Sunday, September 7, 2008

Bagapsh – Treaty of Cooperation to be signed In Moscow

An agreement on friendship and cooperation between Russia and Abkhazia has already been prepared and will be signed in Moscow in the near future, Abkhaz separatist leader Sergey Bagapsh has stated. “A major treaty on friendship, cooperation and the provision of help, consisting of 32 clauses, is practically ready. I believe the document will be signed in Moscow in the nearest future,” Bagapsh said. He has also stated that the agreement covers a number of issues and it will therefore be necessary to sign additional memoranda between ministries and departments.

Russia recognized independence of so-called South Ossetia and Abkhazia on August 26.

Dmitry Medvedev – Russia must retain its dominance of oil and gas supply

Dmitry Medvedev, the President of the Russian Federation, has declared that Russia must retain its dominance of gas and oil supply. The Press Centre of the Kremlin reports that the President of Russia stated the following in a speech at an event dedicated to gas and oil professionals: “A reliable supply of energy resources has gained a special importance for each country nowadays and our goal is to do everything to maintain our leadership in this sphere.” Russian oil and gas export policy is a key element in sustaining European and world energy security.

Vladimir Putin – Russia will not apologize to anybody

Russia will not apologize for the Georgian-Ossetian conflict and does not even intend to engage in argument about it, Vladimir Putin, the Prime Minister of Russia, has stated. “There is no need to apologize. We are convinced we are right,” Vladimir Putin declared in an interview given to a Russian TV company.

Condoleezza Rice - time not right for US-Russian nuclear pact

The time is not right for the United States to implement a civil nuclear pact with Russia, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has stated. A State Department official claimed in Washington that the Bush administration would withdraw its request for Congress to approve the nuclear deal, as a penalty for Russia's invasion of Georgia last month. “The time isn't right for the Russia agreement and we will make an announcement about that later.” The nuclear deal was intended to lift Cold War restrictions on trade and open up the US nuclear market and Russia’s uranium fields to companies from both countries. Washington and Moscow signed the cooperation agreement in May and it was then sent by President George W. Bush to Congress.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia welcomes Nicaragua’s decision

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has welcomed Nicaragua’s decision to recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia. A statement released by the Ministry declares that Moscow is pleased with Nicaragua’s action and evaluates it as a contribution to the forming of an international system which protects strict international principles. The Ministry says that the decision will cement relations between Russia and Nicaragua and it calls on other countries to follow Nicaragua’s example.