The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

[Armenian]

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

Russia 'needs nuclear arsenal to match US'

A senior Kremlin hawk gave warning yesterday that Russia would lose its independence if it did not achieve nuclear arms parity with the United States. Sergei Ivanov, the deputy prime minister, told members of the military-industrial commission that Russia had to smile but also "hide a gun" in its bosom if it was once again to compete with its former adversary.

"The weak are not loved and not heard, they are insulted," he said. "When we have parity they will talk to us in a different way."

Although Russia has urged the US to agree further reductions in both countries' nuclear stockpiles, Mr Ivanov said that Russia had to improve its "qualitative" strike potential. The Kremlin has already announced plans to commission six or seven of its ultra-modern Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missiles a year. The Topol-M, which can to carry up to six warheads, is capable of penetrating America's most sophisticated defence systems.

Russia's nuclear modernisation programme is at the core of an ambitious plan to update the country's armed forces, which came close to total collapse during the chaotic and penurious 1990s. With East-West relations at their most strained since the Cold War, observers are watching Russia's rearmament with a concern that has grown since February, when President Vladimir Putin gave warning of a new arms race because of Washington's plans to build a missile defence shield in central Europe.

Russia has already announced that it will pull out of one important Cold War treaty limiting the build-up of conventional weapons and has signalled that it could withdraw from another which forbids European countries from building intermediate-range nuclear missiles. At the same time, the Kremlin is keen to cut the size of its expensive nuclear stockpile by pushing for an extension of the 2002 Treaty of Moscow which requires the US and Russia to cut their arsenals to between 1,700 and 2,200 warheads by 2012.

With the focus now on building sophisticated new missiles to replace its ageing nuclear arsenal, Russia has called for the limit to be reduced to 1,500 warheads - a proposal that has so far met with a lukewarm response from Washington.

• Britain's ambassador to Russia said yesterday that he regretted that Andrei Lugovoi, the main suspect in the murder of Alexander Litvinenko in London last year, had been elected to the Russian parliament. Tony Brenton said: "It does Russia no good at all to have Lugovoi there in the parliament, it continues the suspicion."

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...wrussia208.xml

Russia ready to produce 6 - 7 Topol-M missiles per year - Ivanov

Russia is capable of producing six or seven Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) per year, First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said. "We count on the fact that we can afford six-seven [missiles, with complexes], if we speak about RVSN [the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces] and ground strategic nuclear forces. We count on the fact that this is acceptable given real possibilities," Ivanov said at a meeting with veterans of the military and industrial commission at the Soviet Council of Ministers on Friday. Ivanov also said that Russia will not be able to produce 30 Topol-M complexes per year, and this figure is redundant.

Source: http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/...issue=11925821

Russia test-fires ballistic missile: state agency

Russia on Saturday test-fired a inter-continental missile with new equipment able to pierce anti-missile shields, state news agency RIA said, underscoring Moscow's determination to assert its military might. The RS-12M Topol ballistic missile, called the SS-25 Sickle by NATO, was successfully launched at 17:43 p.m. (9:43 a.m. EST) from Kapustin Yar firing range in southern Russia, RIA said, citing a spokesman for rocket forces.

"The launch was carried out with the aim of confirming the stability of the fundamental flying and technical characteristics of this class of missile," Rocket Forces spokesman Alexander Vovk told RIA. He said the test was part of a trial of unspecified new equipment that could pierce anti-missile shields. Russian generals say the country is working on weapons that would pierce any shield the United States could make. Saturday's launch of the revamped missile comes amid U.S. plans for a missile defense shield in Europe, which Russian President Vladimir Putin has said would threaten Russian interests.

Putin signed a law last week suspending Russia's participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty in a step which could allow it to deploy more forces close to western Europe. The move comes into force on December 12-13. As configured in 1985, the Topol has a maximum range of 10,000 km (6,215 miles), and can carry one 550-kiloton nuclear warhead. The 20.5 meter (67 ft) long missile was designed in the 1970s and made its first flights in 1982.

The last launch of a Topol missile took place on October 18. Buoyed by huge oil revenues, Russia under Putin has been boosting military spending while at the same time using diplomacy to broaden Moscow's influence. This week, Russia said it would start the first major navy sortie into the Mediterranean since Soviet times. Eleven ships, including an aircraft carrier, will take part in the sortie and be backed up by 47 aircraft -- including strategic bombers.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsO...27472220071208

State defense order for 2008 to cost 1 trillion rubles - Ivanov

The state defense order for 2008 will cost about one trillion rubles, First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said. "We shall have a state defense order for the next year costing about a trillion," Ivanov said on Friday, at a meeting with the veterans of the Military-Industrial Commission under the USSR Cabinet Presidium. First Deputy Chairman of the Military-Industrial Commission under the Russian government and Russian Minister Valdislav Putilin said at this meeting that the government will make a state defense order of 800 billion rubles for 2008, 980 billion for 2009, and one trillion 93 billion for 2010.

Source: http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/...issue=11925817

[Armenian]

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

VTB invests $260 mln in Armenia copper-moly venture

Russian state-controlled bank VTB (VTBR.MM: Quote, Profile, Research) will invest $260 million in the exploration of Armenia's second-largest copper molybdenum deposit, Tekhut, which is expected to start mining ore in 2011. VTB's Chief Executive Officer Andrei Kostin told reporters in Armenia the bank will receive a 50 percent stake in the project, which it later plans to sell. "In the future we will sell the stake to a strategic investor. For us this is not a core business and our investment is temporary," Kostin said. The deposit is estimated to contain 1.6 million tonnes of copper and nearly 100,000 tonnes of molybdenum, which may last for 40 years. Armenian Copper Programme company, controlled by Lichtenstein-registered Vallex F.M. Establishment, will hold another 50 percent in the venture. The deposit development programme envisages building an open-pit mine to produce 7 million tonnes of ore a year, and an ore-dressing plant to produce 30,000 tonnes of contained copper and 800 tonnes of molybdenum in concentrate. (Reporting by Dmitry Sergeyev, writing by Gleb Bryanski, editing by Anthony Barker)

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssF...66927120071208

“VTB Armenia (Armenia)” and EBRD plan to sign an agreement on a micro-crediting program

“VTB Bank (Armenia)” and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) plan to sign an agreement on a micro-crediting program. Mediamax reports that the General Director of “VTB Bank (Armenia)” Valeri Ovsyannikov stated today that in the first quarter of 2008, the bank plans to launch a few new products in the sphere of micro-crediting. There is an agreement with EBRD as well on provision of additional funding for the development of mortgage services in Armenia. According to Valeri Ovsyannikov, there are plans on using the opportunities of the European network of subsidiary banks of VTB for the realization of export-import funding programs. In particular, in the nearest future a credit line for ACP Company will start functioning - pre-export funding at the sum of $15mln, using the opportunities of “VTB Bank” in Paris. According to Ovsyannikov, today the credit portfolio of “VTB Bank (Armenia)” makes about $110mln, the assets make about $190mln.

Source: http://banks.am/eng/index.php?sub=sh...sid=20071208_1

In related news:

Russia: The Bank That Roars

State-owned VTB is growing fast, helped in part by top-flight political connections

At the climax to the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos in January, delegates were treated to dazzling performances by Russia's top ballet and opera stars, then invited to sample a selection of the finest traditional Russian dishes, washed down with copious amounts of top-notch vodka. And who was the sponsor of the glitzy extravaganza? Vneshtorgbank. Although not a household name outside Russia, the well-connected, state-owned lender is the country's second-largest bank. And it is making a push to expand in Russia, a push critics say threatens to stunt the growth of private banks.

Chairman Andrei L. Kostin, 48, the host of the splashy Davos party, understands the importance of brand building. Since taking over the helm in 2002, the onetime London embassy-based Russian diplomat has turned the bank from its Soviet-era role -- financing trade and heavy industry -- into a budding universal bank. That has meant diversifying Vneshtorgbank, or VTB, into retail and small business lending, the industry's fastest-growing segments. Kostin aims to double mortgage lending this year, from $130 million last year, and increase the volume of small business lending four times from $50 million in 2004. The bank, which announces annual earnings at the end of March, declined to comment.

VTB has undertaken acquisitions, including the purchase of Moscow area retail bank Guta Bank for a token $36,000, and a merger with Industrial Construction Bank, the largest in St. Petersburg, worth an estimated $500 million. Those deals have given VTB access to branches that are vital to the buildout of its retail business. "The bank is in a very fast expansion phase," says Irina Penkina, an analyst at Standard & Poor's in Moscow.

Indeed, Kostin's strategy seems to be paying off. A big marketing campaign, featuring ads for the bank plastered on the sides of buildings throughout Moscow, helped push up retail deposits 94% last year, to $1.9 billion -- and that's not counting the M&A deals. VTB's growth outpaced industry leader Sberbank, according to Interfax. Private-sector rival Alfa Bank actually saw its deposits decrease by 18.5% in 2004. Similarly, VTB's asset base has grown at a much faster clip than that of its peers. Net profits did fall to $67 million in the first nine months of last year, the most recent figures available, from $116 million in the same period in 2003. However, much of that drop reflects declining income on securities trading. Net fee and interest income grew 58%, to $408 million.

A sound business strategy has clearly helped. But analysts also say that strong state backing has kept VTB well capitalized and helps the bank to borrow cheaply on international financial markets. State ownership also reassures mom-and-pop depositors. Last summer a banking panic led to the collapse of some private banks and shook others, leading deposits to flow into state-owned banks. VTB also took advantage of the crisis to buy and recapitalize Guta Bank with a $700 million low-interest loan from the central bank.

VTB's good fortune has fed speculation that its political connections play a role in its success. One theory among political analysts is that VTB is under the influence of the siloviki (men of power), the group of ex-KGB officers from St. Petersburg who form the inner circle of President Vladimir V. Putin. Even so, the government is officially committed to privatizing VTB. Its privatization is a test case of financial authorities' willingness to open up the sector.

So far there are few signs of progress toward that goal. "We think the share of the state in VTB should be reduced, but the process should go slowly," says Igor Shuvalov, aide to President Putin, who adds that a solid investor "from among the biggest financial institutions" first has to be found. Some doubt the powers that be will ever let VTB out of government hands. "There will be no privatization," predicts Alexei Mukhin, director of the Center for Political Information, a research institute in Moscow. If that's right, VTB's growth may be a sign the economic ambitions of the Kremlin don't stop with the dismantling of Yukos.

Source: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...6157_mz035.htm

In related news:

Three Armenian banks included in the list of 100 most capitalized banks of CIS

Three Armenian banks are included in the list of 100 most capitalized banks of the CIS, the assets of which exceed $100mln. As Mediamax reports referring the research, carried out by “Interfax-CEA” Agency following the results of the first half of 2007 , those are “ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank”, “VTB-Armenia Bank” and “Converse Bank”, which occupied, correspondingly, the 24th, 50th and 62nd places. According to the research, the assets of “ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank” make $ 174.9mln, “VTB-Armenia Bank” - $ 112.1mln, “Converse Bank” - $ 127.8mln. As Mediamax reports referring the research, held by “Interfax-CEA” Agency, 2 Armenian banks entered the list of 100 most high growth CIS banks, the assets of which, following the results of the first half of 2007, exceeded $100mln. “Unibank” occupied the 76th place, and “Armeconombank” – the 84th.

Source: http://banks.am/eng/index.php?sub=sh...sid=20071206_2

[Armenian]

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

Russian FM expects investment growth in Armenia

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he expects a growth in capital investment in Armenia after a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian on December 5. He also stated that current Russian investment in Armenia is USD 800 million, according to the RIA Novosti news agency. Russia is Armenia’s main trade partner and has invested heavily in its Caucasian neighbor over the past few years—in 2004 and 2005, Russian investment in Armenia was USD 100 million.

Source: http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/1..._econ_two.html

[Armenian]

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

Russian Mediterranean Naval Build-Up Challenges NATO Sixth Fleet Domination

David Eshel, Defense Weekly

This week witnessed a great thrust by Russia to demonstrate its military strength, when Russian President Vladimir Putin alarmed Europe by finally declaring Russia's official rejection of the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE), (the treaty entered into force on July 17, 1992 limiting the number of combat elements that Russia could deploy along its borders with Europe). Immediately following this declaration, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov announced sending a sortie of six Russian warships to the Mediterranean, led by the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier. Other vessels escorting the carrier as part of the task force are Admiral Levchenko and Admiral Chabanenko anti-submarine ships, and the Sergei Osipov and Nikolai Chiker support ships. The group is expected to be joined by the flagship Moskva a guided missile cruiser and four additional ships as it arrives in the Mediterranean.

This will be the first prolonged stay of a Russian carrier to the eastern Mediterranean in waters dominated with regular patrolled by the US Sixth Fleet and in vicinity of Israel’s shores. On its decks Admiral Kuznetsov carries 47 warplanes (mostly Su-33) and 10 helicopters. The Russian Black Sea Fleet contingent, which has already set out for its new mission from Sevastopol, will rely on the 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 could be joined at Tartous by Iranian extended Kilo class submarines armed with the Russian-made "Sizzler" Klub-S (3M54) missile, as some unofficial Israeli sources reported. The Rusian Kuznetsov carrier group will conduct three tactical exercises, including real and simulated launch of missiles, said Serdyukov, adding 11 port visits are expected to be made.

Sending such powerful Russian warships onto the Mediterranean, for any amount of time, is no small matter. With the Mediterranean having been a "NATO lake" for the past 15 years, since the demise of the Soviet Union, the simple presence of a naval Russian force will require reviewed strategy and tactics of many of western and Israeli navies. But making matters even more complicated for NATO, the Kremlin has also decided to send a sortie of warships to the northeastern Atlantic. No less that eleven vessels from the Northern Fleet have set sail on a range of voyages that will cover much of the globe. Extending to more than 12,000 miles they are scheduled to enter ports of six countries in 71 days.

In the latest twist to worsening East-West relations, NATO submarines and surface ships, which may include Royal Navy vessels, are already engaged in trying to gather information on the new Amur stealth class boat, being secretly tested by the Russian Navy in the Baltic. Adding to this greater-than-normal scrutiny effort is in part, a response to Russia's recent decision to resume long-range bomber flights close, or even penetrating into NATO airspace, which has revived memories of Cold War confrontation between the two blocs. In fact, twice during last summer, Russian Tu-95 Bear nuclear bombers have been spotted heading towards British airspace off Scotland, prompting the RAF to send fast reaction interceptors to head them off. The prospect of Russia reactivating its cold war naval bases in Syria's Tartus and Latakia ports, could have a most dramatic strategic impact. High-profile air defense missiles and surveillance systems deployment around any Russian-manned installations in Syrian ports, might also shift the military balance to Israel's disadvantage, or even threaten a clash between Israel and Russian forces, as happened during the later stages of the so-called War of Attrition in 1970, along the Suez Canal.

The Russian Black Sea fleet's 720th Logistics Support Point at Tartus has been in disuse since 1991, when the Soviet Union imploded. Yet it remains the only Russian military base outside the post-Soviet Commonwealth of Independent States territory. Last year Russia reportedly dredged Tartus and began building a new dock at Latakia. The Syrian ports are invaluable for the Russian navy as an alternative naval base, provided that their security could be assured, by a viable air defense barrier - The Moskva with 64 SN-A-6 missiles on board (navalized S-300) will be able to provide such capability

Israeli analysts believe that the present and rather unprecedented Russian strategic decision - sending such an impressive naval sortie into the eastern Mediterranean - could have resulted from Israel's still mysterious foray into Syrian air defense, during the air strike on an alleged nuclear development or weapon assembly site. According to Aviation Week - who interviewed the retired Brigadier General Pinchas Burchris, director general of Israel's Ministry of Defense, before the Israeli fighter aircraft ingress, a main Syrian radar site was struck with a combination of electronic attack and precision weapons, causing complete black-out of the entire Syrian air defense system which relied exclusively on Russian produced and installed equipment. Aviation Week claims this event may have been one of the first examples of offensive and defensive network attacks that included higher-level, non-tactical network penetrations.

No precise information, nor confirmation of the AW&ST report was released by Israeli official authorities, but the very fact that non-stealth jet fighters managed to enter unscathed into the highly sophisticated Russian supplied air defense barrier, built painstakingly during decades, since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, speaks for itself. It certainly must have caused Moscow considerable embarrassment, over the lack of performance of their latest sophisticated air defense systems sold for hard cash to Mid Eastern Muslim nations. But not embarrassment alone, painful as it was, could have triggered Moscow to such a rapid reaction. The Russian navy is under growing pressure from Ukraine to withdraw the Black Sea Fleet from its traditional deployment at Sevastopol by 2017. Some recent incidents has sharpened this into, sofar minor, clashes with local elements, but the warnings are out in clear: "get out - you are no longer wanted here"!

The 'Kiev Post' noted that the Black Sea fleet's lease on its Sevastopol base is "hostage" to Ukraine's volatile relations with Moscow - which will expire in 2017, necessitating a renegotiation or withdrawal. The Russian Black Sea Fleet base already boosted security at its navigational facilities, amid a dispute with Ukraine authorities, over a lighthouse, linked to the fleet in the Crimean city of Yalta. The Russian move came after Ukraine threatened to take over all the navigational facilities of the Black Sea Fleet. The dispute emerged when the staff of a Ukrainian state company seized the lighthouse and denied Russian servicemen access to the lighthouse. All this would render the Syrian ports invaluable for an alternative naval base, provided that their security could be assured, by a viable air defense barrier, safeguarding them from any future Israeli, or US attack, or even surveillance activities. Bolstering such an air defense can be enhanced by the long-term presence in off-shore deployment of high-profile warships, mounting sophisticated airpower (Su-33 fighters) and air defense armament, such as the Admiral Kuznetsov's 3K95 Kinzhal missile system, the navalized version of the TOR and the Slava class Moskva's SA-N-6 Grumble navalized version of the S-300 (SA-10).

Another aspect of the new Russian Med deployment is intelligence. Israeli electronic warfare experts warn that the presence of a strong Russian naval force, most likely based in the Syrian port of Tartus, would represent a significant strengthening of Russian intelligence gathering capabilities in the region. The Russian navy is considered to have high-quality electronic equipment capable of observing new weapons systems and intercepting communications, which could become high-value assets to Syria and Iran. Russian intelligence maintained constant presence for several decades in international waters, where listening ships, camouflaged as fishing boats were positioned continuously off the Israeli coast, gathering electronic and communications. This activity continued at least through the 1990s. Whatever the latest Russian foray might signal, one thing is clear, the Mediterranean will soon become a new 'Cold War' type contest between Western and Russian navies, which will heat up substantially once the new Russian fourth generation Project 955 Borey class submarines, armed with Bulava missiles also enter into the fray.

Source: http://www.defense-update.com/analys...91207_navy.htm

[Kanki]

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

Armenian! Your are very politic man! I read your messeges regularly! But
Why don't you write? Armenia is Russian's tongs! Sovyets used your nation as a bridge for occuping Turkish lands! And they picked up all Armenians around the World! After that But they failed thiz plan! And accused your people "secret agent from western" and banished your people Sibiria and other far lands! Why do you adore Russia! They look Armenia as a tongs!

[Illuminator]

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

Armenian! Your are very politic man! I read your messeges regularly! But
Why don't you write? Armenia is Russian's tongs! Sovyets used your nation as a bridge for occuping Turkish lands! And they picked up all Armenians around the World! After that But they failed thiz plan! And accused your people "secret agent from western" and banished your people Sibiria and other far lands! Why do you adore Russia! They look Armenia as a tongs!

Please go grunt, scratch and pass out elsewhere turk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csQVviBZeWo

[Armenian]

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

Over to you

Russia's new president will almost certainly be Dmitry Medvedev (center)

IN SOME countries the suspense of a presidential election is based on the question of who is going to win a popular poll. In Russia it centres on who the outgoing president (in this case Vladimir Putin) picks as his successor. On Monday December 10th the winner was announced. Dmitry Medvedev, a 42-year-old lawyer from Mr Putin’s native St Petersburg is almost certain to become the next president in March. He is the chairman of Gazprom, the state-controlled gas monopoly and the deputy prime minister in charge of national projects. But what qualifies him for the job of Russia’s president is his (so far) unconditional loyalty to the current president. Mr Putin has two daughters, but appointing Mr Medvedev is the next best thing to his appointing a son.

The choreography of Mr Putin’s announcement speaks volumes about Russia’s virtual democracy. On Monday Mr Putin received Boris Gryzlov, the leader of the Kremlin’s own United Russia party which scored 64% in this month’s parliamentary elections. Mr Gryzlov told Mr Putin that United Russia, having consulted with other pro-Kremlin parties, would like to nominate Mr Medvedev as a candidate for the presidency. A chorus of friendly politicians echoed him. Mr Putin blessed their choice. “I fully and entirely support this candidate,” Mr Putin told them. “I have known Mr Medvedev and worked closely and fruitfully with him for 17 years.”

The show, broadcast on the main television channels, was designed to demonstrate the legitimacy of the exercise. But to all intents and purposes Mr Medvedev is an extension of Mr Putin. The two men studied law at the same university in St Petersburg and then worked at the same mayoral office. Mr Medvedev followed Mr Putin to Moscow and ran his presidential campaign. Since then, Mr Medvedev has always been at Mr Putin's side.

By appointing him as successor Mr Putin achieves two results. One is that Mr Medvedev will most likely lead the country along the path already set by Mr Putin. The other is that Mr Putin himself will retain influence when his term expires in less than three months. Nor is Mr Medvedev the worst choice. He does not have a KGB background, unlike many trusted by Mr Putin. And he is considered as a relative liberal within Mr Putin’s entourage. He did not appear to support the arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the Yukos chief, and he did not subscribe to the concept of “sovereign democracy”, saying that democracy did not need adjectives. Yet he has been closely tied with all of Mr Putin’s decisions.

Only Mr Putin knows just how much independence Mr Medvedev is likely to have, and how much influence Mr Putin himself is likely to keep, after the presidential elections in March. But having led United Russia to a landslide victory in the parliamentary election, Mr Putin is likely to become a Deng Xiaoping-type figure within Russian politics. Mr Medvedev, publicity shy and soft-spoken will probably rely on Mr Putin’s authority at least in dealing with the security services.

The timing of Mr Medvedev's elevation is also intriguing. It came earlier than many had expected. The rumour in Moscow had been that the anointment would take place next week at the congress of United Russia. One explanation is that infighting between various Kremlin clans had reached such a pitch that the situation was becoming unstable. Security chiefs were fighting among themselves and collectively against more liberal figures in the government (a deputy finance minister was arrested on bogus charges and, despite a plea from Alexei Kudrin, the finance minister, was refused bail).

Mr Medvedev will have to tread carefully: the Kremlin is far from being a stable political structure. He may also have problems with the economy. Mr Putin was extraordinary lucky over the past eight years. The oil and gas bonanza earned Russia almost $1 trillion. But now inflation is running in double figures just as fears of recession in America and other parts of the world threaten to push oil prices downwards again. Yet Mr Medvedev may not worry greatly. Mr Putin remains on hand to guide his apprentice. And whether he fails or not, popular Mr Putin may yet decide, one day, to step back into power.

Source: http://www.economist.com/world/europ...ry_id=10277066

Mr. Gazprom For Russia

After months of waiting, the world finally knows the name of the man who will likely head one of the world's most powerful countries: Dmitry Medvedev, the chairman of natural gas giant Gazprom and first deputy prime minister of Russia, has been tapped by President Vladimir Putin as his successor.

"We would like to nominate the candidate that we all support. This is first Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev," Boris Gryzlov, the State Duma speaker and head of the ruling United Russia party was quoted as saying by Russia's RIA Novosti. Putin, pledged his "full" support for Medvedev, who will be formally nominated as presidential candidate on Dec. 17. Shares in Gazprom (other-otc: OGZPY - news - people ) rallied to close 2.7%, higher on Monday in Moscow, while Lukoil ended the day up 2.2%. Russia's MICEX stock index closed up 1.7%, at 1,945.53 points. The Market Vector Russian Exchange Traded Fund was up 3.4%, or $1.77, at $53.85, in New York on Monday afternoon.

Analysts weren't entirely surprised at the choice of Medvedev. For for the last few months it had been a toss up between him and Sergei Ivanov, who was appointed by Putin to be prime minister last September. Medvedev, 42, is relatively young, and analysts see his appointment as an attempt by Putin to create some flexibility for himself in the coming years, leaving the option open for him to either become an elder statesman on the international stage, or run again for the Russian presidency in 2012. "Medvedev has only a moderately strong personality, which will allow Putin to keep influence for as long as he wants," said Cliff Kupchan, a director at Eurasia group.

"He is quite young, and his relationship with Mr. Putin is kind of a teacher-student, father-son relationship," said Eurasia Group analyst Denis Maslov. "Medvedev looks up to Putin, and Putin takes care of Medvedev. It's a very warm, personal relationship." Though he is young and brimming with ideas, analysts thus believe that Medvedev, as a protege, will let Putin excercise the influence he wants to. But Putin is still in an unprescedented situation: Never before in Russia's history has a president so popular had to step down so soon.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/home/facesinth...acescan01.html

Russian 'bear' who loves Black Sabbath set to succeed Putin

The man backed by Vladimir Putin for next year's presidential election is a heavy-metal loving 42-year-old whose surname comes from the Russian word for 'bear'. First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev was nominated by the ruling United Russia party and three other smaller pro-Kremlin parties on Monday afternoon. President Putin later said on national television: "I have known Dmitry Medvedev well for over 17 years, and I completely and fully support his candidature." In view of Putin's high popularity rating and full support of most of the legislature, his backing of the nomination is likely to guarantee Medvedev the presidency.

Medvedev's surname comes from the Russian word 'medved', meaning bear, an animal which has long been associated with the country. The bear is also the symbol of United Russia, and Bear bombers have contributed to increasing tension between the West and Russia of late with their strategic long-range patrols. In a recent interview with the Russian magazine Itogi, Medvedev revealed his passion for rock music, saying that, "vinyl really sounds better than CDs." The man who may well become leader of the largest nation on Earth said he had spent much of his youth compiling cassettes of popular Western groups, "Endlessly making copies of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple."

All these groups were on state-issued blacklists during Medvedev's Soviet-era schooldays. "The quality was awful, but my interest colossal," he said. Medvedev went on to boast of his collection of Deep Purple LPs, saying that he had searched for the albums for many years. "Not reissues, but the original albums," he added, concluding that, "If you set yourself a goal you can achieve it." Medvedev, seen as a pro-business moderate, chairs the board of Russia's state-controlled natural gas monopoly Gazprom and is overseeing an ambitious multi-billion-dollar "national project" to improve living standards in the country.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20071210/91721798.html

[Armenian]

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

Russia says Kosovo could trigger "chain reaction"

Russia warned the West on Monday that recognizing a unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) by Kosovo could set off a "chain reaction" of problems in the Balkans and beyond. Russia, which has backed its ally Serbia over the status of the breakaway Serbian province, would also demand that any unilateral declaration be rescinded. "I want to stress that UDI of Kosovo and recognition of such independence will not remain without consequences," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during a visit to Nicosia. "It will create a chain reaction throughout the Balkans and other areas of the world," he said, speaking through an interpreter after talks with Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos.

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Kosovo with German Chancellor Angela Merkel by phone on Monday, Russian news agencies reported, quoting the Kremlin press service. The talks came on the day mediation efforts between Serbia and Kosovo Albanian leaders officially expired and after Kosovo Albanians said they would start immediate talks with Western backers about an independence declaration. Russian mediator Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko spelt out the tougher diplomatic line from Moscow.

"Unilateral declaration of independence would constitute a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244. In this case Russia will demand that such a decision be cancelled, be annulled," the envoy said of the existing U.N. resolution governing international action in Kosovo. Russia, which holds a veto in the U.N. Security Council, has already blocked one Western-backed independence plan. Washington and almost all EU member states support Kosovo's independence from Serbia as the best option for stability in the Balkans and leaders of Kosovo's 90-percent Albanian majority say they will declare it within months. Without approval from the UN, any decision would not be legitimate, Botsan-Kharchenko said. "There are no other legal grounds. Any interpretations of Resolution 1244 on Kosovo are preposterous."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/world...60361520071210

[skhara]

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

I am really liking the language coming out of Russia on this issue.

[Armenian]

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

I am really liking the language coming out of Russia on this issue.

In reality this is a win-win situation for Moscow. Moscow has made it clear that independence for Kosovo will ultimately translate as independence for Abkhazia and South Ossetia. I believe this will also have a positive effect on the political status of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabagh Republic) as well. Also, with Kosovo independent I believe Serbia will be further pushed into the Russian camp. And more and more nations will wake up to the hard reality of western politics. Nonetheless, if Moscow succeeds in blocking Kosovo's independence it will reap immense geopolitical benefits as well.

I see how an independent Kosovo and a weak Serbia (and of course a weak Russia) will in the longterm serve western interests. However at what expense is the West willing to attempt this? I can't figure out the real reasons behind why the West is strongly pushing this volatile issue at such a volatile time. Are they seeking armed conflict in Europe again? Are they attempting to force Russia to annex Abkhazia and South Ossetia? Are they attempting to make Moscow more hard-line in its dealings with the West? Why not just leave Kosovo's status as is? I just can't figure out their end game. Why are they doing this and why now?