Russia’s defence spending to touch 2.1 trillion roubles in 2013; Russia backs Germany’s position in tackling the current European debt crisis; Rosneft agrees with British Petroleum to buy the full TNK-BP stock; US to abrogate the long disputed Jackson-Van
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Whatsapp
  • Linkedin
  • Print

    • According to reports, Chairman of the State Duma Defence Committee Vladimir Komoyedov has said that Russia’s defence spending is expected to be close to 2.1 trillion roubles in 2013. 1

    In another development, according to reports, Russian President Vladimir Putin has backed the German position in tackling European debt crisis and believes that a system-based approach is needed to cope with it. 2

    Reports noted that Russia’s state-run oil company Rosneft has agreed with British Petroleum (BP) to buy the full TNK-BP stock. The deal is a mix of cash and shares involving payments of US$ 17.1 billion by Rosneft and shares representing 12.84 per cent of Rosneft. 3

    US Deputy National Security Advisor Michael Froman has said that the United States will abrogate the long disputed Jackson-Vanik Amendment with Russia after the culmination of the November 6 US Presidential elections. 4

    Reports noted that a resolution of the European Parliament passed by a majority of vote has called upon the European Union to introduce a visa-ban and freeze the EU assets of all Russian officials linked to the death in custody of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky. 5

    Russia has successfully test fired a new inter continental ballistic missile. The missile is to be used by its strategic missile forces against anti-missile systems. 6

    According to reports, Russia has initiated consultations on the situation in Syria and Libya at the UN Security Council. It involves debate on three draft statements proposed by Russia – on support for the armistice in Syria as proposed by the UN and Arab League’s special representative Lakhdar Brahimi, on October 21 terrorist act in Damascus and on the situation in the Libyan city of Bani Walid. 7

    Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov has said that the Syrian opposition has disrupted the current truce. 8

    According to reports, the Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev has said that mutual territorial claims are a major threat to security in the Asia Pacific region. In meetings with his Japanese counterparts in Tokyo, Patrushev also discussed security challenges between Russia and Japan and stated that Russia will not take any sides on the issue of the Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands dispute between China and Japan. 9

    Russia has asked the United States to stop arresting Russian citizens in third countries by a US warrant and reaffirmed the need to protect its own citizens. 10

    Reports noted that in the backdrop of talks between South Ossetian President Leonid Tibilov and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two sides have declared that they will continue with their bilateral investment cooperation during the period 2013-2015. 11

    In other developments, according to reports, inspectors from the United States and Sweden will conduct inspection flights over Russia and Belarus under the Open Skies Treaty. The Open Skies Treaty, signed in 1992 on an initiative of U.S. President George H.W. Bush, established a regime of unarmed aerial observation flights over the territories of its member states to promote openness and transparency of military forces and activities. 12

    Top