Russia 100304 Basic Political Developments

RIA: First post-Soviet Abkhazian leader dies after long illness in Moscow

http://en.rian.ru/world/20100304/158089509.html
11:2104/03/2010

Vladislav Ardzinba, a man who spearheaded the rebellion of his Black Sea province of Abkhazia against Georgian rule, on Thursday died after a long illness aged 64, the Abkhazian parliamentary speaker said.

Ardzinba, the Abkhazian leader in 1990-2005, died in Moscow's elite Central Clinical Hospital where he had been hospitalized on February 25, speaker Nugzar Ashuba said. Ardzinba has been struggling for years with cancer, an illness that ultimately forced him to resign.

"This is an irreplaceable loss not only for Abkhazia, but also for those who supported us," he told RIA Novosti. "Ardzinba was ... a whole epoch for our people."

In September 1992, just months after the Soviet Union collapsed, the then Abkhazian parliamentary leader Ardzinba led resistance to a Georgian military onslaught aimed at asserting Tbilisi's control over the province, which was part of Soviet Georgia, but refused to subdue after the communist empire collapsed.

In nearly two years of the war, which claimed thousands of lives and forced tens of thousands of ethnic Georgians flee Abkhazia, the region defended its right for self-rule. In 1994, Ardzinba was elected the first Abkhazian president.

Ardzinba was already locked out from political life with his illness in August 2008, when Georgia tried to take over another breakaway region, South Ossetia. Russia sent troops to South Ossetia and Abkhazia and in a five-day war crushed the Georgian attack.

Despite heavy protests from the West, Russia later recognized the independence of both regions, taking them under its security umbrella. However, only Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru followed Moscow in the recognition.

SUKHUMI, March 4 (RIA Novosti)

News.az: Many Russians interested in Azerbaijan

http://www.news.az/articles/10682
Thu 04 March 2010 | 09:00 GMT

News.Az interviews Pavel Gusev, chairman of the Moscow Journalists’ Union and editor-in-chief of the Moskovski Komsomolets newspaper.

In what ways are your organizations involved in bilateral cooperation?

Of course, we have a great policy of contact with journalists of most countries accredited in Russia and the CIS. In addition, the association of foreign and CIS journalists is still functioning as part of the Journalists' Union. We support their work in Russia. It is no secret that Russia has problems regarding the work of journalists. The authorities mostly do not want journalists to work the way they have to work under the law. Therefore, we try to solve all cases in which journalists of many countries face problems, primarily in the state structures.

We have taken the association of foreign journalists working in Russia and Moscow under our protection. This is effective because if a journalist meets all the obligations for a foreign worker, we take the journalist under our protection and defend their rights as the state can often hamper journalists in doing their job.

What would you like to see in cooperation with the Azerbaijani media?

First of all, I would like the Azerbaijani mass media to be present in the Russian information space. Today many free newspapers in Azerbaijani are widely distributed in Moscow. It is no secret that a large diaspora of former citizens of Azerbaijan and of Azerbaijani ethnic origin has formed in the Russian capital. This diaspora is large and we think that the appearance of local newspapers in Moscow shops would be great. We have discussed this problem not only with regard to Azerbaijan but also to other countries whose representatives live in the Russian capital.

We talk about possible television material made or exchanged between Russian and Azerbaijani television stations since most of us are interested in developments in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has something to say. In addition, there can be an exchange of information between news agencies.

Pavel Gusev is chairman of the Moscow Journalists’ Union, chairman of the Russian Public Chamber's Commission on Information Policy and Freedom of Speech and editor-in-chief of the Moskovski Komsomolets newspaper.

Leyla Tagiyeva

News.Az

AllAfrica.com: Zimbabwe: VP Nkomo Applauds Govt-Russia Ties

http://allafrica.com/stories/201003040090.html

Ray Bande

4 March 2010

The cordial relations between Zimbabwe and Russia must be cherished and sustained by all well-meaning citizens of the two countries, Vice President John Nkomo said yesterday.

Addressing delegates during a tour of DTZ-OZGEO Mine just outside Mutare, VP Nkomo described Russia as an "all-weather friend".

The alluvial gold mine is owned by a Russian consortium and the Development Trust of Zimbabwe.

"They (the Russians) have been with us since the days of our protracted liberation struggle and they continue assisting us in a number of areas.

"They stood by us at the United Nations Security Council when they vetoed a motion to invade our country.

"We really applaud that move as a nation and will always treat you as allies in the fight against imperialism," VP Nkomo said.

He said the indigenisation law was not meant to ban foreign investment and thanked the Russians for injecting funds into Zimbabwe.

"As a country, we welcome joint ventures in business with developmental thrust for our citizens and our infrastructure.

"It is quite unfortunate that we have suffered unwarranted criticism from Britain and her allies at a time when we are making frantic efforts to attract investment in the country.

"I am sure you have experienced it yourselves and I hope you have discovered that our laws are friendly to honest investors.

"We expect you to be our ambassadors so that more investors from Russia and elsewhere come into Zimbabwe.

"Our indigenisation laws and regulations must not be viewed as a ban on foreign investment but as a tool of promoting foreign investment while empowering our people," he said.

The Indigenisation and Empowerment Regulations became operational on Monday and seek to ensure Zimbabweans own at least 51 percent of major companies.

Consul at the Russian Embassy in Harare Mr Alex Kalykov said: "Politically and economically our relationship with Zimbabwe has been very impressive.

"We have been allies dating back to the days of the liberation struggle.

"I really hope we will continue enjoying this cordial relationship for a long time to come.

"Future generations must inherit this warm relationship."

Itar-Tass: Russian watchdog agency limits meat import from Germany, China, Ukraine

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=14883889&PageNum=0

04.03.2010, 00.15

MOSCOW, March 4 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia’s agricultural sanitary watchdog, Rosselkhoznadzor, temporarily suspends import of meat from some producers in Germany, China and Ukraine.

These restrictions are effective for three German and one Chinese producer and for Ukraine’s Kremenchugmyaso meat producing company. Meet products from these companies contained the substances that are either banned in the Russian Federation or else are hazardous for human health, the ministry said.

The prentive measures come into force on March 12. In case products from these companies cross Russia’s border before March 12, “the product will be laboratory tested and a decision on its import will be made accordingly.”