ID :
79145
Wed, 09/09/2009 - 15:06
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/79145
The shortlink copeid
Russia, Slovakia FMs to discuss RF-EU relations Tue.
MOSCOW, September 8 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Minister of Foreign Affaris Sergei Lavrov meets with his Slovak counterpart Miroslav Laicak here on Tuesday to discuss matters concerning relations between Russia and the European Union and examine various aspects of interaction through the RF-NATO Council, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko announced.
The diplomat said, "The Foreign Ministers of the Russian Federation
and Slovakia are to discuss matters of current importance concerning
bilateral relations, including those within the context of top- and
high-level political contacts being mapped out for the near future.
"The sides will exchange views on a wide range of international
problems, on matters aimed at enhancing security and at strengthening
cooperation in Europe in the context of advancement of Russia's initiative
aimed at concluding a comprehensive Europea Security Treaty".
Nesterenko said, "Lavrov and Laicak will analyse in detail the
aggregate of relations between Russia and the European Union and examine
various aspects of interaction through the Russia-NATO Council. During the
meeting the sides will compare their positions on matters aimed at
settling crisis situations in the world, including the Middle East peace
process, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the situation in the Balkans".
The programme for the Slovak Minister's visit also provides for his
meetings with Konstantin Kosachyov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee
on International Affairs, and Mikhail Margelov, Chairman of the Federation
Council Committee on International Affairs, and for a speech at the MGIMO
diplomatic university, of which he is an alumnus.
"Ever since full-format interstate relations were established between
Russia and Slovakia in 1993, bilateral relations have been invariably
notable for a friendly and trusting atmosphere and dynamic development,"
Nesterneko recalled.
" Over the years that have passed since, they have acquired a
multi-vector substantive character and are being furthered on a pragmatic
mutually beneficial basis with due regard for mutual interests".
"We point out positive dynamics in bilateral trade-and-economic
contacts, the growth of trade turnover, which ran at $9.300 million in
2008, as well as the deepening of cooperation, greater scope of the
application of joint efforts in high-technology research-intensive
sectors," the diplomat pointed out.
"Joint work to establish Laser and Cyclotron Centers in Bratislava is
a vivid example of such cooperation. In this context, the bilateral
Intergovernmental commission for economic, scientific and technical
cooperation plays a coordinating role. The Commission's next session is to
be held in Moscow in October this year," Nesterenko said.
.Duma official emphasizes role of Far East development.
KHABAROVSK, September 8 (Itar-Tass) - The geopolitical future of
Russia in the 21st century will depend in many respects on the state of
affairs in the Far East and Siberia, and on the development of the Far
Eastern region, Valery Yazev, Deputy Speaker of the State Duma lower
house of the Russian parliament, emphasized in a report presented here on
Tuesday at the current Fourth Far Eastern international economic forum.
Yazev said the three previous forums had demonstrated high
efficiency. The Federal purpose-oriented programme for the economic and
social development of the Far East and Zabaikalsky (Trans-Baikal)
Territory had been a subject of discussion at all the previous forums.
This made it possible to elaborate it substantially. In 2009, the
financing of the Programme was kept practically unchanged -- at a level
amounting to about 85,000 million roubles. This is an indicator of the
Federal center's attitude to the Far Eastern region.
Yazev pointed out the Far East main problems such as a predominantly
raw-material character of the regional economy, a poorly developed
transport system and infrastructure, as well as an unfavourable
demographic situation.
The Deputy Speaker mentioned the commissioning of Russia's first gas
liquefaction plant on the Sakhalin Island in February this year as an
example of innovations-based development in the region in the use of
natural resources. Liquefied gas shipments are being already delivered to
Japanese users.
The unprecedented programme for the installing of gas supply service
in the country's east merits special attention, Yazev said. The level of
gas supply in the eastern constituent entities of the Russian Federations
accounts for not more than 6-7 percent, which is 90 percent lower than
that in the European part of the country. The Eastern gas programme,
which was endorsed two years ago, is called upon to rectify this
imbalance. It is planned to spend 2, 400, 000 million roubles for the
implementation of the programme until 2030.
Great prospects are also associated in the region with the
implementation of yet another large-scale project -- the Eastern Siberia -
Pacific Ocean (ESPO) oil pipeline. The construction of the first phase of
ESPO is nearing complettion this year and the building of the second phase
is being unfolded.
-0-pop
The diplomat said, "The Foreign Ministers of the Russian Federation
and Slovakia are to discuss matters of current importance concerning
bilateral relations, including those within the context of top- and
high-level political contacts being mapped out for the near future.
"The sides will exchange views on a wide range of international
problems, on matters aimed at enhancing security and at strengthening
cooperation in Europe in the context of advancement of Russia's initiative
aimed at concluding a comprehensive Europea Security Treaty".
Nesterenko said, "Lavrov and Laicak will analyse in detail the
aggregate of relations between Russia and the European Union and examine
various aspects of interaction through the Russia-NATO Council. During the
meeting the sides will compare their positions on matters aimed at
settling crisis situations in the world, including the Middle East peace
process, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the situation in the Balkans".
The programme for the Slovak Minister's visit also provides for his
meetings with Konstantin Kosachyov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee
on International Affairs, and Mikhail Margelov, Chairman of the Federation
Council Committee on International Affairs, and for a speech at the MGIMO
diplomatic university, of which he is an alumnus.
"Ever since full-format interstate relations were established between
Russia and Slovakia in 1993, bilateral relations have been invariably
notable for a friendly and trusting atmosphere and dynamic development,"
Nesterneko recalled.
" Over the years that have passed since, they have acquired a
multi-vector substantive character and are being furthered on a pragmatic
mutually beneficial basis with due regard for mutual interests".
"We point out positive dynamics in bilateral trade-and-economic
contacts, the growth of trade turnover, which ran at $9.300 million in
2008, as well as the deepening of cooperation, greater scope of the
application of joint efforts in high-technology research-intensive
sectors," the diplomat pointed out.
"Joint work to establish Laser and Cyclotron Centers in Bratislava is
a vivid example of such cooperation. In this context, the bilateral
Intergovernmental commission for economic, scientific and technical
cooperation plays a coordinating role. The Commission's next session is to
be held in Moscow in October this year," Nesterenko said.
.Duma official emphasizes role of Far East development.
KHABAROVSK, September 8 (Itar-Tass) - The geopolitical future of
Russia in the 21st century will depend in many respects on the state of
affairs in the Far East and Siberia, and on the development of the Far
Eastern region, Valery Yazev, Deputy Speaker of the State Duma lower
house of the Russian parliament, emphasized in a report presented here on
Tuesday at the current Fourth Far Eastern international economic forum.
Yazev said the three previous forums had demonstrated high
efficiency. The Federal purpose-oriented programme for the economic and
social development of the Far East and Zabaikalsky (Trans-Baikal)
Territory had been a subject of discussion at all the previous forums.
This made it possible to elaborate it substantially. In 2009, the
financing of the Programme was kept practically unchanged -- at a level
amounting to about 85,000 million roubles. This is an indicator of the
Federal center's attitude to the Far Eastern region.
Yazev pointed out the Far East main problems such as a predominantly
raw-material character of the regional economy, a poorly developed
transport system and infrastructure, as well as an unfavourable
demographic situation.
The Deputy Speaker mentioned the commissioning of Russia's first gas
liquefaction plant on the Sakhalin Island in February this year as an
example of innovations-based development in the region in the use of
natural resources. Liquefied gas shipments are being already delivered to
Japanese users.
The unprecedented programme for the installing of gas supply service
in the country's east merits special attention, Yazev said. The level of
gas supply in the eastern constituent entities of the Russian Federations
accounts for not more than 6-7 percent, which is 90 percent lower than
that in the European part of the country. The Eastern gas programme,
which was endorsed two years ago, is called upon to rectify this
imbalance. It is planned to spend 2, 400, 000 million roubles for the
implementation of the programme until 2030.
Great prospects are also associated in the region with the
implementation of yet another large-scale project -- the Eastern Siberia -
Pacific Ocean (ESPO) oil pipeline. The construction of the first phase of
ESPO is nearing complettion this year and the building of the second phase
is being unfolded.
-0-pop
