Russia 111216
Basic Political Developments
· Russia will create new liquid heavy missile with boosted capabilities to overcome U.S.. missile defense – RVSN commander
o Russia will create a strategic missile with improved capabilities to overcome missile defense
· Russia to ‘fully respond’ to US Congress missile defense decision – envoy: US lawmakers’ decision not to hand over any information on missile defense to Russia forces Moscow to fulfill a number of options in response, Russia’s ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin has warned.
· Missile shield to break strategic balance – Serdyukov - The deployment of the U.S. missile shield in Europe will break the strategic balance of forces and Russia will begin to take responsive measures after the first missile defense elements appear in Poland, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper published on Friday.
o Link: http://www.rg.ru/2011/12/16/serdukov-dz.html
· Russian participation in NATO summit depends on missile defense - Russia will decide whether it will participate in the NATO summit next year after the presidential election in March and much will depend on progress in the missile defense issue, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters on Thursday.
· Russia calm about U.S. CFE move - Russia calmly reacted to the U.S. decision to stop exchanging information with Moscow over the compliance with the Conventional Forces Europe (CFE) Treaty as it obtains the necessary information through other channels, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.
· Egyptian FM to visit Moscow on December 20-22 - Foreign Ministry - The parties will discuss the situation in the Middle East, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Iran’s nuclear program and the issues of bilateral cooperation. A plan of ministerial consultation in the coming year is planned to be signed.
· Syria’s vice-president at talks in Moscow - Syria’s Vice-President Farouk al-Sharaa will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday to discuss ways for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in his country… Four delegations of Syrian opposition have visited Russia of late and the fifth is coming. It will be headed by one of the opposition leaders, Hasan Abdel Azim.
· UN SC makes public upgraded RF-China resolution on Syria
o In Surprise Move, Russia Submits Syria Resolution
o Russia’s UN Resolution on Syria Violence Criticized by U.S.
· FM recommends categorically Russians to refrain from visiting Yemen
· Russia, India to ink NPP, arms trade deals
o Routing Iran oil payments on PM’s Moscow agenda
o With PM in Moscow, India likely to get Russian nuclear submarine by year-end
o Russian-built, BrahMos-fitted frigate set for Indian Navy induction
o Russian n-deal to continue but people's concerns matter: PM
o PM to raise issue of Su-30 MKI engine failures with Russia
o PM visit: India to buy 42 ‘upgraded’ Sukhois
o PM to hold talks with Medvedev, Putin during Indo-Russian Summit
o PM to meet Medvedev, Putin today during Indo-Russian summit
o India PM Manmohan Singh's Russia trip to boost ties
· Shuvalov to attend ceremony of Russia’s accession in WTO
o RF’s joining WTO opens new stage of international integration
o Chubais sees OECD accession after WTO joining
o Hello, WTO! - “A lot still needs to be done in terms of understanding what WTO membership will bring to Russia,” said Viktor Vekselber, Russia’s metals tycoon. “We must open our eyes to what we pay for a ticket to this trade club,” Vekselber added.
· Washington declines to comment on Putin’s criticism of U.S.
· Kyoto Protocol loses its effectiveness – FM: The Kyoto Protocol has lost its effectiveness, spokesman of Russia’s Foreign Ministry Alexander Lukashevich said on Friday commenting on Canada’s decision to leave the international mechanism.
· President Receives Russian Delegation - President Yoweri Museveni has received and held talks with a Russian delegation, led by the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister in charge of African and Middle East Affairs Mr. Bogdanov who paid a courtesy call on him at State House, Entebbe.
· Russian expert: Iran will be apparently attacked from Georgia’s territory
· Vice magazine sheds light on N. Korean labor camps inside Russia in new video
· Belaruskali wins tender to develop Petrikovskoye potassium salt deposit
· Belarus, Russia agree on conditions for supplying oil to Belarusian refineries in 2012-15
· BSEC FMs to discuss ways to improve efficiency of organization
o Russia - First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Denisov Converses with Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Dollis
o Serbia's Minister of Foreign Affairs attends the 25th meeting of BSEC in Moscow
o Jeremic to visit Russia - Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic will visit Moscow on Friday, where he is going to attend the 25th meeting of the foreign ministers council of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC).
· RF’s aid convoy starts moving to Kosovska-Mitrovica
o Russian humanitarian convoy drives into Kosovo
o Russian convoy with aid for Kosovo resumes its way
o Kosovo-bound Russian aid convoy finally gets green light
· Putin Support Drops Sharply To Historic Low After Disputed Election - Another poll released Friday, conducted by the Public Opinion Foundation, found trust in Putin hit an all-time low of 44% on Dec. 11, down from as much as 70% in 2008, before the financial crisis hit the country. Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov blamed the poll readings on "emotional overload" in the post-election period and said that despite volatility Putin's support remains at a "sufficiently high level" and will probably rise soon, the Interfax news agency reported.
o Putin's approval falls to year's low: Russian poll
o Putin's popularity takes a hit ahead of vote
· Medvedev to get Khodorkovsky case report Wednesday
o Presidential council experts uncover violations in second Yukos case - MHG head
o Court annuls reprimands to Khodorkovsky
· A Kremlin source: Vladislav Surkov refused to head the presidential administration
· Source in Prokhorov’s entourage claims businessman was promised premier’s post – newspaper
o Russian billionaire businessman submits documents for self-nomination
· Russian investigators open first probe into alleged poll fraud
· Minchenko comments on reshuffle at Kommersant
· Udaltsov Hospitalized for 3rd Time
· Russian ship evacuates some crew in Antarctica
o Russian fishing ship with 32 crew in trouble near Antarctica; ice hampers rescue effort
· Russian AIr Force gets heavy helicopters - Two Mil Mi-26 heavy transport helicopters have entered the Russian air fleet.
· Russia's Military To Recruit More Foreigners - According to the amended law, a citizen of any foreign country aged 18-30 with a good command of Russian and a clean criminal record can now sign an initial five-year contract to join the Army. As an incentive to join, recruits are offered Russian citizenship after three years of service.
· Investigation completed in 2nd case against Kvachkov - Kvachkov is the main defendant in the criminal case over the attempt on the life of the then RAO UES of Russia CEO Anatoly Chubais. However, on the jury verdict other defendants were fully acquitted in 2010.
· Aggravated crimes in N Caucasus down - During a conference in the Chechen capital Grozny, the Committee’s Chairman Alexander Bastrykin reported a 27-percent drop in the number of aggravated offences in Chechnya and praised investigating teams in North Ossetia and Chechnya for achieving tangible results in probing corruption.
o Bastrykin visits family of SK officer killed in Makhachkala
· Journalist killed, jeweler kidnapped in Dagestan
o Newspaper founder killed in Russia's Dagestan
o Journalist shot dead in Russia’s Dagestan
o Dagestan reporter could be killed for his professional activity
· Russia census: population continues to decline
o Population census puts Russia’s population at 142,857,000
o All-Russian census shows reduction of population
· PRESS DIGEST - Russia - Dec 16
o www.vedomosti.ru
o Sergei Naryshkin, chief of the Kremlin administration, may become the new speaker of the Russian lower house of parliament, the paper says.
o Only four percent of all internet traffic in Russia in 2011 was provided by handheld devices, mostly Apple products and Android-based devices, while desktop computers accounted for 96 percent, the daily cites a Comscore report as saying.
o www.kommersant.ru
o The number of Russians supporting both President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin shrunk 9 percent in 10 days since last VTsIOM poll on November 30, the paper says.
o Russian state development bank VEB will provide 16 billion roubles ($500 million) more in credits to finance building of facilities for the 2014 Sochi Olympics, the paper writes.
o www.ng.ru
o Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, who plans to run for president, said on Thursday he would pardon former Yukos owner Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the paper writes.
· Russian Press at a Glance, Friday, December 16, 2011
· Putin's new playmate MP: Russian leader appoints Playboy bunny to parliament role
· Does Russia pose a threat to Poland? - This question is answered by Polish ambassador, Wojciech Zajaczkowski
· The “Magnitsky list” is prepared for a reset - It is being proposed to extend sanctions to all human rights violators.
· The Putin Show And The Kremlin Shuffle – by Brian Whitmore
· Russia: Politics, First of All – by Sergei Aleksashenko
· Until Death Do Them Part - Russia's Demographic Crisis May Compel Russian Women to Bear Equal Economic Burden with Men
National Economic Trends
· Gov't greenlights long-term innovative strategy
· Standard & Poor's applies its revised criteria to 14 Russian banks and one core subsidiary
· Russian Industrial Output Rises 3.9%, Faster Than Forecast
· Russia's Govt Will Need To Take On More Debt In 2012
Business, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussions
· Gazprom Jumps as U.S. Jobs Buoy Global Outlook: Russia Overnight
· Market buzz: Russian stocks expect trading in the black
· Russian stock market daily morning report (December 16, 2011, Friday)
· Evraz extends share swap deadline
· Mechel sees no problem in paying off $2.7 bln in debt next year
· Gokhran expected to buy planned $300 mln of diamonds from Alrosa in 2012
· Norilsk Nickel taps $2bn loan from Sberbank
· Vimpelcom appoints Anton Kudryashov head of Russia business unit
· Anton Kudryashov, Pyotr Aven leave CTC Media
Activity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory)
· VTB’s Kostin May Step Down From Rosneft Board, Kommersant Says
· Deputy minister expects Shtokman’s tax break similar to Yamal’s
· Tribunal to Rule on BP Dispute With Russian Partners
Gazprom
· EC greenlights Gazprom buying stake in dealer Promgas from Eni
· Gazprom to increase Azerbaijani gas purchase
· Gazprom Neft to expand into Ukranian motor fuels retail market --- positive for the company
· Gazprom Holds Key To Meeting Global Energy Needs
· Gazprom demand Red Star play in Europe with Dzajic at helm
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Basic Political Developments
12/16 13:12 Russia will create new liquid heavy missile with boosted capabilities to overcome U.S.. missile defense – RVSN commander
http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=295808
http://www.interfax.ru/politics/news.asp?id=222259
GOOGLE TRANSLATION
Russia will create a strategic missile with improved capabilities to overcome missile defense
December 16, 2011 13:11
Moscow. On December 16. INTERFAX.RU - new heavy missile with improved capabilities to address the U.S. strategic missile defense system to be established in Russia, said the commander of the Strategic Missile Forces, Lieutenant General Sergei Karakayev.
"We have already decided on a new missile system with silo-based heavy liquid rocket, which will have increased opportunities to address the prospective U.S. missile defense system," - said Karakayev on Friday in Moscow.
According to him, "these missiles will be highly effective to overcome missile defense mnogorubezhnoy through the implementation of measures for structural and technical improvement of missiles, their warheads and missile defense penetration aids, to improve energy-mass indices of missiles and battle stages, including - using high-energy fuels the next generation. "
RT News line, December 16
Russia to ‘fully respond’ to US Congress missile defense decision – envoy
http://rt.com/news/line/2011-12-16/#id23609
US lawmakers’ decision not to hand over any information on missile defense to Russia forces Moscow to fulfill a number of options in response, Russia’s ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin has warned. The US Congress move “narrows” a possible Washington’s maneuver in the current talks with Russia, the envoy argued. Several past agreements, including the invitation of Russian experts to the test of the US missile defense in spring 2012 now could be suspended, he said. Senator Mark Kirk earlier said handing over classified US missile technology to Russia will allow it to achieve “through diplomacy what couldn’t be done through espionage.” Russia wants guarantees the US missile defense is not directed against Moscow’s strategic nuclear potential.
05:0116/12/2011ALL NEWS
Missile shield to break strategic balance - Serdyukov
http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c154/298889.html
MOSCOW, December 16 (Itar-Tass) —— The deployment of the U.S. missile shield in Europe will break the strategic balance of forces and Russia will begin to take responsive measures after the first missile defense elements appear in Poland, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper published on Friday.
“We cannot allow violations of the existing strategic balance which will result from the unilateral deployment of the missile defense system in Poland,” he said.
“As for today we have information the United States is planning to deploy anti-missile (Srandard-3) complexes in Poland. Thus, a threat to our strategic nuclear forces will definitely come from there,” Serdyukov said.
“As soon as any missile defense elements appear in Poland we shall take adequate response measures. One of them can be the deployment of Iskander missile complexes in Kaliningrad region. We shall definitely deploy them if the Supreme Commander-in-Chief orders us,” the defense minister said.
He added the first response was the deployment in Kaliningrad of a missile attack warning radar. “Other measures declared by the president of the country will be implemented only as response steps adequate to the level of the emerging threat to Russia,” Serdyukov stressed.
He added Russia will also equip its missiles “with a corresponding complex” to break through the missile shield.