Russia ready to allocate its military and police for security of UN experts in Syria; Russia may change its position on Syria if Assad deceives; Russia and Syria discuss Russia’s agreement with US on Syrian chemical weaponry arsenal; Russia and China to f
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    • (SEPTEMBER 16-22)

    According to reports, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Russia is ready to allocate its military and police for assuring security of the UN experts working in Syria who will be involved in elimination of chemical weapons. 1

    Russia’s Presidential Administration Chief of Staff Sergei Ivanov has said that Russia may change its position on Syria if Syrian President Bashar Assad is found to fall back on his promises. 2

    Russia and Syria have discussed the practical steps on the Russian-American agreement regarding Syrian chemical weaponry arsenal. The discussion was held in Moscow on September 17, 2013 and was attended by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and the Syrian ambassador to Russia HE Riyadh Haddad. 3

    According to reports, following a telephone conversation between Russian and Chinese foreign ministers Sergei Lavrov and Wang Yi on September 17, the two countries plan to further coordinate their positions on the Syrian issue. Both ministers also welcomed Syria’s decision to accede the Chemical Weapons Convention and called for the early implementation of the Russia-U.S. agreement reached in Geneva. 4

    Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Russia is always prepared to receive the Syrian National Coalition of Opposition and Revolutionary Forces for talks. 5

    Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has met with representatives of the Syrian opposition in Damascus. This includes a meeting with Mr. Qadri Jamil who is the head of the Popular Front for Change and Liberation and leadership of the Syrian National Council. 6

    In other developments, according to reports, foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Russia is ready to assist Egypt in resuming the political process in the country. Following his talks with his Egyptian counterpart Nabil Fahmy on September 17, Mr. Lavrov also mentioned that the issue of development of military and technical cooperation between the two countries and activities of the bilateral intergovernmental commission came up for discussion. 7

    Russia and US have signed an agreement on bilateral cooperation in the field of nuclear and energy research and development activities. This includes high technologies in the nuclear sphere, nuclear waste safe use and non-energy implementation of nuclear technologies, including those in the medical and research fields. 8

    Russia’s state-run nuclear power corporation Rosatom will open an overseas nuclear information centre in Dhaka on October 2. Its objective is to raise awareness of civil nuclear power and promote positive image of Russia’s nuclear industry. 9

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