27-04-2005

TODAY'S NEWS FROM RUSSIA

Politics

TALKS BETWEEN PUTIN AND PALESTINIAN LEADERS FOCUSED ON MIDEAST SETTLEMENT

MOSCOW, April 27 (RIA Novosti) - The Kremlin sees the Road Map as the only option for Middle East settlement. Russian President's aide Sergei Prikhodko told reporters on the eve of President Vladimir Putin's visit to the Palestinian territories that Middle East settlement would be the main issue Putin was going to discuss with Palestinian leaders. "What is important now is to make good use of the real opportunity to renew peace process on the basis of the Road Map, the only [settlement] plan recognized internationally," he said. Moscow sees the Road Map, if implemented appropriately, as a way to stop the confrontation and create conditions for both parties to the Mideast conflict to attain mutually acceptable political goals, which is statehood for the Palestinians and peaceful and safe life for the Israelis.

RUSSIA READY TO WITHDRAW FROM GEORGIA IN 2005 - MINISTER

MOSCOW. April 26 (Interfax) - Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Russia is ready to begin the withdrawal of its troops from Georgia this year, but only if a corresponding agreement is signed with Georgia. "In theory we can launch the process of withdrawing our servicemen and military hardware from Georgia this year, but on condition that an agreement is signed clearly defining the final date for the withdrawal of our bases in Georgia," Ivanov told reporters on Tuesday.

RUSSIA MP: US BASE IN CUBA COUNTER CUBA'S WILL

STRASBOURG, April 26 (RIA Novosti, Kristina Rodriguez) - The head of the Russian delegation to he Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Konstantin Kosachyov, called PACE not to forget that the US military base in Guantanamo, Cuba is there in defiance of the Cuban authorities. "When PACE brings up the issue of Russian bases in Georgia and Moldova, it should not forget of the US base in Cuba remaining there contrary to the will of the Cuban government," Kosachyov said at the PACE session on Tuesday. The Guantanamo base is on the agenda of PACE's spring session. According to a RIA Novosti correspondent, Kosachyov called for terrorist suspects to be treated in line with international conventions and granted the prisoner-of-war (POW) status. He lamented that there had been no precise definition of terrorism worked out in the international arena. "During the coming Council of Europe summit meting in Warsaw in May, two antiterrorist conventions are to be signed, but they, unfortunately, do not include a definition of terrorism," he said. The head of the Russian delegation called for the soonest completion of the work being done by lawyers to craft a common European convention in this field.

RUSSIA TRUE TO NONPROLIFERATION, SHOWS PUTIN'S DECREE

MOSCOW, April 26 (RIA Novosti) - With today's decree, President Vladimir Putin is establishing a federal export control commission, reports the Kremlin press service. The decree aims to promote government export control and federal executive activities coordination. Sergei Ivanov, Defense Minister, has been appointed commission chair. The membership represents the Federal Security Service, the Foreign Intelligence Service, the Federal Customs Service, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, another several federal ministries and agencies, and the Russian Academy of Sciences. The decree comes as another proof of Russia's loyalty to the cause of mass destruction weapons and vehicles nonproliferation, and extends the related legal and normative basis. The commission will arrange efforts to detect and forecast threats to national security with NCB and respective vehicle proliferation. Its duties also envisage efficiency analyses of international team efforts in that essential field, and initiatives on the fields and practical forms of Russia's partnership with other countries and with international organizations in the nuclear, space and other high-tech fields.

RUSSIA PREPARES TO PLAY PROACTIVE PEACEKEEPING ROLE

MOSCOW, April 26 (RIA Novosti) - Following a visit to the 15th detached mechanized-infantry peacekeeping brigade, which is deployed outside Samara (Volga area), Peter Williams, the head of NATO liaison office in Moscow, said the level of the combat training and equipment of Russia's first specialized peacekeeping force met the highest world standards. In the general's opinion, the Russian military's achievements within such a short time (the brigade was formed in February 2005) testify to Russia's desire to play a proactive role in peacekeeping operations, Izvestia writes. The brigade will operate in Transdnestr, Abkhazia and South Ossetia (self-proclaimed republics in Moldova and Georgia respectively), Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov says. If necessary, the peacekeepers may be also dispatched to other regions. The brigade differs from ordinary units in composition and armaments (the peacekeepers are not allowed to use heavy arms: tanks and artillery), while it will completely consist of contract soldiers and warrant officers. The military says it is Russia's first highly mobile unit. An airfield, from which personnel and combat equipment may be airlifted to any point in the word, is located near the brigade's deployment area. Valery Yevnevich, deputy commander in chief of the ground troops for peacekeeping forces, says the brigade will become combat ready by early 2006. From that moment, the brigade will be considered ready for immediate use. For the time being, the peacekeepers' main objective is to achieve operational compatibility with similar NATO units. This means solving some technical issues and, most importantly, ensuring that staff officers can think in the same categories in planning joint operations, and speak the same language, English, with Western colleagues. The same requirement will be made on soldiers and warrant officers.

Business & Finance

RUSSIAN-EGYPTIAN TRADE TURNOVER DOUBLES IN 2004 AGAINST 2003

MOSCOW. April 27 (Interfax) - Trade turnover between Russia and Egypt doubled in 2004 to $833.8 million against $416 million in 2003, the Russian Economic Development and Trade Ministry said in a press release in the run-up to President Vladimir Putin's visit to Egypt. Russia's exports to Egypt rose by 110% to $775.6 million in 2004 against $377.4 million in 2003, and imports from Egypt increased over that period by nearly 50% to $58.2 million from $38.6 million. Russian exports to Egypt include mainly grain, saw timber, rolled metal, oil products, paper, cardboard, chemical products, machinery, equipment, scrap metal, and pipes. Imports from that country include chiefly agricultural products, such as citrus cultures, onions, garlic, potatoes, rice, and tea. The two countries have been actively developing industrial cooperation through the organization of the assembly of Russian cars in Egypt, the press release says. They also continue to cooperate in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors. As of the beginning of 2004, twenty Egyptian-made medicines were registered in Russia. The main investment cooperation project carried out by Russia and Egypt is the manufacturing of a Tu-204-120 passenger jet. "There are also good prospects for the development of investment cooperation in the oil and gas sector," it says. Tourist cooperation between Russia and Egypt is also expanding rapidly. The general number of Russian tourists who visited Egypt in 2004 topped 650,000.

PUTIN ADDRESS A GOOD SIGNAL TO FOREIGN INVESTORS

MOSCOW, April 26 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin's address to the Federal Assembly (parliament) is a good signal to foreign investors, head of the American-Russian Business Council Eugene Lawson said in a RIA Novosti interview. It was a remarkable speech in many respects. The president's most important signal for foreign business is that Russia is in need of foreign investments, he said. It is very important that the president spoke of tax organs and the need to restrain their powers. It is theme Number One for foreign investors, he noted.

PSERF