Putin, Trump to discuss INF Treaty on sidelines of G20 summit — Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump intend to hold a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina at the end of this month. Among the issues they hope to discuss is the US decision to quit the INF Treaty, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media on Monday.
"[At the events in Paris on November 11] Putin had a quick word with Trump," Peskov said.
"They agreed they had a great deal to discuss, including the INF Treaty. They decided to do this at the G20 summit in Argentina," Peskov said.
Putin and Trump last Sunday attended ceremonies in Paris at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. Originally the Russian and US leaders had agreed to use that opportunity for conducting separate bilateral negotiations only to postpone them at the request of the French side, because a Russian-US summit might have distracted the world public’s attention from the main theme of the events.
Last time Putin and Trump met in Helsinki last July. So far it was their first meeting not related with international forums. Before that Putin and Trump had met briefly on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Germany in July 2017 and the APEC summit in Vietnam in November 2017.
Kremlin comments on Putin-Netanyahu talks in Paris
MOSCOW, November 12. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had a brief meeting in Paris on Sunday, focused on current issues of bilateral relations, Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.
"Putin spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu for some ten-fifteen minutes," Peskov said. "They discussed current issues of bilateral relations."
US special adviser to Afghanistan plans Moscow trip as Taliban gains ground – Kremlin
After years of struggle against the Taliban in Afghanistan, US special adviser Zalmay Khalilzad is planning to visit Russia to discuss a peace settlement, his Russian counterpart Zamir Kabulov said on Monday.
“I’ve known Khalilzad for a long time. We’ll meet again – he is planning to visit us,” Kabulov told reporters,
adding that the parties may discuss the launch of direct talks between the US-backed government in Kabul and the Taliban if Khalilzad is“ready to do it.”
The Russian official stressed that Moscow supports the “regionalist approach” to a peace settlement in the war-torn nation and doesn’t seek competition with the US in Afghanistan, but at the same time can’t just stand by and “idly observe” the ongoing deterioration of the situation on the ground.
A Taliban delegation recently flew to Moscow to hold separate discussions on the ways to end the conflict in the country.
In recent years, US officials became more receptive to the idea of direct peace talks with the Taliban.
“This is not going to be won militarily. This is going to a political solution,” General Austin S. Miller, who lead the NATO mission in Afghanistan,
admitted last week. Khalilzad, meanwhile, reportedly
met with Taliban officials in Qatar last month.
Despite the US’ decade-long efforts to quell the militants, Afghanistan has seen an upsurge in Taliban activity in recent years. The US government’s own estimates
indicate that the Washington-backed government in Kabul has uncontested control of just over 57 percent of the country, while a recent BBC study
revealed that the jihadists are “openly active” in about 70 percent of the nation.
Heroin production has skyrocketed, and frequent terror attacks continue to claim the lives of Afghan servicemen and civilians.
Taliban ready to take part in next Moscow meeting on Afghanistan — diplomat
"Principally, the Taliban is ready," Kabulov said. "They like the idea very much, they are ready to take part."
According to the diplomat, Moscow expects that Kabul will send both the delegation of the Afghan High Peace Council and official government representatives. "This will make any inter-Afghan agreements more legitimate," Kabulov stressed.
The Afghan government demanded holding direct talks with the Taliban movement on the sidelines of the Moscow-format consultations, but the Taliban refused, he said.
"The Afghan government demanded direct talks with representatives of the Taliban movement on the sidelines of these Moscow consultations," he said.
"The Taliban’s leadership flatly refuses to talk with the current Afghanistan’s government, considering it to be the puppet one brought into power in Kabul by the Americans."
The second meeting of the Moscow-format consultations on Afghanistan was held on November 9. Taking part in it were deputy foreign ministers, special envoys and observers from Russia, Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, the US, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. A delegation of the Taliban movement’s political office took part in an international meeting of this level for the first time.
Taliban up for talks with Kabul but wants foreign troop pullout first, says Russian envoy
The Taliban (outlawed in Russia) is ready to hold negotiations with the government of Afghanistan only after reaching a deal with the US on a timetable for the pullout of foreign troops from the country, Director of the Ministry's Second Asia Department and Kremlin Special Envoy for Afghanistan told a press conference on Monday after the second meeting of the Moscow-hosted consultations on Afghanistan.
"They [Taliban] have outlined their plan of action in detail. (They) said they will be ready to speak with the Afghan government only after fixing a timetable for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan with the US," he added.
"As confidence-building measures under a preliminary plan, the Taliban demand that all political prisoners be freed and anti-Taliban sanctions, which were imposed back in 1997, be lifted," the diplomat pointed out.
The second meeting of the Moscow-hosted consultations on Afghanistan was held on November 9. Senior diplomats, special representatives and supervisors from Russia, Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, the US, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan participated in the event.
The Taliban’s political office delegation attended such international meeting for the first time.
Russia seeks to cultivate amicable ties with Islamic countries, Putin says
Moscow places great importance on cooperation with Muslim countries, according to a greetings message by Russian President Vladimir Putin to participants of the 4th meeting of the Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group in Makhachkala, which was conveyed by Tatarstan's President Rustam Minnikhanov.
"The Russian Federation considers it hugely important to foster friendly ties with Muslim countries both at a bilateral level and within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Our positions are rather close regarding many urgent issues on the global and regional agenda.
We jointly favor the creation of a fair and democratic world order, based on rule of law, and free of any forms of biased strong-arm dictates or economic and information pressure," the Russian leader pointed out.
"Moscow and countries of the Islamic World have constructive economic, scientific and technical and humanitarian cooperation, as well as partnership in settling local conflicts and crisis situations.
The current meeting of the group is dedicated to a very serious problem, which is combating terrorism and extremist ideology by working with young people, and coordinating efforts in the areas of education and enlightenment," Putin emphasized.
The Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group was set up in 2006 under the leadership of Russian statesman and diplomat Yevgeny Primakov, and Tatarstan’s First President Mintimer Shaimiev after Russia had joined the OIC as an observer.
The Group is made up of 33 well-known public figures from 27 countries, including ex-prime ministers, foreign ministers, and grand religious scholars from Indonesia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait and other states. President Minnikhanov is chairman of the Group, whose meeting is being held in Dagestan this year.
Caucasus, Central Asia natives prevalent among IS militants in Afghanistan, says ministry
Natives of Central Asia, the North Caucasus and the Volga Region make up a sizeable part of militants of the Islamic State (IS, terror group, outlawed in Russia) in Afghanistan, Russian Special Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan and Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Second Asia Department Zamir Kabulov told reporters at a news conference following second meeting of the Moscow-format consultations on Afghanistan on Monday.
"We have repeatedly drawn attention to the fact that the Islamic State’s main forces are trying to create its own network along Afghanistan’s northern border with the Central Asian states. Natives of Central Asia, the North Caucasus and the Volga Region make up a considerable, if not a dominant part of its militants.
This fact is indicative of the possible goals and tasks of that organization, more precisely, the goals and tasks set for them by their external sponsors," the diplomat said.
"Both Afghan delegations (of the government and the Taliban - TASS) were strongly opposed to the IS, pointing to the need to fight against that international terrorist organization. In addition to achieving peace in Afghanistan, there is another point of coincidence between the warring parties.
It is a fact that the Islamic State emerged because of the current strife in Afghan society and among the people. That made it possible for the IS to gain a foothold, they are actively creating their own network," Kabulov stressed.
According to Russia’s envoy, Moscow notes a slowdown in the number of Islamic State militants in Afghanistan due losing ground in Syria and expects the Afghan authorities and the international military contingent deployed to that country to vigorously deal with the destruction of identified terrorists.
"We expect the Afghan government and international troops, which are there allegedly to combat terrorism to deal with that first and foremost. We expect both reasonable explanations and specific actions from them," he said.
Moscow satisfied with Organization of Islamic Cooperation observer status, says diplomat
Russia has no plans of joining the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) where it holds observer status, Russian Ambassador-at-Large Konstantin Shuvalov told TASS on Monday.
"The issue of raising Russia’s status in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation is not considered essential, since under the organization’s charter it admits states with a Muslim majority population," said Shuvalov, who is also Russia’s Special Envoy for Cooperation with organizations of Islamic states.
"Based on this principle, Russia is not eligible but we do maintain cooperation that is of interest for us as an observer nation, and this suits us very well and helps solve the tasks of bringing (our) positions closer," the diplomat said.
"There is ongoing political dialogue that helps expand bilateral cooperation with certain Muslim states. We believe that we achieve our goals and work within the existing framework," Shuvalov went on to say.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation is an international organization that was set up in 1969. Until June 2011, its name had been the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The OIC is headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The highest governing body - the Conference of Kings, Heads of State and Government is convened every three years. At present, the OIC brings together 57 states, and Russia has had observer status since 2005.
Russian modern weaponry enjoys strong demand among Arab countries
The market of Arab and Middle East countries accounts for a considerable share of the order book of Russia’s state arms seller Rosoboronexport (part of the state hi-tech corporation Rostec), the Rosoboronexport press office quoted its CEO Alexander Mikheyev as saying on Monday.
At the fifth Bahrain International Air Show 2018 (BIAS), Rosoboronexport will feature Russia’s most advanced weapon systems, including the S-400 long-range air defense missile complex, the Pantsyr medium-range surface-to-air missile/gun system, Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic warfare systems and the newest Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A military transport planes.
"The weapons labelled ‘made in Russia’ enjoy enhanced demand as they have proven their worth in rough combat and climatic conditions at sea, on the ground and in the air.
And this demand is growing: Rosoboronexport’s order book has recently exceeded the mark of $50 billion, a considerable share of which has been formed by contracts with Arab states," Mikheyev said.
The delegations of the countries from that region are expected to show enhanced interest at the air show in the Su-35 multirole super-maneuverable fighter jet, MiG-29M/M2 multi-purpose frontline fighters and Yak-130 combat training aircraft.
Rosoboronexport will also showcase such new products on its export list as the Il-78MK-90A aerial refueling tanker and the Il-76MD-90A(E) military transport plane.
In the category of army aviation, Rosoboronexport will feature the Mil Mi-28NE attack helicopter, the Kamov Ka-52 reconnaissance and attack helicopter, the Mi-35M transport/attack helicopter, the Ka-226T and Ansat light multi-purpose rotorcraft and the Mi-26T2 heavy transport helicopter.
According to Rosoboronexport, Russian air defense systems are expected to attract considerable interest. Russia’s state arms exporter also expects Arab and Middle East countries to display enhanced interest in S-400 Triumf long-range air defense missile systems, and also Buk-M2E and Tor-M2E surface-to-air missile complexes, the Pantsyr-S1 air defense missile/gun system and the man-portable Verba air defense missile system.
The company’s display stand at the Bahrain International Air Show will also feature Russian-made Takhion and Orlan-10E drones, the air reconnaissance system with the Orion-E long-endurance drone and the electronic warfare complex with small-size Repellent unmanned aerial vehicles.
Overall, Rosoboronexport will feature over 250 weapon systems at the Bahrain International Air Show 2018.
Russian Baltic Fleet warships destroy notional enemy’s submarine in drills
The small anti-submarine warfare ships Zelenodolsk and Urengoi from the Leningrad naval base of Russia’s Baltic Fleet have held drills to search for and destroy a simulated enemy’s submarines in the Baltic Sea, the Fleet’s press office reported on Monday.
The diesel-electric submarine Dmitrov simulated an enemy in the drills. It was tasked to launch a torpedo attack and notionally destroy a naval group.
"During the drills, the small anti-submarine warfare ships Zelenodolsk and Urengoi carried out measures in the designated area of the Baltic Sea to search for submarines and practice anti-submarine maneuvering and submarine tracking. A major episode of the drills involved torpedo fire and depth bombing by the crews of the anti-submarine warfare ships," the Fleet’s press office said in a statement. The crew of the submarine also carried out a practical torpedo attack.
In addition, the anti-submarine warfare ships held training on their board to practice ship survivability, air defense, anti-sabotage measures and joint maneuvering in complex weather conditions.
The Baltic Fleet’s small anti-submarine warfare ships Zelenodolsk and Urengoi are armed with the AK-176 and AK-630 air defense artillery systems, RBU-6000 rocket launchers and 533mm artillery tubes and are outfitted with modern sonars. The warships are designated to search for, track and destroy submarines in the close-in maritime and coastal zones.
