The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

[Armenian]

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

Russia's Putin invites new Armenian PM to Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sarksyan, winner of a disputed presidential election, to visit Moscow, news agencies quoted the Kremlin press service as saying on Monday. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan imposed a state of emergency on March 1 during street battles between police and protesters which killed eight people. The protesters say Kocharyan rigged the Feb. 19 election for his ally Sarksyan, who officially won with 53 percent of the vote against 21.5 percent for his nearest rival, former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan. On Saturday Armenia's constitutional court upheld the result of the election. "The invitation was accepted with gratitude," RIA-Novosti quoted the Kremlin as saying. It did not say when Sarksyan would visit Moscow. Ter-Petrosyan has previously said he will continue protests after the end of the 20-day emergency rule. Both sides have refused to negotiate. Western powers have urged Armenia to lift the emergency laws and on Monday Kocharyan did lift minor provisions of the laws. But soldiers still patrol the streets of Yerevan, public meetings are still banned and an information blackout remains in force. Russia is ex-Soviet Armenia's largest foreign investor. Armenia lies on the edge of the volatile Caucasus region across which runs a pipeline pumping oil from Asia to Europe. Any instability in Armenia is considered a threat to regional stability.

Source: http://in.reuters.com/article/worldN...32401220080310

[crusader1492]

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

Russia to start uranium exploration in Armenia

By M. Alkhazashvili
(Translated by Diana Dundua)
Monday, March 10
A joint Russian-Armenian venture will soon begin exploration and mining of uranium in Armenia, following an agreement signed between the two countries on February 6.

Russia plans to invest USD 3 million on uranium exploration in Armenia this year, the news agency RIA Novosti reports.

Preliminary data puts uranium reserves in Armenia at 50 000 tons, although the total amount could be anywhere between 25 000 and 100 000 tons.

http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/1562_march_10_2008/1562_econ_three.html

[Azad]

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

"McCain More Hawkish Than Bush on Russia, China, Iraq

... He's skeptical about Bush's plan to provide nuclear fuel to North Korea. He has signaled he would be tougher on China. And he called Russia's elections "rigged'' even as Bush said he wanted a ``close'' relationship with the president-elect."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20080312/pl_bloomberg/apzut4blweek

What are you going to do about it McCain?

[crusader1492]

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

What are you going to do about it McCain?

The guy is a disaster.

[Armanen]

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

The guy is a disaster.

Yeah I really hope obama becomes pres. but I have a feeling mccain will win.

[Armenian]

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

Joint command war games to be held in Russia and Armenia

Around 4,000 troops from Armenia, Russia and Tajikstan will take part in command exercises as part of Rubezh-2008 this Summer/Fall, a military spokesman said on Tuesday. The exercises are being held as part of Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) war games, Major General Vitaly Kormiltsev said, adding that troops, aircraft, air defense and other military hardware will be involved in the four-step exercises in Russia and Armenia. He said the number of personnel was not that important since "they will really participate as indication forces." "Rubezh-2008 is not a military exercise, but command war games," Kormiltsev said. The Collective Security Treaty Organization includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080311/101096419.html

Russia must use nuclear deterrent to protect allies - analyst

Russia must reserve the right to use nuclear weapons to protect Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) members in case of an imminent threat, a Russian political analyst said on Wednesday. The CSTO is a post-Soviet security group comprising Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. "It is necessary to extend part of Russia's nuclear doctrine, which covers the use of tactical nuclear weapons, to all members of the CSTO treaty as a deterrence guarantee," said Leonid Ivashov, the head of the Moscow-based Academy of Geopolitical Sciences. He said the existing treaty was too vague about the assistance, including military, which each CSTO country must provide to an ally in case of a clear and imminent threat of military aggression. "Article 4 of the treaty must be revised and contain a concrete definition of such assistance, clearly described in military-strategic terms," Ivashov said during a round-table meeting in Moscow. The Treaty on Collective Security was signed in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on 15 May 1992. The CSTO was established on 18 September 2003 in accordance with a decision of the heads of member states on transforming the treaty into an international regional organization. Article 4 of the current treaty stipulates that: "If an act of aggression is committed against any of the member states, all other member states will render it necessary assistance, including military, and provide support with the means at their disposal by exercising the right to collective defense in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter". The Russian leadership has already reaffirmed its commitment to building and maintaining a strong nuclear deterrent, while strongly criticizing the proposed deployment of the U.S. missile shield in Central Europe, and further eastward expansion of NATO.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080312/101160375.html

[Azad]

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

The guy is a disaster.

"McCain, who will be his party's presidential nominee to face the Democrats' choice in the November election, will visit Israel, Britain and France as part of a congressional delegation.

He will be joined by two of his closest Senate allies, Democrat-turned-Independent Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080313/pl_nm/usa_politics_mccain_dc

If he does win .... it is going to be an interesting world. Spit all over the merging powers and make your first visit to your master's nest with liberman.

[Armenian]

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

Russia: Duma To Weigh In On Abkhaz, South Ossetian, Transdniestrian Status

Russian MPs may recognise breakaway regions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzherA743NU

The leaders of the self-proclaimed republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, in Georgia, and Transdniester, in Moldova, have appealed to Russia to recognize their breakaway regions' independence. Russia's State Duma is debating whether to consider the joint bid, which comes in the wake of Kosovo's independence declaration from Serbia -- a move that many in the West encouraged but Moscow staunchly opposed. Duma deputies planned to hear appeals by parliamentary deputies from all three separatist, former Soviet provinces as part of their bid to gain independence.

Russia's lower house of parliament is expected to adopt a resolution on the Abkhaz, South Ossetian, and Transdnistrian regions' status. Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which broke away from Georgia in conflicts in the early 1990s, and Transdniester have each urged the international community to recognize their sovereignty. Their call came on the heels of the Kosovar declaration on February 19, which has since been recognized by dozens of other countries. The self-declared presidents of the three regions -- Abkhazia's Sergei Bagapsh, South Ossetia's Eduard Kokoity, and Transdniester's Igor Smirnov -- met in Moscow on March 12 to discuss their joint independence bid. Officials from Russia's Foreign, Defense, and Economic Development and Trade ministries were expected to attend the Duma debate.

Buoying Hopes

Despite strongly backing the three regions, Moscow has yet to recognize their self-declared governments. A number of Russian politicians, like State Duma deputy speaker Sergei Baburin, nonetheless openly support the provinces' independence drive. "Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transdniester have been recognized," Baburin said. "As a lawyer, I can tell you that there are international documents signed by the presidents of these republics, by the presidents of Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova, by OSCE representatives, as signatories enjoying equal rights. And this means recognition." A formal acknowledgement of independence would be sure to raise fury in Moldova and Georgia, whose ties with Moscow have soured in recent years. Dozens of Georgians were gathered outside the Russian Embassy in Tbilisi to protest the debate as the Duma convened.

Georgian Foreign Minister David Bakradze has urged Russia not to launch the process of recognition, let alone recognize, the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia at the Duma session. "We count on the good sense of Russian deputies to prevail," he said. Russia has warned the West that the recognition of Kosovo's independence will embolden separatist movements around the world, including on former Soviet territory. Russia's new ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, also said this week that Abkhazia and South Ossetia will secede if NATO takes steps toward granting Georgia NATO membership. But political analysts say Moscow has stopped short of recognizing Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transdniester for fear this will boost the Chechen separatist movement on its own territory.

Mikhail Aleksandrov, a Caucasus expert at Russia's CIS Institute, said it was too early for Moscow to grant formal recognition to Georgia and Moldova's breakaway regions. "Personally, I don't think that things now will go as far as a formal recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia," Aleksandrov said. "It would be illogical for us, after opposing the Kosovo precedent, to immediately recognize Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transdniester. It would go against logic and undermine our whole diplomatic position on the international scene." Moscow's stance appears to be contributing to impatience in the breakaway provinces. In comments published by the Russian daily "Kommersant" on March 13, Transdniester's Smirnov lambasted Russia for lacking the "courage" to help the three regions achieve independence.

Source: http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle...0808eebe3.html

[Armenian]

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

Russia's Putin vows close China ties under Medvedev

Russian president Vladimir Putin promised China on Thursday that Moscow would maintain its strong ties with Beijing under his successor, Dmitry Medvedev. Putin, who rules the world's second-biggest oil exporter, says relations with China are at an historic high while Chinese leader Hu Jintao describes Putin as his "good friend". "Putin and Hu Jintao exchanged sincere wishes of success in future work for the stable development of the two countries in the period after the election of the new Russian president," the Kremlin press office said in a statement. "Putin underlined that the course of comprehensive development of Russian-Chinese strategic cooperation will be continued in the future," the Kremlin said.

The two leaders meet regularly and Hu was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Medvedev after his March 2 election as Russia's next president. Medvedev, who will be sworn in as president in May, told visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday that he would seek continuity in Russian foreign policy. Russia is eager to boost exports of oil, gas and nuclear products to China, the world's second biggest consumer of oil and power, though China's growing world clout is watched with some anxiety by Moscow's elite. China, set to overtake Germany as the world's third biggest economy, is Russia's number two trading partner after the European Union with $35 billion in 2007 bilateral trade. China's state-owned Sinopec Group has a multi-billion dollar investment with Russia's biggest oil producer, Rosneft. They jointly run Siberia's UdmurtNeft oil producer and share the Sakhalin-3 Veninsk exploration block off Russia's Pacific coast.

Russia, whose $1.3 trillion economy is booming for a tenth straight year, has forged close ties with China on a number of world issues, including Iran and North Korea. But relations over the past century between Moscow and Beijing have run hot and cold. China and the Soviet Union went from being best friends in the 1950s to suspicious rivals a decade later when they fought a series of border skirmishes after falling out over ideological principles. In 2007, Putin and Hu presided over their two countries' biggest joint military exercises as part of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a regional grouping of growing importance that includes Russia, China and Central Asian states.

Source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt...84078120080313

[Armenian]

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

“Stratfor” Strategic Forecasting, Inc: “Azerbaijan has chance to liberate occupied lands by military way”

Washington. Husniyya Hasanova-APA. U.S popular “Stratfor” Strategic Forecasting, Inc has made an analytical material about Nagorno Karabakh war taking into account the the recent violation of cease-fire on the frontline of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, APA U.S bureau reports. The analytical material says that after the realization of construction of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in 2006, Azerbaijan became stronger state in terms of economy. “Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline made official Baku closer to West. Azerbaijani military budget has increased from $175 million to $ 1 billion over the past 5 years. This reality confused Armenia. Armenia is a very poor sate in the comparison with Azerbaijan, but it can hardly increase its expenses,” writes the material. Stratfor analysts state that Armenian military expenses have increased from $125 million to $ 150 million. Stratfor comes to a conclusion that Azerbaijan has more chance to liberate occupied lands by military way. The material names Russia as the 3rd force interested in the tensity of situation around the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. “First, Russia claims to prevent independence of Kosovo that, this experience will encourage other separatist regimes. Therefore, Russia will try to prove its fair play in the West, through intensifying situation in Nagorno Karabakh. Second, official Moscow wants to withdraw the West from the country aggravating the situation in Azerbaijan. Third, if the Nagorno Karabakh war starts again, there will be need for mediator of Moscow and Russians will deploy their peacekeepers in Nagorno Karabakh,” writes the material. The material says if Azerbaijan wins Armenia in the war, this will be serious blow to the interest of Russians. “If Azerbaijan wins the war, it will seriously shadow Russian forces and opportunities. After victory, official Baku will pursue West policy without threat of Russian pressure,” reads the material.

Source: http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=45669

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And the following is perhaps the best news I have heard in a long time...

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Turkey set to host U.S. shield: reports

The United States is reportedly in talks with Turkey about building part of its missile shield in the country. That's according to Russian newsru.com web-site. If true, the base would be part of a network including the Czech Republic and Poland. Washington claims that the anti-missile shield is to defend the U.S. and NATO from rogue states such as Iran and North Korea. They say the planned bases will not cover many countries in southern Europe. Moscow has been strongly opposed to the plans and sees the system as a threat to national security. Russia has offered the joint use of a Soviet-era radar station in Azerbaijan - a country bordering Turkey - as an alternative to the bases in the Czech Republic and Poland.

Source: http://www.russiatoday.ru/news/news/22072