The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

[Armenian]

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

Russia to test fifth-generation fighter in 2009

Flight tests of a fifth-generation Russian-Indian fighter will begin as early as 2009 and mass production of the aircraft may start by 2015, the Sukhoi aircraft maker said Wednesday. A Russian-Indian advanced multirole fighter is being developed from a Russian prototype by Sukhoi, which is part of Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), and India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, under an intergovernmental agreement signed in October. "At present we are building prototypes of the fifth-generation fighter and will soon start preparation for flight-testing, which is planned for 2009," Sukhoi CEO Mikhail Pogosyan announced at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) 2007 exhibition in Malaysia. Pogosyan said mass production of the future fighter could begin by 2015. The new fighter aircraft, which will feature high maneuverability and stealth to ensure air superiority and precision in destroying ground and sea targets, will be built at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur aircraft-manufacturing plant in Russia's Far East. Discussing the future implementation of the Russian-Indian project, Pogosyan said joint efforts should be focused on three areas: coordination of technical specifications, application of advanced technologies, and preparation of a legal framework for future cooperation. "We have conducted preliminary discussions on these issues and now we have to work out a detailed program for the implementation of the [fifth-generation fighter] project," the official said. India and Russia have a long history of military cooperation, going back almost half a century. The existing Russian-Indian military-technical cooperation program, which lasts until 2010, lists up to 200 projects worth about $18 billion in all, according to Russia's defense ministry.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20071206/91196743.html

[Armenian]

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

Russia and Armenia want Stability in South Caucasus

"The efforts of Yerevan and Moscow are directed at achieving stability in the South Caucasus," said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a meeting Wednesday with his Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanian. "Relations are developing not only in the bilateral format, but also in the framework of joint efforts directed at bringing stability to the region" the Russian minister said. "We have met many times this year and have tried to fulfill the agreements of our presidents," Lavrov noted. Oskanian, who is in Russia on a working visit, also participated in discussions with Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization Nikolai Bordyuzha on a broad range of issues including the CSTO decision to hold the forthcoming sessions of its regulation bodies under Armenian chairmanship. The interlocutors also discussed the active participation of Armenia in the Organizations proceedings. Bordyuzha also expressed conviction that the appointment of a new plenipotentiary representative from Armenia in the CSTO will not only provide continued involvement for Armenia but also contribute to the increase in the productivity of a comprehensive cooperation. Also discussed were, issues connected with the organization of "Rubezh 2008" military exercises within the frameworks of the CSTO and the participation of member countries in these military exercises. According to the information provided to Noyan Tapan by the Press and Information Department of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia, the parties also discussed cooperation issues with the foreign ministries of CSTO member countries within the framework of international and regional organizations.

Source: http://www.huliq.com/44073/russia-an...south-caucasus

Armenia and Russia should work for regional security

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. As reported by the RF MFA division of information and press, the Ministers focused on reinforcement and improvement of cooperation. They stated that the “firm foundation of the multifaceted Russian-Armenian cooperation will guarantee further advance upon completion of election campaigns in both countries.” “The parties expressed satisfaction with joint activities within the CIS and CSTO and affirmed intention to interact within international organizations, including UN and OSCE,” the statement says. Discussing the state of affairs in Transcaucasia, Lavrov and Oskanian marked out the importance of close cooperation for maintenance of regional security and stability and gave a high estimate to the OSCE Minsk Group’s mediation in the Karabakh settlement talks. The Minister also signed a plan of interdepartmental consultations.

Source: http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=24295

Russia to Obtain Concession on Armenian Railways

The Indian company Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) has decided to stop participating in the tender for obtaining a concession on the Armenian company Armenian Railway. According to the Minister of Transport and Communications of Armenia, Russia now appears the only contender for obtaining a concession, and the tender results will be announced in January 2008. As it was reported before, in October 2007 Armenia announced a tender on concessional management of the railway company for 30 years with a right of prolonging the management for 20 more years. The concessionaire will have to pay an initial deposit of $US10 million and invest $US170 million in infrastructure development and modernization of the company’s trains.

Source: http://www.russia-ic.com/news/show/5327/

[Armenian]

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

The Amazing Sukhoi

Sukhoi: Nothing comes close: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=891jH...eature=related

[skhara]

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

http://www.debka.com/

President Vladimir Putin and defense minister Anatoly Serdyukov decided to send a sortie of six Russian warships, led by the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier and the Moskva guided missile cruiser, to the Mediterranean. This will be the first prolonged stay of a Russian carrier to the eastern Mediterranean vicinity of Israel’s shores and waters patrolled by the US Sixth Fleet. On its decks are 47 warplanes and 10 helicopters. The Moskva is the Russian Navy’s Black Sea flagship.

According to our Moscow sources, the Kremlin is determined not to be left lagging behind the new Bush administration’s steps towards an accommodation with Iran, which were signaled by the US National Intelligence Estimate absolving Tehran of running a military nuclear program from 2003.

DEBKAfile’s military sources report that the Russian fleet, which has already set out for its new mission from the North and Black Seas, will have the use of naval facilities at Syria’s Tartous port. Its presence for several months will be a complication for the Israel navy’s operations opposite the Lebanese and Syrian coasts, especially if the Russians are joined at Tartous by Iranian submarines or warships.

The Kremlin also decided to send a sortie of ships to the northeastern Atlantic.

[Armenian]

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

http://www.debka.com/

President Vladimir Putin and defense minister Anatoly Serdyukov decided to send a sortie of six Russian warships, led by the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier and the Moskva guided missile cruiser, to the Mediterranean. This will be the first prolonged stay of a Russian carrier to the eastern Mediterranean vicinity of Israel’s shores and waters patrolled by the US Sixth Fleet. On its decks are 47 warplanes and 10 helicopters. The Moskva is the Russian Navy’s Black Sea flagship.

According to our Moscow sources, the Kremlin is determined not to be left lagging behind the new Bush administration’s steps towards an accommodation with Iran, which were signaled by the US National Intelligence Estimate absolving Tehran of running a military nuclear program from 2003.

DEBKAfile’s military sources report that the Russian fleet, which has already set out for its new mission from the North and Black Seas, will have the use of naval facilities at Syria’s Tartous port. Its presence for several months will be a complication for the Israel navy’s operations opposite the Lebanese and Syrian coasts, especially if the Russians are joined at Tartous by Iranian submarines or warships.

The Kremlin also decided to send a sortie of ships to the northeastern Atlantic.

Dude, I had posted that already: http://forum.armenianclub.com/showpo...&postcount=851

Let's not clutter up the thread with redundant or unessential news.

[Armenian]

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

BrahMos to increase production of Russian-Indian cruise missiles

The Brahmos Supersonic Cruise Missile Video Presentation

Part-I: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCqxIcX5B4M
Part-II: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCqxIcX5B4M

The Russian-Indian joint venture BrahMos will buy a manufacturing plant in southwestern India to increase production of its supersonic cruise missiles, an Indian military source said Thursday. In 1998, Russia and India established a joint venture, BrahMos Aerospace, to design, develop, produce and market a supersonic cruise missile. Sea-based and land-based versions of the missile have been successfully tested and put into service with the Indian Army and Navy. The source said India's Defense Research and Development Organization, which represents the Indian side in the BrahMos venture, and the government of the Kerala state had signed a memorandum of understanding on the acquisition of a plant currently owned by state-run company Kerala Hightech Industries Limited. He said the plant has all the facilities and over 250 qualified personnel to launch production of the [BrahMos] cruise missiles. The contract on transfer of the plant's ownership to BrahMos will be signed January 1, 2008, the source said. The Brahmos missile, named after India's Brahmaputra River and Russia's Moskva River, has a range of 180 miles and can carry a conventional warhead of up to 660 pounds. It can hit ground targets flying at an altitude as low as 10 meters (30 feet) and at a speed of Mach 2.8, which is about three times faster than the U.S.-made subsonic Tomahawk cruise missile. Work is currently underway to create aircraft- and submarine-based BrahMos missiles. The airborne version could be installed on the Sukhoi-30MKI air superiority fighters of the Indian Air Force. Experts estimate that India might purchase up to 1,000 BrahMos missiles for its Armed Forces in the next decade, and export 2,000 to third countries during the same period. In 2000, Russia and India signed a 10-year program on military-technical cooperation, which currently lists about 130 R&D and production projects, including the joint development of a fifth-generation multirole fighter.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/world/20071206/91245076.html

[Armenian]

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

India, Russia ink $1.2 bn tank deal

India and Russia have signed a deal worth $1.237 billion for the additional supply of 347 T-90S main battle tanks (MBT). Part of these tanks will be assembled at Avadi Factory in Tamil Nadu from the kits to be supplied by Uralvagonzavod tank plant situated in Nizhny Tagil in the Urals, according to state-run Radio Mayak. It did not, however, say when and where the deal was signed. India currently has 310 T-90S MBTs of which 181 were assembled by the Heavy Vehicles Factory in Avadi from the kits imported from Russia. Under the Transfer of Technology (ToT) and licensed production deal inked in November 2006 India will indigenously produce 1000 MBTs.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...ow/2595394.cms

[Armenian]

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

Russia boosts weaponry output by almost 25% in 2007

Russia increased production of weaponry and military equipment by almost 25% in 2007, year on year, a first deputy prime minister said Friday. "Production of military equipment increased by 23.1% in 2007, compared with last year," Sergei Ivanov said at a meeting dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Military-Industrial Commission. He said the defense industry has increased overall annual production by 15.6% in 2007 compared with 2006, while production of military aircraft grew by 39.1%, electronics by 34.7% and conventional arms by 73.9%.

"We will continue increasing production in the defense sector, as we have sufficient funds to do so," Ivanov said, adding that Russia had allocated $189 billion for the 2007-2010 armaments program. However, Ivanov said Russia had no plans to increase production of Topol-M (SS-27) ballistic missiles, as the annual output of six-seven missiles was sufficient to ensure Russia's national security. "We do not need to produce 30 Topol-Ms annually," the first deputy PM said. "Not everything is measured by numbers."

As of December 2006, Russia's Strategic Missile Forces operated 44 silo-based and three mobile Topol-M missile systems. Russia's Defense Ministry earlier said several dozen silo launchers and over 50 Topol-M mobile missile systems would be put on combat duty before 2015. "We do not need a multi-million personnel army, thousands of nuclear warheads or a militarized economy," Ivanov said. "Our Armed Forces must be compact, mobile and well-trained."

Russia has cut its Armed Forces to about 1.1 million personnel, but military spending has increased dramatically under President Putin. According to the federal budget, defense spending in 2008 will grow another 16.3% from 2007 to 956 billion rubles ($36.8 billion), and is set to total 1.184 trillion rubles ($45.5 billion) by 2010. The first deputy prime minister said the state defense order for 2008 will amount to about one trillion rubles (about $41 billion), but warned that defense companies must use the federal funds efficiently, facing hefty fines for not meeting their production schedules.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20071207/91399420.html

[Lernakan]

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

Veniamin Smekhov:
Yerevan’s new image gladdens the eye

Russia is not only a strategic partner and ally for Armenia. Our countries are united by a community of cultures, regard for cultural heritage and people. Russian actors have always been welcome visitors to Armenia. Arrival of Russian and world cinema stars such as Veniamin Smekhov, Armen Jigarkhanyan, Alexander Shirvindt and Igor Kostolevsky to Armenia was traditionally an outstanding event. People’s Artist of Russia and author Veniamin Smekhov shared impressions with PanARMENIAN.Net.

03.12.2007 GMT+04:00


Veniamin Smekhov

The first question is very trivial. Yet, describe the impressions you are leaving Armenia with. How did you like it here?

To receive a negative answer you should seek for people who have no heart, soul or who have arrived in Armenia in an awful mood. Now you are speaking to a person who is prepared. During our today’s meetings I had time to mention the great number of points of intersection both in Russia’s cultural life and my private life. Prokofyev, Shostakovich, Khachaturyan…These are three great names in the heaven of Russian-Armenian and world culture. This is avant-garde and post avant-garde of 1930-ies, 1940-ies, 1950-ies and 1960-ies. The same can be said about Martiros Saryan, who is another giant of that epoch.

If we speak about theater, we will also find variety of crossing lines. As to the cinema, I recollect that in 1988, in Rotterdam, Tarkovsky, Ioseliani and Parajanov were named three pillars of the future soviet cinema.

I was in Parajanov’s museum today and I nearly cried because I coudn’t stay there forever. It’s an absolute wonder, comparable with the depositories of the world culture right up to the Hermitage and Prado. It’s unique. The way it’s preserved, the way it’s loved… I was happy to know Sergei Parajanov. So, I am prepared for your question.

How can I dislike Armenia if I had the honor to know Yeghishe Charents. I trained Pavel Lisitsian’s younger son by Charents works.

There are so many crossings in music as well.

December 12, I will take part in Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Story suite together with the students of Moscow Conservatoire. I was invited by my friend Tigran Alikhanov, a renowned pianist, rector of our Conservatoire. Maybe, it would be more just if rector of your Conservatoire were Russian. But we are short of people. Armenians are here and there. What are we to do?

I was gifted a book titled “Armenia, Armenia”. I never part with it. It’s a collection of Russian poems about Armenia. It would explain better than me. I can only say: I am ‘for’. For good and all…


It’s not your first visit to Armenia. How do you like Yerevan’s new image?

I first visited Armenia when a participant in a concert that took place in the Philharmonic. Those wonderful people, who drove us through the country, are not alive. Hrachya Kaplanyan, who used to host us, also passed away. We were happy and at the same time discontent with the atmosphere of a neglected city, a phenomenon quite ordinary for socialism. The face of socialism is obvious in Czechia where I am a visitor as a stage director. The center is marvelous but should you make a couple of steps aside and you will witness the reign of slovenliness. We are fleeing from socialism but I am not sure the way is leading capitalism.

Yet, the center of your capital city gladdens the eye. It is built beautifully and tastefully. You obviously dislike new houses. Like we ourselves did watching our new building works. We are not novices. Maupassant used his offensive vocabulary to describe the Eiffel Tower. But time passes and puts everything into place.

I see the difference in my life, in my friendship with natives of Armenia, with Armen Jigarkhanyan, whom I simply worship. We meet in cinema and theater. Moreover, we used to meet in the house of renowned neuropathologist, academician Levon Badalyan, the friend of mine, of Vladimir Visotsky, of Armen Jigarkhanyan and of Mikael Tariverdiyev.

We experience no problems. We still laugh at being called Russian actors, since nationality is a language. How can you call those Armenians who speak brilliant Russian? You are luckier to live in a small country. Kundera used to say: “Minimum space – maximum variety, maximum space - minimum variety.


Are there any plans to have guest performances in Armenia?

I will come if you invite. I would like to teach Master Class in your Institute of Theater and Cinema. I have the essential experience. I have traveled a lot with my wife, an art historian. I staged performances and taught Master Classes. So, why not do it in Yerevan?

http://panarmenian.net/interviews/eng/?nid=96

[Armenian]

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

Russia tipped to swallow Belarus

There has been growing speculation in Russia that the country is about to merge with neighbouring Belarus, and that President Vladimir Putin would head the new state. Russian media has been reporting that sources within the office of the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, say that a union with Russia is about to happen. The reports say that Mr Putin will may visit Belarus to sign a Constutional Act of Union late next week, and that the document has already been drafted. In a climate where speculation is rife about what Mr Putin will do next after he steps down from the Russian presidency in March, the reports say he could become the president of the new Union State. Officials from both countries have dismissed the reports, with the Kremlin calling them speculative fantasies.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...section=justin