Russia 090505 Basic Political Developments

Japan to grant Russia extra $40 mln for submarine disposal

http://en.rian.ru/world/20090505/121439382.html

TOKYO, May 5 (RIA Novosti) - Japan is to allocate Russia an extra 4 billion yen ($40 million) to dismantle decommissioned Russian nuclear submarines in the Far East, Japanese media reported on Tuesday.

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.

Japan earlier allocated 2 billion yen ($20 million) towards dismantling some 70 nuclear submarines. The additional funding is aimed at highlighting the East Asian country's commitment to the nuclear non-proliferation process and preventing potential environmental damage from abandoned nuclear submarines.

Kyodo said that the project, involving some 20 countries, is expected to be completed in the spring of 2010. The funding is expected to be spent on cranes and the construction of mini-docks in Russia's Pacific port city of Vladivostok.

Kyodo also said that Japan may contribute funds for the construction of facilities to store spent nuclear fuel.

EU rejected Russian energy proposal

http://www.barentsobserver.com/eu-rejected-russian-energy-proposal.4587346-16178.html
2009-05-05

The EU Commissioner on Energy Andris Piebalgs has turned down Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s proposals on changes in the EU Energy Charter.

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.

The Energy Charter, the main EU document regulating energy issues – can not be amended, Mr. Piebalgs said, newspaper Kommersant reports.

The Energy Charter is signed and ratified by the [EU] countries and its replacement is impossible, the commissioner said

President Medvedev in mid-April presented a proposal on the adoption of a new legal agreement in international energy cooperation. That new agreement included the replacement of the EU Energy Charter.

Piebalgs also said that the Russian proposals have “too much of a global character”

Read more - Kommersant

RF, S Ossetia, Georgia, EU to meet for second time on May 7

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=13904881&PageNum=0

MOSCOW, May 5 (Itar-Tass) - Representatives of Russia, South Ossetia, Georgia and the EU will meet for the second time after the events in the Caucasus last August on May 7.

They will meet on the Georgian territory to discuss normalization of the situation in the border district of Georgia with South Ossetia, the first deputy head of the Land Troops’ main headquarters, Lieut. Gen. Sergei Antonov told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

“We’ve already received the relevant notification from the head of the EU observer mission in Georgia, Hans Jorg Haber, on the readiness for this meeting,” he said.

“Russia’s representatives who will directly resolve all issues emerging in the border district of Georgia with South Ossetia will take part. Among them will be representatives of the Russian military contingent in South Ossetia,” he said.

Antonov represented Russia at the first four-party meeting in Georgia’ s village of Ergneti on April 23.

St. George ribbon campaign starts at UN headquarters

http://en.rian.ru/world/20090505/121440177.html

NEW YORK, May 5 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's annual St. George Ribbon campaign was officially launched at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday.

The St. George Ribbon campaign, a symbol of people's memory about Russia's heroic past, is being run at the UN for the second time. Ribbons will be distributed by pupils from a school at the Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN before a seminar devoted to WWII.

WWII veterans, who fought for the Soviet Union and U.S armed forces, as well as UN Secretariat staff, diplomats and representatives of non-governmental organizations, are expected to attend.

The participants will discuss the issue of Nazi glorification and look at ways of overcoming the rising trend in the region, including Latvia, Estonia and Ukraine. The event will be held by the Moscow bureau for human rights and the World Congress of Russian Jewry.

The United Nations has named May 8 and May 9 as a Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation.

In the run up to Victory Day, May 9, people attach ribbons with black and orange stripes to their car antennas, jackets, backpacks, or hospital beds for veterans. Some people keep the ribbon for the entire year.

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.

Orange and black are the traditional colors of Soviet and Russian awards for military achievements. The black and orange stripes symbolize smoke and fire.

On Russian Victory Day Colombia Presents a Gift of 100,000 Flowers to the Russian People

http://sev.prnewswire.com/agriculture/20090504/DC1087004052009-1.html

MOSCOW, May 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Over two hundred thousand Colombian floriculture workers join Russian citizens in the capital city of Moscow to celebrate Victory Day on May 9th. To mark this momentous occasion, Colombian flower growers are presenting a gift of 100,000 Colombian flowers to the Russian people.

Diego Tobon, Colombian Ambassador to the Russian Federation, made the announcement, indicating that the streets of Moscow will be festooned with celebratory Colombian flowers, primarily roses and red carnations.

Augusto Solano, President of Asocolflores, the Association of Colombian Flower Exporters, stated that, "this gift of flowers to the Russian people springs from the Colombian flower growers' appreciation for the historic role Russia played in bringing an end to World War II."

Solano added that 150 people will be positioned at strategic points around the capital of the Russian Federation to hand out Colombian flowers to Muscovites on this major holiday. "The Russian people observe the triumph of the Soviet Union and the Allies over Nazi Germany on May 9, 1945, which brought an end to the Second World War in Europe. This accomplishment deserves to be celebrated by all nations, including Colombia," said Solano.

The South American nation will offer flowers to war veterans and present city officials with a floral tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.