AU countries state need for int'l conf to fight sea piracy.

PRETORIA, September 1 (Itar-Tass) - A special sunmit of the African
Union (AU) in Libya ended with the adoption of a Tripoli Declaration.

The summit was held on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the
Libyan revolution that is marked on September 1. The AU is currently
chaired by Leader of the Libyan Revolution Muammar Gaddafi. The aim of the
meeting, however, was to discuss the situation at the flashpoints of the
continent. A plan for AU urgent actions was approved at the summit with a
view to settling the situation in conflict-ridden areas.
The AU called on African countries to make their contribution to
increasing the numerical strenght of the peacekeeping contingent in
Somalia, where Islamic extremists gradually seize power from from the
hands of President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. The transitional government
is in control of only a small part of the territory, with the assistance
of the peacekeepers. It was also suggested that other kinds of assistance
to the transitional government be stepped up.
The AU stated the need to convene an international conference on fight
against sea piracy near Somali shores, the priracy that became the
consequence of the almost 20-year-long lack of political power in that
country.
The summit emphasized the task of ensuring rapid headway along the
lines of strengthening peace, security, justice, and reconciliation in
Darfur. The conflict in that region in Sudan's west remains a major one in
Africa. It has already claimed a toll of 300,000 human lives while 2.7
milion people became refugees.

.While in Gdansk, Putin to meet Ukraine, Bulgaria PMs.

GDANSK, September 1 (Itar-Tass) - While in Poland within the scope of
ceremonies dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the start of the Second
World War, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin intends to meet with his
Ukrainian and Bulgarian counterparts Yulia Timoshenko and Boiko Borisov to
discuss the future of joint energy projects and stability of gas supplies
to Europe ahead of the approaching winter. These subjects will be
discussed within the context of the entire trade-and-economic cooperation,
Yuri Ushakov, deputy chief of the Russian government staff, has told
journalists.
The Russian side expects that the Russian delegation will also
consider cooperation with Ukraine in aircraft construction, and
cooperation with Bulgaria in the atomic energy industry.
An exact agenda that the Ukrainian side intends to offer for
discussion has not yet been formulated. In the past several days, Yulia
Timoshenko made a number of statements that can be considered within the
context of her forthcoming meeting with the Russan Head of Government.
Thus, when visiting a car factory in Kharkov, she said she would meet with
Vladimir Putin to discuss the question of "combining the efforts of the
two countries to implement common programmes in the aviation sector,
including that for the An-70 airliner".
While attending a world congress of Ukrainians in Lvov, Timoshenko
expressed confidence that "Ukraine within two to three years will do away
with energy dependence on Russia". These pronouncements by Timoshenko give
ground to suppose that she may try to secure consent to a revision of the
contracts with Gazporm, the contracts that were signed at the beginning of
the year with her participation.
Ushakov pointed out that Putin and Timoshenko would also discuss these
matters "in a closed-door meeting, most likely in private".
Putin's meeting with the Bulgarian Premier, who took office only
recently, will also deal primarily with energy resources. This will be
Putin's first meeting with Boiko Borisov.
Ushakov said the Bulgarian Premier, who earlier had not ruled out his
country's withdrawal from a number of joint projects with Russia, is ready
for a constructive dialogue. "He expresed a desire to hear an opinion
about the details of the projects from (Russian) Minister of Energy
Sergei Shmatko and Rosatom chief Sergei Kiriyenko", Ushakov said. Borisov
referred, in particular, to the implementation of projects to build the
South Stream gas pipeline, the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline, and
the Belene nuclear power station.

.BRIC int'l conf on competition opens in Kazan Tuesday.

KAZAN, September 1 (Itar-Tass) - An international conference of BRIC
countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) on competition-related
matters opens here on Tuesday for the first-ever time, Alexander
Grunichev, director of the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service of Russia (FAS)
Department for Tatarstan, has told Itar-Tass.
Grunichev said, "This is the first such meeting within BRIC format to
deal with current problems concerning competition in countries with a
rapidly developing economy". The main aim of the forum, he said, is to
consider "measures to deal with cartels that stifle the economy".
The forum will be attended by Igor Shuvalov, First Vice-Premier of the
Russian Federation, Minister of Economic Development Elvira Nabiullina,
Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiyev, FAS Director Igor Artemyev.
As a result of the conference those present will sign an agreement
among the anti-monopoly agencies of BRIC countries on cooperation with an
eye to the most effective work, Grunichev said in conclusion.