CSTO Rapid Reaction Force exercise 1st stage to start in Moscow.

MOSCOW, August 26 (Itar-Tass) - The first stage of the joint complex
exercise on the "training and use of the Collective Rapid Reaction Force
and military contingents of the armed forces of member states of the
Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) for ensuring collective
security" will be started at the organisation's Join Headquarters on
Wednesday.

"The exercise's postponement is out of the question," the press
service of the CSTO Secretariat quoted CSTO Secretary General Nikolai
Bordyuzha as saying. He noted that the time of the exercise was determined
at a working meeting of the chiefs of the general staffs of the armed
forces of the organisation's member states in March this year and
finalised in April. The idea of the exercise was approved by the Council
of Defence Ministers of the CSTO on June 3.
According to Bordyuzha, "The emerged information that Minsk is
allegedly 'disrupting' the exercise is not true." "The second, one of the
most important stages of the exercise on the issue 'Organisation of the
application of military contingents of CSTO member state's armies in the
East European region of collective security' will be held in the
Belarusian territory, in which military servicemen from Belarus, Russia,
Armenia and Kazakhstan will act together," the official stressed.
"Representatives of security agencies of Belarus took the most active
part in the working out of the scheme of the exercise and its preparation.
And I have no doubt that the planned event on the Belarusian land will be
held traditionally at the top organisational level," the CSTO secretary
general noted.
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.No suspicious cargoes found on Arctic Sea - Russia FM.

MOSCOW, August 26 (Itar-Tass) - No suspicious cargoes have been found
on the Arctic Sea freighter, the Russian Foreign Ministry officials said
on Tuesday commenting on the situation around the vessel.
"The vessel's primary search has not revealed any suspicious cargoes
on it. A more detailed examination will be made at a port on the way of
the Arctic Sea's sailing," the ministry said.
There are still many "grey zones" in the situation with the Arctic Sea
freighter and the investigation that is only beginning is to clarify them,
the ministry noted. "For instance, it has not been established if the
'initial' seizure of the vessel by a group of armed people on July 24 and
the following events are the links of one chain of pirate actions or not."
"We proceed from the assumption that the vessel was hijacked by
suspects that are outside the jurisdiction of any state and the precise
location will be established during the preliminary investigation," the RF
Foreign Ministry stressed.
The ministry drew special attention to the fact that "we are at the
initial stage of the investigation and consequently the point at issue is
only the preliminary legal assessment of this situation and the actions of
persons involved."
Some media earlier reported that the Arctic Sea vessel could be
carrying contraband weapons.
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.No energy deficit in Siberia due to HPP accident-Energy Ministry.

MOSCOW, August 26 (Itar-Tass) - No electricity deficit is expected
this winter due to the August 17 accident at the Sayano-Shushenskaya
hydropower plant, Russian Deputy Energy Minister Vyacheslav Sinyugin said
in an interview published by the Rossiiskaya Gazeta newspaper on Wednesday.
"The energy balance in the energy system of Siberia has now been
restored, and according to the Energy Ministry forecasts, the emergency
will not cause the electricity deficit during the coming winter," the
official noted.
"The basic fuel stock at Siberian power plants as of today
considerably exceeds the standard indicators and will make it possible to
ensure uninterrupted work of heating power stations, as well as reliable
supply to consumers," Sinyugin stressed.
According to him, at present it is specified at which electric power
stations the electricity generation will be increased. "In connection with
the emergency situation we propose to introduce the directive management
over the repair works of generating and grid companies of Siberia," the
deputy energy minister added.
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.Storm warning announced in Khabarovsk reg over thunderstorms.

KHABAROVSK, August 26 (Itar-Tass) - The Khabarovsk Territory of Russia
has again been swept by another cyclone with downpours, thunderstorms and
winds reaching 15-20 metres per second. The regional Emergencies Ministry
has announced a storm warning about possible emergency situations in
connection with unfavourable weather conditions.
"The water level rise is expected on August 26-27 in rivers in the
Vyazemsky, Khabarovsk, Bikinsky, Lazo and Polina Osipenko districts with
possible flooding of croplands, washing out of roads and damaging of low
water bridges," the ministry said. The territory's emergency response
forces and equipment have been put on the alert.
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