Russia-US meeting to discuss Syria imbroglio put off; Russia denies claims that Syrian government is to blame for chemical weapons use; Russia has said that military strikes on Syria is fraught with unpredictable consequences
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  • According to reports, a meeting of Russian and U.S. representatives, to discuss holding of a peace conference on Syria, that was initially due to take place in Hague on August 28 has been put off in view of the chemical attacks in Syria.1

    Russia has turned down U.S. claims that the Syrian government is to blame for the use of chemical weapons in Syria. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has also called for a meaningful and profound exchange of expert information on cases of chemical weapons use in the country.2

    Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov has said that a military strike on Syria in violation of the U.N. Charter will have unpredictable consequences and will be in violation of international law.3

    President Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have underlined, in a telephone conversation held on August 29, the importance of review by the UN Security Council of the inspectors' report on alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria. They also called for a political and diplomatic settlement of the situation.4

    According to reports, Russia’s MiG fighter jet maker has signed two additional contracts with India, worth a total US$ 55 million, under which two service centres will be set up for maintenance and repair of Zhuk-ME on-board radars and MiG-29UPG fighter jets.5

    According to the CEO of Almaz-Antey Corporation, the company which builds the S-300 missile systems, the S-300 advanced air defence missile systems that Russia had refused to deliver to Iran have now been completely dismantled and scrapped.6

    Russian designers are proceeding with development of an unmanned “sixth-generation” fighter jet.7

    Belarusian Defense Minister Yury Zhadobin has said that a unit of Russian fighter jets will be deployed in Belarus before the end of 2013. Earlier in June, a Russian Air Force general had said that a batch of SU-27 SM3 fighter jets will be stationed in Lida on the north-western part Belarus, near the Polish and Lithuanian borders.8

    Russia will cut its oil supplies to Belarus by 25 per cent (400,000 tonnes) in September 2013 due to repairs on the Druzhba trunk line. However, many analysts have said that this is in response to the recent arrest of Uralkali (Russia’s Potash manufacturer) CEO Vladislav Baumgertner in Belarus.9

    According to reports, Georgia has sent a note of protest to Moscow over the President Putin’s visit to Abkhazia. This visit marked the fifth anniversary since Russia recognized Abkhazia’s independence following the 2008 war with Georgia.10

    President Putin has said that Russia will continue to give all-round aid and support to both South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This was in the backdrop of the fifth anniversary of Russia recognizing the sovereignty of these two republics following a brief war with Georgia in 2008.11

    Defence ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and partners in dialogue, including Russia have signed a declaration on preventing conflicts at sea, at a meeting held in Brunei on August 29. The Brunei declaration is designed to stimulate cooperation among the military agencies of ASEAN and the organisation’s partners in order to avoid undesirable incidents at sea.12

    A spokesperson for Russian Technologies has said that Russia deliver Mi-17 military transport helicopters to Cameroon. He did not specify the quantity or the value of the contract.13

    CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha has said that the organisation is ready to help Tajikistan strengthen its southern border with Afghanistan if the situation there becomes difficult.14

    In other developments, according to reports, President Putin has said that ensuring strong, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth for all states remains the strategic objective of G20, in an address to the participants in the G20 summit in St Petersburg scheduled to be held during September 5-6.15

    Rosneft is discussing the possibility of entering the Chinese retail market through a joint venture, Vostok Neftekhimiya, which will include its participation in the development of a network of gas stations (up to 300 in number) as well as the construction of an oil refinery in Tianjin.16

    Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov and Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan have discussed missile defence issues on the sidelines of an ASEAN conference held in Brunei on August 29.17

    Russia’s Foreign Ministry has stated that traditional cooperation between Russia and Jordan remains a major factor for stability in the Middle East. This statement was made in connection with an exchange of telegrams between the foreign ministers of the two countries who congratulated each other on occasion of 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.18

    Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Alexander Lukashevich has said that Russia has never opposed Ukraine's 'European choice'. He spoke in the backdrop of possible signing of Ukraine’s Association Agreement with the Europe Union.19

    Russia will send its heavy aircraft carrying missile cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov to the Syrian port of Tartus by the end of this year.20

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