their first weekly inflow since five business days to May 4, Brad Durham, managing director at mutual fund tracking company EPFR Global, said in a telephone interview. Inflows into Russia-focused equity funds this year through June 8 totaled $3.8 billion, compared with $1.8 billion in the same period of last year, Durham said. -- Editor: Brendan Walsh, Marie-France Han To contact the reporter on this story: Halia Pavliva in New York at hpavliva@ To contact the editors responsible for this story: Gavin Serkin at gserkin@; David Papadopoulos at papadopoulos@ Russia Considers Export Duty For Thermal Coal, Kommersant Says Ilya Khrennikov - Jun 14, 2011 6:05 AM GMT+0200 Russia may impose export duties on thermal coal as domestic power stations face possible shortages because coal miners increased exports to Japan following the nuclear disaster at Fukusima, Kommersant reported, citing unidentified people close to the Energy Ministry. To contact the reporter on this story: Ilya Khrennikov in Moscow at ikhrennikov@ To contact the editor responsible for this story: Amanda Jordan at ajordan11@ Russian Phosagro says to float in London, Moscow EDTMOSCOW, June 14 (Reuters) - Russian fertiliser producer Phosagro said on Tuesday that it is ready to launch an initial public offering (IPO) of its existing ordinary shares on the London and Moscow stock exchanges.The company would not disclose the size of the float or its valuation, but sources have told Reuters that the company was likely to float no less than 10 percent of its share capital and was hoping to raise at least $500 million [ID:nLDE72C0E1].Russia's Federal Service for Financial Markets (FSFM) has approved listing of 2.6 million shares, or 21.35 percent of Phosagro's total share capital. (Reporting by Olga Popova; Writing by Lidia Kelly, Editing by Douglas Busvine) June 14, 2011 10:47PhosAgro officially announces plans for IPO in London, Moscow (Part 2). June 14 (Interfax) - PhosAgro has officially announced its intention to hold an IPO in London and Moscow.The fertilizer producer said in a statement that it would offer existing ordinary shares to Russian investors and shares and Global Depositary Receipts (GDR) to institutional investors outside the country.A banking sector source told Interfax that a road show would begin in June 29 and that pricing was due on July 15.PoosAgro said the selling shareholders will be a group of PhosAgro shareholders, which may include Chlodwig Enterprises Limited, Miles Ahead Management Limited, Adorabella Limited, Dubhe Holdings Limited and Fornido Holding Limited.Each GDR represents 30 shares.The company did not disclose further details about the IPO.A banking sector source has told Interfax that the company might sell up to 10% of its shares and that it had a market cap of $6 billion-$8 billion.Pr(Our editorial staff can be reached at eng.editors@interfax.ru) Sberbank more than doubles net profit in M5 , 14.06.2011, Moscow 10:36:27.Sberbank's RAS net profit more than doubled year-on-year to RUB 136.9bn (approx. USD 4.93bn) in January-May, the bank said in a statement today. ??????Pretax profit reached RUB 170.3bn (approx. USD 6.13bn), twice as much as in the same period of 2010. Income from allowance recovery amounted to RUB 13.8bn (approx. USD 497m), down from RUB 74.9bn (approx. USD 2.70bn) a year ago. Sberbank said it released reserves this year following a restructuring of several huge loans.??????Assets edged up 0.3% in January-May to RUB 8.8 trillion (approx. USD 317bn). Overdue loans stood at 4.64% of the loan portfolio as of June 1, down 0.4 percentage points from January 1. Russian Mobile Operator MegaFon Buys NetByNet for $270 Million Ilya Khrennikov - Jun 14, 2011 7:21 AM GMT+0200 OAO MegaFon, Russia’s third-largest mobile operator, paid $270 million to acquire wide-band Internet provider NetByNet from a group of investors including UTV Media co-owner Ivan Tavrin, according to a statement on MegaFon’s website. To contact the reporter on this story: Ilya Khrennikov in Moscow at ikhrennikov@ To contact the editor responsible for this story: Amanda Jordan at ajordan11@ Russian firms to invest in new port on Black sea - June 14, 2011Reuters reports that?Russian firms including Uralkali, SUEK and United Grain Co plan to invest 100 billion roubles (US$3.6 billion) in a new port complex on the Black Sea.Russia's?Deputy Transport Minister Andrei Nedosekov said?the new port complex at Taman will ease supply constraints at Novorossiisk, which will continue to focus on oil and grain exports.Russia is expanding port capacity to aid shipments of key exports such as grain, iron ore and fertilisers."A number of memoranda have been signed, the main investors are Uralkali, SUEK, United Grain Co, Global Ports and Metalloinvest," Nedosekov said.Non-commodities sectors to power huge expansion for Russian markets 14, 2011Non-commodities facing companies are set to expand their share of the Russian stock universe as their market capitalization boosts to equal 80% of GDP, powering a tripling of market value to $3.5 trillion in the next ten years, Goldman Sachs analysts predict in a report released on June 9, reports Bloomberg. The market capitalization of companies outside the commodities industry should expand by six times to $2 trillion, as in other large emerging markets such as Brazil, Goldman analysts led by Sergei Arsenyev wrote. Such companies currently account for just 30% of the equity market. "There is a significant mismatch between the current composition of GDP and that of the public market," they wrote.The "tremendous GDP growth potential" in the coming 10 years will be "skewed towards non-resource sectors, as natural resource wealth starts to flow into consumer spending and infrastructure investment," the bank continued, before noting that investors have clearly already voted for the scenario this year via their mixed response to a series of IPOs. Reflecting the strong listings of the likes of Yandex and Nomos Bank, as well as several failed floats by commodities-facing companies such as Nord Gold and Koks, the banks suggests: "The structural themes that will shape Russia's development over the next decade are already becoming a driver of primary equity issuance. Post-crisis IPOs and secondary offerings have been disproportionately skewed towards the broader consumer sector."Activity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory)Russia to Grant Tax Breaks for Small Fields, Kudryashov Says Stephen Bierman - Jun 14, 2011 10:05 AM GMT+0200 Russia will probably grant tax discounts to small oil fields as the world’s largest crude producer seeks to stimulate output, said Deputy Energy Minister Sergei Kudryashov. A proposal to lower the mineral extraction tax for deposits with less than 5 million metric tons of reserves is being considered by Russian lawmakers in the State Duma and has met no opposition, Kudryashov said in an interview in St. Petersburg late yesterday, without giving a timeframe. Petroneft Resources Plc (PTR), Volga Gas Plc (VGAS) and Exillon Energy Plc may benefit more than Russia’s largest producers from such tax breaks because the London-listed oil producers and explorers focus on developing resources at fields smaller than the 50 million-ton reserve limit that Russia classifies as “strategic.” Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has called on producers to maintain output at more than 10 million barrels a day for at least a decade even as older deposits go into decline. Russia may have 1 billion tons (7.33 billion barrels) of reserves spread over thousands of small deposits, Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Shatalov said in March. That is equivalent to almost 9.5 percent of Russia’s proved reserves, according to BP Plc data. To contact the reporter on this story: Stephen Bierman in St Petersburg at sbierman1@ To contact the editor responsible for this story: Will Kennedy at wkennedy3@ June 14, 2011 12:21Introducing duties of Blue Stream gas requires agreement changes with Turkey's concurrence – source. June 14 (Interfax) - Introducing export duties on gas transport to Turkey via the Blue Stream pipeline requires changes to an intergovernmental Russo-Turkish agreement on gas supply, a source at Russia's Energy Ministry told Interfax."Introducing duties should meet an agreement on the intergovernmental level with Turkey," the source.According to the current agreement, Russian gas delivered to Turkey through Blue Stream is not levied with export duties. The source also said that the Russian government was currently discussing the idea of bringing it duties for this gas as part of efforts to boost budget revenue from the gas sector. "This issue is under review," he said, not comment on what level this has reached.It was earlier reported that the Russian Finance Ministry proposed to boost the NRET (natural resources extraction tax) for Gazprom (RTS: GAZP) 110% effective in 2012 to 536 rubles per to 1,000 cubic meters of gas. This is necessary in order to net 150 billion in budget revenue for next year.Gazprom and the Energy Ministry said that this amount of revenue would not only be supported by an increase for the NRET but also other revenue sources. For instance, one proposal was increasing the duty on gas supplied via Blue Stream.The company also said that gas for export would increase, which would mean an increase in payments on duties. The Energy Ministry said that retaining the full export duty rate for the Talakanskoye field would bring in 37.5 billion rubles for the budget in 2012, which would help reduce demands for tax revenue from the gas sector.Gazprom supplied 10 billion cubic meters of gas via Blue Stream in 2009. Supplies decreased to 8 bcm in 2010.Ih(Our editorial staff can be reached at eng.editors@interfax.ru) Rosneft loses another international partner as Chevron quits Black Sea deal 14, 2011Losing one new international partnership could be called unfortunate, but losing two within the space of a month? That's a question that might have been put to former Rosneft chairman Igor Sechin on Friday - had he been around - as it was announced that the state-controlled oil company's deal with Chevron to explore the Black Sea has broken down.The deputy prime minister was beaming in January as he kicked off the new year with a swift one-two of high profile deals that paired Rosneft up with international partners. Announced in Davos, as the economists pontificated about recovery, Sechin was doing the business, signing off on partnerships with BP and ExxonMobil. Whilst the international companies would boost their reserves, the Russian giant would benefit from their offshore expertise. President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin were also happy with the news, which gave them the opportunity to boast about improvements to Russia's investment climate (even if the deals did little to help diversify the economy away from its oil addiction).Just six months later, things could hardly be more different as Rosneft held its AGM on June 10. Sechin is not present - ousted from the chairmanship by Medvedev's order for senior officials to exit the board rooms of state companies - although few doubt he is still able to pull the strings. After a long, slow struggle, the BP deal was finally put out of its misery in May. Now, a JV with Chevron - which had the potential to swell to a $32bn investment - looks like it's going the same way, due to disagreements on energy estimates. Asked at the AGM if the arrangement between Rosneft unit Val Shatskogo and the US company to explore the West Chernomorsky field in the Black Sea is to go forwards, Rosneft chief executive Eduard Khudainatov replied: "apparently not," reports Reuters. "We had a normal argument between partners. We had a categorical disagreement with Chevron's geologists," he added.The deal with Chevron was signed in June 2010, at which time Russian officials said the companies would each invest $1bn in initial exploration, with $32bn to follow, assuming that first phase proved fruitful. However, Khudainatov insisted that Rosneft may still work with Chevron on other offshore projects. "Chevron remains our partner. We work closely together," he said. "Chevron wants to continue working on shelf projects with us." Meanwhile, Prime Tass reports that Lukoil - which like Rosneft has limited experience in offshore drilling - could replace Chevron in the Black Sea project.RPT-Med Crude-Urals weakens in Med, shuts arb from North Jun 14, 2011 7:21am GMTLONDON, June 13 (Reuters) - Russian Urals crude weakened inthe Mediterranean due to weak refining margins on Monday,keeping the arbitrage from Northwest Europe shut although it hadbeen thought to open up. URALS * Vitol sold 80,000 tonnes for 2-6 July loading to ENI atdated BFOE minus $2.05 a barrel cif. Friday's bid level wasdated minus $1.85. * "Northwest Europe is around minus $2.40, so the arbitrageclosed on that," a trader said. * On Friday, some traders said the arbitrage to ship Uralscrude from Northwest Europe to the Mediterranean could open updue to the fall in the north. * The spread between 80,000 tonne and 100,000 tonne cargoeswere little changed from late last week around 65 cents pertonne. * Urals activity was relatively quiet due partly to thepublic holiday in Russia. MIXED SIGNAL ON LIGHTS * Light crude oil grades traded thinly but spot premiumswere steady-to-firmer despite traders' expectation. * Traders said CPC Blend probably traded at dated BFOE plus80 cents per barrel. * Azeri Light was around dated plus $4.00/$4.30 cif. * Most traders said sweet crude prices have peaked asdistressed barrels of West African crude was offered into theMediterranean. * Vitol offered Oso Condensate at dated plus $2.45 a barreland Bonga at dated plus $4.20 a barrel for early July cifRotterdam or Lavera. * On the other hand, Mediterranean light crude might benefitfrom the force majeure on Bonny Light. [ID:nLDE75C179] REFINING MARGINS * Oil product prices lagged behind the sharp rise in ICEBrent crude prices. * European gasoline's crack to dated Brent dipped to a threemonth low of around $2.40 a barrel. ICE gas oil futures' crackwas $12.51 a barrel. * With high sulphur fuel oil's crack fell to about minus $20a barrel, overall complex refining margins in the Mediterraneanfell to minus $2.99 a barrel, Reuters model showed.<REF/MARGIN1> (Reporting by Ikuko Kurahone)Gazprom06/14 10:38 ? CNPC, Gazprom to resume gas price negotiations June 14 LNG subsidiary signs 15-year contract with Sovcomflot for two ships by John Bonar on Monday, 13 June 2011 11:31 | Published in Oil & GasGazprom Global LNG (GGLNG) has announced the signing of 15-year time charter agreements for two state-of-the-art liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers with Sovcomflot.?The two LNG carriers will be built by STX Offshore & Shipbuilding in South Korea and are scheduled for delivery in the 4th quarter of 2013 and the 2nd quarter of 2014 respectively. The vessels will be state-of-the-art and highly efficient with ice-class and winterisation, tri-fuel diesel electric propulsion and a strengthened membrane containment system, each with a capacity of approximately 170,000 cubic metres. ?The vessels will join the GGLNG’s fleet of chartered LNG vessels which support its growing global portfolio of supply and purchase LNG agreements. The vessels will be built with the participation of JSC “United Shipbuilding Corporation” of Russia and will involve Russian suppliers of materials, machinery and equipment. ?They will be classed by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (on a dual class basis with the Lloyd’s Register) and have 100% Russian officers and crew. ?A development scheme with the Admiral Makarov State Maritime Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia will be put in place to provide training for the seafarers who will operate these vessels.Frédéric Barnaud, Executive Director, Gazprom Marketing &Trading and Managing Director, GGLNG said: "The addition of two highly sophisticated LNG vessels to our chartered fleet in 2013-14 will be a very important step towards the implementation of the Gazprom's growth strategy across the entire LNG value chain. ?It will ensure the long-term security and efficiency of LNG transportation which will complement our discussions with LNG suppliers and customers worldwide.”Nikolai Grigoriev, Director of Global Shipping & Logistics, GGLNG added: “We are particularly delighted to have this opportunity to develop a long-term relationship with Sovcomflot, the world’s leading gas, oil and product tanker owner and operator based in Russia. ?Our partnership with Sovcomflot will not only provide GGLNG with a high quality and competitive shipping services, but will also support the implementation of various strategic Russian content initiatives in shipbuilding and design, LNG expertise development and training and job generation in the Russian Federation.”Sergei Frank, Director General of Sovcomflot, added that: "This project is the culmination of a lot of hard work by our experts. We succeeded in offering the more competitive and innovative solution to GGLNG; a unique technical design of the ships and the inclusion of the Russian shipbuilding industry.This contract is a logical next step in the close-working partnership between Sovcomflot and Gazprom and we are ready to continue offering solutions to customers in Russia and abroad to ensure high efficiency, reliability and the environmental safety of maritime transport ". ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download