The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

[Armenian]

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

Cool, thanks for keeping us updated. Do you live in Armenia now?

I was so excited when I saw the mig-29 fighters I must have looked like a child to the natives around me. Anyway, I am here only for two months. I bought a home here last year, I am now in the very difficult process of organizing a complete renovation. I look at this as my first step towards eventual repatriation. At the very least, my children now have a home in their homeland.

Why is that hard to believe? People visit Armenian all the time. I just dropped off two people at the airport headed to Armenia...

I am trying... but I really cannot understand how their tiny/twisted brains work. They make it seem as if I am taking a fantastic trip to the moon... Then again, when you really think about it you come to realize that it's all about - jealousy

I don't understand why you're suspicious of North Pole, he shows respect towards us Armenians here and is just contributing to threads where the focus of discussion is Russia, what's wrong with that? I like his presence here personally.

This "Jack Sparrow" idiot is the same as the two supposed wrestlers from Argentina who's names I do not remember. They were banned a couple of months ago for their consistent stupidity. This Jack Sparrow's Russian side (if true) is most deffinately of Jewish origin.

Artsakh, I have warned you repeatedly to buck up and you are continuing to harass, insult and in the other thread engage in racist remarks...

Anon, I don't understand why you continue to tolerate that foul mouth low-life called "Artsakh" and that obsessive "Zeytuntsi" (Siamanto's alter ego). Can you 'please' keep this thread clean of their senseless garbage? They are only interested personal conflicts. You told me that you would keep things in order here. Why are you allowing these asswipes to spew their garbage? Please delete all posts here (including this one) that has nothing to do with the thread topic. If not, then please allow me to reply to them.

[Anoush]

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

I was so excited when I saw the mig-29 fighters I must have looked like a child to the natives around me. Anyway, I am here only for two months. I bought a home here last year, I am now in the very difficult process of organizing a complete renovation. I look at this as my first step towards eventual repatriation. At the very least, my children now have a home in their homeland.

Armenian, Personally I would have loved to see the mig-29 fighters myself. It's very good that you purchased a house in our motherland for you and your children. It's good for them to see and be in their homeland. Btw; thanks for all the infos above.

[zeytuntsi]

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

A powerful military, largest nation on earth, vast amounts of gas and oil, and now enough food to feed the world?

******************************

Could Russia Feed The World?

Russia is the leading food importer and can't even feed its own people.

http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/2008-97-26.cfm

RFE/RL
May 16, 2008
Analysis: Global Food Crisis Catches Up With Russia
By RFE/RL analyst Victor Yasmann
Copyright (c) 2008. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org

Food prices will be the biggest single problem facing newly minted Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Over the last six months, hardly a single speech by Medvedev, Vladimir Putin, or other leading Russian political figures has failed to include mention of this burning issue.

And for good reason. Even as food prices rise dramatically around the world, the rate of increase in Russia has been roughly three times greater than that in the European Union. In April, the cost of basic foodstuffs rose in Russia by 6.4 percent, compared to 1.8 percent in Europe, according to official Russian figures.

Depending on the region, prices of basic products such as bread, milk, and meat have risen between 7 and 22 percent so far this year, moving inflation to the top of the list of Russia's national concerns. An opinion survey in March found that 39 percent of Russians view rising food prices as the biggest national problem, while 38 percent named inflation generally, and 27 percent named low wages. Just 8 percent of respondents mentioned corruption.

These findings are an early warning worth heeding in a country with a history of hunger-triggered political unrest, most notably the 1917 February Revolution that toppled Tsar Nicholas II. The Kremlin understands this and purchased a measure of political stability during the election cycle that began last December with three price freezes on basic consumer goods. Earlier this year, Putin asked Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Aleksei Kudrin (who retained both posts after Putin moved to the premiership last week) to head a special commission on inflation and to report weekly on the status of prices across the country.

As the last price freeze expired on April 30, the government was preparing a special "food-security" law that would indefinitely fix the prices of seven "socially important" commodities.

Medvedev, who for the last three years has overseen an ambitious national project to revive the agricultural sector, has tried to contain the political damage that seems inevitable if prices surge following the expiry of the latest price freeze. He has said that a global food deficit is the main driver of Russia's food troubles, adding that if not for his efforts in recent years, the situation would be worse.

"It is very regrettable when you work and work and then this rubbish comes from the world market because of the mistakes of our colleagues in other countries," Medvedev complained. "And as a result the entire planet is suffering."

Leading Food Importer

Although food prices are, indeed, rising globally, Russia's leaders have downplayed the fact that Russia is one of the world's leading importers of food. As such, it stands to suffer disproportionately from the food crisis.

Among G8 countries, only Russia and Japan are net food importers. Russia imports about 46 percent of the food and agricultural raw materials it consumes each year. At a February 14 press conference, Putin revealed that some of Russia's largest cities import up to 85 percent of the food they consume. All in all, Russia imports 75 percent of the meat it consumes and half of the vegetable oil.

Still worse, Russian dependence on imported food is on the rise. Food imports increased by a factor of three between 2000 and 2006, and the primary reason for this is the ongoing decline of the country's agricultural sector. To take just one example, meat and milk production has fallen by half since 1990, and Russia's total cattle herd has declined to the level of 1918.

Despite all of Moscow's talk of its "sovereign democracy," the country has failed to boost its independence in this crucial arena.

According to figures released by the World Bank and the UN last month, global price increases for food are likely to continue, and accelerate, for the next decade. Russia's dependence on imported food has important domestic and international implications. Not only is it possible that food-related social unrest could disturb Russia's fragile stability, but it is also likely that the costs of supporting this habit could derail the Kremlin's ambitious plans to reshape the national economy.

The Kremlin will be forced to divert more and more of its petrodollar windfall from national-development projects to the purchase of food imports. In fact, this process has already begun, as the country is swept by a massive wave of consumerism. Despite the price increases, Russia's consumption of meat, for instance, has increased 5 percent in 2008 alone. To meet rising demand, Moscow reduced import duties. Naturally, this boosted imports, but that made domestic production less competitive and enraged Russian farmers.

Haves And Have-Nots

The food crisis is also exacerbating the gap between the haves and the have-nots. While the richest part of the population can afford to spend more on food and can even increase consumption, the poorest 20 percent -- those who already spend about 60 percent of their income on food -- find themselves sorely pressed.

On April 30, Agriculture Minister Aleksei Gordeyev (who likewise retains his post under the new regime) proposed dealing with this situation by adopting a so-called food-security law that would regulate prices of some commodities and increase state subsidies to the agricultural sector several times over. It also includes a provision that would introduce food stamps for the poorest Russians. Gordeyev's proposal has met with skepticism by those who see it as a relic of the Soviet planned economy and note that a similar plan was proposed by the Communist Party in 1997.

Such a plan would likely have inflationary consequences and would do little to resolve the food-production problem. Nevertheless, the Economic Development and Trade Ministry has compiled a list of the socially important food products that would be subject to price controls -- including bread, milk, vegetable oil, butter, eggs, salt, and tea.

The good news for Russia is that the country has available land and water resources to boost agricultural production. The bad news, however, is that this cannot be done quickly enough to forestall the social, economic, and political impact of its food deficit. The country simply lacks the workforce, the infrastructure, and the financial mechanisms for rapid development in this sector.

Russia's food problem also has an international dimension. In recent years, Moscow -- as a major exporter of energy to the European Union and the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States -- has used its position of strength for political ends, arguing that it is the seller, not the buyer, who determines prices. Now Russia finds itself in the position of an importer of a vital resource that cannot be replenished domestically any time soon. Russia, for instance, imports 35 percent of its beef and 40 percent of its pork from the European Union.

Because of the humanitarian nature of food supplies, it is unlikely the Western democracies would openly use their leverage to pressure Moscow except in a crisis situation. However, the Putin-Medvedev leadership is aware of Russia's vulnerability on this point. In practical terms, this realization will serve as a natural constraint on Moscow's assertiveness in both the near and far abroad.

[zeytuntsi]

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

Anon, I don't understand why you continue to tolerate that foul mouth low-life called "Artsakh" and that obsessive "Zeytuntsi" (Siamanto's alter ego). Can you 'please' keep this thread clean of their senseless garbage? They are only interested personal conflicts. You told me that you would keep things in order here. Why are you allowing these asswipes to spew their garbage? Please delete all posts here (including this one) that has nothing to do with the thread topic. If not, then please allow me to reply to them.

Are you saying that posts that are not to your liking are "senseless garbage" and should be deleted? Aren't we tolerant?
There are many differences between me and Siamanto but I'd rather be associated with someone like Siamanto than you. No offense.

[Alice_LJ]

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

Thanks for that, good info there.

__________________
xxxelry store

[zeytuntsi]

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

Why is that hard to believe? People visit Armenian all the time. I just dropped off two people at the airport headed to Armenia...

In short, it is really not that big of a deal to travel to Armenia, so I do not understand your belief that Armenian's trip is "BS". Perhaps you are equating him to yourself - a person who most likely is scared to leave his cubicle?

Because he likes to brag and would have mentioned it a couple of thousands times long before freakyfreaky challenged him. Besides the timing of the announcement, the fact that it matches point by point freakyfraky's questions makes his reality show too obvious and suspicious.
He was preparing all that and nobody knew about it?
For more check this post http://forum.armenianclub.com/showpo...1&postcount=25

Anyway, just stop posting stupid things... especially when you don't have an ounce of evidence to support you view.

Azeri cattle? I'm beginning to think you are a member of that herd.

We don't believe so what is the problem?
Do you have "an ounce of evidence to support your view?"

[Armanen]

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

Another important Russian-Armenian.




Dubna’s tale

Jul 31st 2008 | DUBNA
From The Economist print edition


Russia is trying to build a high-tech economy, but red tape is strangling it

LIKE pagan gods, two giant statues of Stalin and Lenin once faced each other across the canal linking the Volga and Moskva rivers. Built in the 1930s partly with gulag labour, the canal is described in a Soviet encyclopedia as “a wonderful architectural ensemble of a new socialist type, reflecting the creative might of the Soviet people inspired by the great ideas of building communism”. Soon after Stalin’s death his statue was blown up. But Lenin still towers over Dubna, a model scientific town that once exemplified the Soviet Union’s achievements in nuclear physics.

Now Dubna wants to stand for Russia’s high-tech diversification. It has recently been designated a free economic zone, in which Russian high-tech companies are exempted from customs duties and pay lower taxes. A new town, designed by British architects, is being built on the Volga’s left bank. Russia hopes that Dubna will turn into a Silicon Valley—or at least a Bangalore. Anatoly Karachinsky, head of Russia’s biggest IT company, IBS, plans to move in hundreds of his programmers.

Dubna was built after the war as a closed town. Following Stalin’s death it became the home of an international institute for nuclear physics, in which other Warsaw Pact countries were also members. This was the Soviet answer to the European nuclear-research organisation, CERN, that had just opened in Geneva. On the one hand it was closely guarded by the KGB (Dubna also had a military-equipment plant and a rocket construction office). On the other it offered scientists and engineers liberties and privileges that most Soviet citizens could only dream of.

The end of the Soviet Union reduced funding for science to a twentieth of its former budget. Yet Dubna’s research institute survived. “The science survived plagues and wars, why should it not have survived the collapse of the Soviet Union?” asks Yuri Oganesyan, head of the nuclear-reactions laboratory. Even when the cash dried up, experiments went on. Indeed, the 1990s were productive, bringing the discovery of new super-heavy nuclei, the opening of a university and the rebuilding of an accelerator. “It may not be beautiful, but it is the most powerful one in the world,” says Mr Oganesyan, pointing optimistically to a vast installation of magnets and tubes.

Unlike most Russian research institutes, Dubna lost relatively few scientists to the West. Even more unusual was the survival of its construction offices and military plants. The criminal gangs that rampaged through Russian industrial towns in the 1990s stayed away from Dubna, which was protected by the security services. And the economic shock of transition, says Valery Prokh, Dubna’s dynamic mayor, was offset by the growth of small businesses. “We have removed all the barriers, and in two years registered 2,000 new companies, of which 700 are still working today.” One such business built the first commercial accelerator in Russia, using it to make filters that separate blood plasma from red cells.

Last year the then President Vladimir Putin declared that “speedy development of fundamental science is becoming a necessary and basic condition for the modernisation of the Russian economy and winning a leading position in the world.” After years of high oil prices, money is again no object: in 2007 Russia put 130 billion roubles ($5.5 billion) into a state corporation for nanotechnologies that is being likened to the Manhattan Project. Even China, which quit Dubna after Khrushchev’s denunciation of Stalin in 1956, has been lured back to the nuclear institute.

But the big problem for high technology in Russia is neither money nor ideas. It is the country’s all-pervasive bureaucracy, weak legal system and culture of corruption. This may explain why the nanotechnology corporation has so far found only one project to invest in (and that is registered in the Netherlands). The share of high-tech products in Russia’s exports is only 0.6%, “a shameful rate” according to Vladimir Fortov, a member of the Russian Academy of Science. Over the past 15 years, he says, Russia has not brought to the market a single significant drug. The average age of Russia’s scientists is well over 50. One of the main commercial activities of Russian research institutes is leasing or selling their property and land.

Scientific inventions tend to be developed abroad. The chain that turns a scientific innovation into a marketable product simply does not exist, says Mr Fortov. And the key to creating it, he argues, is not setting up state corporations, but unshackling the system from bureaucracy and letting private companies operate freely. “We have tried everything else and we know it does not work,” he concludes.

http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11849278

[Illuminator]

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

your garbage bin of ideas fits for your pointless russian propaganda which drive us to think that YOU ARE NUMBER ONE TRAIDOR OF ARMENIAN NATION ALONG WITH THE OTHER AZZERY CATTLES WHO ARE FEEDING AROUND YOU ,you dont have nothing to give to us ,you dont have ideas ,you are empty box to chatter every moment.Go and change your name with a russian one such as BORIS,IVAN or better armenianovski that will suit you better.You are ready to exchange armenia for 2-3 MIG fighters and bunch of drunken well knowen laps dog of yours.Iam not xxxish at all but Idont care A xxx could serve better than you to armenia ,and tere are a lots of examples of xxxs that helped to armenians in history but you have got no idea at all,you are a brain wash dirty pig.

WOW, you're really losing your composure, arent' you?

Who is this "we" you're talking about? You are alone here, get it? No one takes you as a genuine article, you're a fake and an agent provocateur most likely turkish.

[Illuminator]

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

LOOK at your source! Number one US propaganda outlet.

Russia is the leading food importer and can't even feed its own people.

http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/2008-97-26.cfm

RFE/RL
May 16, 2008
Analysis: Global Food Crisis Catches Up With Russia
By RFE/RL analyst Victor Yasmann
Copyright (c) 2008. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org

Food prices will be the biggest single problem facing newly minted Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Over the last six months, hardly a single speech by Medvedev, Vladimir Putin, or other leading Russian political figures has failed to include mention of this burning issue.

And for good reason. Even as food prices rise dramatically around the world, the rate of increase in Russia has been roughly three times greater than that in the European Union. In April, the cost of basic foodstuffs rose in Russia by 6.4 percent, compared to 1.8 percent in Europe, according to official Russian figures.

Depending on the region, prices of basic products such as bread, milk, and meat have risen between 7 and 22 percent so far this year, moving inflation to the top of the list of Russia's national concerns. An opinion survey in March found that 39 percent of Russians view rising food prices as the biggest national problem, while 38 percent named inflation generally, and 27 percent named low wages. Just 8 percent of respondents mentioned corruption.

These findings are an early warning worth heeding in a country with a history of hunger-triggered political unrest, most notably the 1917 February Revolution that toppled Tsar Nicholas II. The Kremlin understands this and purchased a measure of political stability during the election cycle that began last December with three price freezes on basic consumer goods. Earlier this year, Putin asked Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Aleksei Kudrin (who retained both posts after Putin moved to the premiership last week) to head a special commission on inflation and to report weekly on the status of prices across the country.

As the last price freeze expired on April 30, the government was preparing a special "food-security" law that would indefinitely fix the prices of seven "socially important" commodities.

Medvedev, who for the last three years has overseen an ambitious national project to revive the agricultural sector, has tried to contain the political damage that seems inevitable if prices surge following the expiry of the latest price freeze. He has said that a global food deficit is the main driver of Russia's food troubles, adding that if not for his efforts in recent years, the situation would be worse.

"It is very regrettable when you work and work and then this rubbish comes from the world market because of the mistakes of our colleagues in other countries," Medvedev complained. "And as a result the entire planet is suffering."

Leading Food Importer

Although food prices are, indeed, rising globally, Russia's leaders have downplayed the fact that Russia is one of the world's leading importers of food. As such, it stands to suffer disproportionately from the food crisis.

Among G8 countries, only Russia and Japan are net food importers. Russia imports about 46 percent of the food and agricultural raw materials it consumes each year. At a February 14 press conference, Putin revealed that some of Russia's largest cities import up to 85 percent of the food they consume. All in all, Russia imports 75 percent of the meat it consumes and half of the vegetable oil.

Still worse, Russian dependence on imported food is on the rise. Food imports increased by a factor of three between 2000 and 2006, and the primary reason for this is the ongoing decline of the country's agricultural sector. To take just one example, meat and milk production has fallen by half since 1990, and Russia's total cattle herd has declined to the level of 1918.

Despite all of Moscow's talk of its "sovereign democracy," the country has failed to boost its independence in this crucial arena.

According to figures released by the World Bank and the UN last month, global price increases for food are likely to continue, and accelerate, for the next decade. Russia's dependence on imported food has important domestic and international implications. Not only is it possible that food-related social unrest could disturb Russia's fragile stability, but it is also likely that the costs of supporting this habit could derail the Kremlin's ambitious plans to reshape the national economy.

The Kremlin will be forced to divert more and more of its petrodollar windfall from national-development projects to the purchase of food imports. In fact, this process has already begun, as the country is swept by a massive wave of consumerism. Despite the price increases, Russia's consumption of meat, for instance, has increased 5 percent in 2008 alone. To meet rising demand, Moscow reduced import duties. Naturally, this boosted imports, but that made domestic production less competitive and enraged Russian farmers.

Haves And Have-Nots

The food crisis is also exacerbating the gap between the haves and the have-nots. While the richest part of the population can afford to spend more on food and can even increase consumption, the poorest 20 percent -- those who already spend about 60 percent of their income on food -- find themselves sorely pressed.

On April 30, Agriculture Minister Aleksei Gordeyev (who likewise retains his post under the new regime) proposed dealing with this situation by adopting a so-called food-security law that would regulate prices of some commodities and increase state subsidies to the agricultural sector several times over. It also includes a provision that would introduce food stamps for the poorest Russians. Gordeyev's proposal has met with skepticism by those who see it as a relic of the Soviet planned economy and note that a similar plan was proposed by the Communist Party in 1997.

Such a plan would likely have inflationary consequences and would do little to resolve the food-production problem. Nevertheless, the Economic Development and Trade Ministry has compiled a list of the socially important food products that would be subject to price controls -- including bread, milk, vegetable oil, butter, eggs, salt, and tea.

The good news for Russia is that the country has available land and water resources to boost agricultural production. The bad news, however, is that this cannot be done quickly enough to forestall the social, economic, and political impact of its food deficit. The country simply lacks the workforce, the infrastructure, and the financial mechanisms for rapid development in this sector.

Russia's food problem also has an international dimension. In recent years, Moscow -- as a major exporter of energy to the European Union and the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States -- has used its position of strength for political ends, arguing that it is the seller, not the buyer, who determines prices. Now Russia finds itself in the position of an importer of a vital resource that cannot be replenished domestically any time soon. Russia, for instance, imports 35 percent of its beef and 40 percent of its pork from the European Union.

Because of the humanitarian nature of food supplies, it is unlikely the Western democracies would openly use their leverage to pressure Moscow except in a crisis situation. However, the Putin-Medvedev leadership is aware of Russia's vulnerability on this point. In practical terms, this realization will serve as a natural constraint on Moscow's assertiveness in both the near and far abroad.

[Armenian]

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

2nd phase of CIS command post exercise to begin in Moscow

Second phase of the Rubezh'2008 (Frontier'2008) command post exercise that engages the staffs of the countries making up the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) begins. This phase will be held on the premises of the organization's Joint Staff in Moscow, ITAR-TASS reported quoting the press service of CSTO Secretariat said. "The participants will work out military and technological assistance to a member-state that may become the target of external aggression," CSTO Deputy Secretary General Valery Semerikov said. He said that the organization has settled all legal issues pertaining to assistance of this kind. "When the presidents of member-states held a summit in the Tajiskitani capital Dushanbe last October, they signed a protocol on defense and technology aid to member-states in case of an emerging danger of aggression against it or an accomplished fact of aggression," Semerikov said. The CSTO held the first phase of Rubezh'2008 in Armenia in July. It focused on a mechanism of drafting proposals to the Collective Security Council on military and technological assistance to a country that became a target of aggression. The program of the command post exercise also features a third stage that will be held in the Marshal Bagramian Center of the Armenian Defense Ministry. Its program includes a defense operation in the format of a tactical exercise that will involve army units from Armenia, Russia and Tajikistan. Sources at the CSTO Joint Staff said that unlike the previous exercises in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan or Kazakhstan, Rubezh'2008 does not engaged regular units reporting to Interior ministries, the ministries for emergency situations and national security services. The explanation for this is that the previous exercises were antiterrorist ones and did not presuppose a repelling of external aggression. The second phase of Rubezh'2008 involves a contingent of about 4,000 servicemen, howitzer and missile artillery, the army, frontline and interception aviation, air defense, engineering and signal units. The CSTO embraces Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Source: http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=58052

CSTO Rubezh 2008 exercise kicks off in Armenia

Rubezh 2008 exercise kicked off in Armenia today with participation of some 4 thousand servicemen from Armenia, Russia and Tajikistan. “The two initial stages will be political, with a goal to alleviate tensions in the region,” said Nikolay Bordyuzha, Secretary General of the Collectibe Security Treaty Organization. For his part, Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan the exercise has a strategic importance for maintenance of regional and international stability. “During the maneuvers, united force will synchronize operations in local wars and armed conflicts. Joining our efforts, we can resist challenges,” the Minister said. The CSTO includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Armenia is currently holding chairmanship in the organization.

Source: http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=26687

CSTO defense ministers to meet Aug. 21 in Armenia

Defense ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will hold a meeting in the capital of Armenia, Yerevan, on August 21, a spokesman for the Armenian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday. CSTO is a post-Soviet security grouping, which comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. "After the meeting the ministers will attend the final stage of the Rubezh-2008 joint command-and-staff exercise held in Armenia," Col. Seiran Shakhsuvaryan said. About 4,000 troops from Armenia, Russia and Tajikistan will take part in the four-stage Rubezh-2008 military exercise on territory of Armenia and Russia this Summer/Fall. Other CSTO members will be represented by military staff from respective defense ministries. Russia, Belarus and ex-Soviet Central Asian republics have already developed common air defense and communications networks, and are continuing to work on other joint defense networks.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/world/20080709/113638804.html

CSTO to create joint military force in Central Asia

Member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will set up a joint task force in Central Asia, CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha said Friday. "The joint task force in Central Asia is aimed to become a restraining military and political factor in the region, taking an uneasy situation in Afghanistan into account," he was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying after the talks attended by CSTO envoys in Moscow. The date of the force's formation will be determined during high-level consultations of the CSTO, Bordyuzha said. Deputy foreign, defense, finance ministers, as well as deputy security council secretaries from the CSTO member states met here Friday to discuss the coalition's military development for the period up to 2010, the creation of unified military forces in Central Asia, and plans for joint military cooperation in 2009. The CSTO, a post-Soviet security alliance, comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/20...nt_8772052.htm

In related news:

Russia needs secure land transit to Armenia

Russia doesn't need a span of former Georgian SSR, because it's strategically useless, says an article titled "Western Transcaucasia: goals and ways to achieve them". However, according to the author, Russia can't put up with transformation of its neighbors' territory into a multipurpose anti-Russian platform. "It includes bases of separatists, laboratory of velvet resolutions, GUAM and home for NATO forces. Georgia has even left behind the Baltic States known for their Russophobia," he says. "Russia needs a secure, cheap and quality rest for its citizens in local resorts and delivery of agricultural production in compliance with Russian standards. It needs a land transit to Armenia, its only ally in the Transcaucasia, surrounded by hostile Azerbaijan, neutral Iran, NATO Turkey and NATO-aspired Georgia. Some U.S. officials offer to resolve the Karabakh problem though exchange of territories between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the latter being isolated from Iran. An air-bridge a-la Berlin is impossible, since Russia's transport aviation is weak. We should never forget about the 102nd base located in Armenia, which was reproached for 'not sufficient pro-Russian position'. However, living in permanent threat of blockade, our ally is holding on! No one knows how patient it can be. Furthermore, in case of U.S. aggression against Iran the issue of Iranian Azerbaijan will emerge and Armenia will one day face a united 20-million Azerbaijan," says the article published by Military-Industrial Courier.

Source: http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=26775

Working group on Iran-Armenia railroad construction to be formed in near future

A working group on coordination of Iran-Armenia railroad construction will be formed in near future, Armenian Minister of Transport and Communications Gurgen Sargsyan told a news conference on August 1. Presently, three projects are being considered. The first supposes departure from Yeraskh, the second from Vardenis and the third from Gagarin, extending for 443, 449 and 397 km respectively. Armenia favors the project which supposes the start of communication in Gagarin and then through Gavar, Martuni and Jermuk. 80 km of the line will extend through Iran, going as far as Merant station. Minister Sargsyan informed that trilateral talks between Armenia, Iran and Russia are underway. "International organization are also assessing the project which claims serious investments," he said, IA Regnum reports.

Source: http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=26777