October 2014

Pentagon Claims Russian Air Force Planes Endanger Civil Flights

2014/10/31

WASHINGTON, November 1 (RIA Novosti) - Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby during a press briefing on Friday stated that Russian Air Force planes pose a risk to civil aviation.

“Well, we certainly don't see this - these increased flights and activity as helpful to the security situation in Europe. Clearly, they - they pose the potential risk of escalation. They also, quite frankly, could pose just a potential risk to civil aviation just in the sheer number of and size of and scope of these flights. So, they're not - they're not exactly helpful,” Kirby said.

“But we're watching these flights very, very closely. I can tell you that there was another - there were more flights today - NATO-tracked flights out over the Baltics and North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The aircraft involved fighter jets, long-range bombers, and tanker aircraft,” Kirby added.

Relations between Russia and NATO have deteriorated amid the crisis in Ukraine. The alliance has repeatedly accused Russia of meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs, sending troops to Ukraine, and went as far as to claim that Moscow planned to invade Ukraine. However, none of these statements were supported with any evidence.

At the same time, after Crimea reunited with Russia in March, NATO has begun placing additional military forces in the Baltics.

Russia has repeatedly expressed concern over the increasing and excessive NATO military presence close to its borders.

EU Ambassador Says Bloc Interested in Recalling Sanctions Against Russia

2014/10/31

KALININGRAD, October 31 (RIA Novosti) - European Union is interested in recalling its economic sanctions against Russia on condition of stabilization of the situation in eastern Ukraine, EU Ambassador to Russia Vygaudas Usackas said Friday.

“We are ready to reconsider the sanctions when we see specific results on implementation of the Minsk agreements, memorandum protocol, which is constantly discussed at highest levels. We are interested in recalling sanctions but in order to do so we need a positive motive of stabilization and de-escalation of the situation in eastern Ukraine,” the head of European Union's delegation in Russia Vygaudas Usackas said.

According to Usackas, the sanctions are not an end in itself, they are not aimed against an average Russian citizen. The aim of the sanctions is “to influence Russia’s actions regarding Ukraine,” Usackas said.

“I learned from example of [the Russian city of] Kaliningrad how our relations are developing at the level of cultural ties, business and cross-border cooperation,” the diplomat said.

The United States and the European Union failed to recognize Russia’s unification with Crimea and continue blaming Moscow of meddling in Ukraine’s inner affairs. Russia denies these accusations. Since March the West introduced several waves of anti-Russian economic sanctions.

FBI Confirms Arrest of Russian Citizen for Alleged Extortion Conspiracy

2014/10/31

Updated 8:50 p.m. Moscow Time

WASHINGTON, October 31 (RIA Novosti) - Russian national Vadim Mikerin, the head of the TENAM Corp, the US subsidiary of the Russian defense company Techsnabexport was arrested in the United States on allegations of participating in a kickback scheme in exchange for granting uranium supply contracts to US citizens, FBI spokesperson told RIA Novosti Friday.

“I can confirm the arrest,” Andrew Ames said.

“A criminal complaint was unsealed late yesterday charging Vadim Mikerin, age 55, a Russian national residing in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with conspiring to commit extortion in connection with a scheme to obtain contracts from a Russian company without having to compete for the contracts,” US Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland said in a press release Friday.

According to the document, Mikerin received $1,7 million in bribes for granting three US citizens over $33 million in noncompetitive contracts.

“Kickbacks deprive honest competitors of the opportunity to compete for business, and they cheat a company of its right to faithful decisions by its employee,” said US Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein.

JSC Techsnabexport, also known by its brand name of TENEX, exports enriched uranium product and uranium conversion to a number of key markets, including the United States, Mexico, China, South Africa, Japan and several European states.

Russian Defense Concern Almaz-Antey Eyes Asia-Pacific Market: Deputy CEO

2014/10/31

MOSCOW, October 31 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's defense concern Almaz-Antey will show off its cutting-edge anti-missile defense systems at the upcoming Indo-Defense 2014 in a bid to attract Asia-Pacific buyers, the company's Deputy CEO Arkady Nedashkovsky said Friday.

According to Nedashkovsky, the company took pride in a wide range of surface-to-air defense missile systems weapons it was going to showcase at the international exhibition, adding the Asia-Pacific arms market was "very important" for the Russian defense industry.

"Several countries in the region show interest in the concern's products, specifically our potential customers take interest in medium- and short-range air defense systems," Nedashkovsky was cited as saying by the Almaz-Antey press service.

The exhibition is scheduled to take place in Jakarta, Indonesia, from November 5-8.

"In Jakarta, the concern will unveil models, placards and multimedia films on such [anti-ballistic missile] systems as S-300VM, Tor-M2E, Tor-M2KM, Buk-M2E, and Komar missile turrets designed for Igla manpads," the Russian weapons-maker said in a statement Friday.

The arms producer hopes that the forthcoming exhibition will give it an edge over its competitors by highlighting the advantages of Russia-made weapons.

Snowplow Driver Charged in Vnukovo Plane Crash Case: Investigative Committee

2014/10/31

Updated 8:15 p.m. Moscow Time

MOSCOW, October 31 (RIA Novosti) – The driver of the snowplow that the private jet of Total CEO Christophe de Margerie hit upon takeoff from Moscow's Vnukovo airport, has been charged in the plane crash case, the Russian Investigative Committee said Friday.

"Today, snowplow driver Vladimir Martynenko was charged," the Investigative Committee said on its website, adding that Martynenko has been questioned and is now in custody.

A flight supervisor, a senior airport engineer responsible for the removal of snow from the runways, as well as an air traffic controller and an air traffic trainee have also been charged over the crash.

A Falcon 50 business jet, carrying Total CEO Christophe de Margerie, crashed on October 20 at Vnukovo-3 Airport in Moscow. The incident happened when the aircraft, which was due to fly to Paris, hit a snow removal vehicle during the take-off. De Margerie, who was the only passenger on board, and the three crew members, also French citizens, died as a result of the crash.

First Convoy of Russian Aid Crosses Ukrainian Border, Heads Toward Luhansk

2014/10/31

LUHANSK REGION (Ukraine), October 31 (RIA Novosti) – The first group of trucks with Russian humanitarian aid for eastern Ukraine has crossed the Ukrainian border and has begun moving through the Luhansk region, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported Friday.

The trucks have been formed into a convoy and have begun their route through the Luhansk region in Ukraine. One convoy will deliver humanitarian cargo to Luhansk, the second will deliver aid to Donetsk.

All 100 Trucks With Russian Humanitarian AidfFor Eastern Ukraine Clear Customs

2014/10/30

ROSTOV REGION (Russia), October 31 (RIA Novosti) – All 100 trucks with Russian humanitarian aid for eastern Ukraine have cleared customs procedures at two border crossing points in southern Russia and the first trucks have begun crossing into Ukrainian territory, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported Friday.

The trucks are currently forming a convoy to continue their routes to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in Ukraine.

First Russian Humanitarian Aid Trucks Begin Customs Procedures on Russia-Ukraine Border

2014/10/30

DONETSK (Rostov Region, Russia), October 31 (RIA Novosti) – The first of 100 trucks carrying Russian humanitarian aid for eastern Ukraine has begun customs procedures at the Donetsk-Izvarino border point, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported Friday.

The trucks are driving into the border area where they are being checked by Russian and Ukrainian border control and customs personnel. Observers from the Organizations for Security and Cooperation in Europe are also present.

Barroso Hopes Gas Deal Helps to Improve Russian-Ukrainian Relations

2014/10/30

BRUSSELS, October 31 (RIA Novosti) - The European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso, following trilateral gas talks in Brussels, said he hopes that the gas agreement will help to improve the Russian-Ukrainian relations.

"I have hopes that this agreement will have the opportunity to improve relations between Ukraine and Russia," Barroso said after the trilateral talks.

Barroso also stated that all sides agreed to follow the terms of the contract, as no one will benefit from the new disruptions of gas deliveries.

Russia and Ukraine on Thursday held the final round of gas talks, mediated by the European Commission, to find an interim solution to the standoff over Ukraine's unpaid gas bills and the price Kiev will pay for Russian gas supplies during the upcoming winter.

Following the talks, Russia, Ukraine and the European Union signed a so-called agreement on gas deliveries, while Gazprom and Naftogaz signed an addendum to the contract, securing conditions for gas deliveries up until March 2015.

Novak Hopes Gazprom, Naftogaz Can Agree on Gas Deliveries to Ukraine From April 2015

2014/10/30

BRUSSELS, October 31 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, following trilateral gas talks between Russia, Ukraine and the European Union said that he hopes Gazprom and Naftogaz will be able to agree on a continuation of Russian gas deliveries to Ukraine after the so-called “winter package” expires.

“Of course our companies, Gazprom and Naftogaz, will return to a dialogue. I think that today’s agreement will allow them to continue the dialogue on a constant basis, and new concrete steps will be prepared to secure deliveries from April,” Novak told journalists after the trilateral talks.

On Thursday, Ukraine, Russia and the EU have signed a “winter package” agreement, which embodies resumption of Russian gas deliveries to Ukraine and uninterrupted transit of gas to the EU during the winter months.

In particular, Ukraine agreed to pay $1.451 billion in Russian gas debt immediately, prepay for at least 4 billion cubic meters of gas, and to pay a total of $3.1 billion to cover part of its debt to Russian energy giant Gazprom by the end of the year. At the same time, Russia agreed to give Ukraine a $100 per 1,000 cubic meters discount until March 2015 in a form of export duty reduction.

However, the "winter package" will only be valid up until March 31, 2015.

Russia to Sell Gas to Ukraine at $378 Per 1,000 Cubic Meters in November-December

2014/10/30

Updated 04:53 a.m. Moscow time.

BRUSSELS, October 31 (RIA Novosti) - Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller has confirmed that Ukraine will pay $378 per 1,000 cubic meters of Russian gas in November-December 2014, accounting for the agreed $100 discount and in line with contractual price formula, which reflects global oil prices.

"The price is calculated on the basis of contractual price formula minus $100 discount, agreed by the Russian government," Miller told reporters, following trilateral gas talks in Brussels on Thursday.

"The current price for the Q4 is $378.22 per 1,000 cubic meters," Miller said.

The Gazprom CEO added that the price for the first quarter of 2015 will be largely determined by global oil price trends in the next few months.

Miller added that Naftogaz agreed to pay for the delivery of 4 billion cubic meters of Russian gas to Ukraine until the end of the year.

“In bilateral agreement between Gazprom and Naftogaz signed in Brussels, the volumes that Ukraine plans to pay for are outlined and fixed. This is 2 billion cubic meters of gas in November and 2 billion cubic meters of gas in December,” Miller stated.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said that Ukraine confirmed its ability to pay for 4 billion cubic meters of gas. Novak stated that Ukraine has not presented any evidence to prove the statement, however said that Russia trusts its partners’ words.

On Thursday evening, Ukraine, Russia and the EU have coordinated all the details of the interim agreement on Russian gas deliveries to Ukraine through March 2015, and have signed an agreement, outlining conditions for gas deliveries during the winter months.

EC to Outline Gas Payment Guarantees in Letter to Kiev: Miller

2014/10/30

Updated 04:31 a.m. Moscow time.

BRUSSELS, October 31 (RIA Novosti) - The European Commission has agreed to stipulate financial guarantees of payments for Russian gas supplies to Ukraine through March 2015 in an official letter to Kiev, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said.

A separate bilateral protocol on gas payment guarantees between the EC and Ukraine was expected to be signed on Thursday as the Russian side considered it a key precondition for implementation of the so-called "winter package" trilateral gas deal.

The protocol, however, was not signed, and EC Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger told reporters, following trilateral gas talks in Brussels on Thursday, that the European Union had not provided binding guarantees to Russia.

Following the talks in Brussels, Oettinger said that the EU has not agreed to pay for future gas deliveries to Ukraine and has not guaranteed to pay for the majority of the country's open bills.

"It will all be detailed in a letter from the European Commission to Ukraine. The letter will mention certain financial guarantees, certain agreements between the EC and Ukraine," Miller told reporters in a separate press point.

Miller stressed that Kiev's ability to pay its gas bills has been and will be a concern for Gazprom, as Ukraine has over $5 billion in accumulated gas debt and will have to pre-pay for future deliveries.

“I must say that the major concern during the past two months was Ukraine’s ability to pay. There were no other questions,” Miller said.

On Thursday, Ukraine, Russia and the EU have signed an agreement, outlining conditions for Russian gas deliveries to Ukraine during the winter months. In particular, Kiev agreed to pay $3.1 billion of its debt to Gazprom until the end of 2014 in exchange for resumption of Russian gas deliveries to Ukraine. Kiev also agreed to purchase 4 billion cubic meters of gas on prepayment conditions with $100 per 1,000 cubic meters discount set until March 2015.

Fourteen Days in Taiga of Kola Peninsula

2014/10/30

People of this posting had to take two consequent plane flights, then spend four hours in the car to get there. Why anyone would do this? Let’s see the photos and get the answer. Like the first photo of caviar that probably was in a fish just a few minutes before this photo was made.