Thursday, January 25, 2007
Latvian parliamentt votes for border treaty with RF without claims
RIGA, January 25 (Itar-Tass) - Latvian parliament has empowered the government to sign a border treaty with Russia without territorial claims.
The parliament approved a relevant bill in the first reading to be submitted to the foreign affairs commission for further consideration.
Under this bill the Cabinet shall sign a border treaty with Russia initialled back in 1997.
Russia and Latvia should have signed the document in Moscow on May 10, 2005. But the Latvian authorities adopted a declaration as an addendum to the treaty indirectly mentioning a long simmering dispute over the Pytalovo district in the Pskov region.
Latvia’s former Abrene district was transferred to the Soviet Union after World War II and renamed into Pytalovo.
Moscow assessed this declaration as territorial claims and refused to sign a border treaty until the declaration is revoked.
Sixty-eight parliamentarians of the 100 present supported the bill, while 24 deputies voted against. Among those who opposed the bill are members of the For Fatherland and Freedom union and New Era Party.
The document should be approved in the second and third readings and may be submitted for reconsideration to the foreign affairs commission twice. It will take from two to three months to sign this bill into law.
The parliament approved a relevant bill in the first reading to be submitted to the foreign affairs commission for further consideration.
Under this bill the Cabinet shall sign a border treaty with Russia initialled back in 1997.
Russia and Latvia should have signed the document in Moscow on May 10, 2005. But the Latvian authorities adopted a declaration as an addendum to the treaty indirectly mentioning a long simmering dispute over the Pytalovo district in the Pskov region.
Latvia’s former Abrene district was transferred to the Soviet Union after World War II and renamed into Pytalovo.
Moscow assessed this declaration as territorial claims and refused to sign a border treaty until the declaration is revoked.
Sixty-eight parliamentarians of the 100 present supported the bill, while 24 deputies voted against. Among those who opposed the bill are members of the For Fatherland and Freedom union and New Era Party.
The document should be approved in the second and third readings and may be submitted for reconsideration to the foreign affairs commission twice. It will take from two to three months to sign this bill into law.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Russia, India set to conduct counter-terrorism exercises in 2007
MOSCOW, January 20 (RIA Novosti) - Russia and India are planning to conduct joint land and naval counter-terrorism exercises in 2007, a Russian Defense Ministry official said Saturday.
INDRA-2007 is a biennial joint exercise between the armed forces of Russia and India aimed at coordinating cooperative engagement in the fight against terrorism.
"The details of the upcoming joint Russian-Indian exercise will be discussed during a visit of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov to India," said Colonel General Anatoly Mazurkevich, head of the Main Directorate for Foreign Military Cooperation.
The naval part of INDRA-2007 will be held in April 2007 at the Pacific Ocean involving naval units of the Russian Pacific Fleet and the Indian Navy.
The land part of the war games is scheduled for mid-September at the training grounds of the 76th Airborne Division near the city of Pskov in north-western Russia.
"Paratroopers will practice air drops with live firing," the general said adding that the counter-terrorism exercise will involve a Russian airborne battalion and a company of Indian paratroopers.
The previous joint Russian-Indian exercise, INDRA-2005, was held in India on October 10-20, 2005. Mazurkevich also said the Russian defense minister will discuss bilateral military-technical cooperation during his visit to India on January 22-25.
The main topics of talks will include the supply of spare parts to Russian-made military equipment that was previously sold to India and the licensed production of RD-33 jet engines for MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-30MKI Flanker C fighter aircraft in service with the Indian Air Force, the general said.
According to various estimates, the Indian Air Force has up to 65 MiG-29's and 50 Su-30's.
INDRA-2007 is a biennial joint exercise between the armed forces of Russia and India aimed at coordinating cooperative engagement in the fight against terrorism.
"The details of the upcoming joint Russian-Indian exercise will be discussed during a visit of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov to India," said Colonel General Anatoly Mazurkevich, head of the Main Directorate for Foreign Military Cooperation.
The naval part of INDRA-2007 will be held in April 2007 at the Pacific Ocean involving naval units of the Russian Pacific Fleet and the Indian Navy.
The land part of the war games is scheduled for mid-September at the training grounds of the 76th Airborne Division near the city of Pskov in north-western Russia.
"Paratroopers will practice air drops with live firing," the general said adding that the counter-terrorism exercise will involve a Russian airborne battalion and a company of Indian paratroopers.
The previous joint Russian-Indian exercise, INDRA-2005, was held in India on October 10-20, 2005. Mazurkevich also said the Russian defense minister will discuss bilateral military-technical cooperation during his visit to India on January 22-25.
The main topics of talks will include the supply of spare parts to Russian-made military equipment that was previously sold to India and the licensed production of RD-33 jet engines for MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-30MKI Flanker C fighter aircraft in service with the Indian Air Force, the general said.
According to various estimates, the Indian Air Force has up to 65 MiG-29's and 50 Su-30's.
Russia and India to cooperate on development of fighter planes - Monsters and Critics.com - Glasgow,UK
Moscow- Russia and India are to cooperate on the development of fighter jets, the Russian defence ministry announced Saturday in advance of Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov's visit to India Monday.
An agreement over the joint development of so-called 'fifth- generation' fighter jets should be signed within months, said spokesman Colonel-General Anatoli Masurkevitch.
A joint Russian-Indian military exercise is also scheduled to take place in the north-western Russian city of Pskov, close to the Estonian border, Masurkevitch said.
Ivanov during his two-day trip to India is set to visit the city of Bangalore as well as attend political talks in New Delhi, ministry spokesman Sergei Rybakov said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is also scheduled to travel to the subcontinent for Independence Day celebrations on January 26.
India and China are the two biggest customers for Russian arms exports. The Indian air force utilizes Russian-designed Su-30MK multi-role fighter bombers, manufactured under licence. In 2003 and 2005 Moscow and New Delhi collaborated on large-scale naval manoeuvres in the Indian Ocean.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur
An agreement over the joint development of so-called 'fifth- generation' fighter jets should be signed within months, said spokesman Colonel-General Anatoli Masurkevitch.
A joint Russian-Indian military exercise is also scheduled to take place in the north-western Russian city of Pskov, close to the Estonian border, Masurkevitch said.
Ivanov during his two-day trip to India is set to visit the city of Bangalore as well as attend political talks in New Delhi, ministry spokesman Sergei Rybakov said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is also scheduled to travel to the subcontinent for Independence Day celebrations on January 26.
India and China are the two biggest customers for Russian arms exports. The Indian air force utilizes Russian-designed Su-30MK multi-role fighter bombers, manufactured under licence. In 2003 and 2005 Moscow and New Delhi collaborated on large-scale naval manoeuvres in the Indian Ocean.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur
Friday, January 19, 2007
Latvia has no territorial claims to Russia
MOSCOW, January 17 (Itar-Tass) -- Mikhail Margelov, the chairman of the International Relations Committee of the Federation Council upper house of parliament, welcomes the decision of Latvian politicians to recall the declaration attached to the Treaty on the Border with Russia. “This decision should be hailed by all on both sides of the border who are interested in normal relations of the two neighbour countries,” Margelov told reporters on Wednesday.
The committee’s chairman recalled that Russia refused in May 2005 to sign the treaty because of Latvia’s claims to the city of Abrene, the way Latvia called the city of Pytalovo in Pskov Region. The Latvian leaders, Margelov said, “devised a truly Byzantine move”: Latvia advanced no claims in the treaty itself, while making a reference to the 1920 Russian-Latvian Peace Treaty in the declaration attached.
The move “has not escaped the notice of the Russian side, as it was in 1920 that the city of Abrene with six regions attached went to Latvia,” Margelov noted. “Thus the treaty and the declaration were turned into a combined document which would give the latest legal grounds for revision of the border,” he said.
The Latvian prime minister said the other day that his country renounced territorial claims to Russia, and the government coalition council on Wednesday decided to recall the “unfortunate declaration.” Welcoming this decision, the chairman of the upper house committee noted that “complexities about border delimitation and unauthorised seals and signatures” cloud bilateral relations.
He suggested that Latvia should now refer to the 1991 law On the State Status of the Latvian Republic, on whose basis Moscow recognized Riga’s independence. “The alignment of political forces in Latvia calls for compromise, and the treaty on the border in this case should observe state continuity principle.”
True, Margelov acknowledged, “It is yet early to speak about the successful advance of the coalition council’s idea, as the meeting of the Latvian saeima (parliament) is ahead. The chances of signing the treaty, however, are high, Margelov added, as, according to experts, only the TB-DNNL nationalist association is against the treaty. Margelov voiced the hope that the treaty on Russian-Latvian border would be signed.
The committee’s chairman recalled that Russia refused in May 2005 to sign the treaty because of Latvia’s claims to the city of Abrene, the way Latvia called the city of Pytalovo in Pskov Region. The Latvian leaders, Margelov said, “devised a truly Byzantine move”: Latvia advanced no claims in the treaty itself, while making a reference to the 1920 Russian-Latvian Peace Treaty in the declaration attached.
The move “has not escaped the notice of the Russian side, as it was in 1920 that the city of Abrene with six regions attached went to Latvia,” Margelov noted. “Thus the treaty and the declaration were turned into a combined document which would give the latest legal grounds for revision of the border,” he said.
The Latvian prime minister said the other day that his country renounced territorial claims to Russia, and the government coalition council on Wednesday decided to recall the “unfortunate declaration.” Welcoming this decision, the chairman of the upper house committee noted that “complexities about border delimitation and unauthorised seals and signatures” cloud bilateral relations.
He suggested that Latvia should now refer to the 1991 law On the State Status of the Latvian Republic, on whose basis Moscow recognized Riga’s independence. “The alignment of political forces in Latvia calls for compromise, and the treaty on the border in this case should observe state continuity principle.”
True, Margelov acknowledged, “It is yet early to speak about the successful advance of the coalition council’s idea, as the meeting of the Latvian saeima (parliament) is ahead. The chances of signing the treaty, however, are high, Margelov added, as, according to experts, only the TB-DNNL nationalist association is against the treaty. Margelov voiced the hope that the treaty on Russian-Latvian border would be signed.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Editor's home target of arson attack, police briefly detain newspaper staff following reports critical of regional governor
(CJES/IFEX) - On 1 January 2007 in the city of Pskov, at about 7:00 pm (local time), an unidentified individual or individuals set fire to the door of the apartment of Irina Tikhonova, the editor-in-chief of "The Bulletin" of the news agency Pskov News Bureau. Tikhonova is convinced that the incident is directly related to her professional work.
Tikhonova informed CJES that the incident took place when her entire family was at home, which leads her to consider the act as a threat intended to instil panic and fear.
"Police and fire officials have investigated the fire and found it was caused by 'an extraneous source', confirming that it was a deliberate act of arson. Now I am seriously frightened by the incident and fear for my life and the lives of my family members," Tikhonova said.
The editor and the founder of the Pskov News Bureau suspects that Michael Kuznetsov, the governor of Pskov region, who has been criticised in the pages of "The Bulletin", is behind the attack. The newspaper is one of the few in which opposition to the regional governor has been openly expressed.
According to the editor, within the last two years the governor and his two assistants have filed 14 criminal complaints against the press through the police and the Office of the Public Prosecutor, under clause 130 (part 2) of the Russian Criminal Code (on "insult" expressed in public demonstrations or in mass media). None of these legal cases has been carried forward.
On 9 December 2006, police illegally detained Tikhonova and other staff of "The Bulletin". According to Tikhonova, despite having been shown the appropriate documents (passport, certificate of registration with "The Bulletin"), police detained them for four hours. In response to requests that they explain the reasons for the journalists' detention, police officials responded that they "can detain people for 48 hours".
The Pskov News Bureau editor believes the detention was related to the publication, on the front page of "The Bulletin", of a story that reported on governor Kuznetsov's failure to fulfil his electoral promise that the prices for energy carriers would not be raised.
The Pskov News Bureau editor also reports having been subject to pressure in relation to the upcoming 11 March elections to select representatives to the Pskov regional assembly, the Pskov municipal Duma, and to 13 other municipalities of the region.
Tikhonova informed CJES that the incident took place when her entire family was at home, which leads her to consider the act as a threat intended to instil panic and fear.
"Police and fire officials have investigated the fire and found it was caused by 'an extraneous source', confirming that it was a deliberate act of arson. Now I am seriously frightened by the incident and fear for my life and the lives of my family members," Tikhonova said.
The editor and the founder of the Pskov News Bureau suspects that Michael Kuznetsov, the governor of Pskov region, who has been criticised in the pages of "The Bulletin", is behind the attack. The newspaper is one of the few in which opposition to the regional governor has been openly expressed.
According to the editor, within the last two years the governor and his two assistants have filed 14 criminal complaints against the press through the police and the Office of the Public Prosecutor, under clause 130 (part 2) of the Russian Criminal Code (on "insult" expressed in public demonstrations or in mass media). None of these legal cases has been carried forward.
On 9 December 2006, police illegally detained Tikhonova and other staff of "The Bulletin". According to Tikhonova, despite having been shown the appropriate documents (passport, certificate of registration with "The Bulletin"), police detained them for four hours. In response to requests that they explain the reasons for the journalists' detention, police officials responded that they "can detain people for 48 hours".
The Pskov News Bureau editor believes the detention was related to the publication, on the front page of "The Bulletin", of a story that reported on governor Kuznetsov's failure to fulfil his electoral promise that the prices for energy carriers would not be raised.
The Pskov News Bureau editor also reports having been subject to pressure in relation to the upcoming 11 March elections to select representatives to the Pskov regional assembly, the Pskov municipal Duma, and to 13 other municipalities of the region.
Schoolchildren in northwest Russia find lost French traveler
Schoolchildren in the Pskov Region in northwest Russia found a lost traveler from France, a local education official said Friday.
Ninel Dodonova said Etienne Busiere, 17, who lives in a small village in southern France, arrived in Russia to visit his friend Nikita from St. Petersburg, whom he met on the Internet.
"The young Frenchman said he began his journey several days ago. He arrived in Warsaw by train, then came to [Estonia's capital] Tallinn and later to Pechory, a district center, and to [the ancient Russian city of] Pskov," she said.
Dodonova said Busiere decided to hitchhike to St. Petersburg without knowing his friend's exact address, but that he was unable to catch a ride.
After that, Busiere set off for St. Petersburg on foot and lost his mobile phone and identification along the way.
"Two days later, he arrived at the village of Toroshino, located 35 kilometers (21 miles) from Pskov," Dodonova said.
She said local schoolchildren found the young Frenchmen, who had not eaten for two days. He was later put on a bus and sent to the French consulate in St. Petersburg, where consular officials will issue him new documents and arrange for his return to France.
Ninel Dodonova said Etienne Busiere, 17, who lives in a small village in southern France, arrived in Russia to visit his friend Nikita from St. Petersburg, whom he met on the Internet.
"The young Frenchman said he began his journey several days ago. He arrived in Warsaw by train, then came to [Estonia's capital] Tallinn and later to Pechory, a district center, and to [the ancient Russian city of] Pskov," she said.
Dodonova said Busiere decided to hitchhike to St. Petersburg without knowing his friend's exact address, but that he was unable to catch a ride.
After that, Busiere set off for St. Petersburg on foot and lost his mobile phone and identification along the way.
"Two days later, he arrived at the village of Toroshino, located 35 kilometers (21 miles) from Pskov," Dodonova said.
She said local schoolchildren found the young Frenchmen, who had not eaten for two days. He was later put on a bus and sent to the French consulate in St. Petersburg, where consular officials will issue him new documents and arrange for his return to France.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Estonia will not renounce preamble to bill on ratification of border treaty with Russia
Estonia will not renounce preamble to the bill on ratification of the sea and land border treaty with Russia. As REGNUM informs, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet made such statement to Eesti Paevaleht newspaper today, on January 9. According to him, the question of the border with Russia was not subjected to any change, and no change is expected in the near future either.
In his turn, Chair of the Riigikogu (Estonian parliament) Foreign Affairs Committee Enn Eesmaa called “unusual” Moscow’s decision to withdraw its signature from the treaty. Meanwhile, Paet noted that Estonia in this situation can only remind Russia from time to time about Estonia and European Union’s position on the border treaty issue without exerting significant pressure upon the neighbor country.
At the same time, as the newspaper says, the neighboring Latvia is allegedly ready to renounce its one-sidedly introduced declaration to the Russian-Latvian border treaty, in accordance with which the Latvian side could pretend for Pytalovo District in Russia’s Pskov Region, which, in the newspaper’s opinion, can result in signing the Russia-Latvia border treaty.
The border treaties were signed by Russian and Estonian foreign ministers on May 18, 2005. While ratifying the border treaties, the Estonian parliament enclosed a preamble into the border treaty that referred to the Tartu Peace Treaty of 1920. The amendment, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry, can become a ground for territorial claims to the Russian Federation.
In his turn, Chair of the Riigikogu (Estonian parliament) Foreign Affairs Committee Enn Eesmaa called “unusual” Moscow’s decision to withdraw its signature from the treaty. Meanwhile, Paet noted that Estonia in this situation can only remind Russia from time to time about Estonia and European Union’s position on the border treaty issue without exerting significant pressure upon the neighbor country.
At the same time, as the newspaper says, the neighboring Latvia is allegedly ready to renounce its one-sidedly introduced declaration to the Russian-Latvian border treaty, in accordance with which the Latvian side could pretend for Pytalovo District in Russia’s Pskov Region, which, in the newspaper’s opinion, can result in signing the Russia-Latvia border treaty.
The border treaties were signed by Russian and Estonian foreign ministers on May 18, 2005. While ratifying the border treaties, the Estonian parliament enclosed a preamble into the border treaty that referred to the Tartu Peace Treaty of 1920. The amendment, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry, can become a ground for territorial claims to the Russian Federation.
