Diplomats from Russia, US and UN discuss the details of organising a conference on Syria in Geneva; Russia discusses the possibility of Syrian opposition’s participation in Geneva 2 conference on Syria; Russian and British Prime Ministers discuss developm
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  • (NOVEMBER 4-10)

    Reports noted that Russia, United States and UN officials have held a meeting in Geneva on November 5 to try to agree on the date of a peace conference on Syria. 1

    Russian diplomats have had a number of meetings with representatives from the Syrian opposition in Geneva on November 6 regarding their possibility of participating in Geneva 2 conference. 2

    Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation on November 7 with British Prime Minister David Cameron wherein they discussed the developments in Syria and preparations for the Geneva-2 international conference. 3

    According to reports, British MI-6 intelligence chief John Sawers has said that UK will resume intelligence cooperation with Russia, which was broken up after the mysterious death of former Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officer Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006. 4

    Defense Minister General Sergei Shoigu has said that Russia will create a formation of ice-class patrol ships for the Arctic by 2014. The project will also involve building the necessary infrastructure of airfields and port facilities. 5

    Reports noted that Colombian Foreign Ministry has protested against the unsanctioned flight of Russia’s Tu-160 strategic bombers over its territory. The bombers were flying from Venezuela to Nicaragua. 6

    According to reports, during a meeting of the intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical co-operation held in the Nicaraguan capital Managua on November 5, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has said that there remains enormous potential for the two countries to strengthen bilateral trade and economic relations. Some issues discussed were commercial wheat supplies and possible Russian participation in building an alternative to the Panama Canal. 7

    In other developments, reports noted that Russia’s petrol production has increased by 2.3 per cent during the period January-October 2013 when compared to the same period of the year 2012 and stood at 32.113 million tonnes. 8

    According to reports, the joint venture of Russia’s oil companies Bashneft and LUKOIL (Bashneft Polyus) plans to produce 900,000 tonnes of oil at the Trebs oil field in 2014. Production is expected to be increased to 4.5 – 5 million tonnes a year in the future. 9

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