The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Inside Russian Bomber Base



BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/c...&nbram=1&asb=1

Russian defense spending to grow 20% in 2008, to $40 bln

Russia's Defense Ministry will spend around one trillion rubles ($40 bln) of federal budget funds in 2008, 20% more than in 2007, a ministry official said on Tuesday. "The Defense Ministry will spend a little less than one trillion rubles in 2008, which is about 20% more than last year," Deputy Defense Minister Lyubov Kudelina said. She also said that in 2008-10, military spending would account for 15.5-16% of aggregate federal budget expenditure. She said most of the funds would be spent on the maintenance of the armed forces, the procurement and repair of military hardware, scientific and research work, and construction. The official did not say how much would be spent this year on the procurement of new military hardware, but last year's figure was over 300 billion rubles ($12 billion), 20% higher than in 2006. Russia has downsized its Armed Forces to about 1.1 million personnel, but military spending has increased dramatically under President Putin. Defense spending is set to total 1.18 trillion rubles ($45 billion) by 2010.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080226/100080440.html

Ivanov Promised to Discard 90 Percent of Combat and Transport Aircraft

Ivanov Promised to Discard 90 Percent of Combat and Transport Aircraft Over 90 percent of Russia’s combat and transport jets will be discarded by 2015, said First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, emphasizing the obsolete nature of the country's transport aircraft fleet, RIA Novosti reported. The transport planes that are at disposal of the RF Air Force have become obsolete “both physically and morally,” the first deputy prime minister said, blaming it on the low rates of new aircraft development and on reduction in supplies of existing jets. The situation with civil cargo aircraft isn’t much better, Ivanov pointed out. When touching upon the methods to renew the jet fleet, Ivanov said that the money has been appropriated “to transfer Il-76 drawings into the digital format.” The planes will be made at Voronezh and Ulyanovsk aircraft construction plants. What’s more, researchers of Russia and India are jointly designing a new multifunctional transport jet, Ivanov specified.

Source: http://www.kommersant.com/p-12127/Ivanov_aircraft/

Russia's RS-24 ICBM to enter service in 2009 - SMF commander

A new intercontinental ballistic missile with multiple warheads is due to enter service with Russia's Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) next year, the SMF commander said on Wednesday. The RS-24 is a new-generation intercontinental ballistic missile, which is equipped with a multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) warhead, was first tested on May 29, 2007 after a secret military R&D project, and then again on December 25, 2007. "The RS-24 ICBM will enter service in 2009," Col. Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov said adding that two more test launches of RS-24 are planned for this year from the Plesetsk space center in northwest Russia. The high-ranking official also said that in total Russia plans to carry out 11 test and military training ICBM launches in 2008. The RS-24 ICBM, which will replace the older SS-18 and SS-19 missiles by 2050, is expected to greatly strengthen the SMF's strike capability and Russia's nuclear deterrent, as well as that of its allies until the mid-21st century. The SMF commander earlier said that new missile systems will enable the force to infiltrate any missile defense systems, even those that have not yet been established. He also said Russia is putting an average of three mobile and three or four fixed-site missile launching systems into operation every year, and that Russia would double its test launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles after 2009.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080227/100186909.html

[Azad]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Why is Europe so dependent on Russia's energy today? What were their past supplies that they are becoming so dependent on the Russian supply. I don't think their economic output changed drastically that this is all new and additional supplies from their past sources. As much I like Russia to counter balance the "western" monopoly. I would not like to see the Dollar loose it singular unite of measurement. There is the Euro that took a chunk of the $'s value except if every new merging power will try to use their currency as an exchange it will be a mess and will ruin the American economy.

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

I am not an expert on this topic, but this is the way I see it:

Global economies and global energy demands are growing very fast as modernization reaches all corners of the world. The gargantuan Chinese economy, for instance, is projected to require over 90 percent of its energy needs from abroad. Indian demand for energy is also growing fast. North American demand for energy remains high. Europe remains high as well and with the acquirement of eastern European nation, it may even grow further. What's more, as developing nations of the world "develop" they will also see a growing demand for energy. Now, juxtapose this picture to the alarming fact that oil/gas resources and production are decreasing globally. Traditional oil and gas production regions such as the Persian Gulf, the Mexican Gulf and the Northern Atlantic are getting exhausted and are said to be unable to meet future demands. Thus, this leaves Eurasia as the only remaining 'longterm' source for 'readily available' gas and oil. Sadly, for the West, Eurasia is more-or-less controlled today by the Russian Federation. However, nations such as Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are pivotal in this equation. Also factor in that during the 1990s the West practically had a free 'exploitive' hand in Russian's natural resources. Putin put a drastic stop to this situation when he took power in the year 2000.

This is a very serious topic, alarming and global in scale, that the general populace is not being made aware of. It is easy to see why experts in the field today have been stating that future wars will be fought for the control of natural resources, be it gas, oil, precious metals, minerals or fresh water. We are already seeing this in various hot-spots around the world. Note that Canada's western regions have substantial reserves that have not yet been tapped into. Africa also has substantial reserves of oil/gas and that is essentially why we have been seeing war and "genocide" in regions of Africa that are being contested by the West and the East. The Arctic sea region is also said to contain massive amounts of gas and oil and that is why Russia made the first move there, enraging the West. In short: Increasing demand for energy coupled with decreasing production is creating this situation.

Regarding the US Dollar, it is already in decline and it will remain so. If Europe ever gets its act together and breaks its slave mentality when it come to its relationship to the US, the Euro can potentially become the next mighty currency. The Russian Ruble is also poised to become powerful, however, its future is dependent upon Russia's political/economic efficiency and maturity.

Why is Europe so dependent on Russia's energy today? What were their past supplies that they are becoming so dependent on the Russian supply. I don't think their economic output changed drastically that this is all new and additional supplies from their past sources. As much I like Russia to counter balance the "western" monopoly. I would not like to see the Dollar loose it singular unite of measurement. There is the Euro that took a chunk of the $'s value except if every new merging power will try to use their currency as an exchange it will be a mess and will ruin the American economy.

[Merv]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

The site looks like a political tabloid. I wouldn't take it seriously. Giving Serbia economic, diplomatic and military support is one thing. Giving them nukes? I don't think so.

Absolutely. Russia wouldn't give nukes to Belarus, which is practically an ethnic clone of Russia (they're basically Russian, duh) and is practically in a union with Russia in terms of policy. So they definitely wouldn't give nukes to Serbia.

Countries just don't give nukes, not even to their friends.

Although, can you discuss why you think Russia is supporting Iran's nuclear program? Do you really think Iran is using this merely for reactors?

[Merv]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Re: Africa

It is obvious that Africa's troubles are being aggravated by Western interference. Nigeria has plenty of oil and it is believed that Sudan does as well. That is the root behind Chinese and Western complaisance/complicity in the Sudanese civil wars and also possibly the religious conflicts in Nigeria. S. Africa has massive diamond deposits and the highest quality diamonds in the world. No doubt, apartheid was something those "humanitarians" in the West "overlooked" for so long because they were afraid the diamond and gold flow from S. Africa might get blocked if black Africans took control of the country.

What I'm wondering about is, what in Rwanda was so attractive to the Belgians and French to meddle there? I'm not aware of any resources.

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Abkhazia, Transdniestria and South Ossetia prepare joint recognition appeal

"If anyone thinks that Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transdniestria will stop after the recognition of Kosovo, they are making a big mistake," announced Abkhazia's President Sergei Bagapsh right after Kosovo unilaterally declared independence against the wishes of Serbia. Along with his counterpart in Transdniestria - President Igor Smirnov - he is now preparing a joint appeal for recognition of the states, turning their current 'de facto' reality of independent statehood into a formal 'de jure' situation after nearly two decades in legal limbo. In both Abkhazia and Transdniestria, residents are now asking: If Kosovo can be recognized as an independent state, why can't we?

" - Kosovo is a precedent," declared Bagapsh, saying that Abkhazia, Transdniestria and South Ossetia would submit requests for the recognition of their independence to Russia, the United Nations and the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States). At the same time, however, he stresses that the countries have a better case for independent statehood than Kosovo, both historically and legally under international law.

" - We said one and two years ago that the recognition of Kosovo was immaterial to us. We started our independence campaign earlier and would continue it to the end," Bagapsh said.

Four unrecognized countries

Along with South Ossetia, Nagorno Karabakh and Transdniestria, the new and emerging Republic of Abkhazia is one of the four former Soviet regions that declared their independence in the 1990s and fought for their independence but that have not yet been recognized as states. Officials and citizens alike are now saying that Kosovo would create a legal precedent that they too could follow.

" - If they recognized Kosovo, how are we any worse?" said Nodar Sheoua, a student in Sukhumi, as reported by Reuters.

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on Sunday. Less than 15% of the world's countries have given formal recognition to Kosovo. Western backers of Kosovo's independence claim that it does not set a precedent, but the former Soviet nations call this a double standard that will now be harder to defend. Home to more than 200,000 people, Abkhazia has run its own affairs since a fierce war for independence right after the break-up of the Soviet Union. The mountainous state, which borders Russia to one side and Georgia to the other, has its own flag, elected government and armed forces.

Transdniestria announces new era has begun

Abkhazia's democratically elected president, Sergei Bagapsh, said at a news conference last week that his de-facto country was just as entitled to recognition as Kosovo.

" - We will shortly apply to the leadership of Russia, the CIS countries, the UN and other international organizations to recognize our independence," Bagapsh said.

Transdniestria, which seceded from Moldova before Moldova even was an independent country, said Kosovo proved that international rules on the inviolability of borders "were receding into history."

" - Kosovo's recognition produces a new system of measures that we believe should be applied to all countries," said Yevgeny Shevchuk, speaker of the Transdniestrian parliament, told the press.

Source: http://www.tiraspoltimes.com/news/ab...on_appeal.html

[Le Tour]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Cooperation with Russia and Iran Neutralizes Military Threat from Turkey

(Regnum/PanArmenian.net)--Armenia's relations with both Russia and Iran help to neutralize threats to Armenia and preserve military and political balance in the region stated Armenian National Security Secretary and Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian in a report titled "Directions of National Security Strategy of Armenian Republic."

"Armenian-Russian military cooperation, especially the presence of the Russian military in Armenia, neutralizes the military threat coming from Turkey," says the report.

The document notes that the Armenian-Russian strategic partnership is developing in three important directions, these being the formation of coalition groups, anti-aircraft defense, and cooperation within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

The report also highlights Armenian and Russian cooperation in the multilateral sphere. "For example, the unified anti-aircraft defense system along with the joint Armenian-Russian patrol solves one of the most important problems of the national security, while the Armenian-Russian military bloc within the CSTO maintains the military-political balance in the South Caucasus region," the report says.

At the same time the report says Armenian-Russian relations never posed obstacles for the development of Armenia's foreign policy in other directions, such as European integration. "Russia has also adopted the European way of development and the increasing cooperation between Russia and the European Union creates a favorable environment for the harmonization of Armenia's two priority directions for the development of state and national security," the document says.

The document also describes the importance of Armenian-Iranian relations in preserving military and political balance in the region.

The document states, that Iran, along with Turkey, is a crucial country for regional military and political balance in the region. And since Turkey is a member of NATO and allied with the US and Israel, it is regarded by Iran as a possible enemy. Their rivalry provides Armenia with the ability to neutralize the Azerbaijan-Turkey coalition against Armenia.

The report also mentions cooperation with Iran in the energy sector, which is aimed at finding alternative energy sources for Armenia.

According to the report, Iran is very important to Armenia for transportation and because of the economic blockade of Armenia. Iran is a strategic route to Asia and the Middle East, and also an alternate route to Russia. Iran is also geographically close to Karabagh, and maintains a balanced position regarding the conflict.

The report pays special attention to the pressure that Azerbaijan puts on Iran, as an Islamic country. Azerbaijan frames the Karabagh conflict as a religious conflict and speculates that there are over "one million Muslim refugees."

It also points out that Azerbaijan is threatening to expand cooperation with the US that rivals Iran. Armenia, on the other hand, maintains balanced relations so cooperation between the US and Armenia does not go against Iranian interests.

Asbarez March 6, 2006

https://www.le-tour-driven-worldwide.com

[Le Tour]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Do you think Badri was killed by the georgian governour?

[Le Tour]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Do you think Badri was killed by the georgian governour?

Could be since he did upset him allegedly says www.chauffeur-car-hire.co.uk

[Le Tour]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Inside Russian Bomber Base



BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/c...&nbram=1&asb=1

Russian defense spending to grow 20% in 2008, to $40 bln

Russia's Defense Ministry will spend around one trillion rubles ($40 bln) of federal budget funds in 2008, 20% more than in 2007, a ministry official said on Tuesday. "The Defense Ministry will spend a little less than one trillion rubles in 2008, which is about 20% more than last year," Deputy Defense Minister Lyubov Kudelina said. She also said that in 2008-10, military spending would account for 15.5-16% of aggregate federal budget expenditure. She said most of the funds would be spent on the maintenance of the armed forces, the procurement and repair of military hardware, scientific and research work, and construction. The official did not say how much would be spent this year on the procurement of new military hardware, but last year's figure was over 300 billion rubles ($12 billion), 20% higher than in 2006. Russia has downsized its Armed Forces to about 1.1 million personnel, but military spending has increased dramatically under President Putin. Defense spending is set to total 1.18 trillion rubles ($45 billion) by 2010.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080226/100080440.html

Ivanov Promised to Discard 90 Percent of Combat and Transport Aircraft

Ivanov Promised to Discard 90 Percent of Combat and Transport Aircraft Over 90 percent of Russia’s combat and transport jets will be discarded by 2015, said First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, emphasizing the obsolete nature of the country's transport aircraft fleet, RIA Novosti reported. The transport planes that are at disposal of the RF Air Force have become obsolete “both physically and morally,” the first deputy prime minister said, blaming it on the low rates of new aircraft development and on reduction in supplies of existing jets. The situation with civil cargo aircraft isn’t much better, Ivanov pointed out. When touching upon the methods to renew the jet fleet, Ivanov said that the money has been appropriated “to transfer Il-76 drawings into the digital format.” The planes will be made at Voronezh and Ulyanovsk aircraft construction plants. What’s more, researchers of Russia and India are jointly designing a new multifunctional transport jet, Ivanov specified.

Source: http://www.kommersant.com/p-12127/Ivanov_aircraft/

Russia's RS-24 ICBM to enter service in 2009 - SMF commander

A new intercontinental ballistic missile with multiple warheads is due to enter service with Russia's Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) next year, the SMF commander said on Wednesday. The RS-24 is a new-generation intercontinental ballistic missile, which is equipped with a multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) warhead, was first tested on May 29, 2007 after a secret military R&D project, and then again on December 25, 2007. "The RS-24 ICBM will enter service in 2009," Col. Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov said adding that two more test launches of RS-24 are planned for this year from the Plesetsk space center in northwest Russia. The high-ranking official also said that in total Russia plans to carry out 11 test and military training ICBM launches in 2008. The RS-24 ICBM, which will replace the older SS-18 and SS-19 missiles by 2050, is expected to greatly strengthen the SMF's strike capability and Russia's nuclear deterrent, as well as that of its allies until the mid-21st century. The SMF commander earlier said that new missile systems will enable the force to infiltrate any missile defense systems, even those that have not yet been established. He also said Russia is putting an average of three mobile and three or four fixed-site missile launching systems into operation every year, and that Russia would double its test launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles after 2009.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080227/100186909.html

Politics is a dirty game and Phoney (Tony) Flair (Blair) has played it very well. A shameless commoner with a huge Pinnochio nose who is now living in the middle of the Arabic quarter of London. He should be hung right there at the gallows for the war crimes he has commited.========================================= ================================================== ================================================== ================================================== ================================================== ================================================== ================================================== ====

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