Russian Naval Destroyer Leaves English Channel, Enters North Sea

source  : http://sputniknews.com/military/20141230/1016399751.html

The Russian Navy's Vice-Admiral Kulakov, an Udaloy-class destroyer, entered the North Sea, according to Capt. 1st Rank Vadim Serga. Destroyer is carrying out its 260th day journey.

MOSCOW, December 30 (Sputnik) — The Russian Navy's Vice-Admiral Kulakov, an Udaloy-class destroyer, has left the English Channel and entered the North Sea, a Northern Fleet spokesperson said Tuesday.

“This is the 260th day of the naval destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov's long journey. The vessel spent most of this time fulfilling tasks in the Mediterranean Sea, while deployed in the Russian Navy task force. The Northern Fleet’s naval destroyer has entered 11 ports in 5 Mediterranean countries,” Capt. 1st Rank Vadim Serga told journalists.

Prior to passing through the English Channel, the teams in charge of the vessel’s safety have conducted exercises on navigating in narrow areas in bad weather conditions and heavy shipping traffic.

© SPUTNIK/ VALERY MELNIKOV

Russia's Armata Battle Tank to Go Through State Trials in 2016

According to Serga, the current voyage of the naval destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov has been the longest in the modern history of Russia’s Northern Fleet, as the vessel set sail from the Fleet’s main base in Severomorsk on April 15. “It has traveled a total of more than 32,000 nautical miles since then, including in storm conditions,” Serga said.

Currently, according to Serga, the Vice-Admiral Kulakov crew is getting ready for New Year’s Eve celebrations and returning to their home base.

The Vice-Admiral Kulakov ship was commissioned in 1982 and was on combat duty with the Northern Fleet until March 1991, before being retired for repairs that lasted more than 18 years. The ship returned to the Northern Fleet's main base in the city of Severomorsk in 2010.

Russian Government Allocated 347 Million Rubles for MOE Centers in Arctic

Source : http://www.siberianinsider.com

The Russian government has sent 347 million rubles for the construction of specialized rescue centers in the Russian Arctic, according to the website of the Cabinet.

The funds are allocated under the state program “Protecting the population and territories from emergency situations, fire safety and security on water”. The ordinance is amending the Federal Program “Risk reduction and mitigation of natural and man-made disasters in Russia up to 2015″.

The Cabinet has decided to increase funding for the construction of rescue centers in the Arctic under the event “Building the infrastructure system for rescue and other emergency operations in remote locations in the Arctic zone, and in particularly difficult conditions, including the use of GLONASS resources”. The funds were obtained through the redistribution of funds from other activities of the program.

Meeting with Emergency Situations Minister Vladimir Puchkov

Source  :  http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/23450

Vladimir Putin had a working meeting with Minister of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief Vladimir Puchkov.

Vladimir Puchkov briefed the President on Emergency Ministry’s performance in 2014 and targets for 2015.

The President of Russia also congratulated all Emergency Ministry employees on their professional holiday, Rescue Worker’s Day, marked on December 27.

***

PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN: Mr Puchkov, first allow me to congratulate you and all Ministry employees on your professional holiday – Rescue Worker’s Day. You have achieved a great deal in the outgoing year. Let us discuss in more detail what exactly has been done and what are the Ministry’s plans. Of course, I also want to wish you all the best in the coming New Year.

MINISTER OF CIVIL DEFENCE, EMERGENCIES AND DISASTER RELIEF VLADIMIR PUCHKOV: On behalf of the entire rescue team, I would like to thank you for your congratulations.

2014 is drawing to a close, and as always we are taking stock of our work. The year has not been an easy one, but the governing bodies of both the Emergency Ministry and the Unified System for Prevention and Elimination of Emergency Situations have done their job regardless of the complications. All our professional efforts have brought positive results this year.

First, our targeted measures and new operating forms and methods used by our control and supervision agencies helped reduce the number of fires and of damage caused by fires.

A set of preventive and risk management measures in emergency situations helped reduce the number of severe casualties in emergency situations by about 20 percent. Here I am referring to both natural and technological emergencies. We are demonstrating positive dynamics in this area as well.

Third, additional measures involving both federal and regional structures made it possible to save more lives and protect people’s health on the water. Thus, this year we saved 7 percent more lives on the water, and every percentage point stands for human lives.

We have taken additional measures to enhance the readiness of all militarised mine rescue units. We have met all the targets you set for us this year. We now have 20 percent fewer accidents and incidents at mines and metal industry plants, as well as all facilities covered by mine rescue teams. We have created a standby emergency mine rescue corps that works to prevent accidents and therefore reduces the load on businesses and production facilities.

Overall, we have met all the targets set for the year. However, considering the current holiday season, we have alerted all Emergencies Ministry governing bodies and units as of December 25 and until January 11, and we will be performing the complete set of measures aimed at health and safety protection during the holidays. We will ensure the safety of all children’s parties and winter holidaymaking.

Experts predict a growing number of tourists on the territory of the Russian Federation this year. Therefore, together with the regions we are focussing on all the possible traditional holidaymaking locations.

I would like to report that all our plans and programmes for 2015 have been approved. We are implementing the State Emergency Protection Programme until 2020, and in 2015 we are planning to complete the upgrade all the equipment used by our emergency rescue teams that work at large-scale emergencies and fires and to continue forming a powerful airborne landing rescue service. We already have 12,500 people involved in this effort, and in 2015, we intend to continue.

With due account of all the resolutions, we are implementing a programme to refurbish both Emergencies Ministry governing bodies and units with Russian-made equipment and gear. By the end of 2015, the National Crisis Situation Management Centre will complete forming all emergency management control centres in all federal districts and regions of the Russian Federation, including the Crimean Peninsula.

In 2015, we intend to finalise a set of measures to enhance the readiness of civil defence governing bodies and forces, create a corresponding unit and establish materiel and food reserves to resolve civil defence tasks on the territory of the Crimean Peninsula.

I would like to report that the Emergencies Ministry team is ready to implement all tasks in full.

VLADIMIR PUTIN: I would once again like to congratulate you on your professional holiday and wish you success.

Russian Airborne Troops to be armed with more powerful long-range guns

Source  :  http://english.pravda.ru/news/russia

In 2015, Russian Airborne Troops will conduct preparations to be armed with new long-range guns of two calibers - 120 and 152 mm.

First deliveries are scheduled for 2016, the Rossiyskaya Gazeta wrote. The new guns are developed by TSNIITOCHMASH. 

General Director of the Institute, Dmitry Semiozerov, said that the new guns would be more powerful in comparison to what the troops use today. A  small batch of new weapons will be delivered to the troops in 2016. Large-scale deliveries are scheduled for the period from 2017 to 2024, TASS reports.

Russia plans to create a DNA bank of all animals, dubbed Noah's Ark

Source  :  http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news

A Russian university plans to undertake one of the country's largest scientific projects in years.

The DNA of every animal in world history will be collected in a massive scientific project, Russian researchers announced Thursday.

Dubbed “Noah's Ark,” the project will be a “databank on all living species,” according to Moscow State University President Dr. Viktor Sadovnichy.

“If it’s carried out, this will be a leap in Russian history as the first nation to create an actual Noah’s Ark of sorts,” he told state media.

According to Sadovnichy, the ark will not only collect the DNA of living animals, but also “disappearing and extinct organisms.”

The project is expected to cost close to US$194 million and will include a 430 square kilometer storage facility on a university campus, according to RT.

The facility is expected to be completed by 2018, and all departments of the university will contribute to the project in some way, said Sadovnichy.

There are at least 1.5 million known species living on Earth today, though scientists suggest there could be millions more that haven't been identified.

However, according to research published in September by the World Wildlife Fund and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the number of wild animals across the world has halved in the past four decades. According to the research, the massive die-off is largely due to human activity, including pollution and habitat destruction.

“If half the animals died in London Zoo next week it would be front page news,” Professor Ken Norris from the ZSL told the U.K.'s Guardian newspaper.

“But that is happening in the great outdoors. This damage is not inevitable but a consequence of the way we choose to live,” he added.

Russia’s new military doctrine lists NATO, US as major foreign threats

Source  :  http://rt.com/news/217823-putin-russian-military-doctrine/

Russia has adopted an updated version of its military doctrine, which reflects the emergence of new threats against its national security. NATO military buildup and American Prompt Global Strike concept are listed among them.

The new doctrine was approved on Friday by President Vladimir Putin. Its core remains unchanged from the previous version. The Russian military remains a defensive tool which the country pledges to use only as a last resort.

Also unchanged are the principles of the use of nuclear weapons which Russia adheres to. Their primary goal is to deter potential enemies from attacking Russia, but it would use them to protect itself from a military attack – either nuclear or conventional – threatening its existence.

Strategic Missile Forces commander: “Sarmat” missiles to be deployed in Volga region and Siberia

Source  :  http://www.siberianinsider.com

The shaft mounts of the 100-ton “Sarmat” heavy ballistic missile, created in the Russia, will be deployed in the Orenburg region and the Krasnoyarsk Territory, said commander of the Strategic Missile Forces Colonel-General Sergei Karakayev.

It was reported that the missile set to replace the “Satana” is planned to be created by 2020.

“According to our plans, everything has already been decided. This heavy missile will be deployed in Uzhur (Krasnoyarsk region) and the village of Dombarovsky (Orenburg region),” – said Karakayev.

Currently, components and units of the “Sarmat” heavy ICBM are being tested. Production of these missiles is carried out exclusively by a cooperation of Russian enterprises.

Technical characteristics of the new missile are classified.

‘Nuke trains’ with up to 30 Yars missiles rolling out from 2018 – Russian defense source

Source  :  http://www.siberianinsider.com/

A Russian military source outlined the capabilities of Barguzin strategic missile train. The country may roll out five such disguised mobile launch platforms each carrying six RS-24 Yars missiles in five years.

A ‘nuclear train’ – properly called BZhRK, short for ‘combat railway missile complex’ in Russian – is a mobile platform for transporting and launching strategic nuclear missiles. Similarly to nuclear submarines, such trains are hard to wipe out in a preemptive strike because of their mobility and ability to be disguised as regular freight trains.

The Soviet Union had 12 such nuclear trains, each carrying three RT-23 Molodets (SS-24 Scalpel in NATO disambiguation) missiles, but they were released from combat duty after Russia and the US signed the START-2 treaty in 1993 and eventually decommissioned.

Last year the Russian military said that nuclear trains – which are no longer banned under the New START treaty – would be revived.

READ MORE: 'Nuclear train' returns: Russia to deploy rail-based missiles to counter US 'Prompt Global Strike'

The move is meant to counter the US’s Conventional Prompt Global Strike project, which would allow Pentagon to deliver precision strikes with conventional weapons at any target in the world in one hour.

Last week the head of Russia's Strategic Missile Force, Lieutenant General Sergey Karakayev, revealed that the future missile platform would be called Barguzin after the strong eastern wind that blows over Lake Baikal.

Now a source in the Russian military, which preferred to remain anonymous, has revealed some details of the weapon to Russian news agencies.

Like its predecessor, Barguzin’s carriages carrying missiles would be disguised as refrigerator cars. But since a Yars missile weights roughly half of what a Molodets missile did, the cars would not need reinforced wheel-sets to carry the load. This would make the trains harder to identify from the ground.

The weight difference also means that a single nuclear train would be able to carry more individual missiles. According to designs of the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology, the weapon platform’s developer, each Barguzin would be able to tow up to six Yars missiles, the source said.

READ MORE: Russian 'ABM killer' intercontinental missile to enter service in 2016

The destructive potential of the new platform would probably be smaller than that of its predecessor however. Molodets missiles had 10 MIRVed warheads with a total yield of 5.5 megatons. Yars reportedly has four warheads with a total yield of between 0.4 and 1.2 megatons. The more advanced Yars, however, is more accurate and has greater range.

Organizationally, each train with its personnel would constitute a single regiment of the Strategic Missile Force (RVSN).

“The BZhRKs Barguzin will be delivered to one of the RVSN divisions organized into five regiments,” the source said. “The timeline for finishing the development is 2018.”

The first Barguzin is likely to go into service in 2019, the source said. The Russian military expects the nuclear trains to remain in service until at least 2040.

Russia DM Shoigu: Teams from 24 countries will participate in the “Tank biathlon”

Source  :  http://www.siberianinsider.com

Teams from 24 countries will participate in the “Tank biathlon” in 2015, including representatives from Africa and Latin America, said Russian Defense Minister Gen. Sergei Shoigu during the plenary session of the Public Council under the Russian Defense Ministry.

In 2014, the Ministry of Defence has organized a number of major international competitions, the most significant of which were “Tank biathlon” and “Aviadarts.”  Teams from 11 foreign countries participated at the World Championships in Tank biathlon, and the Chinese team was using its own technique.

Russian missile regiments to receive heavy 100-ton Sarmat ICBMs

Source  :  http://indian.ruvr.ru

The 100-ton Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles with an operational range of at least 5,500 kilometers are to replace the current SS-18 Satan ICBMs between 2018 and 2020.

 

Seven Russian missile regiments will be armed with silo-based 100-ton Sarmat heavy intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) complexes, a source in the defense industry complex told RIA Novosti Friday.

“We plan on delivering this new complex to two missile divisions in Dombarovsky (Orenburg) and Uzhur (Krasnoyarsk) for a total of seven missile regiments with 46 silo-based launch facilities,” the source said.

The Sarmat ICBM with an operational range of no less than 5,500 kilometers (over 3,400 miles), will replace the military’s SS-18 Satan ICBMs between 2018 and 2020.

“We plan to begin test firing at the end of 2017,” the source added.

On Thursday, Russian Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) commander Col. Gen. Sergei Karakayev said that the new ICBMs will be stationed in Orenburg Region and Krasnoyarsk Territory, giving no further details.

In December 2013, the SMF chief said that the Sarmat is expected to feature advanced countermeasures, such as complex command and control systems and a high degree of maneuverability, enabling it to penetrate missile defense systems.

Russia to lay down 3 Yasen-class, 2 Borei-class submarine in 2015

Source  :  http://itar-tass.com/en/russia/769342

SEVERODVINSK /Arkhangelsk Region/, December 26. /TASS/. The seventh and eigth Borei-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines will be laid down by the end of 2015, the head of the Rubin design bureau said on Friday.

Igor Vilnit said the key task of designers and shipbuilders is not the increase of the number of submarines but maintenance of those boats that are currently in service.

Mikhail Budnichenko, the head of the Sevmash shipyard, told TASS that three Project 885M Yasen-class attack submarines and two Borei-class submarines will be laid down next year.

The Borei-class ballistic-missile submarines are to become the backbone of the Russian Navy's strategic nuclear deterrent.

The submarines displace 24,000 tons, reach speeds of 29 knots (some 54 km per hour), can dive to 450 meters and carry crews of 107 people. The vessels will be armed with up to 16Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missiles, which have a range of over 8,000 kilometers.

Eastern Ukraine: withdrawal of heavy equipment from front line begins at the weekend

Source  :  http://www.southfront.eu

The withdrawal of heavy equipment from the line unbundling in eastern Ukraine begins this weekend. The goal is to create a 30-kilometer-wide security zone, said Major General Alexander Rosmasnin by the Ukrainian General Staff on Thursday in Kiev.

"We are working on the unconditional implementation of the Memorandum Minsk. The first stage is the observance of the cease-fire. After the 26th of December we go to another stage over - deduction of artillery systems with a caliber of 100 millimeters by 15 km on each side, "the general was quoted by the press center of the Ministry of Defense in Kiev.

Rosmasnin participates in the activities of the Joint Center for control of fire adjustment and stabilization of the unbundling line in the Donbass region.

Russia / Cyber ​​Security: Creating a system for protecting public sites

Source  :  http://www.almanar.com.lb/french

Russian unified holding OPK has designed a system to protect important public sites against hackers called Paoutina (Spider Web) for the Russian army, said Thursday in Moscow the CEO of OPK, Alexander Yakunin.

"The software and hardware system Paoutina is one of the major projects undertaken by OPK in 2014 on behalf of the Russian Ministry of Defense. The system is able to detect computer attacks in real time. Data Special sensors analyze traffic and the system indicates the status of protected devices, the risk level and the objects of attack, "said M.Iakounine in an interview with RIA Novosti.

He said the Paoutina system itself is well protected against malicious intruders.

Lately, Russia is developing a national cybersecurity strategy.

The OPK Group, which is part of Russian holding Rostec high technology, produces telecommunication systems, electronic control and automated control systems.

‘Stop blaming everything on Russia’: Heirs to 1917 revolutionary-era emigrants appeal to EU

Source  :  http://rt.com/politics/217551-russia-emigrants-letter-history/

Over 100 descendants of the Russian nobility residing outside the country have addressed European nations with a call to stop irrationally alienating Russia and give an unbiased appraisal to the current Ukrainian crisis.

The open letter written by Prince Dmitry Shakhovskoy and his wife, Princess Tamara, and signed by over 100 people representing the diaspora of the so-called first-wave emigration, was published by Rossiiskaya Gazeta on Thursday.

“The aggressive hostility that Russia is facing right now is lacking any rationality and the double standard policy is simply exceeding any limits,” claim the authors of the message. “Russia is being accused of all crimes, it is pronounced guilty a priori and without any evidence, while other countries are shown surprising leniency, in particular when Human Rights are concerned,” they letter reads.

“We cannot put up with daily slander targeting modern Russia, its leaders and its president, who are slapped with sanctions and smeared with dirt, in contradiction to basic reason.”

The descendants of the Russian nobility also said that they were outraged by fact that European officials and mass media had been consistently silencing the facts of the cruel shelling of civilians in eastern Ukraine conducted by the Ukrainian military with support of paramilitary groups brandishing Nazi symbols. Another disturbing fact was a full blockade of the Donbass region by the Kiev regime, which seeks to completely destroy the region that it still declares a part of Ukrainian territory.

The pro-Kiev forces also allow numerous attacks on Russian Orthodox Churches, acts of violence and even murders of priests, destroy temples and launch repressions against believers, the message reads.

“We cannot remain indifferent and silent in the face of planned elimination of the Donbass population, open Russophobia and hypocritical approaches that contradict the interests of European nations themselves. We hope that the countries that in their time had shown hospitality to our families will again set on the path of reason and impartiality,” claim the descendants of the Tsarist White Guard officers and soldiers.

Earlier, the Russian parliament suggested that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe launch an international panel to investigate crimes against humanity in Europe, such as the tragedy in Odessa or mass executions of civilians near Ukraine’s Donetsk. The proposal mirrors an address to international organizations, and national parliaments and governments, calling to investigate crimes against civilians in southeastern Ukraine, passed by the State Duma in October this year.

Russia says Kiev's move to join NATO dangerous for Europe

Source  :  http://news.yahoo.com

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine's pursuit of NATO membership posed a danger to European security and that the West was using Kiev's bid to join the Atlantic alliance as a way to fuel confrontation between Russia and Ukraine.

The Kiev parliament's renunciation of Ukraine's neutral status this week as a step toward joining NATO has outraged Moscow and deepened the worst confrontation between Russia and the West since the end of the Cold War.

Lavrov is the latest Russian official to speak out against the Kiev's bid in recent days, and who have made clear Russia would see the NATO membership of such a strategic former Soviet republic with a long common border as a direct military threat.

"There are a few Western countries that want to maintain the crisis in Ukraine and to maintain and boost the confrontation between Ukraine and Russia, including through provocative efforts toward membership in the Atlantic alliance," he said.

"The very idea of Ukraine's efforts to join NATO are dangerous, not only for Ukrainian people, because there is no unity over that issue, it is dangerous for European security," he said, speaking on state television.

NATO boosted its military presence in eastern Europe this year, saying it has evidence Russia orchestrated and armed a pro-Russian rebellion in eastern Ukraine that followed the overthrow of a Kremlin-backed president in Kiev.

Moscow denies supporting the rebellion, and says it is currently trying, along with Kiev and the rebels, to find a political solution to the crisis in eastern Ukraine.

Russia offers support to North Korea amid Sony hack

Source  : http://news.yahoo.com

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia has offered sympathy to North Korea amid the Sony hacking scandal, saying the movie that sparked the dispute was so scandalous that Pyongyang's anger was "quite understandable."

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich told Thursday's briefing that Washington failed to offer any proof to back its claims of Pyongyang's involvement in the hacking, adding the U.S. threats of retaliation were "counterproductive and dangerous."

The U.S. has blamed Pyongyang for the recent cyberattack on Sony Pictures, which produced "The Interview," a comedy depicting the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Pyongyang has denied a role in the hacking, but also praised it as a "righteous deed."

Sony initially decided not to release the film because of threats against U.S. cinemas, but released the movie online Wednesday.

Trust between Venezuela, Russia key element in development of bilateral relations

Source  :  http://itar-tass.com/en/russia/767105

CARACAS, December 16. /TASS/. Trust between Russia and Venezuela is a key element if development of bilateral ties, the foundations of which were laid by Presidents Hugo Chavez and Vladimir Putin, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said here on Monday after talks with the Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Rafael Ramirez.

“Trust between our countries is the backbone element in the bilateral relationship laid down by the leader of the Bolivarian revolution, Hugo Chavez, and President Vladimir Putin of Russia,” he said, adding that his talks with Ramirez had embraced a broad spectrum of issues and had been fruitful.

Venezuela has become one of Russia’s main partners in Latin America. Their trade reached a record $ 2.4 billion last year.

“Our countries take a consolidated position in the international arena,” he said, expressing Russia’s gratitude for the support it received from Venezuela on the Ukrainian problem.

Ramirez said on his part a further strengthening of collaboration between Caracas and Moscow would become his country’s response to the sanctions introduced by the U.S.

He singled out development of ties in defence and related technologies and said they would enable Venezuela to raise the combat readiness of its armed forces.

The U.S. has taken on the role of a global gendarme and Venezuela’s response in this situation is a closer union with Russia, the countries making up the Latin American Bolivarian Alliance, the Union of South American Nations /UNASUR/, and China, Ramirez said.

Venezuela deserves due respect and it will build up relations with all the countries sharing its views of the multipolar world, he said.

Also Rogozin said, that strange inconsistencies have occurred in the construction of a factory that is supposed to do licensed assembly of Kalashnikov assault rifles in Venezuela.

Cooperation in defence-related technologies was one of the items on the agenda of their negotiations as co-chairpersons of the Russian-Venezuelan high-level commission.

As he answered a question by TASS, Rogozin said it was yet to be established why the current contractor had received the contract for building the factory.

“The general contractor will be changed and the deadline for completing the construction works has been put off to the end of 2015,” he said.

Russia and Venezuela will set up a mechanism of tough control over how their bilateral decisions are fulfilled, Rogozin said.

“Our Venezuelan partners and I made an arrangement to set up a mechanism of tough control over how bilateral agreements are fulfilled,” he wrote in his microblog.

The two countries signed an agreement on building a factory for assembling the Kalashnikov guns of series 100 in Venezuela in July 2006. The document said Venezuelan technology experts and specialists would be trained for a full licensed production cycle of cycle of AK-103 guns.

The factory is expected to assemble about 25,000 Kalashnikov automatic assault rifles annually.

Russia to Expand Military Cooperation in Latin America: Defense Ministry

Source  :  http://www.strategic-culture.org/news

Russia plans on expanding its military and technical cooperation with Latin America by creating ports and using local airports, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said Wednesday.

“We are interested in creating [Material Technical Support] points, and we’re not talking about any bases. We are interested in the ability of our ships being able to visit ports in Latin American countries and using their airports,” Antonov said.

Antonov said he had Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua in mind

Russia to build first nuclear power plant in Jordan

Source  :  http://rt.com/business/217567-russia-builds-npp-jordan/

​Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has signed an agreement to build Jordan’s first nuclear power plant. It will be a joint project with Russia’s Rosatom nuclear power corporation.

"The construction and operation of nuclear power plants (NPP) will be financed with investments attracted in the markets of Russia, Jordan and third countries", says the agreement.

The Cabinet believes the project will have "a positive impact on the development of the Russian nuclear industry and will provide long-term work for the nuclear industry of the country."

The nuclear power plant in Jordan will have two reactors, each with the capacity of 1000 MW. The first is expected to start operating in 2024, and the second in 2026.

The area where the plant is to be built is an area with little chance of earthquakes.

Jordan announced a tender for the construction of its first nuclear power plant in January 2011. In October 2013 Rosatom was declared a "preferred bidder" for the construction.

Rosatom subsidiary Rusatom Overseas and the Atomic Energy Commission of Jordan agreed the project during the 58th General Conference of the IAEA on September 22.

The project will be run as a ‘build-own-operate’ scheme. The two countries will create a joint venture in which a controlling stake of 50.1 percent will be owned by Jordan, and Rosatom will have 49.9 percent. Investments will be made in proportion to each partner's share.

Deputy PM Rogozin: Russia may cooperate with Brazil in Sea Launch program

Source  :  http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=562142

MOSCOW. Dec 24 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia may cooperate with Brazil in the Sea Launch program, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Wednesday.

"A very interesting dialogue on the level of experts is taking shape. The idea of joint launches may be generated in the BRICS format or in bilateral [Russia-Brazil] relations," Rogozin said in an interview with the Rossiya 24 channel speaking on the fate of the Sea Launch project.

Russia test-launches new space eco-rocket Angara right into geostationary orbit

Source  :  http://rt.com/news/216663-angara-heavy-booster-launch/

Russia’s space agency has launched a heavy version of the newly developed, ecologically clean rocket family Angara. The booster has delivered its mock payload right into geostationary orbit – 36,000 kilometers from the Equator.

“A 08:57 Moscow time, the heavy-class rocket Angara-A5 was launched by a Space Forces crew of the Arkhangelsk Region from the universal launch site of the state test facility of the Russian Defense Ministry [the Plesetsk Cosmodrome],” the ministry said in a statement.

The success was reported by Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu to President Vladimir Putin, who was monitoring the launch form Moscow via a video link and thanked those involved in the project.

Russian President Vladimir Putin watches test launch of the first Angara-A5 heavy-duty rocket from the Plesetsk Space Center. (Reuters/Alexei Druzhinin)

Radio control sessions then confirmed that the two-ton payload had been delivered into geostationary orbit at 36,000 kilometers.

Launching right into geostationary orbit has never previously been achieved by any heavy booster prototype; usually trials are performed into a low orbit with altitudes of up to 2,000 kilometers before moving to higher altitudes.

On the other hand, Angara’s third stage used in the trial is the tried and tested Birz-M, which may explain why the Russian military and the rocket designers chose to start with a more challenging task.

The first stage of the Angara-5 rocket, capable of delivering up to 25 tons to a low orbit, is powered by RD-191, arguably the world’s best “clean” engine that uses kerosene and oxygen as fuel.

“This engine could be put to use up to 10 times – and even more,” the first deputy director at the Khrunichev Center, Aleksandr Medvedev, told Rossiyskaya Gazeta two days before the launch.

Medvedev, obviously being absolutely sure of the reliability of the rocket, said he regretted that the launch was performed without an actual load.

The brand new Angara rocket is the first space booster designed from scratch in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The development of the rocket family began at the Moscow-based Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center back in 1994. Two decades of design work and scientific research have cost the government approximately $3 billion.

Angara rockets use the module principle in their production, enabling to assemble a booster of necessary payload capability using standard modules.

Even today Khrunichev can produce 10 Angara-5 boosters a year – and is ready to increase production if there is demand, Medvedev said.

The launch of the light Angara 1.2PP rocket was successfully performed on July 9.

The Angara rocket family is being developed to replace the outgoing Soyuz and Proton rockets as future mainstays of Russia’s space exploration program. It consists of four highly adjustable types of boosters, from light ones capable of delivering payloads weighting 1.7-3.7 tons into orbit, to heavy class boosters with a 28.5-ton payload capability.

This covers practically the entire spectrum of space launches, with the exception of the super heavy booster, which is also at the design stage right now, capable of delivering up to 100 tons of payload to the baseline orbit.

According to Medvedev, the Khrunichev Center official, the center has already prepared calculations proving that Angara rockets will be capable of delivering manned missions to the orbit, a task much more delicate than launching satellites and communication platforms.

Russia plans more aircraft, helicopters at airbase in Belarus — defense minister

Source  :  http://itar-tass.com/en/world/768669

MOSCOW, December 23. /TASS/. Russia plans to increase the number of aircraft and helicopters at the airbase in Belarus in an effort to strengthen joint air space, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Tuesday.

Shoigu held talks with his Belarusian counterpart, Major General Andrey Ravkov as part of meetings of statutory bodies of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a Russia-led military alliance of former Soviet states.

“I am ready to discuss today plans to continue our practical cooperation,” Shoigu said. “This concerns S-300 systems, the establishment and deployment of the airbase in Belarus with the increase in the number of aircraft and helicopters,” he said.

Speaking on the level of military cooperation between Russia and Belarus in the air defense sphere, Shoigu said “today we are ahead of everyone else on the post-Soviet space.”

Joint military drills are another important area of bilateral cooperation, Shoigu said. “They have become regular and full-scale,” he said, adding that next year more exercises are planned.

The drills codenamed Union Shield-2015, due to be conducted on the Russian territory, are expected to become a major event of joint training of the Armed Forces of Russia and Belarus next year.

The Belarusian defense minister thanked Shoigu for the aid provided by Russia. Belarus will have all four S-300 air defense systems supplied by Russia on combat duty by October 2015.

Ravkov congratulated Russia on the first launch of a heavy-class rocket Angara-A5 on Tuesday, saying this is a “serious step towards the space exploration” and Russia's might in the space sphere is unquestionable.

Russia mulls new Siberian gas pipeline to improve export conditions: Russia's Energy Minister Alexander Novak

Source  :  http://indian.ruvr.ru/news

Russia's Energy Minister Alexander Novak stated that the Russian Energy ministry is considering building a second Power of Siberia pipeline.

 
The Russian Energy ministry is considering building a second Power of Siberia pipeline to ensure that independent producers have access to foreign markets, Russia's Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in an interview with Kommersant Monday.

“We proposed two variants to the government and after considering all the opinions a decision will be elaborated… First variant: Gazprom remains the only owner of the gas transit system, it buys the gas from the independent [gas producers] an exports it. The second variant includes the extension of the Power of Siberia with participation [of companies] other than Gazprom. This means the construction of a second string or even a separate pipeline that may go through a new route. We are talking about creating a consortium on the construction of the pipeline,” Novak said.

The Minister stressed that regardless of the scenario chosen Gazprom will remain the sole exporter and will sell independently produced gas under an agent agreement. Novak said that three weeks ago Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich ordered the Energy Ministry to study opportunities to increase Russian gas exports to China.

“In the long term it’s … possible to increase the [gas] production in eastern Siberia and supplies to both domestic market and for export by up to 80 billion cubic meters a year,” Novak said.

Construction of the primary pipeline began September 1. The 3,000-kilometer (1,860-mile) Power of Siberia pipeline is intended for the delivery of Russian gas to China.

In May, Russian energy giant Gazprom signed a contract with China’s CNPC to export 38 billion cubic meters of gas to China annually for a 30-year period via the Power of Siberia pipeline. Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2018.

Biggest association to come into existence in post-Soviet space from December 23

Source  :  http://itar-tass.com/en/economy/768567

MOSCOW, December 22. /TASS/. A meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council due in Moscow on December 23 will be the final one in the process of formation of the Eurasian Economic Union, Russian president’s aide Yury Ushakov said on Monday.

“It means that just in a few days, the biggest association with a consumer market of more than 170 million people will come into existence in the post-Soviet space. This association will be guided by the norms and principles of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and will ensure free movement of goods, services, capitals and labor force,” he said.

The meeting will round up the process of the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union. The leaders of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus will declare the finalization of ratification procedures on Armenia’s joining their Union from January 2, 2015. A treaty on Kyrgyzstan’s joining the Eurasian Economic Union will come into force on May 1, 2015, when the protocols are ratified.

The Moscow meeting will be attended by leaders of the Customs Union countries, namely Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, and Presidents of Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, Serzh Sargsyan and Almazbek Atambayev. They are expected to sign a treaty on Kyrgyzstan’s joining the Eurasian Economic Union and a number of other documents.

The agenda also includes agreement of principles and rules of circulation of medicines and medical items, and other issues. It is also planned to take a decision on the presidency in the Eurasian Economic Union in 2015. It will be held in the alphabetical order. “So, Belarus will be the first to hold presidency,” Ushakov said.

It is also planned to discuss issues of cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Union and foreign partners, namely, with Vietnam, Israel, India and Egypt. “Immediate plans include signing cooperation memorandums with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and MERCOSUR, the South American common market,” Ushakov added.

Moscow and Ankara is a strategic partner and friend

Source  :  full translated from turkey to english http://turkish.ruvr.ru

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Moscow 20-25 May 2016 date. This news was announced in Konya Minister of Religious Affairs after the Russian Federation and President of the Council of Muftis Sheikh Ravil talks with Gaynutdin.

President of Turkey, in May 2016 he accepted an invitation to be present as guest of honor at the opening ceremony, Ravil Gaynutdin of Russia Main Mosque. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said it would honor itself to be the guest of honor of the Russian Muslim sources.

Is not an ordinary chronological coincidence of this news is likely. But the news, at the annual press conference in Moscow, Vladimir Putin, the description will develop in the eastern direction of Russian foreign policy and Turkey were taken after the call strategic partners. Moscow, "South Stream", she explains the decision to develop the gas pipeline in Turkey towards work that way.

Many of the experts in this regard, so other than the geopolitical situation in the region of Turkey, certainly their positions in world politics also noted that strengthened. For example, in its relations with the EU. Because the current strategy will be forced to make changes to relations with the EU in Ankara. The need to save, too, one after the other the Turkish capital, the visiting EU foreign policy and security chief chief commissioner f.moger the EU European policy and iyikomşuluk commissioner y.h, the EU humanitarian aid and crisis management commissioner h.stilianidis, as well as British Prime Minister D. Kemeronu, according to one of the Turkish newspapers wrote that, "They see a new Turkey". Moreover, the strategic partners to translate high level of Turkish-Russian relations for new processes occurring in the geopolitical space they saw they were not ready to meet with him. There's more. Brussels, "he offered to wait 4-5 years for the integration of the EU. Turkish diplomats, the EU is compatible with the purpose of a joke he did not want to come more often to Putin's Turkey is not a coincidence.

Should point out one more fact. As in life, friendship, big politics "passionate love" just does not return. So maneuver several reasons Moscow and Ankara in the current stage, the growing trade and economic cooperation likely to think they are trying to translate the global geopolitical and economic interests. Provided that the value of these things is not involved in the contradiction between Moscow and Brussels stable Ankara. Moscow is acting in the same way. This event forces to offer Turkey and Russia to prepare new action scenarios of the West. How it will soon be evident. Anyway, the two countries will be ready for another high-level dialogue than ever before that, the ability to defend its national interests.

US creating ‘permanent war zone’ around Russia: Analyst

Source : http://en.alalam.ir/news

The US strategy of economic sanctions against Russia is designed to create a “permanent war zone” in that region and cause chaos in the Russian economy, a geopolitical analyst in Europe says

“When we are looking at the strategy of the US towards Russia, it is to force Russia to capitulate,” said Joaquin Flores, director of the Center for Syncretic Studies in Belgrade, Serbia.

“Ultimately, one thing they would like to do is to create a permanent war zone or a permanent area of armed conflict right in its historical sphere of influence,”

The US is also looking to “create chaos within its economic system which is aimed at getting different elements of the elites in economic power circles in Russia to turn against the government and to side with the US interest,” he indicated.

On Thursday, US President Barack Obama signed a new Russian sanctions bill into law over the crisis in Ukraine.

Ties between United States and Russia have deteriorated over the crisis in Ukraine. The US and its allies accuse Moscow of sending troops into eastern Ukraine in support of the pro-Russian forces. Russia, however, denies the accusation.

Tensions between Washington and Moscow began to escalate in April after the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea seceded from Ukraine and reunited with the Russian Federation following a referendum a month earlier.

“The US has increased its bellicosity, it is on a war footing and it is definitely trying to create the sense in the international community and within the military-industrial-complex that war is on the horizon,” Flores concluded.

- See more at: http://en.alalam.ir/news/1659081#.dpuf

Belgrade will never join anti-Russian sanctions even if Serbia joins EU — Serbian lawmaker

Source  :  http://tass.ru/en/world/768396

MOSCOW, December 22. /TASS/. Belgrade will never introduce sanctions against Russia even if Serbia joins the European Union, Serbian Parliament Speaker Maja Gojkovic said on Monday at a meeting with the members of Russian parliament's lower house, the State Duma.

“Serbia will never impose sanctions on Russia as they have never done any good to anyone and cannot contribute to solving any problems,” Gojkovic said. “It’s simple people who suffer due to international sanctions, and we know that dialogue and only dialogue is needed to solve the problems,” she stressed.

The Serbian politician said although the country is seeking to join the 28-member bloc, such a strategic decision will not become an obstacle for further development of brotherly relations with Russia.

“We are thankful to Russia for support on this path,” she said. “Thanks to Serbia’s membership in the EU, Russia will get a sincere friend and reliable partner in this organization,” Gojkovic said.

“Our people supports accession to the EU, and the Serbian parliament has a consensus on this issue,” she said.

Serbia has been an official candidate for EU membership since 2012.

In late November, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic admitted in that the EU membership implies an obligation to pursue a common foreign policy. He said however the country would not slap sanctions on Moscow.

Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy, told Nikolic that the European family was expecting Serbia to gradually bring its policy in line with the European one, including its foreign policy.

NATO Submitting the sale of weapons to terrorists Saakashvili

Source  : http://vz.ru/news/2014/12/22/721592.html

NATO countries and the corresponding structures of the block transferred to the Georgian side "irrefutable evidence" of trade ex-Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and his entourage weapons that the country has received from the alliance, said Monday in Tbilisi newspaper "Chronicle of the Week".

According to a source publication, this was said during a meeting of the former Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili with representatives of Georgian emigration in Tbilisi.

The publication also notes that it can complete a major international scandal, because this scheme involved "serious politicians from different countries."

A source also said that during the meeting it was noted that Saakashvili may be involved in the death of former Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania in 2005, the year.

Currently the case is under investigation again by the previous version Zhvaniyapogib, gassed.

It is noteworthy that a year ago in Tbilisi was taken into custody by the former head of the procurement department of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia Alexander Nina. A few months before this Ninua as a witness was questioned by Chief Prosecutor's Office of Georgia at the request of the FBI. Then the Georgian media and experts talked about a possible international arms trade. Ninua worked in the Defense Ministry in 2007-2009, ie during the Georgian-Russian armed conflict in 2008.

Home Prosecutor's Office of Georgia also reported a year ago that the US Justice Department and the FBI twice, October 19, 2012 and July 2, 2013, asked for legal assistance as part of its investigation.

Several years ago, the US State Department mentioned Georgia as a country that may be involved in the illicit trafficking of arms. Back in 2010 when the leader of the opposition Conservative Party Zviad Dzidziguri, now vice-speaker of the parliament from the ruling coalition "Georgian Dream", made scandalous statements that he had received information from sources in law enforcement authorities of involvement in illegal transactions Saakashvili on the arms trade. According to the data available to the Dzidziguri, in particular, the then defense minister David Kezerashvilipereprodal acquired Georgia Ukrainians missiles to Iran.

Naryshkin: Russia, Serbia ready to do utmost for secure and calm Europe

Source  :  http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=561506

MOSCOW. Dec 22 (Interfax) - Russia and Serbia maintain strategic cooperation in a number of areas, State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin said.

"We place a high value on the level of collaboration between Russia and Serbia. We believe that this cooperation has reached a strategic level in a number of indicators and areas," Naryshkin said at his meeting with Serbian National Assembly Speaker Maja Gojkovic in Moscow on Monday.

Parliament exchanges have become regular, Naryshkin pointed out. "This is crucial amid the approaching crisis of confidence in Europe," Naryshkin said.

Russia and Serbia have always supported the observation of international legal norms, he said.

The two countries are prepared to do the utmost for a safe and calm Europe, Naryshkin said.

Gojkovic added that the Serbian and Russian parliaments had a vast cooperation potential.

Russian security services expose 230 foreign agents: Putin

Source  :  http://www.presstv.ir/detail

Russia says its counterintelligence services have exposed more than 230 foreign agents so far this year.

President Vladimir Putin said in a Saturday speech in the capital, Moscow, “Activity of foreign special services working on Russia is on the rise since only the counterintelligence service alone has exposed 230 employees and agents of foreign intelligence.”

The Russian president also called on the security services to pay further attention to the protection of state borders.

“The Foreign Intelligence Service is faced with a broad range of tasks, first of all prognosis and analysis of possible risks and threats, along with assessment of the current and probable development of key international events,” Russia’s Itar-Tass quoted Putin as saying.

“The activities of 46 terrorist and extremist organizations have been stopped in the country,” Putin said.

In April, the Russian president said the country’s security agencies had exposed a total of 258 foreign agents and 46 intelligence staff in 2013.

Crimean naval base restored as part of Russian Black Sea Fleet

Source  :  http://m.rbth.co.uk/news

The Crimean naval base that operated as part of the Russian Black Sea Fleet until 1996 was revived as a separate unit at the beginning of December, Interfax-AVN was told at the fleet's headquarters on Sunday.

"The revived naval unit has been operational since December 1. Its headquarters is located in Sevastopol in the place where the Ukrainian Navy used to have its headquarters until March 19. The new large unit is led by Capt. 1st Rank Yuri Zemsky who used to be the commander of a naval task group in the Mediterranean," the spokesman said.

S-400 / Triumf SAMs Deployments to Moscow, Kaliningrad, Severomorsk

Source  :  http:/russiandefpolicy.wordpress.com

Last week Interfaks-AVN wrote that the Russian military just received two “regimental sets” of S-400 / Triumf SAMs.  They make numbers seven and eight.

One became the fourth “regimental set” of the 4th Aerospace Defense Brigade around Moscow and the other is bound for the 1st Aerospace Defense Brigade on the Kola near Northern Fleet headquarters at Severomorsk.

The Kola brigade is the first in the Western MD to have the S-400.  It falls under the Western MD’s 1st Air Forces and Air Defense Command.

The other three of the eight are the 3rd (Kaliningrad), 7th (Novocherkassk), and 12th (Nakhodka) Aerospace Defense Brigades.

Almaz-Antey General Director Yan Novikov told theInterfaks-AVN that, for the first time, the Defense Ministry will get three S-400 “regiments” in a single year in 2014.

TASS reported even earlier last week that Almaz-Antey will deliver the ninth “regiment” will before the end of December.  It will be the first three-battalion regiment, and is destined for Kamchatka, or the 14th Aerospace Defense Brigade (Yelizovo).

In September, the commander of PVO and PRO for VVKO, General-Major Andrey Demin told TASS that 12 “regimental sets” of S-400 and 72 Pantsir-S would be procured by 2020.

New Russian nuclear submarine for India

Source  :  http://indian.ruvr.ru

According to the newspaper “The Times of India”, very soon, the Indian Navy may take on lease at least one more Russian nuclear attack submarine of the Project 971. It will be in addition to the nuclear submarine of the same project, which is named “Chakra” by the Indian Navy and was leased by Russia in 2012.

The second boat will significantly enhance capabilities of the Indian Navy, considers Vasily Kashin, expert from the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies.

Now, the Indians will always have at least one modern nuclear submarine, ready for combat missions at high seas. The indigenously produced Indian nuclear submarine “Arihant” is just at the trial stages and is not likely to be inducted into active service in the nearest future. The submarine of Project 971 is not only technically ready for deployment, but has been well studied by experts from the Indian Navy.

India has to pay increased attention to its nuclear submarine fleet due to delays in its fleet modernization program. The Indian fleet of 13 diesel-electric submarines that were purchased back in the 1980’s from Germany and the Soviet Union is in a pitiable condition. In August 2013, one of the diesel-electric submarines of the Indian Navy, Sindhurakshak of Soviet design, exploded at the port of Mumbai during the conduction of repair works.

The tender announced by the Indian Navy for purchase of new diesel-electric submarines, in which manufacturers from Russia and France are likely to participate, is getting delayed. Experience shows that the holding of such tenders in India can go on for many years without leading to any positive results. Meanwhile, the navy is in dire need of rearmament.

It is obvious, that the growing activity of Chinese nuclear submarines that are increasingly active on patrol duties for lengthier periods of time and which have already appeared in the Indian Ocean also has a major impact on the Indian military planning.

Nuclear submarines of Project 971 that were produced in the USSR and Russia having various modifications between the years 1983 to 2003,by basic characteristics, have an edge, particularly in their covertness, reliability and weapons systems, over the Chinese boat of type 93. They are also more advanced than China's new nuclear submarines that may come up in the near future.

The presence of two boats will enable the Indian Navy to have a greater advantage of prying into high seas and take on long distance journeys, for example, to the South China Sea. At the same time, to create a complete formation of nuclear submarines that can seriously change the balance of forces in the region, Indians need to have at least 6-8 boats. This means that the boats of Project 971 will serve primarily as a base for further developments by the Indian Navy in the maintenance of such type of complicated and highly technological equipment.

India has already invested heavily in its own nuclear submarine development program. The cost of just the first boat Arihant, according to some US estimates, may reach $ 2.9 billion. But to obtain a real return on such kind of investments, India will have to put in additional efforts and may be compelled to ask for extra assistance from Russia.

Number of Professional Soldiers in Russia Nears 300,000, Sets Record

Source  :  http://sputniknews.com/military/20141219/1016042952.html

The Russian Defense Ministry plans to contract at least 50,000 professional soldiers next year and bring the total to nearly 350,000-355,000 people.

MOSCOW, December 19 (Sputnik) – The number of professional soldiers serving in the Russian Armed Forces stood at record 295,000 people this year, setting an all-time record, Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov said Friday.

“More than 90,000 people have been chosen and contracted in 2014. As a result, the number of such soldiers in the Russian armed forces has set a historic record,” the official told reporters.

“A total of 295,000 professional soldiers are currently serving in the armed forces,” he continued, adding that contracted soldiers prefer to join special forces, naval infantry, Airborne Forces, Strategic Missile Forces and Aerospace Defense Forces.

He said that the Defense Ministry plans to contract at least 55,000 professional soldiers next year and bring their total to some 350,000-355,000 servicemen.

Russia is currently implementing an ambitious 20-trillion ruble (about $335 billion at the current exchange rate) rearmament program, planned to be finished by 2020.

The program is part of the large-scale 2008 military reform, which envisions a significant downsizing of the armed forces, a reduction of the number of conscripts and an increase in the number of professional soldiers.

On December 10, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov said the Russian Defense Ministry was planning to purchase up to 100 combat planes, over 120 helicopters, up to 30 naval vessels and some 600 armored vehicles annually in the next five years.

Russia to continue sending humanitarian aid to Syria

Source : http://indian.ruvr.ru/news/2014_12_19/Russia-humanitarian-aid-Syria/

The ministry's statement was released following a Friday meeting between the Russian President's Special Representative for Africa and the Middle East and the mother superior of St.James Melkite Greek Catholic monastery of the city of Qara, Syria, during which they discussed the condition of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey.

 

Russia will continue to send humanitarian aid to Syria through both bilateral and relevant international channels, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

The ministry's statement was released following a Friday meeting between the Russian President's Special Representative for Africa and the Middle East Mikhail Bogdanov and the mother superior of St.James Melkite Greek Catholic monastery of the city of Qara, Syria, Mother Agnes Mariam el Salib. During the meeting, Bogdanov and Mother Agnes Mariam el Salib discussed the current situation in Syria focusing on the humanitarian aspect and the condition of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey.

"Bogdanov stressed that the Russian Federation will continue to provide needed aid and assistance to the people of Syria, who had suffered due to the prolonged conflict, [sending the aid] both via the bilateral humanitarian aid channels and via the relevant international humanitarian agencies: the International Committee of the Red Cross, the World Food Programme and other organizations," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on its official website.

Syria has been engulfed in a bloody civil war since March 2011. According to UN data, over 12 million people in the country and "millions of Syrian refugees scattered" throughout the Middle East are currently in urgent need of aid.

Russian naval base resumes in Crimea

Source  : http://itar-tass.com/en/russia/768326

SEVASTOPOL, December 21. /TASS/. The Crimean naval base, a part of the Black Sea Fleet until 1996, is reconstituted fully, a representative of the Black Sea Fleet’s headquarters told reporters on Sunday.

"The headquarters are in Sevastopol, where until March 19 were the headquarters of the Ukrainian Navy. The head is Captain Yuri Zemsky who previously was commander of a Navy division in the Mediterranean Sea," the representative said.

"The new units have joined the group of forces to provide coverage from the Black Sea from enemy’s ships.".

Crimea's accession to Russia

The Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, a city with a special status on the Crimean Peninsula, where most residents are Russians, refused to recognize the legitimacy of authorities brought to power amid riots during a coup in Ukraine in February 2014.

Crimea and Sevastopol adopted declarations of independence on March 11. They held a referendum on March 16, in which 96.77% of Crimeans and 95.6% of Sevastopol voters chose to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the reunification deals March 18.

In the Soviet Union, Crimea used to be part of Russia until 1954, when Nikita Khrushchev, the first secretary of the USSR’s Communist Party, transferred it to Ukraine's jurisdiction as a gift.

Work to integrate the Crimean Peninsula into Russia’s economic, financial, credit, legal, state power, military conscription and infrastructure systems is actively underway now that Crimea has accessed to the Russian Federation.

Despite Moscow’s repeated statements that the Crimean referendum on secession from Ukraine was in line with the international law and the UN Charter and in conformity with the precedent set by Kosovo’s secession from Serbia in 2008, the West and Kiev have refused to recognize the legality of Crimea’s reunification with Russia.

Russian Aerospace Forces creation to be completed by summer 2015

Source  : http://www.siberianinsider.com

Russia’s Aerospace Forces will be formed by the summer of 2015. They will comprise aviation, air defense and missile defense forces, as well as space forces, a high-ranking source in the Russian Defense Ministry told TASS on Thursday.

Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force Viktor Bondarev told reporters earlier that it was planned to create the Aerospace Forces by the beginning of 2016.

“The decision to form the Aerospace Forces by including the Air Force and Aerospace Defense Forces in full strength was made at the highest level, the organizational activities are currently underway and the new branch of the Armed Forces is to start functioning from the summer of 2015,” the source said

Moscow warns to respond to EU sanctions against Crimea

Source  : English.news.cn

  
MOSCOW, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Ministry warned on Thursday that Moscow would adequately respond to "discriminatory" EU sanctions imposed on Crimea if necessary.

"We would like to remind the EU about our lawful right to adequately respond to its so-called restrictive measures against all Russian individuals and legal entities without exception," the ministry said in a statement.

It's time that EU officials in Brussels realize that Crimea and Sevastopol have become an inalienable part of the Russian Federation, RIA Novosti news agency, a leading Russian multimedia group, quoted the ministry as saying.

"Any kind of discrimination against residents of Crimea and Sevastopol for politicized reasons is unacceptable," the ministry stressed.

The EU earlier in the day imposed "substantial" additional sanctions on investment, services and trade with Crimea and Sevastopol, saying investment in Crimea or Sevastopol is outlawed from Dec. 20.

The fresh sanctions mean that Europeans and EU-based companies may no more buy real estate or entities in Crimea, finance Crimean companies or supply related services.

These measures add to an import ban on goods from Crimea and Sevastopol, imposed in June, as well as restrictions introduced in July on trade and investment related to certain economic sectors and infrastructure projects.

Earlier in the day, Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said in an interview with Vedomosti business daily that it is very likely that sanctions against Russia would be tightened in 2015, bringing long-term negative effects.

He added that restrictions on finance and banks are supposed to weaken gradually, while technological sanctions such as the ban of equipment import would still harm Russian economy.

Russia, China agree to fight drugs from Afghanistan jointly

indian.ruvr.ru/2014_12_17/281414185/

Moscow and Beijing agreed to team up to prevent Afghani drug trafficking from destabilizing the entire region. Currently, Afghanistan is the world's leader in drug production.

 

Russia's Federal Drug Control Service (FDSC) and the Chinese Public Security Ministry have agreed to jointly combat drug production in Afghanistan within the framework of the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the BRICS, FDSC director Viktor Ivanov said Wednesday.

"We have agreed to consolidate our position on this issue [of combating the drug production in Afghanistan] before the special session of the UN General Assembly, which will focus on drugs," Ivanov said at a press conference held at the Rossiya Segodnya press center in Moscow.

The official emphasized the threat posed by "huge heroin production located in the geographical center of the SCO member nations."

Afghanistan is the world's leader in drug production. It supplies more than 90 percent of the world's opiates on the international black market, the United Nations said. Opium production in the country in 2013 reached 5,500 tons, an increase of 49 percent from the previous year, according to UN estimates.

NATO doubles number of flights near Russian borders - Russia top brass

Source  : http://rt.com/news/line/2014-12-16/#77035

NATO has boosted the number of intelligence flights near Russian borders, Russian Air Force chief Viktor Bondarev said. Over 3,000 flights have been registered in total in the border zone in 2014, thus doubling the figures of 2013. The routes are very close to the border which allows taking intelligence from areas almost 500 km over the border, Bondarev said. The statement comes shortly after a Russian plane was accused of a dangerous approach with a Swedish civil plane last Friday. The Air Force Chief stressed that such reports are used to divert attention from NATO concentrating its forces near Russia.

Russia Is Buying Weapons - a Lot of Them

Source  : http://russia-insider.com/en/2014/12/16/1909

Russian defense companies boosted sales by more than 20% last year, driven by demand from the country's military, according to new data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

That compares with a 2% decline in sales globally, largely due to a weaker performance by American companies, which account for more than half of the world's arms trade.

Russia has begun investing heavily in upgrades to its military capabilities. President Vladimir Putin plans to spend more than 20 trillion rubles ($700 billion) bringing equipment up to date by 2025.

A rare increase

The modernization program is continuing despite an economic crisis that has already forced Russia to adopt an austerity budget for next year.

Defense and national security were the only departments to escape cuts of at least 5%. Spending on the military is set to rise by 85% between 2012 and 2017.

Russia's defense budget is now the third largest in the world, behind the U.S. and China.

Airfields, hundreds of fighter jets and a new fleet of battle tanks are in the works. Russia is also developing new long-range missiles, has acquired an advanced nuclear submarine and is working on eight new vessels for the navy, due for delivery by 2020.

Predictably US companies sell most arms - to US military

Russia's relations with the West are the most strained they've been since the end of the Cold War. The U.S. and Europe have imposed sanctions against Russian companies and officials for annexing Crimea and providing support for rebels in eastern Ukraine.

The crisis in Ukraine could provide another boost to Russian arms sales.

"It is too early to say, but the conflict is likely to have an impact on some specific orders -- especially conventional ammunition," said Aude Fleurant, research director at the Stockholm institute.

Sanctions are unlikely to put much of a dent in sales at Russian defense companies, because they largely supply the domestic markets, or countries such as China and India.

But they have killed one $3 billion strategic deal, at least for now. France has halted the delivery of two Mistral warships until further notice.

Russia may deploy nuclear weapons in Crimea

Source : Pravda.Ru

 

Russia, in accordance with international law, has every reason to deploy nuclear weapons anywhere on its territory, including in the Crimea, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.  

According to him, the territory of the Crimea has never been a territory that would fall under the category of a "nuclear-free zone" that exist in Latin America, Central and South-East Asia.

"The Crimea has never been a nuclear-free zone in international and legal sense. It was a part of Ukraine, a non-nuclear state. Now the Crimea has become a part of the state, which, in accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, possesses such weapons," Lavrov told Interfax. 

Around 400 missiles on combat duty in Russia missile forces

Source : http://indian.ruvr.ru/news

Around 400 strategic missiles with warheads assigned for them are currently on combat duty in Strategic Missile Forces, Commander of Strategic Missile Forces Colonel General Sergey Karakayev told reporters.

“Russian Strategic Missile Forces have around two thirds of nuclear warheads in the country’s Strategic Nuclear Forces,” he said on the eve of the 55th anniversary of establishing Russian Strategic Missile Forces.

Launchers in the missile forces are divided equally between its formations, Karakayev said. Meanwhile, silo-basing component certainly prevails in the number and power of warheads, as around 70% of missile forces’ nuclear potential are now concentrated in this component. Presently six types of missile systems are on combat duty. Three of them are ground-based and other three are silo-based.

Around 6,000 serve daily at combat posts in alert forces, no less than 95% of missile systems on combat duty are constantly on standby for immediate launch of missiles, Karakayev noted.

The commander also noted that according to missile forces’ plan of activities, by 2020 these troops will be fully provided with modern missiles. “The share of modern missiles will make around 50% by the end of December. Presently the Strategic Missile Forces jointly with the industry are rearming actively the troops to modernize systems, both ground-and silo-based,” he said.

New Russian submarines to ‘have underwater drones, keep double-hull design’

Source : http://rt.com/news/line

Russia’s next-generation nuclear-powered attack submarines will be armed with torpedoes, missiles and underwater drones, Malakhit design bureau’s Deputy General Director Nikolay Novoselov told RIA Novosti on Monday. The drones will be able to detach from the submarine while switched off and power up on command. “The displacement will be roughly similar to that of the Yasen-class subs – some 12,000 tons or even slightly less,” Novoselov said, adding that a double-hull structure will remain.

At the press conference of Vladimir Putin were accredited 1259 journalists

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At a press conference by Vladimir Putin, which will start in December, 18 12:0 1259 were accredited journalists. They are both Russian Federal and regional MASS MEDIA and foreign.

The event will be attended by reporters from Germany, Vietnam, Korea, China, the United States, France and other States, as well as eight Ukrainian reporters. In addition, it appears that channel Kseniya Sobchak "rain". This press conference will be the tenth. Among the accredited journalists, of which both the President and all, watched the broadcast, remembered for previous years.

In particular, the event is the editor of the Vladivostok newspaper "popular Assembly" Maria Solovienko, which in 2012 year named head of State Legal. In an interview to explain why she was murdered was not afraid enough familiar appeal to the head of State. Following the proposal made by the President of "sit down, Maria Solovienko in response," thanked him as Legal.

"I wasn't scared so refer to it. And what is wrong? He called me Mary! And I, in fact, Maria Dmitrievna! Here I am its in response and called the Legal! as the journalist said.

In 2013, the emergence of Solovienko also did not go unnoticed. At first she remembered as "blue-eyed", spokesman Dmitry Peskov tore her microphone, and warned: "I have a quick question in three parts ..." An editor read a line from the story "Chuk I gek" and then asked about the idle medoborudovanii for 20 million rubles.

Russia to continue to expand ties with Bolivarian Alliance

Source : English.news.cn

HAVANA, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia will continue to expand relations with countries of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA).

"We highly appreciate the constructive line of the ALBA States related to the international issues; we share their fidelity to the principles of a fair and democratic world order," Putin said in a message to Cuban leader Raul Castro on the occasion of an ALBA summit in Havana on Sunday.

ALBA was founded in 2004 by then Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and former Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

The bloc, which aims to counter U.S. influence in the region, groups Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Dominica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines as well as Cuba and Venezuela. Granada and St. Kitts and Nevis joined the bloc at the current summit.

US uses Ukraine for WWIII against Russia: Investigative historian

Source : http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/12/15/390305/us-uses-ukraine-for-wwiii-against-russia/

American investigative historian Eric Zuesse has said that the United States is using the crisis in Ukraine to wage an all-out war against Russia.

“Washington isn’t out to help the Ukrainian people; it’s solely using Ukraine as a launching-pad for WWIII against Russia,” he wrote in an article published by Global Research on Sunday.

The famous author explained that President Barack Obama was expected to sign the “congressional authorization for war against Russia” and the Pentagon was shipping “military supplies into Ukraine for use against Ukraine’s ethnic Russians.”

Zuesse also noted that Moscow would respond to Washington’s measures against the Kremlin after a leading Russian parliamentarian said Americans wanted to turn Ukraine into a fighting platform against his country.

The historian finally urged the American people to question US authorities about the reason that they voted to approve sending weapons to Ukraine.

On Thursday, the US Congress imposed new economic sanctions against Russia and authorized lethal and non-lethal military aid to Ukraine.

The legislation authorized Obama to provide lethal aid to Ukraine, including anti-tank weapons, ammunition, and "tactical troop-operated surveillance drones."

The United States accuses Russia of sending troops into eastern Ukraine in support of the pro-Russian forces, an allegation denied by the Kremlin.

Last week, the Pentagon threatened Russia with redeploying nuclear cruise missiles to Europe, accusing Moscow of violating two arms control treaties.

Media reported the arrival of NATO planes in the airport of Zaporizhia

Source : http://m.vk.com/wall-31371206_373224

On Saturday, 13 December, at 23.30 In Zaporozhia landed two transport planes from the United States. Two hours later, another two aircraft sat-Hercules. Being unloaded. According to information provided by the source, the cargo is in the boxes, the "new Russia".

We remind that in late November, the perimeter of the airport began to strengthen defensive towers, only recently this work has been finished. Publication implies that the United States does not intend to wait for the Senate to approve military aid to Ukraine and started to force the rearmament of the Ukrainian army. Military experts say that you should expect and new military advisers.

It was also reported that in the Kharkiv region, on the basis of the ATO in Chuguev, NATO soldiers were observed. Foreigners and chuguev arose before, but not in uniform. According to eyewitnesses, about 50 NATO members, they spoke in English, did not want to be photographed, answering a direct aggression on the people trying to do it with a phone.

Berlin anti-war rally protests NATO militarism, anti-Russian warmongering

Source : http://rt.com/news/214247-berlin-anti-nato-militarism-march/

Hundreds of people in Berlin joined the German Peace Movement march on Saturday, blaming the West – especially the US and NATO – for spreading wars worldwide. The protest called for peaceful resolutions to conflicts and mending relations with Russia.

At least 3,500 people came out to support the ‘Die Friedensbewegung’ march, which ended outside Bellevue Palace – the official residence of Germany’s President Joachim Gauck.

Footage from Ruptly shows hundreds of people marching down the streets chanting while carrying placards, posters, flags and signs.

Shouting slogans against what the protesters say is Gauck’s pro-war policy, they referred to Western governments as warmongers. Organizers of the march told Die Welt that wars are spreading around the world with immense speed, and those conflicts eventually come back to bite Europe in one form or another.

They added that NATO and the US are the main players behind the militaristic policies that ignite global conflict.

One of the topics that concerned protesters the most is the relationship between Germany and Russia in light of the Ukrainian conflict.

“Russian people are our friends and we don’t want to live at war with them. We like peace in Europe and Russia is one part of Europe,” one of the protesters told Ruptly.

People of all ages participated in the march, including children and the elderly. Some brought along drums to keep the atmosphere upbeat.

Police were dispatched to supervise the peaceful rally, but did not intervene.

Russia to write off Uzbekistan’s $860M debt

Source : http://en.trend.az/casia/uzbekistan/2342308.html

Russia and Uzbekistan signed an agreement on settlement of mutual financial claims and liabilities.

The document was signed in the presence of the presidents of Russia and Uzbekistan, Vladimir Putin and Islam Karimov.

The agreement stipulates that Moscow will write off over $860 million debt of Tashkent.

An intergovernmental agreement was also signed on the main directions of development and deepening of economic cooperation in 2015-2019.

Russia’s Defense Ministry establishes Arctic Strategic Command

Source : http://itar-tass.com/en/russia/764428

MOSCOW, December 1. /TASS/. A new Joint Strategic Command, dubbed North, on Monday became operational in the Russian Arctic on the basis of the Northern Fleet.

A Russian Defense Ministry source told TASS the command starts taking under its control various formations, military units and vessels that were earlier part of the Western, Central and Southern military districts, and “this process is due to last for two or three weeks.”

According to the source, the force groupings of the new command have been already formed on Russia’s insular territories in the Arctic, including the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago, the New Siberian Islands, the Wrangel Island and also Cape Schmidt.

“These groupings form the Joint task force that has been equipped with modern weaponry, including the Rubezh coastal missile systems and the Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft artillery weapon systems,” the source said.

In late October, chief of the Russian National Defense Center, Lt. Gen. Mikhail Mizintsev, said Russia plans to build 13 airfields, one aviation training ground and 10 technical radars and air guidance stations in the Arctic region.

The new command, which will be named as a fifth Russian military district, is aimed at protecting Russian interests in the Arctic region, and the Northern Fleet will become its main striking force.

S-500 system to be supplied to Armed Forces after 2015

Source : http://www.siberianinsider.com

Modern missile system S-500 will be supplied to the Armed Forces in 2016 already, Chief of the Russian Air Defence Major General Victor Gumenny said in an interview with the Echo of Moscow radio station on Saturday.

He said the advanced systems may solve the tasks of air-space defence and may fight hypersonic weapons.

Russia agrees to Indonesian technology transfer

Source: http://www.siberianinsider.com

Russian export agency Rosoboronexport has agreed to enhance the transfer of military technologies and related knowhow to Indonesia to improve local capabilities and the operation of Russian platforms in service with the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI).

A statement by the Indonesian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 8 December said following meetings with Rosoboronexport, the Russian agency agreed to prioritise technology transfers that would enable both the TNI and Indonesian industry to provide enhanced “care and maintenance” for procured Russian systems.

The MoD quoted Rosoboronexport Director General Anatoly Isaykin as saying that Russian-Indonesian co-operation had now “entered a new phase, namely military-engineering collaboration”.

Russia ready to build up to 25 nuclear units in India - Putin

Source : http://tass.ru/en/economy/766044

MOSCOW, December 9. /TASS/. Russia can build up to 25 nuclear units in India, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with India’s PTI news agency ahead of his visit to New Delhi due on Thursday.

“Apart from building new energy units of the NPP "Kudankulam", we await the decision of the Indian government to allot a site for construction of a new Russian-designed nuclear power plant,” the Russian leader said. “Our resources enable us to build up to 25 energy units in India.”

“However, even these units may not meet the needs of dynamically developing economy of India,” Putin said citing to expert estimates. “This is why we intend to discuss the prospects for further development of our cooperation in the domain of nuclear energy during the upcoming meeting with Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi.”

Apart from that, he said, a policy document - Strategic Vision of the Strengthening Russian-Indian Cooperation in the Field of Peaceful Uses of the Atomic Energy - was being prepared for signing. “Alongside with new energy units' construction, it provides for the exchange of the results of activities in the field of science, technology and innovation,” Putin noted.

The Russian president underscored that nuclear cooperation was a pillar of Russia-India strategic partnership. “We concluded two inter-governmental agreements in this field in 2008 and in 2010. The Road Map for the Serial Construction of the Russian designed Nuclear Power Plants in the Republic of India, which was signed in 2010, is currently being implemented,” Putin said.

Russian specialists have been building the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu since 1998, when the sides signed a general agreement on construction. The project provides for the construction of four energy units with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts each. In 2010, the sides signed a roadmap for the serial construction of up to 14-16 Russian-designed nuclear units in India. In the spring of 2014, Russia and India inked a deal for the construction of Kudankulam’s second stage.

By 2017, India plans to build 19 nuclear units with an overall capacity of 17,400 megawatt. Eight of these 19 will be built in partnership with other countries.

Interview from President Putin to the Indian Information Agency PTI

Source : http://eng.kremlin.ru/transcripts/23365

In the run up to his official visit to India Vladimir Putin gave an interview to the Indian Information Agency PTI.

QUESTION: Your upcoming visit to India is the first one since the government headed by Mr. Narendra Modi came to power; however, you have already met with him several times on the sidelines of international events. What results do you expect from the summit, primarily as far as Russian-Indian political, trade and economic relations are concerned?

PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN: As the President of the Russian Federation, I have been to India five times. I particularly remember my visit in October 2000, when we signed the historic Declaration on Strategic Partnership with the Indian partners.

With regard to my contacts with Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi, that is true, we became acquainted on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Brazil this July. We also had meaningful conversations in Brisbane (Australia) in November at the meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the BRICS countries and during the G20 summit.

I note with satisfaction the commitment of the Indian leadership to searching for new promising areas of cooperation. I am convinced that the common aspiration to further develop our bilateral relations will help to achieve significant results at the upcoming Indian-Russian Summit.

We look forward to discussing specific steps aimed at strengthening the privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India. We will devote particular attention to expanding trade and economic links and boosting mutual investments. Serious preparatory work has been done during the past sessions of the Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation and the Indo-Russian Forum on Trade and Investment (New Delhi, November 5, 2014). Joint strategic projects include the construction of new units for Indian nuclear power plants, promotion of Russian Sukhoi Superjet-100 and MS-21 aircraft to the Indian market, introduction of the GLONASS system in the sectors of the Indian economy. Our priorities include building a butyl rubber plant, helicopter manufacturing, creating "a smart city" on the basis of Russian technologies, organizing assembly of industrial tractors.

We attach particular importance to the development of military and technical cooperation that is one of the main components of our strategic partnership. We will discuss in detail the current projects in this most important sphere related not only to the export of ready-made equipment but to close technological and industrial cooperation as well.

Furthermore, we will exchange views on current international and regional issues and on deepening foreign policy coordination in order to further strengthen security and stability in Eurasia and in the whole world.

Of course, we will discuss in substance how to give a new impetus to the bilateral ties in the humanitarian sphere, increase contacts between the citizens of our countries.

QUESTION: India has traditionally regarded Russia, and the USSR in the past, as a reliable "friend for all times." However, lately in India concerns have been raised about a sort of intensification of military and technical cooperation between Russia and Pakistan. In this light, do you think it would be appropriate to say that military and technical cooperation between Russia and India can be transformed?

VLADIMIR PUTIN Our countries have been maintaining military and technical cooperation for many decades. Moreover, I would like to emphasize that India is a reliable and time-tested partner.

If some transformations take place, it would be a completely different kind of transformations. As I have already noted, the high level of bilateral cooperation and trust allows us to start a gradual transition from the traditional producer‑consumer model to joint development and production of advanced weapons systems. We already have examples of such effective cooperation, by which I mean the production of high-precision up-to-date BrahMos missiles and creation of a multifunctional fifth-generation fighter aircraft.

As for Pakistan, we have held talks on Russia's possible assistance aimed at improving effectiveness of counter-terrorism and antidrug operations. In my view, this kind of cooperation serves the long-term interests of all countries of the region, including India.

QUESTION: Russia and India are successfully cooperating in the field of energy. India is planning to expand this cooperation, including through participation in the development of oil and gas deposits in the Eastern Siberia. What is Russia’s position on this matter? What would it be realistic for India to expect? In your opinion, what are the prospects of supplying Russian natural gas to India through a pipeline?

VLADIMIR PUTIN: Historically, Russia has exported most of its hydrocarbons to the West. However, European consumption is increasing too slowly, while political, regulatory and transit risks are on the rise. At the same time, the economies of Asian countries are growing rapidly. Thus, we are naturally interested in diversifying the destinations of our energy deliveries.

We expect to secure ourselves a role of a reliable energy supplier to the Asian markets. At the same time, we intend to boost economic growth in Russia’s Eastern Siberia and Far East regions and build new infrastructure there.

In view of the fact that Russia currently implements large-scale energy projects, we are interested in attracting new investments and technologies, including from India. As a good example of our mutually beneficial cooperation with Indian partners I could cite, in particular, the Sakhalin 1 project. A government oil and natural gas corporation ONGC is participating in it through its subsidiary, the ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL), which is a major Indian investor in Russia. Under the Sakhalin -1 project, over one million tons of oil is supplied to India annually.

The issue of participation by the OVL in hydrocarbons exploration in the Arctic is being actively discussed. This May, at the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Rosneft and OVL relating to cooperation on Russia's Arctic shelf within an international consortium. Gazpromneft is also interested in networking with Indian oil and gas companies with a view to implementing Arctic projects.

As far as Russia's natural gas supplies to India are concerned, that issue needs thorough consideration. A preliminary analysis has shown that the cost of pipeline transportation may significantly exceed that of liquefied natural gas supplies. So this is largely the question of commercial feasibility.

For the time being, Russian liquefied natural gas transportation seems the best choice. Let me remind you that last year the Gazprom Marketing and Trading Company already delivered to India two LNG shipments totaling 0.11 million tons in all. A long-term agreement on LNG supplies signed between the Gazprom Group and India's GAIL in 2012 entered into force in June 2014: it provides for the delivery of 2.5 million tons a year for the period of 20 years. India will start receiving LNG shipments as early as in 2017, or, in case the deadlines are shifted, by all means no later than in 2021.

We hope that our increased cooperation in the energy sector will contribute to India's sustainable and progressive social and economic development and help improve the quality of life of Indian people.

QUESTION: Russia is a long-standing partner of India in the domain of peaceful nuclear energy. What specific agreements are you planning to implement in the short term? What problems arise in this regard?

VLADIMIR PUTIN Nuclear energy cooperation is one of the pillars of our strategic partnership. We concluded two inter-governmental agreements in this field in 2008 and in 2010. The Road Map for the Serial Construction of the Russian designed Nuclear Power Plants in the Republic of India, which was signed in 2010, is currently being implemented.

The work on two energy units of the NPP "Kudankulam" is proceeding as scheduled. In October 2013, the first energy unit of that NPP was connected to the Indian power grid, and this June that unit reached its full capacity. The second energy unit is being prepared for commissioning.

Documentation to start construction of the second stage of that NPP has been nearly finalized. A general framework agreement for building the third and fourth energy units was signed in Mumbai this April.

I must stress that today NPP "Kudankulam" is the world's only nuclear power plant which meets all the "post-Fukushima" safety requirements.

Apart from building new energy units of the NPP "Kudankulam", we await the decision of the Indian government to allot a site for construction of a new Russian-designed nuclear power plant.

Our resources enable us to build up to 25 energy units in India. According to experts, however, even these units may not meet the needs of dynamically developing economy of India. This is why we intend to discuss the prospects for further development of our cooperation in the domain of nuclear energy during the upcoming meeting with Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi. The policy document "Strategic Vision of the Strengthening Russian-Indian Cooperation in the Field of Peaceful Uses of the Atomic Energy" is also being prepared to be signed. Alongside with new energy units' construction, it provides for the exchange of the results of activities in the field of science, technology and innovation.

QUESTION: Russia and India are planning to increase their trade turnover. What can be said about the prospects of establishing a free-trade regime between our countries?

VLADIMIR PUTIN Russia and India have a huge potential of bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Alongside with that we have recently noted some decrease in bilateral trade due to unfavorable macroeconomic situation in the world. Last year's trade turnover amounted to 10 billion dollars, which is one billion less than during the previous year. It is important to reverse this trend.

A particular emphasis should be made on the development of high-technology areas of cooperation, namely nuclear energy, military and technical cooperation, space research, aircraft and automobile production, pharmaceuticals industry, chemical industry, information technologies and nanotechnologies.

We place great hopes in the Joint Working Groups on Strategic Cooperation and on Priority Investment Projects, being the new mechanisms established during the meeting of the Inter-Governmental Commission in November.

India expressed an interest in concluding a free-trade agreement with the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. The experts of the joint group, which is being formed under the Eurasian Economic Commission, will decide what steps should be taken and identify categories of goods for which the markets may be opened and those for which it would be still too early.

Obviously, not everything depends on a trade regime. There are some areas to be improved, I mean logistics and securing favorable financial conditions for implementing deals. The issue of a possible transition to payments in national currencies is also quite relevant.

QUESTION: Has the change of government in India this May influenced the progress of the Russian-Indian special and privileged strategic partnership?

VLADIMIR PUTIN: Relations between Russia and India have never been susceptible to momentary developments. At all historic times, regardless of political and public leaders, our countries remained reliable partners in deepening our multifaceted bilateral cooperation.

For example, we signed the above-mentioned Declaration on Strategic Partnership 14 years ago with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who led the government headed by Bharatiya Janata Party. A great role in elevating our relations to the level of special and privileged strategic partnership was played by the previous government formed by the Indian National Congress.

I am convinced that we will continue this fruitful work together with the new government in order to expand our multifaceted and mutually beneficial contacts, especially given the fact that as far back as he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat state Mr. Narendra Modi visited several times the Astrakhan Region, which has since established fraternal relations with that Indian state. Thus, today, we are happy to see friendly India to be led by a reputable political leader, who has already made a significant personal contribution to the promotion of the Russian-Indian cooperation.