Zubkov to go to Bahrain to establish economic cooperation.

MOSCOW, January 20 (Itar-Tass) - Russian First Deputy Prime Minister
Viktor Zubkov will go to the Kingdom of Bahrain for the first time on
Wednesday.

The Russian cabinet member will discuss with the Bahrain leadership
how to establish economic cooperation, above all in energy and aircraft
building.
"This is the first visit to Bahrain of a Russian delegation of such a
high level," a representative of the Russian cabinet emphasised in an
interview with Itar-Tass.
The trip will last two days. Zubkov will have meetings during this
time with the top Bahrain leadership: King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Prime
Minister Halifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and talks with vice-premier Muhammad
bin Mubarak Al Khalifa.
"The main task of the coming contacts is to discuss priority areas of
Russian-Bahrain trade and economic cooperation," stresses the Russian
government. A source called energy, agriculture, financing, civil aircraft
building and the medical industry among the main areas of promising
bilateral cooperation.
Up to now, Russia and Bahrain have been successfully developing the
political dialogue. For instance, December 2008 witnessed the first visit
(in history of bilateral relations) by King Hamad to Moscow and talks with
President Dmitry Medvedev. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited
Bahrain a year ago.
As for economic relations, Russia and Bahrain only held a business
forum and signed several documents on cooperation, including the
Memorandum on mutual understanding between Russian Gazprom and the Bahrain
National Oil and Gas Agency, between Vneshekonombank and the Council for
Economic Development of the Kingdom, between the central banks of the two
countries; the Memorandum of mutual understanding on cooperation in
culture; the Memorandum of mutual understanding on cooperation in peaceful
uses of nuclear energy.
"The political foundation has been laid down; it is now necessary to
continue building a superstructure, above all thanks to projects in the
trade and economic spheres," the government source claimed. According to
his assessment, "there is an impressive potential for development in this
sphere".
The delegation headed by Zubkov, includes Deputy Foreign Minister
Alexander Saltanov, deputy ministers for economic development and
agriculture, chairman of Vneshekonombank Vladimir Dmitriev,
director-general of Rosoboronexport Company A. Isaikin and executives of
several Russian companies.
It is planned that Zubkov as a key guest will participate in the
Bahrain International Air Show. Russia is represented by the
Rosoboronexport Company and the Sukhoi Company at the show. The programme
of exhibition flights includes participation of the Russian fighter Su-27.
The government source stressed that Bahrain sticks to a balanced and
non-confrontational foreign policy, aimed at consolidating regional
stability and security.

.Chief Russia auditor ready to help Ingushetia in resolving tasks.

NAZRAN, January 20 (Itar-Tass) - Chairman of the Russian Audit Chamber
Sergei Stepashin expressed readiness to render aid to Ingushetia in
resolving tasks, facing the republic. He expressed this idea at a meeting
in Magas, the republican capital.
Stepashin noted that he arrived in Ingushetia together with staff
members of the Audit Chamber to carry out a comprehensive inspection of
the republic, including the aim of learning how the republic is bracing to
implement the federal targeted programme (adopted late last year) "Social
and economic development of Ingushetia in 2010-2016".
He emphasised that the programme had had to be adopted two years ago,
taking into account the present situation in the republic. In the chairman'
s opinion, the programme will positively influence stabilisation of the
situation in the region and settlement of many tasks, facing the republic".
Stepashin expressed readiness to render assistance to Ingushetia. "We
can tackle questions with financing republican police and questions of its
technical equipment," he added. The chairman stated, "One should not
compare Ingushetia police with police in Moscow and other regions". "There
are its own specific features in Ingushetia," the Audit Chamber chief
explained, stressing that it is necessary to settle problems of providing
sophisticated technology for local law enforcement bodies. "We should not
wage struggle against crime with outdated methods."
Ingushetia premier Alexei Vorobyev also raised the question on
providing technology and wages to republican police. He pointed out that
wages are different in various regions. "We carried out joint measures on
the administrative border between Ingushetia and Chechnya against members
of armed gangs, hiding in forests in border areas. Some policemen go into
action for 30,000 roubles, while others for 7,000," he said.
Ingushetia President Yunus-Bek Yevkurov thanked the Audit Chamber head
for the visit. "We are glad that the commission of the Audit Chamber has
visited the republic. We understand the inspection as an aid in work of
republican bodies of executive power," he stated. The Ingushetia president
expressed hope that the inspection would be of principled nature.
The main task, facing now the people and the head of the republic, is
to stabilise the situation, he said, noting that this task can be resolved
through power-wielding bodies and by implementing the programme "Social
and economic development of the Ingushetia Republic in 2010-2016".
Yevkurov said that the Ingushetia leadership finalised projects of the
last year, launched by the previous leadership. He noted that the federal
targeted programme had been suggested by Murad Zyazikov, and he had
requested the federal government to support it at that time.
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