Russia has called for restraint while using force against Syria; Russian and American diplomats to meet in Hague at the end of August to discuss preparations for the long-delayed Syria peace conference
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Whatsapp
  • Linkedin
  • Print
  • According to reports, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich has said that Russia ‘urges everyone who talks about the possibility of using force against Syria to show restraint and avoid tragic mistakes’. He further went on to add that the reports of use of chemical weapons could be a “planned provocation” by media outlets to sway public opinion against the ruling regime. Meanwhile, Russian and American diplomats will meet in Hague at the end of August to discuss preparations for the long-delayed Syria peace conference.1

    Reports noted that India’s Defense Ministry has signed a contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited for delivery of T-90 tank missiles manufactured under Russian license to the Indian army. Under the terms of the contract, estimated at US$ 470 million, the deliveries of the Invar missiles, to be put on T-90 tanks, are to be completed within the next five years.2

    According to reports, Russia’s Defense Ministry has postponed the purchase of 37 MiG-35 fighter jets until 2016 since the defence industry is not in a position to fulfil the contract.3

    Russia will deliver a batch of 12 Sukhoi Su-30MK2 fighter aircrafts to Vietnam under a contract signed in August 2013 and worth US$ 450 million. The jets will be delivered in 2014-2015.4

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin has said that Russia and China have agreed to set up a high-level group to plan cooperation on the border territory between the two countries.5

    Russian and Japanese diplomats have discussed the “modalities” of peace treaty talks between the two countries in a meeting held on August 19 in Moscow and agreed to coordinate the date of the next round of consultations via diplomatic channels.6

    In other developments, according to reports, Russia’s Deputy Prosecutor General Alexander Zvyagintsev has said that Russia has not received any formal request from the US for the extradition of former CIA employee Edward Snowden.7

    Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has ‘lauded’ the Georgian government’s initiative aimed at improving good-neighbourly relations with Abkhazia and Ossetia.8

    Russia’s foreign trade surplus has decreased by 12.5 per cent to US$ 104.8 billion during the first seven months of the current year, as compared to the same period of 2012.9

    Russia has introduced a new legislation which will prohibit senior officials, including lawmakers, judges and the heads of state corporations, as well as their spouses and underage children to keep their money in foreign bank accounts or financial instruments. However, they will still be allowed to own foreign real estate. The legislation is aimed at curbing corruption.10

    Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and US Acting Undersecretary of State Rose Gottemoeller have discussed missile defence and disarmament issues in London on August 21.11

    Top