The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

[Armenian]

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

Georgia Leader Blames Protests on Russia

Georgia's president on Sunday accused Russia of fomenting mass protests against him, saying his powerful neighbor would benefit from instability in the country. Mikhail Saakashvili's remarks were his first response to three days of protests in the capital Tbilisi with more than 100,000 people calling for the president's resignation.

"Consider the fact that this situation is taking place on the eve of elections in Russia, and the goal — to foment disorder in the country — is as clear as day," Saakashvili told Georgian Television. Four years after assuming power in the so-called Rose Revolution, Saakashvili is facing his the worst political crisis of his presidency. Now, as then, tens of thousands of people have amassed on the steps of parliament.

Sunday's crowd — estimated from 20,000 to 50,000 according to various sources — remained late in the evening, many waving flags and holding candles and shouting "Go away, Misha" — using the short form of the president's first name. Protesters initially demanded that the president revoke a decision to postpone parliamentary elections to fall instead of spring and reform the electoral system. But they later insisted the president resign. Saakashvili, however, was unmoved and said he would not reconsider the decision to postpone the ballot, which he made to save money. "There will be no giving in to dark forces," he said.

Saakashvili has sought to decrease the influence of Russia, which dominated Georgia for most of the past two centuries, by looking westward and pushing his nation to seek membership in NATO and the European Union. That policy put him on a collision course with Russia. Under his leadership, Georgia has introduced market reforms and improved both its business climate and democratic credentials. President Bush even visited the Caucasus country in May 2005, an event that boosted Saakashvili's prestige at home and abroad. Saakashvili reiterated his promise to integrate the country into Western institutions on Sunday.

"We will see our path to the end," he said. "We will join NATO and achieve everything that aggravates our northern neighbor."

Popular discontent with Saakashvili erupted after Irakli Okruashvili, a hawkish former defense minister, accused the president of corruption and plotting to murder a prominent Georgian businessman. Okruashvili was arrested, but then freed on a multimillion-dollar bail after he retracted his allegations. Saakashvili said opposition forces had organized a "campaign of lies" against him and dismissed the accusations as a ploy to weaken the Georgian state. Saakashvili also announced that he would run for a second term in the presidential election scheduled for late 2008. "I am confident that I will win," he said.

Source: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g..._6oVwD8SN6RIO0

In related news:

Georgia claims 3 Russian military aircraft violated its air space

Military officials said three Russian military airplanes violated Georgia's airspace over the breakaway region of South Ossetia on Sunday morning. Zaza Gogava, head of Georgia's joint forces command, said the Russian aircraft flew 3 kilometers (2 miles) into Georgian territory in the Kazbeg region of South Ossetia for one minute, according to Rustavi-2 television. Russian military officials denied the accusation. Air Force spokesman Alexander Drobyshevsky told the Interfax news agency that two aircraft and two helicopters flew as part of a military convoy operating in the region, but that they were 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of the Georgian border. In August, Georgia claimed Russian Su-24 bombers entered its airspace and fired a missile, which did not explode but landed near a village house. Russia heatedly denied the claim. The dispute created new tensions in already strained relations. South Ossetia maintains close ties with Russia and has a contingent of Russian peacekeepers. President Mikhail Saakashvili, who came to power in 2003, has vowed to bring South Ossetia back under Georgian control.

Source: http://www.iht.com/bin/printfriendly.php?id=8179285

[Armenian]

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

"We will see our path to the end," he said. "We will join NATO and achieve everything that aggravates our northern neighbor."

OK. I know he works for them, but just how much of a brown-noser can one be? The rhetoric here is just very childish.

[Illuminator]

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

OK. I know he works for them, but just how much of a brown-noser can one be? The rhetoric here is just very childish.

His nose is as brown as bush's diarrhea from yesterday's crack and booze intestinal upset. In fact you can see his head down there lapping it up.

[Armenian]

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

Stunning comments from Moscow today coming on a day Russians nationwide celebrate their national unity.

Armenian

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Putin warns of outside forces that wish to split Russia and take over its natural resources

President Vladimir Putin said Sunday that there are people in the world who wish to split up Russia and take over its vast natural resources, and others who would like to "rule over all mankind," a veiled reference to the United States. Speaking in front of Moscow's iconic St. Basil's Cathedral on Red Square, Putin told a group of military cadets and youth group members that while "an overwhelming majority of people in the world" are friendly toward Russia, there are some who "keep saying to this day that our nation should be split."

"Some believe that we are too lucky to possess so much natural wealth, which they say must be divided," Putin said, speaking on National Unity Day. "These people have lost their mind," he added with a smile. Many Russians fear that their country's rapidly declining population and enormous natural wealth could one day leave it vulnerable to outside predators. But the theme of invasion was central to Sunday's holiday, which Putin created by decree in 2005 to commemorate the defense of Russia from a Polish-Lithuanian incursion in the beginning of the 17th century.

Putin on Sunday referred to the battle as a turning point in Russia's history that united the nation. Not missing a chance to take a shot at the United States, Putin said there are people who "would like to build a unipolar world and rule over all of mankind." He counted them as among the minority in the world who do not maintain a "friendly attitude" toward Russia. He said any attempt to establish a unipolar world was doomed to fail.

"Nothing of this kind has ever occurred in our planet's history, and I don't think it will ever happen," the president said.

Putin has been highly critical of the United States for the invasion of Iraq and opposes its plans to build a limited missile shield in central Europe. Concern about outside forces wanting the division of Russia arose last month during Putin's three-hour nationally televised call-in show. A Siberian worker asked Putin about comments he said were made years ago by former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright suggesting that Siberia had too many natural resources for one country.

"I know that some politicians play with such ideas in their heads," Putin replied, adding that such talk was "political erotica."

Putin, whose two-term presidency ends next year, said Russia will continue playing an active role in foreign policy and there are many people who look to Russia as a defender of small nations' rights and interests. Intended to invoke patriotism, National United Day has been hijacked by extreme nationalist groups that call for ridding Russia of foreigners and returning the pre-communist monarchy.

Source: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/...ssia-Putin.php

[Armenian]

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

Russian Duma deputy: The main struggle will be between Levon Ter Petrosyan and Serge Sargsyan

“If Levon Ter Petrosyan enters the presidential race, the main battle will be between him and Serge Sargsyan,” stated Russian Duma deputy Konstantin Zatulin when talking about CIS issues. As he puts it, Ter Petrosyan’s return forces people to take a serious look at the candidate’s chances, since he is a serious political figure. To the question as to who has the greatest chance of being elected, Zatulin believes Sargsyan is that candidate, but that Ter Petrosyan has many supporters. “The presidential elections will see a heated struggle between the present situation and frustrated hopes in Armenia,” the deputy underlined. To the question as to which candidate is more preferable to Russia, Zatulin said it was more important that great disturbances don’t occur. In his words, if Ter Petrosyan and Sargsyan are pro-Armenian, it doesn’t make sense to say one is pro-Western or pro-Russian. Concerning the possibility of a “color” revolution, the Russian deputy doesn’t rule that out, but added, “I can’t say that Levon Ter Petrosyan, who laid the foundation of the republic, will risk the country’s future or do anything to destabilize the current situation. He is not an adventurer, but on the other hand an experienced politician.”

Source: http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2007/11/03/rd/

[Armenian]

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

Soaring number of Russian and Chinese spies diverting MI5 attention from terror fight


Federal'naya Sluzhba Bezopasnosti

The head of MI5 has sensationally accused Russia and China of undermining the fight against terrorism by running Cold War espionage operations in Britain. Jonathan Evans voiced "disappointment" that his agents are having to track spies from major countries that are diplomatic allies when they should be taking on Islamist extremists.

His decision to single out two of the world's most powerful nations caused anger at the Foreign Office and is likely to trigger outrage in Moscow and Beijing. Relations with Russia are in the deep freeze following last summer's diplomatic row that saw London expel four suspected spies after Moscow refused to extradite the chief suspect in the murder of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko. Tit for tat expulsions, followed by threats from Moscow politicians and shows of strength near British airspace by Russian bombers, have cast a pall over the Government's relations with the regime of president Vladimir Putin.

The decision by the head of the MI5 to single out Russia and China is understood to have caused consternation at the Foreign Office. It could deal a blow to Gordon Brown's hopes to visit Beijing in the New Year. But Mr Evans, who took over as director general of Security Service earlier this year, is frustrated by the way his overstretched resources are being diverted by the volume of spy activity by Russian and Chinese agents. He is also concerned by the potential "reputational hit" to Britain if allies such as the United States come to believe the UK is unable to protect high-value economic secrets.

The Russian ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Office in the summer for a diplomatic "carpeting" over the networks being run out of his office. Four of his diplomats were expelled, all said by sources to be agents of the FSB - the successor to the KGB. More than 30 intelligence officers working under diplomatic cover in London are blamed for what Mr Evans said was a level of activity that had not diminished since the end of the Cold War nearly 20 years ago. In his first public speech since taking over the job earlier this year, Mr Evans said: "This year, yet again, there have been high levels of covert activity by foreign intelligence organisations in our country.

"Since the end of the Cold War we have seen no decrease in the numbers of undeclared Russian intelligence officers in the UK - at the Russian Embassy and associated organisations conducting covert activity in this country.

"So despite the Cold War ending nearly two decades ago, my Service is still expending resources to defend the UK against unreconstructed attempts by Russia, China and others, to spy on us.

"A number of countries continue to devote considerable time and energy trying to steal our sensitive technology on civilian and military projects, and trying to obtain political and economic intelligence at our expense.

"They do not only use traditional methods to collect intelligence but increasingly deploy sophisticated technical attacks, using the internet to penetrate computer networks.

"It is a matter of some disappointment to me that I still have to devote significant amounts of equipment, money and staff to countering this threat. They are resources which I would far rather devote to countering the threat from international terrorism - a threat to the whole international community, not just the UK."

Mr Evans is said to be personally frustrated that money, personnel and equipment is being "wasted" pursuing foreign spies when it should be devoted to tracking al-Qaeda. Russian spies are known to be focused on acquiring military and industrial secrets, with a particular focus on science and technology. They specifically target major companies in the defence field such as Rolls Royce, BAe and other companies at the cutting edge of technology, as well as Whitehall departments.

Using techniques that have little changed since the days of the Cold War, they seek to cultivate executives and officials using money and other inducements. hereas Russia often relies on undercover spies stationed in London as diplomats who are immune from prosecution, it is understood the Chinese operate differently, prefering agents who come to the UK under cover as businessmen, academics and students. They "hoover up" any information they can get hold of, and then analyse it back in China for any intelligence it may offer. "The Chinese have a lower threshhold for what qualifies as intelligence and don't target in the same way," one source said.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1770

[skhara]

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

His decision to single out two of the world's most powerful nations caused anger at the Foreign Office and is likely to trigger outrage in Moscow and Beijing.

Why should it cause outrage

[Armenian]

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

Relations with Russia to be strengthened

Premier Wen Jiabao and Russian President Vladimir Putin have sought to consolidate their strategic partnership through better coordination in global affairs and more pragmatic economic cooperation.

Wen met Putin in the Kremlin Monday and more than 10 cooperative agreements are likely to be signed during the premier's two-day official visit to Russia. Putin congratulated China for holding the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and extended greetings to President Hu Jintao. The CPC congress has devised a grand plan for China's development, he said, and its implementation will boost Sino-Russian ties. That Wen is in Moscow for the closing ceremony of the "Year of China" in Russia and President Hu was here for the opening ceremony shows how much China values its relations with Russia, Putin said.

He thanked China for its efforts to rescue six Russians who went missing in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in September. Three of them died before help could be reached. Wen told Putin two aspects of the 17th CPC congress were important: the lesson from China's 30 years of reform and opening up is that it has to uphold socialism with Chinese characteristics, and it will insist on peaceful development. Sound relations with Russians will be of primary importance for China's foreign policy, the premier said.

It was perhaps the last meeting between Wen and Putin before the Russian presidential election next March. Yet Putin assured Wen that Russia's policy toward China wouldn't change even after he leaves the office. According to the Russian constitution, Putin can't seek election for a third term. Both leaders described Sino-Russian ties as being the best in history today. They have developed smoothly especially during the past few years. During an interview with the Russian news agencies before his visit, Wen had said bilateral ties have seen big and substantial changes since the two countries established a strategic cooperative partnership 10 years ago.

The two neighbors have deepened political mutual trust, greatly expanded trade and economic cooperation and enriched the content of strategic cooperative partnership by holding events such as the "Year of Russia" in China and the "Year of China" in Russia. Wen and Putin Monday discussed a broad range of bilateral issues, including energy. They are believed to have exchanged views on international matters such as the Iranian nuclear issue, too. Wen said he is confident that the two countries will increase cooperation in fields such as strategic security. China and Russia will continue supporting one another on major issues of common concern, he said.

Putin has made relations with China a strong element of his diplomacy, particularly in politics. His five meetings with President Hu Jintao this year is a reflection of his policy. The last Hu-Putin meeting was held on the sidelines of the APEC forum in Sydney two months ago. The two leaders also attended the largest joint military drill in the Ural Mountains in August. Wen is scheduled to meet with his Russian counterpart Viktor Zubkov today and also attend the second China-Russia business summit and the closing ceremony of the "Year of China" in Russia.

Source: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2...nt_6232558.htm

In related news:

Gates in Beijing for Talks on Military Buildup

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived Sunday in Beijing to begin two days of talks with senior leaders, and Pentagon officials said he planned to press for a more open dialogue on China’s military while discussing ways to build trust and cooperation. “I don’t consider China at this point a military threat to the United States,” Mr. Gates said before he left for China. “I have concerns with a variety of military programs that they have under way,” he added. “I have concern with the lack of transparency. And those are the kinds of issues that we will be talking about, in addition to how we can strengthen the relationship.”

Senior Defense Department officials say China has undertaken an aggressive military modernization campaign that will result in more submarines, surface warships and combat aircraft able to challenge foreign armed forces across the region. But the Chinese military operates in ways that are far more opaque than Western armed forces, Pentagon officials say, leaving the United States uncertain about the exact size of China’s military budget or its long-range military goals. “What does the military buildup mean for us and the rest of the region?” a senior Defense Department official said, speaking anonymously because he was commenting in advance on high-level meetings, as he described issues Mr. Gates planned to discuss with his hosts.

According to Pentagon statistics, the official Chinese military budget grew by almost 18 percent this year. But Pentagon officials say that figure does not represent the nation’s entire spending on national security. While the Bush administration has welcomed a prosperous and peaceful China, American officials regularly encourage it to take on more responsibility for maintaining stability in a global system that has rewarded Chinese economic interests. Thus, looking beyond the Pacific Rim, Mr. Gates is expected to press Beijing to contribute further to economic sanctions intended to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which could be a prickly issue given China’s growing economic ties with Iran.

“We think China could do more on Iran,” said the senior Pentagon official traveling with the defense secretary. Mr. Gates, making his first visit to China as defense secretary, succeeded Donald H. Rumsfeld, who issued a number of provocative statements on the Chinese military before leaving office last December. Ties between the Chinese and American military had already improved since a crisis after a 2001 collision of a Chinese fighter jet with an American reconnaissance aircraft. Other issues expected to be raised in the sessions in Beijing include stalled plans for a military-to-military telephone link between the two nations, as well as China’s recent test of an antisatellite weapon. The test greatly concerned the American military, given its reliance on satellites for communications, finding targets and global positioning.

“If you are sitting in the Pentagon, China is a potential peer competitor,” said Michael J. Green, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington policy institute.

“You want to shape Chinese decisions, to dissuade China from choosing military or other destabilizing solutions to their problems and to encourage them to be a responsible stakeholder,” said Mr. Green, senior director for Asian affairs on the National Security Council in 2004 and 2005. “For that, you need a credible military deterrent — alliances, presence. But you also have to use reassuring language.”

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/05/wo...a/05gates.html

[Armenian]

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

Putin says Russia won't be dictated to over arms exports

Russia will not allow other countries to put restrictions on its arms exports, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday. Speaking at a session of the military-technical cooperation commission, President Putin said that Russia would not take into consideration attempts to impose restrictions "based on unilateral and politicized assessments". Putin also said deliveries of Russian weapons are aimed exclusively at increasing the defense capability of the countries receiving them, and at maintaining their stability.

"It is an absolute priority for us. Russia has strictly observed, is observing, and will strictly observe all international commitments in the military technical sphere, in particular, the export control regime," Putin said. U.S. authorities have repeatedly called on Russia to stop arms deliveries to countries whose political regimes Washington disapproves of. Last week, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns urged the Russian government to stop arms deliveries to Iran.

Russia and Iran concluded a contract in late 2005 for deliveries of Tor-M1s. Tor-M1 is a high-precision missile system designed to destroy manned or unmanned aircraft, as well as cruise missiles flying at an altitude of up to 10 kilometers (6 miles). Russia subsequently supplied 29 Tor systems to Iran for $700 million. U.S. State Secretary Condoleezza Rice criticized on Wednesday Russia's weapons deliveries to Syria. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has repeatedly said Russian arms deals with Syria do not alter the balance of forces in the Middle East region. He also said Russia is fully in line with international commitments in the sphere.

Another country the U.S. would not like to receive weapons from Russia is Venezuela. The South American country has recently bought over 50 military helicopters and 24 Su-30MK2 fighters from Russia, as well as 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles. According to a U.S. Congress report, in terms of arms deliveries to developing countries, Russia only lags behind the U.S. Last year, Russia concluded arms contracts with developing countries worth $8.1 billion. In 2005 the sum was $7.2 billion.

Putin also said Russia must considerably toughen reliability criteria for its military hardware.

"The most important thing is that together with an increase in [military hardware] exports, the responsibility for the quality of the products delivered to the customer, especially that of sophisticated arms systems and complexes, must grow. It goes without saying that it is impossible to completely exclude glitches. However, the reliability criteria of the weaponry and military equipment must be toughened," Putin said. Putin said military hardware quality is "not only an economic category, but a question of state prestige".

Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20071031/86116931.html

[Armenian]

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

Georgia's former defence minister surfaces in Germany

Seated left to right, U.S. Charge d’Affaires a.i. Denny Robertson, Georgian Minister of Defense, Irakli Okruashvili, and General Levan Nikolaishvili

Georgian authorities threatened on Tuesday to launch an international manhunt for President Mikhail Saakashvili's arch foe after he surfaced in Germany and accused Georgia's leader of corruption. The television interview by former defence minister Irakly Okruashvili injected fresh momentum into opposition protests — which have attracted thousands since Friday — calling for the resignation of injected fresh momentum into opposition protests Saakashvili for corruption and economic mismanagement.

“If Okruashvili does not appear in Georgia on the first demand of the Prosecutor-General's office, his 10 million lari ($6-million U.S.) bail will be transferred to the state budget and a search for him begun,” deputy prosecutor-general Nika Gvaramia told a news briefing. Outside the parliament in central Tbilisi protesters gathered for a fifth successive day and some demonstrators joined four opposition politicians on a hunger strike to press for the president's resignation. Fiery nationalist Mr. Okruashvili first took aim at Mr. Saakashvili in September, alleging that his former boss had plotted the murder of a businessman and had overseen massive corruption.

His charges, vigorously denied by Mr. Saakashvili, galvanized the previously disunited opposition but also led to his arrest. A few days later, looking tired and dazed, Mr. Okruashvili was released on bail after retracting all his allegations in a televised statement. On Monday, in his first public comments since his release from jail, Mr. Okruashvili said in a broadcast from Germany that he had been pressured into retracting the allegations, insisted once again that they were true, urged Mr. Saakashvili to resign and said that he was now a political refugee.

All lies, Mr. Gvaramia said. “Okruashvili's statement that he had been pressured while in jail is another lie,” he said. Mr. Saakashvili has flatly rejected the opposition's demands for his resignation and for early parliamentary elections. He says the protests are the work of “dark forces,” hinting that former imperial master Russia is behind them.

Moscow denies involvement. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described Mr. Saakashvili's comments as a “farce” on Tuesday, adding: “I believe that the Georgian nation deserves a better future, and in this it can have Russia's support.” Thousands have protested in the Georgian capital Tbilisi since Friday in the biggest challenge to Mr. Saakashvili's authority since he came to power in a peaceful 2003 revolution.

“Hundreds and hundreds of people are ready to go on hunger strike in order to force Saakashvili from power,” opposition leader Kakha Kukava said. The opposition's main accusations against Mr. Saakashvili are that his government is corrupt and authoritarian. It also says the benefits of economic growth have not been felt by ordinary Georgians. Most critics do not question his pro-Western line.

Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...6.wgeorgia1106

Georgian Opposition activists ask to take Saakashvili to Russia

Some 50 representatives of Georgia's United Youth Movement and the Institute of Equality picketed the Ministry of Culture and Sport, and a building of the Georgian Interior Ministry on Tuesday. The activists, whose only offensive means were whistles and posters, were whistling at in- or out-going officials, who had to wriggle their way through a live corridor, between the posters reading "Georgia Without Violence", "Georgia Without President," "Shame on Those Who Aren't With People."

Also on Tuesday, some 20 members of Opposition youth movements picketed the Russian Embassy, stating that they were "asking Igor Ivanov to take Mikhail Saakashvili to Russia." In November 2003, as the "Revolution of the Roses" peaked, the then Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov arrived in Tbilisi, and actually became the mediator at the talks between President Eduard Shevardnadze and the Opposition led by Mikhail Saakashvili.

Many in Georgia believe that Ivanov also played an important role in Shevardnadze stepping down early. Some also believe that Ivanov persuaded head of the Adzharia Autonomous Republic A. Abashidze to leave Batumi, following days of protests by many thousand supporters of the Opposition, who were calling for his resignation.

Source: http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2....1244&PageNum=0