Russia to pay its dues for using the Manas airbase in Kyrgyzstan; President Medvedev agrees to discuss reforms in the political system with the opposition parties; Russia supports Kofi Annan as a joint UN-Arab League envoy;
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    • FEBRUARY 20-26

    According to reports, Russia has confirmed that its debt for the lease of the Kant base in Kyrgyzstan will be paid shortly, but admitted that Kyrgyzstan’s debt to Russia is a more complex issue. While Russia is expected to pay around US$ 15 million, Kyrgyzstan owes Russia close to 500 million US$. The US also has a base in the country for staging military operations into Afghanistan. 1

    In another development, President Dmitry Medvedev has agreed to have an interaction with non-registered parties over the reforms that can be brought into Russia’s political set-up. The move can be seen as an attempt to at least hear out the opposition, one of the major rallying points of recent demonstrations in Russia. 2

    According to reports, Russia has supported the former UN chief Kofi Annan as the joint United Nations-Arab League envoy for the Syrian crisis. 3

    According to reports, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi discussed possible steps that can be taken for the settlement of the Syrian crisis. 4

    Reports noted that the Russian Navy will continue to participate in an international operation against pirates off Somalian waters but does not intend to deliver strikes on land bases of these pirates. 5

    According to reports, the inflow of cocaine in Russia has increased by 20-30 percent this year. A major portion of the 400 tonnes of cocaine seized in Russia comes from Latin America with a bulk of the drug destined for Europe. 6

    Reports noted that after the implementation of Gazprom’s entire new pipeline projects including South Stream and Nord Stream, Ukraine’s role as a transmitter of Russian gas will be reduced to zero. Russia and Ukraine have been locked in talks for transit fees which Russia must pay to Ukraine for transporting hydrocarbons to Europe. Russia has alleged that Ukraine siphoned off huge quantities of gas meant for Europe during the harsh winter of January 2012. 7

    According to reports, President Dmitry Medvedev and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have discussed the prevailing situation in Syria. They called for an immediate peaceful resolution to the crisis without any external interference. 8

    Reports noted that Russia does not object to Serbia’s accession to the European Union but the country should keep in minds its relationship with Russia. Russia and Serbia have a free trade agreement and total trade is more than US$800 million. However, there are apprehensions that the free trade agreement may not meet the legal requirements of EU membership process. 9

    In other developments, according to reports, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has warned the United States that Russia’s response to the deployment of a global missile defence system will be efficient and asymmetrical. 10

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