Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Rogozin: Russian weapons exported to Syria cannot be used against civilians; EU expresses its concern over the scale of opposition protests in Russia; Russia’s Foreign Minister to visit Iran to discuss Syria situation;
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    • According to reports, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin has said that the weapons Russia has exported to Syria cannot be used against the civilians and the weapons systems especially the air defence systems supplied will be used by Syria only to defend itself against external threats. 1

    In another development, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton has expressed EU’s concern over the scale of opposition protests in Russia. She said the Russian government must respect the freedom of assembly and the laws regulating public actions must guarantee that freedom in the first turn. 2

    Reports noted that Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit Iran on June 13, 2012 to discuss with leaders of that country the situation in Syria and preparations for the sextet meeting. The focus will be made on the general situation in the Middle East and Northern Africa, including special attention to the current transformation processes in the Arab world and to the state of affairs in Syria. 3

    Meanwhile, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Moscow is ready to host an international conference on Syria and Iran should participate in its deliberations. 4

    According to reports, thirteen new political parties have been already registered with the Russian ministry of justice, thus bringing the overall number of official parties to 20. Before a new liberalized law on political parties was passed, there had been seven political parties in Russia, namely United Russia, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), A Just Russia, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), Right Cause, Yabloko, and Patriots of Russia. 5

    Reports noted that Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will participate in the Regional Conference on Afghanistan. The main topic of the forum is transfer of responsibility for security in Afghanistan to the local Afghanis there. 6

    Belarus and Russia’s constituent region of Bashkortostan have agreed on setting up high-tech manufacturing facilities and holding companies to be exported to markets of third world countries. 7

    Kazakhstan has permitted Russia to make unplanned launches from Baikonur. There has been disagreement over the terms and conditions of the lease of Baikonur and also the fact that Russia is building its own launch pad in the Russian Far East. 8

    President Vladimir Putin has said that Russian Air Force as part of the massive modernization plan will receive more than 600 planes and 1,000 helicopters by 2020. 9

    Reports noted that Presidents Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama will have their first bilateral summit on June 18, 2012, on the sidelines of the G20 Los Cabos event. They will meet before the first G20 session, upon the end of the BRICS mini-summit. The primary issues slated to be discussed include the “Magnitsky bill” advocated by the U.S. Congress, U.S. missile defence plan in Europe, Syrian conflict, Iranian nuclear program and the situation in Afghanistan. 10

    In other develoepments, according to reports, the negotiations between Iran and the Sextet of international mediators (Russia, Great Britain, China, the United States, France and Germany) on the settlement of the Iranian nuclear dossier will begin in Moscow on June 18, 2012. The Moscow meeting continues the Baghdad round of negotiations. The negotiators are expected to discuss in detail the initiatives, which were formulated at the Baghdad negotiations. 11

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