Russia to form a commission to investigate the problems onboard the Vikramaditya; Russia to support Lahdar Brahimi’s mission in Syria; Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom signs a nuclear knowledge management agreement with IAEA; Azerbaijan to start
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    • Reports noted that Russian shipbuilders have formed a working commission to investigate the problems of the Vikramaditya aircraft carrier. According to the preliminary report, one of the causes of the problem was the mistake to choose thermal insulation material for boilers of the ship. Russian builders use asbestos material, while India had asked for eco-friendly brick material. 1

    According to reports, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov has confirmed Russia’s support for Lakhdar Brahimi’s mission in Syria since it was line with the country’s fundamental position of resolving disputes through peaceful means, through a national dialogue and social reconciliation, without outside intervention. 2

    Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have signed a cooperation agreement in the area of nuclear knowledge management. 3

    Azerbaijan’s state oil fund will start buying Russian roubles before the end of 2012. The assets of the state fund, which is part of the country’s strategic currency reserves, were estimated at US$ 32.6 billion in the first half of 2012. They are predicted to reach US$ 34 billion before year’s end. 4

    Reports noted that Russia is prepared to look into the problem of creating a civilian transport infrastructure at Manas airport near Bishkek to service air transportation of cargoes from Asia to Europe and vice versa. It has also supported Kyrgyzstan's plans to transform the center for transit transportations at Manas airport into a civilian facility free of a military component upon completion of the mission of the International Security Assistance Force. 5

    In other developments, according to reports, in the backdrop of Russia asking the US to end the USAID programme in the country by October 1 2012, the United States has said that it will continue to support civil society, democracy and human rights issues there even though a physical office will not be based in Russia. 6 USAID has spent more than $2.6 billion over the past 20 years in Russia, encouraging economic and democratic reforms, backing health and environmental initiatives, and promoting stability in the Caucasus. 7

    Reports noted that Russia’s Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation, which plans to participate in a scheduled tender for the construction of six nuclear reactors in South Africa, has announced that the national regulators of the two countries have signed an agreement on nuclear safety. South Africa plans to announce at the end of the year a tender for the construction by 2030 of 9.6 GW nuclear capacitiy that will increase the nuclear energy share in the country’s energy balance from five to 25 percent. 8

    According to reports, Minister of Economic Development Andrei Belousov has said that capital outflow from Russia in the nine months of 2012 is estimated at US$ 52 billion with the figure expected to be US$ 60 billion by the end of 2013. 9

    State arms exporter Rosoboronexport has said that Russia is ready to sell Su-30s and other modern fighter jets to the African countries of Uganda, Angola and Ethiopia. This year Russia has delivered six Su-30MK2 multirole fighters to Uganda and has in the recent past signed a contract to sell six Mi-17 helicopters to Ghana. 10

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