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Russian astronaut delivers Armenian flag from space to PM Nikol Pashinyan

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Russian astronaut delivers Armenian flag

Russian astronaut Anton Shkaplerov ceremonially handed over an Armenian flag, which spent nearly 200 days in space, to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during an event that took place in Agarak, a village in Aragatsotn province.

“This flag was in space for nearly 200 days in an altitude of 400 kilometers, at the time when political changes were happening in Armenia. I consider that this flag will become the symbol of Armenia’s new life, most importantly a symbol of stable life, economic growth, great welfare, peace and friendship between you and Russia,” Shkaplerov said.

Russian astronaut Oleg Artemyev’s video message was screened at the event. Artemyev only recently landed on Earth from a spaceflight and has brought the flag of Yerevan with him. This flag will too be ceremonially transferred to the Armenian PM.

Russian market crashes ahead of new US sanctions

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The ruble has sharply decreased ahead of the US new sanctions, while experts predict a further weakening of the national currency.

Aeroflot’s shares have fallen by more than 12%, VTB Bank’s securities – by over 7.5%, Sberbank – by 6%. In general, the stock market fell through to a minimum recorded in April.

The dollar’s exchange rate against ruble exceeded the 66-ruble mark on Wednesday, with the euro reached 77.

The weakening of the ruble will continue and the economic situation in the country will worsen significantly, professor at the Higher School of Economics Ivan Rodionov told RBK TV.

According to the source, foreign players are selling the shares of Russian companies and federal loan bonds.

 

Russian meddling in Greece divides traditional Orthodox allies

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As Orthodox Christian nations on the frontiers of Europe, Russia and Greece have long enjoyed close ties. The recent name dispute with Macedonia, however, has led to a falling out between the two countries.

It sounds like a plotline straight out of a James Bond film, but in reality, it’s fueled a diplomatic row between former friends. Russian diplomats in Greece were caught last month attempting to bribe local politicians, businessmen and powerful Orthodox priests from the Athos monastery to influence the outcome of the name dispute between Greece and its northern neighbor, Macedonia. In an escalation of tensions, Greece responded by denouncing the four Russian diplomats involved in the scheme.

“The Greek government seeks good relations with all states, but we will not accept behavior that violates international law and undermines the Greek authorities,” said Greek government spokesperson Dimitris Tzanakopoulos.

All eyes on the Balkans

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his dissatisfaction withthe agreement reached over the Macedonia name dispute. His opposition comes as part of the long political tug of war that the European Union and Russia have been playing for control in the Balkans.

Following the resolution reached in June, Greece will no longer block Macedonia’s EU and NATO accession. The move paves the way for Macedonia to become the latest Balkan state to align with the West.

As an economic bridge between Western Europe and Asia, the Balkans are seen as a key trade route, even more so now that Piraeus, the largest port in Greece, is under Chinese ownership.

“The new Silk Road, which will flow into the port of Piraeus, and then cross the Balkans into Central Europe, gives Greece a new weight in the region,” said German-Greek journalist Efthymis Angeloudis.

Greece’s strategic role

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has been pushing for better ties with his country’s Balkan neighbors for some time, but Athens’ interest in uniting the region predates his term in office.

“Greece played a major role in Bulgaria’s and Romania’s accession to the EU in 2007. The fact that the Greek government has now found partners in Macedonia is an immense step for the region,” Angeloudis said, calling the rapprochement between the two countries “a ray of hope.”

EU leaders have long overlooked the crucial role Greece can play in the Balkans, instead viewing the country primarily as as the bloc’s tax-evading black sheep. But if Brussels ignores Athens in seeking to align the Balkans with Western Europe, it risks the sort of falling out it’s now experiencing with Greece’s southern neighbor, Turkey. Ankara had long been friendly towards the EU, but the bloc was content to keep the country at arm’s length. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s winning the country’s recent presidential election, boosting his increasingly authoritarian power and rediscovering his sympathy for Russia, is clear sign that the EU missed its shot at partnering with Turkey in the long term.

When it comes to the ongoing process of rapprochement between the Western Balkan countries, the EU now has a chance to show it has learned from past mistakes.

“The EU should not squander this opportunity with shortsighted action,” said Angeloudis. “It is crucial to the future of world trade that relationships in the region are secured and that the EU’s doors to the Western Balkans remain secure and open.”

Turning away from Orthodox ally Russia

With the Macedonia name dispute agreement, the EU can at least relish in a partial victory against rival Russia in the diplomatic battle for the Balkans — thanks largely to Athens’ friendly efforts.

Traditionally, Greeks have viewed Russia, a fellow predominantly Eastern Orthodox Christian country, as a spiritual ally. But for Stavros Tzimas, a journalist covering Greek-Balkan politics for the influential Kathimerini newspaper, this supposed love affair has little to do with reality. He says the fundamental Christian Orthodox tenet that connects the two states has faded into a barely recognizable alliance.

“The assumption of religious unity is based on the myth that powerful Russia is helping its Greek fellow believers in difficult times,” Tzimas said. Russia has never truly supported Greece, he explained, citing Prime Minister Tsipras’ appeal to the Kremlin in 2015 during the Greek financial crisis as just the latest example.

“When Tsipras traveled to Moscow to plead for financial help from Putin, in the hope for some respite from the fiscal hands of European donors, the Russian president sent him off on his way to Brussels instead,” Tzimas said.

Political realities aside, the positive image of Russia in Greece continues to endure. Recent polls show that Putin’s standing is high among Greeks. That is because people in the country are not fully aware of Russia’s human rights abuses, or how its foreign policy negatively impacts the Greek economy, Tzimas said

Next year, Greece will hold parliamentary elections. For Tsipras, and for the EU, the vote will be a litmus test of how his government has handled the current tensions with Russia.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/russian-meddling-in-greece-divides-traditional-orthodox-allies/a-44948712

Russian pranksters again pretend to be Armenia’s PM calling this time EU’s Juncker and Mogherini

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Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus (Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov), this time called European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker pretending to be Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, discussing with him the international situation, as well as inviting the EU official to Yerevan to taste barbecue.

The pranksters also called EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, RIA Novosti reports.

According to the Russian news agency, the telephone conversation has been made shortly after Nikol Pashinyan’s election as Armenia’s PM. RIA Novosti has the recordings of the phone talk.

During the phone talk with Jean-Claude Juncker, the pranksters expressed their complaint over the pressure by the US, and in response to this, the European Commission President stated that they have to “again and again explain Mr. Trump what is the world order”. “He doesn’t understand what is happening. We should be convinced that he will start to better understand the ongoing developments in Armenia. OK. Good luck”, Juncker said.

The pranksters invited him to Yerevan, offering to make barbecue in the square and hold a “unique rally”.

“Sounds good. I will visit next year. This year it’s already impossible, but we will find respective time and opportunities for the next year”, Juncker said.

During the phone talk with the pranksters, Federica Mogherini said the new leadership of Armenia must have good relations with all partners. “We should act cautiously. Armenia is the country that has a right to choose”, she said.

Earlier the Russian pranksters called UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger in the name of Armenian PM.

 

Russian prankers call UK Foreign Minister in the name of Armenian PM Pashinyan

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Russian pranksters discuss Putin

A duo of Russian pranksters with suspected links to the country’s security services managed to get through to the British foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, and held an 18-minute phone conversation with him by pretending to be the Armenian prime minister.

The duo released audio of the call, which they said took place last week, in which one of them pretended to be Nikol Pashinyan, the recently appointed prime minister of Armenia.

In the audio, the voice claiming to be Pashinyan speaks English with a Russian accent. He asks for advice on how to deal with Vladimir Putin, and for information about Britain’s response to the poisoning of Sergei Skripal in Salisbury.

The FCO confirmed in a statement that it was Johnson on the call.

“We will continue to tighten the squeeze on some of the oligarchs who surround Putin,” said Johnson to the man he believed to be the Armenian PM.

Johnson said this had proved the most effective way of dealing with the threat posed by Russia, saying “you throw a stone in Kensington and you’ll get an oligarch”.

Alexei Stolyarov and Vladimir Kuznetsov, known by their prankster monikers Lexus and Vovan, have claimed a number of high-profile victims, including posing as the Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko, in a call with the Turkish leader, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. They also spoke with Elton John while pretending to be Vladimir Putin.

A senior UK diplomatic source told the Guardian: “This seems to be the latest desperate attempt by the Kremlin to save face after it was internationally shamed in the wake of Skripal attack.

“Boris rumbled them pretty quickly and ended the call. It is tragic to see a major international power reduced to failed pranks you would usually only see on Trigger Happy TV”.

Johnson’s boss, Theresa May, appeared less than amused. A spokeswoman for the prime minister said: “This should not have happened and an investigation is under way to discover why, and to make sure it does not happen again.”

Stolyarov told the Guardian he was impersonating Pashinyan on the call with Johnson, and said he had also spoken to the Europe minister, Sir Alan Duncan, prior to the call with Johnson.

Stolyarov and Kuznetsov have previously denied links with the Russian intelligence services, but their calls have an uncanny habit of chiming with Kremlin talking points. The fact they have been so successful at placing calls to high-level politicians across the globe also suggests they have access to special communications technology or help with placing calls.

In the call with Johnson, Stolyarov raised the poisoning of the Skripals in Salisbury, the use of chemical weapons in Syria and sought advice on dealing with Putin. In his responses, Johnson mainly struck a similar tone to his public pronouncements on the issues, though as the call went on he sounded increasingly bemused by the line of questioning.

At the start of the call, the foreign secretary jovially congratulated his interlocutor on his recent appointment as Armenian prime minister, and when pressed on whether he was certain Russia was behind the Salisbury attack said “we’re almost 100% sure” and offered to share further, non-public evidence.

“If I have a message to Putin, it’s that we don’t want a cold war but we do want to see an improvement in the way Russia behaves,” he said.

Johnson asked several times for clarification when towards the end of the call he was told by the fake Pashinyan that during a meeting with Putin, the Russian president had told him he was financially supporting the UK Labour party.

Shortly afterwards, it appears the call was cut off abruptly from the UK side, possibly after the penny finally dropped that the voice on the other end of the line was not that of Pashinyan.

“The Foreign Secretary realised it was a hoax, and ended the call,” the FCO said in a statement. “We checked it out and knew immediately it was a prank call. The use of chemical weapons in Salisbury and Syria, and recent events in Armenia are serious matters. These childish actions show the lack of seriousness of the caller and those behind him.”

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/may/24/russian-pranksters-discuss-putin-and-skripal-in-call-with-boris-johnson

Russian Sukhoi to supply SuperJets to Iran despite sanctions, Boeing & Airbus combined loss $39.00 Billion

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Russia’s Sukhoi Civil Aircraft says its plans to sell planes to Iran will not change despite the US re-imposing sanctions against the country.

The company announced that it would continue to cooperate with Iranian airlines within the framework of interim agreements on the delivery of SuperJet 100 (SSJ100) passenger planes.

Russia’s Sputnik news agency quoted Alexander Rubtsov, the president of Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, as saying that the planes that are to be delivered to Iran would be built without US-made components to avoid contract obstacles posed by the upcoming US sanctions.

“The Sukhoi Civil Aircraft will continue to work with Iranian airlines under the preliminary agreements signed at the Eurasia Air Show in April 2018. According to the agreements, the parties are studying in detail the possibility of supplying an updated version of SuperJets — the SSJ100R, which is implemented under the program of import substitution of the SSJ100 components,” the company announced in a statement.

The Russian company recently signed memorandums of understanding on the delivery of 40 Sukhoi SSJ100R passenger planes to two Iranian airlines until 2022.
Iran’s IRNA news agency announced in late April that Aseman Airlines and Iran Air Tours had signed contracts with Sukhoi Civil Aircraft for the purchase of a total of 40 SSJ100 planes. It added that the planes purchased by Aseman Airlines belonged to RRJ-95R class of Sukhoi’s latest model of SuperJets.

IRNA also quoted an Iran Air Tours official as saying that the total value of the company’s purchases of Sukhoi planes stood at $1 billion, adding that deliveries would begin the next year.

US President Donald Trump last Tuesday said he would pull the US out of a nuclear agreement with Iran that had allowed the removal of certain sanctions against the country.

The deal – that the US signed with Iran in 2015 together with Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany – also envisaged moves by the Islamic Republic to restrict certain aspects of its nuclear energy program.

Trump also signed a presidential memo to reinstate the nuclear-related sanctions that would include restrictions on the sales of planes and parts to the Iran.

This has put the fate of the country’s deals with aviation giants Airbus and Boeing into uncertainty.

In December 2016, Airbus signed a deal to sell Iran 100 jetliners worth about $19 billion at list prices. It has delivered three planes so far.

In the same month, Boeing announced a contract with Iran for 80 aircraft valued at $16.6 billion. The company separately struck a deal with Iran’s Aseman Airlines to sell 737 MAX aircraft for $3 billion, with purchase rights for another 30 planes. No deliveries have been made yet.

Both could suffer a combined loss of above $39 billion once Trump’s anti-Iran sanctions regime is put into effect.

Russian military jet crashes in Syria, one of pilots was Albert Davidyan

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pilots was Albert Davidyan

Russian military jet had crashed in Syria on Thursday killing both of its pilots, including commander Albert Davidyan.

Major Albert Davidyan, Armenian by origin, was one of the pilots of a the military jet that crashed off the coast of Syria, near the city of Jableh in Latakia province, Vesti reported quoting Mash.

Russian Defense Ministry said two crew members had tried in vain to save the plane until the last moment.

https://youtu.be/_Lu59f8CrXE

Jaysh al-Islam to surrender to Russian, fighters to evacuate to northern Syria

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Jaish al-Islam, the last remaining rebel group in Eastern Ghouta, has agreed to leave its holdout in Douma for an opposition-held area in northern Syria, according to opposition negotiators and the Russian foreign ministry.

The deal came a day after a chemical attack killed scores of people and affected hundreds of other Douma residents. The attack prompted global outrage but was dismissed as “fabrication” by the Syrian government, whose forces on Friday launched an offensive against the rebels under the cover of air raids.

The agreement, which was reached between Jaish al-Islam and Russia on Sunday, includes a ceasefire and the evacuation of fighters and civilians from the area.

“According to people who helped negotiate this agreement, Jaish al-Islam has agreed with the Russian forces to begin evacuating with their families, as well as anyone else who wants to leave,” Al Jazeera’s Natasha Ghoneim, reporting from Amman, said.

Under the agreement, Russian military police will move into Douma to keep Syrian forces out, added Ghoneim.

The Russian army also said on Sunday it had struck a deal with Jaish al-Islam to withdraw about 8,000 of its fighters and some 40,000 of their relatives.

Major General Yuri Yevtushenko was quoted as saying by The Associated Press news agency that a convoy of 100 buses had entered Douma to begin the evacuation.

Russian news agency RIA, citing a security source, said Jaish al-Islam fighters  will leave Douma in two batches in the coming hours.

A deal was also reported earlier in the day by Syria’s official news agency SANA, which cited a government source as saying that the agreement would see “the departure of all so-called Jaish al-Islam terrorists to Jarablus within 48 hours”.

In exchange, Jaish al-Islam would release hostages it had been holding, the source said, according to SANA.

Breaking News: Trump imposes major sanctions on Russian oligarchs, officials, companies

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major sanctions on Russian

major sanctions on Russian

The Trump administration took one of its most aggressive actions against Russia on Friday, announcing sweeping sanctions on seven oligarchs, over two dozen top officials and several Russian businesses, including a state-owned weapons trading company.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin cited a number of Russian activities around the world as reasons for the tough U.S. action, including Moscow’s occupation of Crimea, support for Syrian President Bashar Assad, and efforts to “interfere in the democratic processes of the United States and its allies.”

Asia and the Middle East lead rising trend in arms imports, US and Russian exports grow significantly, says SIPRI

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US and Russian exports grow

Continuing the upward trend that began in the early 2000s, the volume of international transfers of major weapons in 2013-17 was 10 per cent higher than in 2008-12, according to new data on arms transfers published today by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

The flow of arms increased to Asia and Oceania and the Middle East between 2008–12 and 2013–17, while there was a decrease in the flow to Africa, the Americas and Europe. The five biggest exporters—the United States, Russia, France, Germany and China—together accounted for 74 per cent of all arms exports in 2013–17.

‘The increased flow of arms raises concerns over their impact on international peace and security’, says Ambassador Jan Eliasson, Chair of the SIPRI Governing Board. “It stresses the need to improve and implement international mechanisms such as the Arms Trade Treaty.”

Arms exporters: The USA extends its lead

In 2013–17 the USA accounted for 34 per cent of total arms exports. Its arms exports increased by 25 per cent between 2008–12 and 2013–17. US arms exports in 2013–17 were 58 per cent higher than those of Russia—the second largest arms exporter in that period. The USA supplied major arms to 98 states in 2013–17. Exports to states in the Middle East accounted for 49 per cent of total US arms exports in that period.

‘Based on deals signed during the Obama administration, US arms deliveries in 2013–17 reached their highest level since the late 1990s,’ said Dr Aude Fleurant, Director of the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme. ‘These deals and further major contracts signed in 2017 will ensure that the USA remains the largest arms exporter in the coming years.’

Arms exports by Russia decreased by 7.1 per cent between 2008–12 and 2013–17. France increased its arms exports by 27 per cent between the two periods and was the third largest arms exporter in 2013–17. Arms exports by Germany—the fourth largest exporter in 2013–17—fell by 14 per cent between 2008–12 and 2013–17. However, German arms exports to the Middle East increased by 109 per cent.

Few countries outside North America and Europe are large exporters of arms. China was the fifth largest arms exporter in 2013–17. Its arms exports rose by 38 per cent between 2008–12 and 2013–17. While Pakistan was the main recipient of China’s arms exports in 2013–17, there were large increases in Chinese arms exports to Algeria and Bangladesh in that period. Israel (55 per cent), South Korea (65 per cent) and Turkey (145 per cent) substantially increased their respective arms exports between 2008–12 and 2013–17.

The Middle East: Arms imports have doubled over the past 10 years

Most states in the Middle East were directly involved in violent conflict in 2013–17. Arms imports by states in the region increased by 103 per cent between 2008–12 and 2013–17, and accounted for 32 per cent of global arms imports in 2013–17.

“Widespread violent conflict in the Middle East and concerns about human rights have led to political debate in Western Europe and North America about restricting arms sales,” said Pieter Wezeman, Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme. ‘Yet the USA and European states remain the main arms exporters to the region and supplied over 98 per cent of weapons imported by Saudi Arabia.”

In 2013–17 Saudi Arabia was the world’s second largest arms importer, with arms imports increasing by 225 per cent compared with 2008–12. Arms imports by Egypt—the third largest importer in 2013–17—grew by 215 per cent between 2008–12 and 2013–17. The United Arab Emirates was the fourth largest importer in 2013–17, while Qatar (the 20th largest arms importer) increased its arms imports and signed several major deals in that period.

South Asia: Regional tensions drive India’s growing arms imports

India was the world’s largest importer of major arms in 2013–17 and accounted for 12 per cent of the global total. Its imports increased by 24 per cent between 2008–12 and 2013–17. Russia accounted for 62 per cent of India’s arms imports in 2013–17. However, arms imports from the USA rose by 557 per cent between 2008–12 and 2013–17, making it India’s second largest arms supplier. Despite its continuing tensions with India and ongoing internal conflicts, Pakistan’s arms imports decreased by 36 per cent between 2008–12 and 2013–17. Pakistan accounted for 2.8 per cent of global arms imports in 2013–17. Its arms imports from the USA dropped by 76 per cent in 2013–17 compared with 2008–12.

‘The tensions between India, on the one side, and Pakistan and China, on the other, are fuelling India’s growing demand for major weapons, which it remains unable to produce itself,’ said Siemon Wezeman, Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme. ‘China, by contrast, is becoming increasingly capable of producing its own weapons and continues to strengthen its relations with Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar through arms supplies.’

China’s arms imports fell by 19 per cent between 2008–12 and 2013–17. Despite this decrease, it was the world’s fifth largest arms importer in 2013–17.