Russia 090505 Basic Political Developments

Russia 090505

Basic Political Developments

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  H1N1 FLU
  
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    Russia bans pork imports from UK over swine flu - Russia has banned the import of pork from Great Britain to prevent a swine flu virus (H1N1 strain) affecting Russia, chief sanitary inspector Nikolai Vlasov told a news conference on Tuesday.
    
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    Russia bans pork from Alberta: watchdog - Russia said on Tuesday it would ban live pigs and raw pork from Canada's Alberta province, adding to the list of countries and states it has banned imports from because of fears about the spread of a deadly flu virus.
    
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  Polish FM to visit Moscow to discuss cooperation strategy - Radoslaw Sikorski, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, arrives here on Tuesday for a visit. Talks between the Polish Minister and Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov are scheduled for May 6.
  
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  Russian, Polish foreign ministers to talk missile defense, energy - "Moscow talks will be focused on the key aspects of international developments and European stability, including the Russian president's initiatives on the formation of a pan-European security pact," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said.
  
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  Russian PM Putin set to visit Poland on September 1 - Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will most probably visit Warsaw on September 1. If so, this will be the first visible sign of a warming of Polish-Russian relations since the end of the rule of Law and Justice (PiS).
  
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  Norway PM to visit Moscow amid Telenor battle - Norway's Prime Minister will travel to Moscow and meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on May 19 to discuss, among other issues, business relations, his office said on Monday.
  
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  Moscow to highlight Mideast at UN - Russia will put the Middle East peace process firmly back in the international spotlight during its chairmanship of the UN Security Council this month, according to UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin.
  
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  UN meeting to give impetus to Mideast peace - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will preside at the May 11 meeting, and Churkin said some ministers already have accepted. The only speakers will be representatives of the 15 council nations and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, he said.
  
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  Interfax: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller outlines the U.S. position on a new strategic arms reduction treaty with Russia
  
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  Japan to grant Russia extra $40 mln for submarine disposal - This decision is due to be announced by Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso during Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit to Japan on May 12, Kyodo said, citing Japanese officials.
  
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  EU rejected Russian energy proposal - Commissioner Piebalgs in a meeting with Russian Energy Minister Sergey Shmatko on 30 April announced that the EU will not consent with the charter changes proposed by President Medvedev.
  RF, S Ossetia, Georgia, EU to meet for second time on May 7
  
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  St. George ribbon campaign starts at UN headquarters - In Russia, the campaign will be run for a fifth year. It was started by RIA Novosti and the Student Community youth organization. More than 45 million ribbons are distributed throughout the world, including in Ukraine, Estonia, Germany, Britain, the United States and China.
  
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  On Russian Victory Day Colombia Presents a Gift of 100,000 Flowers to the Russian People
  
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  Victory Day 2009 on the Thames Brings Russia and the UK Closer - Russian veterans of the Arctic Convoy from the north Russian town of Archangelsk and British veterans of the Arctic Convoys from the Royal and Merchant Navy will celebrate their Victory Day together in London.
  
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  Cosmic six: new crew to depart for the ISS - The next crew for the International Space Station is getting ready to fly, but first they have to pass their exams
  
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  Council of Europe: Ian Micallef calls on Russia not to enact amendments to local self-government law
  
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  Medvedev to have videoconferences with governors regularly - Medvedev to have videoconferences with governors regularly
  
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  Moscow Tightens its Grip on the Regions as Wealth Declines - As the ongoing systemic financial crisis is markedly worsening, the long subjugated units of the Russian Federation are increasingly displaying signs of discontent.
  
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  Miners from Sakhalin burning coalmine given 2-month leave
  
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  Medvedev to meet leading members of "Just Russia" party
  
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  350 hectares of forest on fire in Volgograd region
  
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  Prison Sentences Down - Courts have been reducing the number of prison terms issued, replacing them with other penalties, the Federal Prison Service said Monday.
  
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  Jesus Christ Superstar banned in Pskov as requested by the diocese - According to the Express-Gazeta paper, chairman of the Pskov regional committee on culture Zinaida Ivanova decided to cancel the performance referring to the request of the diocese.
  

National Economic Trends

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  Revised Russian State Budget - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signed the revised State Budget for 2009. The budget shows a 2.9 trillion RUB deficit.
  
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  Russia oil wealth funds fall to $193 bln-FinMin - Russia's oil wealth funds lost $13 billion in value over the last month, falling to around $193 billion, as Russia taps into the cash pot to cover its budget deficit, the finance ministry said on Monday.
  
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  Economics: Reserve Fund down 13.8% in April – UralSib
  
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  The Ministry of Finance to get another RUB400bn from Reserve Fund – Rencap
  
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  Domestic debt strategy – Rencap
  
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  PMI Rises 4th Month This Year
  
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  Ruble Hits 3-Month High on $50 Oil
  
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  Economics: Government draft bill: tax increase planned for 2011
  
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  News from the Fields: Minimal Signs of Recovery - Troika