Mongolian PM emphasizes unity as 2012 parliamentary elections near
The leader of the ruling People's Party, Sukhbaatar Batbold, on Monday stressed the importance of unity of his party as it gears up for the 2012 parliamentary elections.
"As of today, 2008 parliamentary election pledges of our party have been implemented 80 percent," Batbold said.
Meanwhile, the prime minister denied any connections between the People's Party and Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, which was formed five months ago and shared the original name of the ruling party.
Nambar Enkhbayar, the former president of Mongolia, led a break from the ruling party and formed a separate party using the name of Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party.
"This so-called Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party is a new party ... As the party's chairman, I would like to emphasize that this party has no connection with values of Mongolian People's Party and its assets and its 90-year history," Batbold said.
Batbold said that with the next election due to be held within seven months, it is clear that Enkhbayar's party, recently registered by the supreme court as the 19th political party, is aiming to confuse people and split votes from the ruling party.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-28 22:42:31 FeedbackPrintRSS
ULAN BATOR, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)
Monday, November 28, 2011
Russia says it may reconsider cooperation with West in Afghanistan
Russia says it may reconsider cooperation with West in Afghanistan
Russia may reconsider its cooperation with NATO in Afghanistan if the alliance continues to ignore Moscow's concerns with Western missile defense systems in Europe, government officials said Monday.
"If our partners will not react to our predictable and expected statements regarding our national security risks, we will have to consider the issues of cooperation (with them) in the other areas," said Dmitry Rogozin, the Russian envoy to NATO.
For instance, the review may be applied to cooperation in Afghanistan, he said.
The envoy told the State Duma that Russia would be respected internationally only when other countries saw it as a power "capable to combat any emerging threats."
Therefore, it was necessary for Moscow to broaden the notion of "substantial combat force," he said.
"Both land and sea-based forces, primarily the fleet carrying guided weapons, should be included in this category to make the control over conventional armed forces in Europe viable," Rogozin was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying.
President Dmitry Medvedev warned last week that Moscow might deploy tactical missiles on its western and southern borders with Europe and consider withdrawing from the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with the United States unless NATO offers legal assurances that western anti-missile systems would not target Russia.
English.news.cn 2011-11-28 21:58:21 FeedbackPrintRSS
MOSCOW, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)
Russia may reconsider its cooperation with NATO in Afghanistan if the alliance continues to ignore Moscow's concerns with Western missile defense systems in Europe, government officials said Monday.
"If our partners will not react to our predictable and expected statements regarding our national security risks, we will have to consider the issues of cooperation (with them) in the other areas," said Dmitry Rogozin, the Russian envoy to NATO.
For instance, the review may be applied to cooperation in Afghanistan, he said.
The envoy told the State Duma that Russia would be respected internationally only when other countries saw it as a power "capable to combat any emerging threats."
Therefore, it was necessary for Moscow to broaden the notion of "substantial combat force," he said.
"Both land and sea-based forces, primarily the fleet carrying guided weapons, should be included in this category to make the control over conventional armed forces in Europe viable," Rogozin was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying.
President Dmitry Medvedev warned last week that Moscow might deploy tactical missiles on its western and southern borders with Europe and consider withdrawing from the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with the United States unless NATO offers legal assurances that western anti-missile systems would not target Russia.
English.news.cn 2011-11-28 21:58:21 FeedbackPrintRSS
MOSCOW, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)
Danish Foreign Minister says Afghan war cannot win militarily
Danish FM says Afghan war cannot win militarily
Foreign Minister Villy Soevndal said for the first time late Sunday that it is impossible to win the ongoing war in Afghanistan by military means.
He made the comments in a public debate aired late Sunday on DR News, Denmark's public broadcaster, following his return Sunday after visiting Danish armed forces serving in Afghanistan.
"This war will not let itself be won militarily, and that is why I am very happy with the new strategy of transferring responsibility for military tasks and policing tasks to the Afghans themselves," he said.
It's the first time a Danish foreign minister made such comment on the conflict in Afghanistan since Denmark joined a NATO-led coalition to stabilize the security situation in the south Asian nation in 2002.
But Soevndal told DR News that he remains confident that the Afghans will competently fulfill their security responsibilities once Danish combat troops pull out of Afghanistan in end-2014, provided Western security forces stay to assist them.
"The whole point is you cannot have peace in Afghanistan unless you create an internal reconciliation process in the country, where the different stakeholders contribute and stop fighting," said Soevndal, a member of the current center-left Danish coalition government.
Although Soevndal previously criticized the erstwhile center-right Danish government saying it could not label its Afghanistan mission "a huge success," he said Sunday that he now believes the effort in Afghanistan is moving in the right direction.
Soevndal maintains that Danish combat troops will definitely pull out of Afghanistan end-2014 in line with other coalition partners there, and that all international efforts must be made to ensure suitable local conditions exist for an exit at that time.
English.news.cn 2011-11-28 21:34:39 FeedbackPrintRSS
COPENHAGEN, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)
Foreign Minister Villy Soevndal said for the first time late Sunday that it is impossible to win the ongoing war in Afghanistan by military means.
He made the comments in a public debate aired late Sunday on DR News, Denmark's public broadcaster, following his return Sunday after visiting Danish armed forces serving in Afghanistan.
"This war will not let itself be won militarily, and that is why I am very happy with the new strategy of transferring responsibility for military tasks and policing tasks to the Afghans themselves," he said.
It's the first time a Danish foreign minister made such comment on the conflict in Afghanistan since Denmark joined a NATO-led coalition to stabilize the security situation in the south Asian nation in 2002.
But Soevndal told DR News that he remains confident that the Afghans will competently fulfill their security responsibilities once Danish combat troops pull out of Afghanistan in end-2014, provided Western security forces stay to assist them.
"The whole point is you cannot have peace in Afghanistan unless you create an internal reconciliation process in the country, where the different stakeholders contribute and stop fighting," said Soevndal, a member of the current center-left Danish coalition government.
Although Soevndal previously criticized the erstwhile center-right Danish government saying it could not label its Afghanistan mission "a huge success," he said Sunday that he now believes the effort in Afghanistan is moving in the right direction.
Soevndal maintains that Danish combat troops will definitely pull out of Afghanistan end-2014 in line with other coalition partners there, and that all international efforts must be made to ensure suitable local conditions exist for an exit at that time.
English.news.cn 2011-11-28 21:34:39 FeedbackPrintRSS
COPENHAGEN, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)
Afghan to probe NATO's reported air strike on Pakistan
Afghan to probe NATO's reported air strike on Pakistan
The Afghan government has announced to investigate the reported NATO's air strike on Pakistan which had left 24 security personnel dead and injured 13 others early Saturday, Afghan media reported Monday.
"We are aware of the strike and would jointly investigate it with the NATO officials," a local newspaper Daily Mandegar quoted Afghan foreign ministry spokesman Janan Musazai as saying on Saturday.
In the reported air raid, conducted Saturday morning, according to reports emanating from Pakistan, 24 security personnel had lost their lives and 13 others sustained injuries when helicopters of NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) targeted an outpost in Mohmand's tribal area along the border with Afghanistan.
Pakistan in a sharp reaction described the attack as a violation of international law and breach of its sovereignty, has given 15 days deadline to U.S. to vacate Shamsi airbase in southern Balouchistan province which has been using for launching drone attacks on Taliban militants in Pakistan's tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan over the past few years.
Afghan officials often allege that Taliban insurgents have been using Pakistan's tribal areas as their safe havens to attack Afghan and NATO-led troops in Afghanistan, a claim rejected by Pakistan as groundless.
Islamabad, according to Afghan media reports, has protested to the government of Afghanistan over the reported NATO-led ISAF helicopters attacks from Afghan soil.
In the protest, Islamabad also noted that the Afghan government should take necessary measures to ensure that such acts are not carried out from its soil against Pakistan.
Meantime, the NATO-led ISAF in a statement released Saturday said that it had initiated an investigation into the reported incident near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
"The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is investigating an incident that occurred along the Afghanistan - Pakistan border," ISAF said in the statement.
"This incident has my highest personal attention and my commitment to thoroughly investigate it to determine the facts," General John R. Allen, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, said in the statement.
"My most sincere and personal heartfelt condolences go out to the families and loved ones of any members of Pakistan Security Forces who may have been killed or injured," Allen said in the statement.
The ISAF leadership remains committed to improving security relations with Pakistan, including coordination of operations along the border regions in our united fight against terrorism, the statement added.
English.news.cn 2011-11-28 17:58:36 FeedbackPrintRSS
By Abdul Haleem
KABUL, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)
The Afghan government has announced to investigate the reported NATO's air strike on Pakistan which had left 24 security personnel dead and injured 13 others early Saturday, Afghan media reported Monday.
"We are aware of the strike and would jointly investigate it with the NATO officials," a local newspaper Daily Mandegar quoted Afghan foreign ministry spokesman Janan Musazai as saying on Saturday.
In the reported air raid, conducted Saturday morning, according to reports emanating from Pakistan, 24 security personnel had lost their lives and 13 others sustained injuries when helicopters of NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) targeted an outpost in Mohmand's tribal area along the border with Afghanistan.
Pakistan in a sharp reaction described the attack as a violation of international law and breach of its sovereignty, has given 15 days deadline to U.S. to vacate Shamsi airbase in southern Balouchistan province which has been using for launching drone attacks on Taliban militants in Pakistan's tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan over the past few years.
Afghan officials often allege that Taliban insurgents have been using Pakistan's tribal areas as their safe havens to attack Afghan and NATO-led troops in Afghanistan, a claim rejected by Pakistan as groundless.
Islamabad, according to Afghan media reports, has protested to the government of Afghanistan over the reported NATO-led ISAF helicopters attacks from Afghan soil.
In the protest, Islamabad also noted that the Afghan government should take necessary measures to ensure that such acts are not carried out from its soil against Pakistan.
Meantime, the NATO-led ISAF in a statement released Saturday said that it had initiated an investigation into the reported incident near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
"The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is investigating an incident that occurred along the Afghanistan - Pakistan border," ISAF said in the statement.
"This incident has my highest personal attention and my commitment to thoroughly investigate it to determine the facts," General John R. Allen, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, said in the statement.
"My most sincere and personal heartfelt condolences go out to the families and loved ones of any members of Pakistan Security Forces who may have been killed or injured," Allen said in the statement.
The ISAF leadership remains committed to improving security relations with Pakistan, including coordination of operations along the border regions in our united fight against terrorism, the statement added.
English.news.cn 2011-11-28 17:58:36 FeedbackPrintRSS
By Abdul Haleem
KABUL, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)
South Korea finds additional oil in Kazakhstan field
S.Korea finds additional oil in Kazakhstan field
South Korea has found an additional 11 million barrels of crude oil in a Kazakhstan oil field, the country's state energy explorer said Monday.
Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC) said in a statement that the latest discovery brings reserves in the ADA oil field in northwest Kazakhstan to 41 million barrels. KNOC, which plans further exploration near the oil field next year, expects to secure an extra 17 million-42 million barrels of oil, according to the statement.
KNOC and LG Corporation joined a project to develop the oil filed in 2005. The ADA oil field has been producing some 3,200 barrels of crude oil a day for tests since July 2009.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
English.news.cn 2011-11-28 16:21:03 FeedbackPrintRSS
SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)
South Korea has found an additional 11 million barrels of crude oil in a Kazakhstan oil field, the country's state energy explorer said Monday.
Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC) said in a statement that the latest discovery brings reserves in the ADA oil field in northwest Kazakhstan to 41 million barrels. KNOC, which plans further exploration near the oil field next year, expects to secure an extra 17 million-42 million barrels of oil, according to the statement.
KNOC and LG Corporation joined a project to develop the oil filed in 2005. The ADA oil field has been producing some 3,200 barrels of crude oil a day for tests since July 2009.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
English.news.cn 2011-11-28 16:21:03 FeedbackPrintRSS
SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)
Australian Prime Minister welcomes Afghanistan's security transition plan
Australian PM welcomes Afghanistan's security transition plan
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Monday welcomed Afghan President Hamid Karzai's announcement of a second tranche of provinces, cities and districts set to shift to Afghan-led security forces.
The Afghan president said that six provinces, seven cities and dozens of districts, including three in Helmand, among Afghanistan 's most dangerous areas, will pass from foreign to local control.
Gillard said when the transition of this second tranche is completed, Afghan national security forces will have lead security responsibility for around half of Afghanistan's population. Australia will continue to train and mentor the Fourth Brigade of the Afghan National Army in Uruzgan to ensure the province is well positioned to commence transition.
"President Karzai's announcement underlines the progress made this year and shows the Afghan government's goal of assuming lead responsibility for security across Afghanistan by the end of 2014 is on track," Gillard said in a statement.
"Australia will continue to train and mentor the fourth brigade of the Afghan National Army in Uruzgan to ensure the province is well positioned to commence transition," she said.
The extract date has not yet been decided for the transition process to start in Uruzgan Province, where Australia's training and mentoring efforts are concentrated. However, the announcement is another step towards the withdrawal of most of 140,000 mainly U. S. foreign troops in Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
About 1,550 Australian troops are currently training and mentoring some 3,500 Afghan soldiers. The government is planning on a withdrawal of most troops by 2014, and is considering leaving behind Special Forces, based in the capital Kabul and Kandahar of Afghan.
English.news.cn 2011-11-28 16:07:12 FeedbackPrintRSS
CANBERRA, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Monday welcomed Afghan President Hamid Karzai's announcement of a second tranche of provinces, cities and districts set to shift to Afghan-led security forces.
The Afghan president said that six provinces, seven cities and dozens of districts, including three in Helmand, among Afghanistan 's most dangerous areas, will pass from foreign to local control.
Gillard said when the transition of this second tranche is completed, Afghan national security forces will have lead security responsibility for around half of Afghanistan's population. Australia will continue to train and mentor the Fourth Brigade of the Afghan National Army in Uruzgan to ensure the province is well positioned to commence transition.
"President Karzai's announcement underlines the progress made this year and shows the Afghan government's goal of assuming lead responsibility for security across Afghanistan by the end of 2014 is on track," Gillard said in a statement.
"Australia will continue to train and mentor the fourth brigade of the Afghan National Army in Uruzgan to ensure the province is well positioned to commence transition," she said.
The extract date has not yet been decided for the transition process to start in Uruzgan Province, where Australia's training and mentoring efforts are concentrated. However, the announcement is another step towards the withdrawal of most of 140,000 mainly U. S. foreign troops in Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
About 1,550 Australian troops are currently training and mentoring some 3,500 Afghan soldiers. The government is planning on a withdrawal of most troops by 2014, and is considering leaving behind Special Forces, based in the capital Kabul and Kandahar of Afghan.
English.news.cn 2011-11-28 16:07:12 FeedbackPrintRSS
CANBERRA, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)
Afghan-U.S. strategic partnership not to be inked before Bonn conference
Afghan-U.S. strategic partnership not to be inked before Bonn conference
The proposed Afghan-U.S. strategic partnership, will not be inked before the international conference on Afghanistan, planned to held in Bonn, Germany in December this year, a local newspaper reported Monday.
"Afghan-U.S. strategic agreement will not be signed before the Bonn conference and no exact dates have been fixed for the agreement to be signed," Daily Outlook quoted Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Janan Musazai as saying.
However, the spokesman, according to the newspaper, has confirmed that, "Talks between Afghanistan and the United States on the recommendations of the traditional Loya Jirga with regard to inking the strategic agreement were continuing."
The four-day traditional Loya Jirga or grand assembly of tribal elders, notables, lawmakers and government functionaries, concluded on November 19 described the proposed strategic partnership with Washington very necessary for maintaining peace and economic development in Afghanistan and recommended the government to sign it.
An Afghan delegation would soon leave for Germany to firm up the agenda for the Bonn conference scheduled for Dec. 5 this year, the Daily Outlook further said.
President Hamid Karzai, according to the foreign ministry spokesman, would lead the Afghan delegation at the conference attended by delegates from more than 90 countries.
Afghanistan's achievements over the past 10 years -- security transition from NATO-led troops to Afghan side, peace talks with Taliban and long-term support of international community to Afghanistan -- would top the agenda of the Bonn conference.
English.news.cn 2011-11-28 15:48:28 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)
The proposed Afghan-U.S. strategic partnership, will not be inked before the international conference on Afghanistan, planned to held in Bonn, Germany in December this year, a local newspaper reported Monday.
"Afghan-U.S. strategic agreement will not be signed before the Bonn conference and no exact dates have been fixed for the agreement to be signed," Daily Outlook quoted Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Janan Musazai as saying.
However, the spokesman, according to the newspaper, has confirmed that, "Talks between Afghanistan and the United States on the recommendations of the traditional Loya Jirga with regard to inking the strategic agreement were continuing."
The four-day traditional Loya Jirga or grand assembly of tribal elders, notables, lawmakers and government functionaries, concluded on November 19 described the proposed strategic partnership with Washington very necessary for maintaining peace and economic development in Afghanistan and recommended the government to sign it.
An Afghan delegation would soon leave for Germany to firm up the agenda for the Bonn conference scheduled for Dec. 5 this year, the Daily Outlook further said.
President Hamid Karzai, according to the foreign ministry spokesman, would lead the Afghan delegation at the conference attended by delegates from more than 90 countries.
Afghanistan's achievements over the past 10 years -- security transition from NATO-led troops to Afghan side, peace talks with Taliban and long-term support of international community to Afghanistan -- would top the agenda of the Bonn conference.
English.news.cn 2011-11-28 15:48:28 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)
3 terrorists detained in southern Afghanistan
3 terrorists detained in S.Afghanistan
Afghan security forces during operations captured three terrorist in southern Helmand province, the provincial government said in a statement on Monday.
"Personnel of Afghan Directorate of Security (NDS), in coordination with police, during operations in Khoshkabe area in provincial capital Lashkar Gah captured three terrorist commanders named Juma Khan, Mullah Abdul and Mullah Naik Mohammad over the past four days," said the statement.
"One of these captured commanders Juma Khan is the person who has intimidated people in Lashkar Gah and have been giving death warnings to government workers and teachers by sending warning and night letters," it said, adding a handful of weapons and copies of night letters were also found in the raids.
Helmand's Lashkar Gah, 555 km south of capital city of Kabul, was among seven areas where Afghan army and police took full control of security from NATO and U.S. forces in July this year.
In the second phase of security transition process announced by Afghan government on Sunday, Afghan forces will take security responsibility of Nawa, Nad Ali and Marja districts of Helmand province from NATO and U.S. forces in near future.
In second phase of the process Afghan army and police will take full control of security of six Afghan provinces, seven provincial capitals as well as more than 40 districts in near future, parts of security transition process which will run to 2014 when Afghanistan will take over the full leadership of its own security duties from U.S. and NATO forces.
English.news.cn 2011-11-28 15:14:18 FeedbackPrintRSS
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Nov.28 (Xinhua)
Afghan security forces during operations captured three terrorist in southern Helmand province, the provincial government said in a statement on Monday.
"Personnel of Afghan Directorate of Security (NDS), in coordination with police, during operations in Khoshkabe area in provincial capital Lashkar Gah captured three terrorist commanders named Juma Khan, Mullah Abdul and Mullah Naik Mohammad over the past four days," said the statement.
"One of these captured commanders Juma Khan is the person who has intimidated people in Lashkar Gah and have been giving death warnings to government workers and teachers by sending warning and night letters," it said, adding a handful of weapons and copies of night letters were also found in the raids.
Helmand's Lashkar Gah, 555 km south of capital city of Kabul, was among seven areas where Afghan army and police took full control of security from NATO and U.S. forces in July this year.
In the second phase of security transition process announced by Afghan government on Sunday, Afghan forces will take security responsibility of Nawa, Nad Ali and Marja districts of Helmand province from NATO and U.S. forces in near future.
In second phase of the process Afghan army and police will take full control of security of six Afghan provinces, seven provincial capitals as well as more than 40 districts in near future, parts of security transition process which will run to 2014 when Afghanistan will take over the full leadership of its own security duties from U.S. and NATO forces.
English.news.cn 2011-11-28 15:14:18 FeedbackPrintRSS
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Nov.28 (Xinhua)
Turkish PM urges global effort to curb bloodshed in Syria
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said here on Thursday that the problems in Syria are not regional but of global concern and urged measures to avoid further bloodshed.
At the Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum held in Istanbul, Erdogan called on the participants "to take immediate measures to stop bloodshed for the sake of not only energy security but also world peace and solidarity."
Speaking of lessons that could be learned about Libya, he said some countries are only after Libya's oil wells and ignore the human side of the incidents.
Economic prosperity, energy security and world peace cannot be achieved without honoring humanity, said the prime minister, who voiced concerns that humanitarian efforts may be even less in Syria than Libya because it is not rich enough in terms of energy.
Erdogan also said it is a must to discuss global economy and energy security considering recent developments in Middle East and North Africa, noting that energy supplies, national security, economic independence, sustainable development and the social stability are inter-related.
At the same time, Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan held an economic meeting on Syria in Istanbul.
The minister said Turkish exports to Syria rose by 3.7 percent year-on-year in the first nine months of 2011 but declined in October and November compared to the same period last year.
Caglayan said Syria's current woes are only temporary and that his country, which has the most foreign investment in Syria, believes in the future of Syria.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-17 23:02:44 FeedbackPrintRSS
ISTANBUL, Nov. 17 (Xinhua)
At the Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum held in Istanbul, Erdogan called on the participants "to take immediate measures to stop bloodshed for the sake of not only energy security but also world peace and solidarity."
Speaking of lessons that could be learned about Libya, he said some countries are only after Libya's oil wells and ignore the human side of the incidents.
Economic prosperity, energy security and world peace cannot be achieved without honoring humanity, said the prime minister, who voiced concerns that humanitarian efforts may be even less in Syria than Libya because it is not rich enough in terms of energy.
Erdogan also said it is a must to discuss global economy and energy security considering recent developments in Middle East and North Africa, noting that energy supplies, national security, economic independence, sustainable development and the social stability are inter-related.
At the same time, Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan held an economic meeting on Syria in Istanbul.
The minister said Turkish exports to Syria rose by 3.7 percent year-on-year in the first nine months of 2011 but declined in October and November compared to the same period last year.
Caglayan said Syria's current woes are only temporary and that his country, which has the most foreign investment in Syria, believes in the future of Syria.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-17 23:02:44 FeedbackPrintRSS
ISTANBUL, Nov. 17 (Xinhua)
Turkey asks Iraq to tackle threats from Iraqi territories
Turkey asks Iraq to tackle threats from Iraqi territories
Turkey's parliament speaker on Thursday asked his Iraqi counterpart to take actions to tackle " terrorist acts" against Turkey from Iraqi territories, the semi- official Anatolia news agency reported.
"Territories of a country should not be used as a ground for planning of terrorist acts and training of terrorists," Turkey's Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek said as he met his Iraqi counterpart Osama al-Nujaifi in Ankara.
Al-Nujaifi, for his part, said the Iraqi constitution did not allow any group to use the Iraqi soils as a place to harm another country, and Iraqi executives were doing what they had to do regarding terrorism harming Turkey.
Iraq is willing to hold a consultative meeting in Baghdad with participation of parliament speakers of Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia to solve such issues, he added.
In response, Cicek said Turkey was in principle supporting Iraq 's initiatives to host a parliament speaker meeting in Iraq in order to discuss regional problems.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-17 22:40:42 FeedbackPrintRSS
ANKARA, Nov. 17 (Xinhua)
Turkey's parliament speaker on Thursday asked his Iraqi counterpart to take actions to tackle " terrorist acts" against Turkey from Iraqi territories, the semi- official Anatolia news agency reported.
"Territories of a country should not be used as a ground for planning of terrorist acts and training of terrorists," Turkey's Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek said as he met his Iraqi counterpart Osama al-Nujaifi in Ankara.
Al-Nujaifi, for his part, said the Iraqi constitution did not allow any group to use the Iraqi soils as a place to harm another country, and Iraqi executives were doing what they had to do regarding terrorism harming Turkey.
Iraq is willing to hold a consultative meeting in Baghdad with participation of parliament speakers of Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia to solve such issues, he added.
In response, Cicek said Turkey was in principle supporting Iraq 's initiatives to host a parliament speaker meeting in Iraq in order to discuss regional problems.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-17 22:40:42 FeedbackPrintRSS
ANKARA, Nov. 17 (Xinhua)
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Turkey mulls gas exploration deal with Shell
Turkey mulls gas exploration deal with Shell
The Turkish Petroleum Corporation ( TPAO) will talk with British oil giant Shell over possible cooperation in exploration of oil and natural gas next week, Turkish semi-official Anatolia news agency quoted Energy Minister Taner Yildiz as saying on Wednesday.
If the deal can be reached with Shell, it would pave the way for exploration of oil and natural gas both on Turkish land and seas, said Taner Yildiz to reporters after a closed door meeting with Thomas Mirow, president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), in Ankara.
The minister said he and Mirow "talked about investments on renewable energy and structures that need financing in the energy sector."
Mirow said "Turkey has become the second country where the IBRD is most active" in the past three years, adding that IBRD's main focus in Turkey will be on renewable energy.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-16 23:04:43 FeedbackPrintRSS
ANKARA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua)
The Turkish Petroleum Corporation ( TPAO) will talk with British oil giant Shell over possible cooperation in exploration of oil and natural gas next week, Turkish semi-official Anatolia news agency quoted Energy Minister Taner Yildiz as saying on Wednesday.
If the deal can be reached with Shell, it would pave the way for exploration of oil and natural gas both on Turkish land and seas, said Taner Yildiz to reporters after a closed door meeting with Thomas Mirow, president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), in Ankara.
The minister said he and Mirow "talked about investments on renewable energy and structures that need financing in the energy sector."
Mirow said "Turkey has become the second country where the IBRD is most active" in the past three years, adding that IBRD's main focus in Turkey will be on renewable energy.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-16 23:04:43 FeedbackPrintRSS
ANKARA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua)
Turkey says may terminate electricity supply to Syria
Turkey says may terminate electricity supply to Syria
Turkey may consider terminating sale of electricity to neighboring Syria if tensions continue to escalate over the alleged Syrian crackdown on anti-government protests, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said Tuesday.
"We are currently supplying electricity to Syria. If this trend continues, however, we may have to revise all these decisions," Yildiz was quoted as saying by the semi-official Anatolia news agency.
Yildiz's statement came hours after Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan slammed the Syrian government for the weekend's attacks on the Turkish diplomatic missions in Syria following an Arab League (AL) decision to suspend Syria's membership in the organization.
Gul said Tuesday that unfortunately the Syrian government oppressed its people and committed violence instead of taking steps in line with the expectations of the Syrian people.
"There is a deadlock in Syria now. The decision of the Arab League is clear and Turkey supports it," he said.
"We cannot accept attacks on our presence, ambassador, diplomats and diplomatic missions there," he added.
Meanwhile, Erdogan said that "what has hurt us most was the attack staged on the Turkish flag in Latakia. I want to make it clear to the (Syrian President) Assad administration that all hostile hands towards the Turkish flag in history have received the appropriate response."
Syrian pro-government demonstrators attacked the Turkish diplomatic missions in the capital of Damascus and two other cities on Saturday after the AL voted to suspend Syria's participation in its meetings and impose sanctions on the government for its alleged crackdown on protesters.
Turkey evacuated the families of its diplomats after the attacks and sent a diplomatic note to Syria on Sunday over the matter. The foreign ministry has also advised Turkish citizens to avoid travelling to the unrest-hit country.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-15 22:46:57 FeedbackPrintRSS
ANKARA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua)
Turkey may consider terminating sale of electricity to neighboring Syria if tensions continue to escalate over the alleged Syrian crackdown on anti-government protests, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said Tuesday.
"We are currently supplying electricity to Syria. If this trend continues, however, we may have to revise all these decisions," Yildiz was quoted as saying by the semi-official Anatolia news agency.
Yildiz's statement came hours after Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan slammed the Syrian government for the weekend's attacks on the Turkish diplomatic missions in Syria following an Arab League (AL) decision to suspend Syria's membership in the organization.
Gul said Tuesday that unfortunately the Syrian government oppressed its people and committed violence instead of taking steps in line with the expectations of the Syrian people.
"There is a deadlock in Syria now. The decision of the Arab League is clear and Turkey supports it," he said.
"We cannot accept attacks on our presence, ambassador, diplomats and diplomatic missions there," he added.
Meanwhile, Erdogan said that "what has hurt us most was the attack staged on the Turkish flag in Latakia. I want to make it clear to the (Syrian President) Assad administration that all hostile hands towards the Turkish flag in history have received the appropriate response."
Syrian pro-government demonstrators attacked the Turkish diplomatic missions in the capital of Damascus and two other cities on Saturday after the AL voted to suspend Syria's participation in its meetings and impose sanctions on the government for its alleged crackdown on protesters.
Turkey evacuated the families of its diplomats after the attacks and sent a diplomatic note to Syria on Sunday over the matter. The foreign ministry has also advised Turkish citizens to avoid travelling to the unrest-hit country.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-15 22:46:57 FeedbackPrintRSS
ANKARA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua)
Turkey expects formal apology from Syria after embassy attack
Turkey expects formal apology from Syria after embassy attack
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said Monday that Turkey expected a formal apology from Syria after an attack on its embassy in Damascus, the capital of Syria.
Turkey has notified Syria through diplomatic channels that it was expecting a formal apology from Syria after an attack on the Turkish embassy in Damascus, Arinc, also the government spokesperson, was quoted as saying by the semi-official Anatolia news agency.
"I will tell what we will do unless a formal apology comes from Syria," Arinc told reporters after a cabinet meeting in the Turkish capital of Ankara.
Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a booklet regarding its foreign policy for 2012 released on Monday that Turkey did not have any possibility to trust the Syrian administration as the latter had not taken necessary steps to meet people's demands.
"It is trying to press these demands with gun force, and Turkey does not have the opportunity to trust the Syrian administration in this case," the ministry said.
The ministry said Turkey was standing by the Syrian people, and underlined the importance of preventing a religious, sectarian or ethnical-based civil war in Syria.
The ministry defined the Arab League's step to suspend Syria's membership as an appropriate step, saying that Turkey would continue to monitor the developments and keep in coordination with the concerned parties.
"In this context, we continue our contacts with Syrian opponent groups without any discrimination among them in regard to political, ethnical, religious or sectarian characteristics," it said.
The ministry also said Turkey's doors were open to anybody who would have to cross into Turkey due to the incidents in Syria.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-15 04:26:28 FeedbackPrintRSS
ANKARA, Nov. 14 (Xinhua)
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said Monday that Turkey expected a formal apology from Syria after an attack on its embassy in Damascus, the capital of Syria.
Turkey has notified Syria through diplomatic channels that it was expecting a formal apology from Syria after an attack on the Turkish embassy in Damascus, Arinc, also the government spokesperson, was quoted as saying by the semi-official Anatolia news agency.
"I will tell what we will do unless a formal apology comes from Syria," Arinc told reporters after a cabinet meeting in the Turkish capital of Ankara.
Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a booklet regarding its foreign policy for 2012 released on Monday that Turkey did not have any possibility to trust the Syrian administration as the latter had not taken necessary steps to meet people's demands.
"It is trying to press these demands with gun force, and Turkey does not have the opportunity to trust the Syrian administration in this case," the ministry said.
The ministry said Turkey was standing by the Syrian people, and underlined the importance of preventing a religious, sectarian or ethnical-based civil war in Syria.
The ministry defined the Arab League's step to suspend Syria's membership as an appropriate step, saying that Turkey would continue to monitor the developments and keep in coordination with the concerned parties.
"In this context, we continue our contacts with Syrian opponent groups without any discrimination among them in regard to political, ethnical, religious or sectarian characteristics," it said.
The ministry also said Turkey's doors were open to anybody who would have to cross into Turkey due to the incidents in Syria.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-15 04:26:28 FeedbackPrintRSS
ANKARA, Nov. 14 (Xinhua)
Afghan gov't announces 2nd phase security transition, NATO welcomes
The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) welcomes the release of the Afghanistan government's list of areas intended for the second stage of security transition, an ISAF press release received by Xinhua early Monday said.
English.news.cn 2011-11-28 12:19:24 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)
English.news.cn 2011-11-28 12:19:24 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)
British soldier killed in Afghan explosion
British soldier killed in Afghan explosion
A British soldier was killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan on Sunday, the British Ministry of Defence announced.
Serving as a part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj (South), the soldier was a member of an International Security Assistance Force foot patrol to disrupt insurgent activities.
The serviceman, from 5th Battalion The Rifles, was on a patrol in the Babaji area of Helmand province's Nahr-e Saraj district when he was caught in an explosion caused by an improvised explosive device.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this very difficult time," said Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Mackenzie, spokesman for Task Force Helmand.
The death toll of British troops in Afghanistan in November has reached 7, the same as in February, which was the highest this year.
So far, 390 British soldiers have been killed since Afghanistan operations began in 2001.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-27 22:44:18 FeedbackPrintRSS
LONDON, Nov. 27 (Xinhua)
A British soldier was killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan on Sunday, the British Ministry of Defence announced.
Serving as a part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj (South), the soldier was a member of an International Security Assistance Force foot patrol to disrupt insurgent activities.
The serviceman, from 5th Battalion The Rifles, was on a patrol in the Babaji area of Helmand province's Nahr-e Saraj district when he was caught in an explosion caused by an improvised explosive device.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this very difficult time," said Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Mackenzie, spokesman for Task Force Helmand.
The death toll of British troops in Afghanistan in November has reached 7, the same as in February, which was the highest this year.
So far, 390 British soldiers have been killed since Afghanistan operations began in 2001.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-27 22:44:18 FeedbackPrintRSS
LONDON, Nov. 27 (Xinhua)
Turkey expresses solidarity with Pakistan over NATO attacks
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar to express solidarity with the people and the government of Pakistan on NATO/ISAF attacks which killed 24 soldiers, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said Sunday.
Pakistan said NATO fighter aircraft and military helicopters shelled two posts in Mohmand Agency near the Afghan border early Saturday morning.
Following the attacks, Pakistan closed supplies to NATO forces in Afghanistan via land route and also asked the U.S. to vacate a key air base in southwestern Pakistan, which the U.S. had been using for years.
"Foreign Minister Khar while thanking FM Davutoglu for this expression of solidarity, condemned in the strongest terms the unprovoked and totally unacceptable attacks by NATO/ISAF which demonstrated complete disregard for international law and human life," said the Foreign Ministry in a statement.
Davutoglu assured Foreign Minister Khar that Turkey as a member of NATO would ask for an impartial inquiry into the attacks, said the statement.
He added that loss of Pakistani soldiers was as painful as losing Turkish soldiers, it said.
Pakistan has also announced to review its all cooperation with NATO, ISAF and the U.S. after the attack, which has also sparked a widespread condemnation across Pakistan.
Authorities have stopped hundreds of oil tankers and containers, carrying NATO supplies, from proceeding to Afghanistan after the top political and military leadership decided to suspend the supply lines.
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-11-27 15:11:01 FeedbackPrintRSS
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 27 (Xinhua)
Pakistan said NATO fighter aircraft and military helicopters shelled two posts in Mohmand Agency near the Afghan border early Saturday morning.
Following the attacks, Pakistan closed supplies to NATO forces in Afghanistan via land route and also asked the U.S. to vacate a key air base in southwestern Pakistan, which the U.S. had been using for years.
"Foreign Minister Khar while thanking FM Davutoglu for this expression of solidarity, condemned in the strongest terms the unprovoked and totally unacceptable attacks by NATO/ISAF which demonstrated complete disregard for international law and human life," said the Foreign Ministry in a statement.
Davutoglu assured Foreign Minister Khar that Turkey as a member of NATO would ask for an impartial inquiry into the attacks, said the statement.
He added that loss of Pakistani soldiers was as painful as losing Turkish soldiers, it said.
Pakistan has also announced to review its all cooperation with NATO, ISAF and the U.S. after the attack, which has also sparked a widespread condemnation across Pakistan.
Authorities have stopped hundreds of oil tankers and containers, carrying NATO supplies, from proceeding to Afghanistan after the top political and military leadership decided to suspend the supply lines.
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-11-27 15:11:01 FeedbackPrintRSS
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 27 (Xinhua)
Russia launches rocket with Chinese satellite
Russia launches rocket with Chinese satellite
Russia's Proton-M carrier rocket was launched on Friday from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan with a Chinese communications satellite "AsiaSat-7", according to Russia's Federal Space Agency Roscosmos.
Roscosmos' live broadcast on its official website showed that the Proton-M rocket atop the Briz-M upper stage was launched at 23: 10 Moscow time (1910 GMT). The separation of the satellite from the rocket was scheduled for 08:23 Moscow time (0423 GMT) on Saturday.
The AsiaSat-7 which belongs to the Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) located in Hong Kong, China, is a new generation satellite designed to replace AsiaSat 3S at the orbital location of 105.5 degrees East.
The new satellite was expected to support a broad range of applications for the Asia-Pacific region, including television broadcast and VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) networks.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-11-26 04:28:52 FeedbackPrintRSS
MOSCOW, Nov. 25 (Xinhua)
Russia's Proton-M carrier rocket was launched on Friday from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan with a Chinese communications satellite "AsiaSat-7", according to Russia's Federal Space Agency Roscosmos.
Roscosmos' live broadcast on its official website showed that the Proton-M rocket atop the Briz-M upper stage was launched at 23: 10 Moscow time (1910 GMT). The separation of the satellite from the rocket was scheduled for 08:23 Moscow time (0423 GMT) on Saturday.
The AsiaSat-7 which belongs to the Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) located in Hong Kong, China, is a new generation satellite designed to replace AsiaSat 3S at the orbital location of 105.5 degrees East.
The new satellite was expected to support a broad range of applications for the Asia-Pacific region, including television broadcast and VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) networks.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-11-26 04:28:52 FeedbackPrintRSS
MOSCOW, Nov. 25 (Xinhua)
New Arab ultimatum last chance for Syria: Turkey
New Arab ultimatum last chance for Syria: Turkey
Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Friday that today is the last chance for Syria and that involves to sign the protocol proposed by the Arab League (AL) .
"I hope that Syria takes necessary steps in this direction," said Davutoglu at a joint press conference with his Jordanian counterpart Nasser Judeh after their tete-a-tete meeting in Istanbul.
The Turkish foreign minister said that the continuation of bloodshed in Syria caused deep sorrow for them. They wanted Syria to end the pain of the Syrian people.
Davutoglu said: "Turkey and the Arab League share an excellent coordination. There is a need for a closer relationship between Turkey and Jordan as these two countries are the neighbors of Syria."
"Our two countries get affected by what happens in Syria. We will continue to hold talks with Jordan," he said.
Judeh said that Jordan cooperated with Turkey in the light of the developments in the region and that such cooperation would continue.
"I hope Syria signs the protocol proposed by the Arab League," Judeh added.
Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Jordan's King Abdullah have both called on their neighbouring leader Bashar al- Assad to quit over a crackdown on protesters which the United Nations says has left more than 3,500 people dead.
The Arab ultimatum was issued Thursday at the end of a crisis meeting of foreign ministers in Cairo, during which the 22-member bloc also for the first time called on the United Nations to help resolve the crisis.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
English.news.cn 2011-11-25 19:59:01 FeedbackPrintRSS
ISTANBUL, Nov. 25 (Xinhua)
Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Friday that today is the last chance for Syria and that involves to sign the protocol proposed by the Arab League (AL) .
"I hope that Syria takes necessary steps in this direction," said Davutoglu at a joint press conference with his Jordanian counterpart Nasser Judeh after their tete-a-tete meeting in Istanbul.
The Turkish foreign minister said that the continuation of bloodshed in Syria caused deep sorrow for them. They wanted Syria to end the pain of the Syrian people.
Davutoglu said: "Turkey and the Arab League share an excellent coordination. There is a need for a closer relationship between Turkey and Jordan as these two countries are the neighbors of Syria."
"Our two countries get affected by what happens in Syria. We will continue to hold talks with Jordan," he said.
Judeh said that Jordan cooperated with Turkey in the light of the developments in the region and that such cooperation would continue.
"I hope Syria signs the protocol proposed by the Arab League," Judeh added.
Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Jordan's King Abdullah have both called on their neighbouring leader Bashar al- Assad to quit over a crackdown on protesters which the United Nations says has left more than 3,500 people dead.
The Arab ultimatum was issued Thursday at the end of a crisis meeting of foreign ministers in Cairo, during which the 22-member bloc also for the first time called on the United Nations to help resolve the crisis.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
English.news.cn 2011-11-25 19:59:01 FeedbackPrintRSS
ISTANBUL, Nov. 25 (Xinhua)
Kyrgyz opposition factions likely to join ruling coalition
Kyrgyz opposition factions likely to join ruling coalition
Two Kyrgyz opposition factions are willing to join a new majority coalition, Interfax reported Thursday.
"There are two scenarios of developments following the presidential inauguration: the current coalition could remain in its present shape and be joined by one of the opposition factions, either Ar-Namys (Dignity) or Ata-Meken (Homeland), or everything could start from scratch," Akylbek Zhaparov of the opposition faction Ar-Namys was quoted as saying.
The Ar-Namys faction has decided to join the parliamentary majority, which is currently comprised of the factions of three parties -- the Social-Democratic Party, the Republic, and Ata-Zhurt (Fatherland), he said.
The parliamentary faction of the Social-Democratic Party led by Prime Minister and President-elect Almazbek Atambayev could declare its withdrawal from the parliamentary majority after the presidential inauguration slated for Dec. 1, and the formation of a new coalition could start in this case, Zhaparov said.
The new president could order the Social-Democratic Party to form a new coalition, he said.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
English.news.cn 2011-11-24 21:37:23 FeedbackPrintRSS
BISHKEK. Nov. 24 (Xinhua)
Two Kyrgyz opposition factions are willing to join a new majority coalition, Interfax reported Thursday.
"There are two scenarios of developments following the presidential inauguration: the current coalition could remain in its present shape and be joined by one of the opposition factions, either Ar-Namys (Dignity) or Ata-Meken (Homeland), or everything could start from scratch," Akylbek Zhaparov of the opposition faction Ar-Namys was quoted as saying.
The Ar-Namys faction has decided to join the parliamentary majority, which is currently comprised of the factions of three parties -- the Social-Democratic Party, the Republic, and Ata-Zhurt (Fatherland), he said.
The parliamentary faction of the Social-Democratic Party led by Prime Minister and President-elect Almazbek Atambayev could declare its withdrawal from the parliamentary majority after the presidential inauguration slated for Dec. 1, and the formation of a new coalition could start in this case, Zhaparov said.
The new president could order the Social-Democratic Party to form a new coalition, he said.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
English.news.cn 2011-11-24 21:37:23 FeedbackPrintRSS
BISHKEK. Nov. 24 (Xinhua)
Georgia pardons 137 prisoners on St. George Day
Georgia pardons 137 prisoners on St. George Day
President Mikheil Saakashvili on Wednesday pardoned 137 prisoners in keeping with a St. George Day tradition in Georgia.
The prisoners were selected by a state commission that then presented a list to the president for pardon recommendations.
Saakashvili gave full pardons to 111 of the 137 prisoners recommended for clemency. Six of the prisoners will serve half of their sentences thanks to the pardon.
The president annually pardons prisoners on the Nov. 23 holiday celebrated in the South Caucasus country.
Editor: Wang
English.news.cn 2011-11-24 10:23:04 FeedbackPrintRSS
TBILISI, Nov. 23 (Xinhua)
President Mikheil Saakashvili on Wednesday pardoned 137 prisoners in keeping with a St. George Day tradition in Georgia.
The prisoners were selected by a state commission that then presented a list to the president for pardon recommendations.
Saakashvili gave full pardons to 111 of the 137 prisoners recommended for clemency. Six of the prisoners will serve half of their sentences thanks to the pardon.
The president annually pardons prisoners on the Nov. 23 holiday celebrated in the South Caucasus country.
Editor: Wang
English.news.cn 2011-11-24 10:23:04 FeedbackPrintRSS
TBILISI, Nov. 23 (Xinhua)
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Patriarch of Russia will bless new Kyrgyz president
Patriarch of Russia will bless new Kyrgyz president
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia will visit Kyrgyzstan to mark the 140th anniversary of the establishment of the Bishkek and Central Asian eparchy of the Russian Orthodox Church.
"The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, is expected to pay a visit to Kyrgyzstan from Dec. 2 to Dec. 4," Metropolitan Vikenty of Bishkek and Central Asia told reporters Tuesday.
The patriarch's visit was initially set for Nov. 23, but "doctors recommended that he refrain from traveling due to illness, and he will come on Dec. 2," Father Vikenty said.
During the visit in Bishkek, Patriarch Kirill plans to meet with President-elect Almazbek Atambayev, who will be sworn in as Kyrgyzstan's president on Dec. 1, he said.
"What is important is that during his visit, the patriarch will meet with Kyrgyzstan's new president and will bless him in his work for the benefit of Kyrgyzstan, for the benefit of peace and prosperity there," Metropolitan Vikenty said.
Patriarch Kirill is also expected to visit Russia's Kant airbase and attend a Dec. 4 ceremony to ordain Bishop Feodosy of Bishkek and Kyrgyzstan, who was elected by the Holy Synod in October.
Editor: Deng Shasha
English.news.cn 2011-11-22 21:02:57 FeedbackPrintRSS
BISHKEK, Nov. 22 (Xinhua)
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia will visit Kyrgyzstan to mark the 140th anniversary of the establishment of the Bishkek and Central Asian eparchy of the Russian Orthodox Church.
"The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, is expected to pay a visit to Kyrgyzstan from Dec. 2 to Dec. 4," Metropolitan Vikenty of Bishkek and Central Asia told reporters Tuesday.
The patriarch's visit was initially set for Nov. 23, but "doctors recommended that he refrain from traveling due to illness, and he will come on Dec. 2," Father Vikenty said.
During the visit in Bishkek, Patriarch Kirill plans to meet with President-elect Almazbek Atambayev, who will be sworn in as Kyrgyzstan's president on Dec. 1, he said.
"What is important is that during his visit, the patriarch will meet with Kyrgyzstan's new president and will bless him in his work for the benefit of Kyrgyzstan, for the benefit of peace and prosperity there," Metropolitan Vikenty said.
Patriarch Kirill is also expected to visit Russia's Kant airbase and attend a Dec. 4 ceremony to ordain Bishop Feodosy of Bishkek and Kyrgyzstan, who was elected by the Holy Synod in October.
Editor: Deng Shasha
English.news.cn 2011-11-22 21:02:57 FeedbackPrintRSS
BISHKEK, Nov. 22 (Xinhua)
Azerbaijan and U.S. promise to expand military ties
Azerbaijan and U.S. promise to expand military ties
Azerbaijan and the United States will continue to expand military ties between them, according to a statement released by Azerbaijan President's press service on Monday.
According to the statement, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev met with visiting U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus earlier in the day and both sides expressed satisfaction with development of bilateral relations between the two countries in various fields.
Both sides stressed that the two countries have been successfully cooperating in the military field as well and such cooperation would continue to expand.
Mabus, who concluded a three-day visit to Azerbaijan on Monday, also discussed with Aliyev security, energy and transport security issues. The U.S. official praised the participation of Azerbaijan in international peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan and the role of the country in provision of transport for international peacekeepers.
In Baku, Mabus also met with Azerbaijan's Minister of Defense Safar Abiyev and Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Shahin Sultanov.
Azerbaijan is of interest to the Pentagon as it is an important energy supplier for the Europe and hosts supply routes for equipment moving in and out of Afghanistan, including thousands of military and commercial flights that cross its airspace and hundreds that fly in and out of Baku airport.
Earlier in Sept., 2011, the US defense department reportedly offered Azerbaijan 10 million U.S. dollars of military aid to help the maritime effort against terrorism.
The funding is part of a 44 million dollars Pentagon aid package to a number of countries including Tunisia, Malta, Lithuania and Hungary.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-11-22 06:02:35 FeedbackPrintRSS
BAKU, Nov. 21 (Xinhua)
Azerbaijan and the United States will continue to expand military ties between them, according to a statement released by Azerbaijan President's press service on Monday.
According to the statement, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev met with visiting U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus earlier in the day and both sides expressed satisfaction with development of bilateral relations between the two countries in various fields.
Both sides stressed that the two countries have been successfully cooperating in the military field as well and such cooperation would continue to expand.
Mabus, who concluded a three-day visit to Azerbaijan on Monday, also discussed with Aliyev security, energy and transport security issues. The U.S. official praised the participation of Azerbaijan in international peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan and the role of the country in provision of transport for international peacekeepers.
In Baku, Mabus also met with Azerbaijan's Minister of Defense Safar Abiyev and Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Shahin Sultanov.
Azerbaijan is of interest to the Pentagon as it is an important energy supplier for the Europe and hosts supply routes for equipment moving in and out of Afghanistan, including thousands of military and commercial flights that cross its airspace and hundreds that fly in and out of Baku airport.
Earlier in Sept., 2011, the US defense department reportedly offered Azerbaijan 10 million U.S. dollars of military aid to help the maritime effort against terrorism.
The funding is part of a 44 million dollars Pentagon aid package to a number of countries including Tunisia, Malta, Lithuania and Hungary.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-11-22 06:02:35 FeedbackPrintRSS
BAKU, Nov. 21 (Xinhua)
U.S. should explain its military bases in Afghanistan: Russian FM
U.S. should explain its military bases in Afghanistan: Russian FM
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that Russia expected explanations from the United States about its plans to set up military bases in Afghanistan after 2014.
"There is some contradiction we would like to clarify," Lavrov told a news briefing here.
Lavrov admitted that although judicially the issue only concerned the U.S. and the Afghan governments, "in a wider political sense, one should take into account the interests of the states in this troubled region, which are directly affected by what is going on in Afghanistan."
"It is important for us to understand how the (U.S.) troops withdrawal and the creation of the military bases correspond, if it was announced that the U.S. military objectives will be reached by 2014," Lavrov said.
He said Russia will discuss the issues in an open way with both Afghanistan and the United States.
Last weekend, the Afghan traditional grand assembly approved an agreement with Washington on strategic partnership, which gave a green light for U.S. bases in the country until 2024.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-11-21 22:40:43 FeedbackPrintRSS
MOSCOW, Nov. 21 (Xinhua)
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that Russia expected explanations from the United States about its plans to set up military bases in Afghanistan after 2014.
"There is some contradiction we would like to clarify," Lavrov told a news briefing here.
Lavrov admitted that although judicially the issue only concerned the U.S. and the Afghan governments, "in a wider political sense, one should take into account the interests of the states in this troubled region, which are directly affected by what is going on in Afghanistan."
"It is important for us to understand how the (U.S.) troops withdrawal and the creation of the military bases correspond, if it was announced that the U.S. military objectives will be reached by 2014," Lavrov said.
He said Russia will discuss the issues in an open way with both Afghanistan and the United States.
Last weekend, the Afghan traditional grand assembly approved an agreement with Washington on strategic partnership, which gave a green light for U.S. bases in the country until 2024.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-11-21 22:40:43 FeedbackPrintRSS
MOSCOW, Nov. 21 (Xinhua)
Turkish PM calls for boosting consultation among Muslim nations
Turkish PM calls for boosting consultation among Muslim nations
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday called for boosting consultation among Muslim nations.
Problems which Muslim nations faced stemmed from the lack of consultation, Erdogan said at the 2nd Summit Meeting for Religious Leaders of Muslim Countries & Communities of African Continent held in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city.
"I believe that unbiased and sincere consultation would be a lasting remedy for the issues our countries, nations and the entire Muslim geography face today," Erdogan said.
He said that meetings such as the Istanbul gathering could act as "a perfect platform" for boosting consultation among Muslim nations, and for speeding up solutions to political, economic and social issues.
Erdogan also warned against Islamophobia, which he described as "a threat of equal severity with racism and anti-semitism, which needs to be shunned as a crime."
"Today's worldwide negative perception of Muslims is not the fault of the religion itself but this very perception is fostered by those who misinterpret Islam," the Turkish prime minister said.
He also rejected what he described as "a black campaign to besmirch Muslims by picking out marginal examples" with an eye to associate Islam with terror, conflict, intolerance and poverty.
"Any wrongdoing committed by a single person cannot be generalized to an entire religion or a society. Any particular fault committed by a Muslim cannot be showcased as an evidence to blacken Islam," he said.
The five-day summit, hosted by Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs, brings together religious leaders from Muslim countries and communities in Africa.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
English.news.cn 2011-11-21 21:42:41 FeedbackPrintRSS
ISTANBUL, Nov. 21 (Xinhua)
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday called for boosting consultation among Muslim nations.
Problems which Muslim nations faced stemmed from the lack of consultation, Erdogan said at the 2nd Summit Meeting for Religious Leaders of Muslim Countries & Communities of African Continent held in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city.
"I believe that unbiased and sincere consultation would be a lasting remedy for the issues our countries, nations and the entire Muslim geography face today," Erdogan said.
He said that meetings such as the Istanbul gathering could act as "a perfect platform" for boosting consultation among Muslim nations, and for speeding up solutions to political, economic and social issues.
Erdogan also warned against Islamophobia, which he described as "a threat of equal severity with racism and anti-semitism, which needs to be shunned as a crime."
"Today's worldwide negative perception of Muslims is not the fault of the religion itself but this very perception is fostered by those who misinterpret Islam," the Turkish prime minister said.
He also rejected what he described as "a black campaign to besmirch Muslims by picking out marginal examples" with an eye to associate Islam with terror, conflict, intolerance and poverty.
"Any wrongdoing committed by a single person cannot be generalized to an entire religion or a society. Any particular fault committed by a Muslim cannot be showcased as an evidence to blacken Islam," he said.
The five-day summit, hosted by Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs, brings together religious leaders from Muslim countries and communities in Africa.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
English.news.cn 2011-11-21 21:42:41 FeedbackPrintRSS
ISTANBUL, Nov. 21 (Xinhua)
Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan make progress in economic integration
Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan make progress in economic integration
The Russian, Belarussian and Kazakh presidents agreed Friday to establish the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) aimed at bringing the former Soviet republics closer together.
Local analysts said the EEU, initiated by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, would boost sub-regional economic cooperation but warned the union also faced internal and external problems.
REASONS FOR BINDING
Putin first proposed the EEU as a vehicle for former Soviet republics, in an article published in October.
According to his initiative, the Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan Customs Union should be gradually transformed into the EEU, which is expected to become a bridge between Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
Among various sub-regional organizations in Eurasia, analysts were optimistic about the EEU's future, as the three countries also agreed to establish a Eurasian Economic Commission -- an executive body for the EEU seen as the first real supranational body in the region.
The commission, according to the three leaders, will start operation next year.
In recent years, the three countries have accelerated their integration due to various reasons.
The first factor was the global economic turmoil, which has severely hurt the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) members' already sluggish economic performances.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said many CIS members' economies were externally oriented, so their domestic economies were hard hit by shrinking outside markets.@ A common economic space would counter external risks by helping the countries to expend domestic demand, he said.
According to the presidents, the trade volume within the Customs Union framework had grown by nearly 40 percent in the first half of 2011.
For Belarus, Kazakhstan and other CIS states, the figure proves the effectiveness of the economic integration, they say.
The second reason lies in Russia's view of its world standing. Russia relies heavily on the CIS to maintain its status as a world power. Moreover, the CIS is also Russia's strategic security shield.
As its dream for joining the European Union (EU) faded, Russia pushed forward the integration of a pan-CIS, which also became stranded.
However, the country's cooperation with Belarus and Kazakhstan has yielded tangible fruits. That's why Russia has turned to its Customs Union in seeking its first partners for the EEU.
In his initiative, Putin said he hoped the EEU would become an influential pole in the multi-polar world.
Analysts said the development of the EEU would also lead to the integration of foreign affairs and military forces among EEU members.
In addition, the turbulence in Western Asia and North Africa reinforced the three countries' determination to forge integration.
The re-integration of the post-Soviet countries would create a "power center" of their own, Andrei Grozin, director of the Central Asia section of Moscow's CIS Institute, told Xinhua.
Analysts said the three-nation Customs Union passed through a similar process to the way in which the European Union had developed, only it had accomplished the same in a much shorter time.
The EEU would avoid problems the European Union had come across lately, Medvedev said.
LOOMING PROBLEMS
According to Medvedev, the EEU's priority task is to provide free flow of goods, capital and workers in a common economic space and in potentially coordinate currency and macro-economic policy.
The three countries, with an aggregate gross domestic product hitting 2 trillion U.S. dollars and a majority of the world's gas and oil reserves, would create a huge market after their integration.
However, analysts have already listed possible problems.
First, the power of the three countries is unbalanced, with Russia overwhelmingly stronger than the other two.
Once the three are integrated, capital, technology and talent are more likely to flow to Russia. Moreover, if an economic recession occurred in any of the three, Belarus and Kazakhstan would be far more affected and choose to protect their own economies first.
Second, outside powers are trying to expand their engagement in the region after the collapse of the Soviet Union and seeking opportunities to intervene into regional issues.
International powers, like the United States and European countries, would intensify their activities in the region once they recovered from the economic crisis, providing a new challenge to integration, analysts said.
"So far, there are no guarantees the EEU will survive itself, because the union depends much on political situations in its founding members," Grozin said.
Editor: Fang Yang
English.news.cn 2011-11-19 21:01:53 FeedbackPrintRSS
by Zheng Haoning, Zhou Liang, Igor Serebryany
MOSCOW, Nov. 19 (Xinhua)
The Russian, Belarussian and Kazakh presidents agreed Friday to establish the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) aimed at bringing the former Soviet republics closer together.
Local analysts said the EEU, initiated by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, would boost sub-regional economic cooperation but warned the union also faced internal and external problems.
REASONS FOR BINDING
Putin first proposed the EEU as a vehicle for former Soviet republics, in an article published in October.
According to his initiative, the Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan Customs Union should be gradually transformed into the EEU, which is expected to become a bridge between Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
Among various sub-regional organizations in Eurasia, analysts were optimistic about the EEU's future, as the three countries also agreed to establish a Eurasian Economic Commission -- an executive body for the EEU seen as the first real supranational body in the region.
The commission, according to the three leaders, will start operation next year.
In recent years, the three countries have accelerated their integration due to various reasons.
The first factor was the global economic turmoil, which has severely hurt the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) members' already sluggish economic performances.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said many CIS members' economies were externally oriented, so their domestic economies were hard hit by shrinking outside markets.@ A common economic space would counter external risks by helping the countries to expend domestic demand, he said.
According to the presidents, the trade volume within the Customs Union framework had grown by nearly 40 percent in the first half of 2011.
For Belarus, Kazakhstan and other CIS states, the figure proves the effectiveness of the economic integration, they say.
The second reason lies in Russia's view of its world standing. Russia relies heavily on the CIS to maintain its status as a world power. Moreover, the CIS is also Russia's strategic security shield.
As its dream for joining the European Union (EU) faded, Russia pushed forward the integration of a pan-CIS, which also became stranded.
However, the country's cooperation with Belarus and Kazakhstan has yielded tangible fruits. That's why Russia has turned to its Customs Union in seeking its first partners for the EEU.
In his initiative, Putin said he hoped the EEU would become an influential pole in the multi-polar world.
Analysts said the development of the EEU would also lead to the integration of foreign affairs and military forces among EEU members.
In addition, the turbulence in Western Asia and North Africa reinforced the three countries' determination to forge integration.
The re-integration of the post-Soviet countries would create a "power center" of their own, Andrei Grozin, director of the Central Asia section of Moscow's CIS Institute, told Xinhua.
Analysts said the three-nation Customs Union passed through a similar process to the way in which the European Union had developed, only it had accomplished the same in a much shorter time.
The EEU would avoid problems the European Union had come across lately, Medvedev said.
LOOMING PROBLEMS
According to Medvedev, the EEU's priority task is to provide free flow of goods, capital and workers in a common economic space and in potentially coordinate currency and macro-economic policy.
The three countries, with an aggregate gross domestic product hitting 2 trillion U.S. dollars and a majority of the world's gas and oil reserves, would create a huge market after their integration.
However, analysts have already listed possible problems.
First, the power of the three countries is unbalanced, with Russia overwhelmingly stronger than the other two.
Once the three are integrated, capital, technology and talent are more likely to flow to Russia. Moreover, if an economic recession occurred in any of the three, Belarus and Kazakhstan would be far more affected and choose to protect their own economies first.
Second, outside powers are trying to expand their engagement in the region after the collapse of the Soviet Union and seeking opportunities to intervene into regional issues.
International powers, like the United States and European countries, would intensify their activities in the region once they recovered from the economic crisis, providing a new challenge to integration, analysts said.
"So far, there are no guarantees the EEU will survive itself, because the union depends much on political situations in its founding members," Grozin said.
Editor: Fang Yang
English.news.cn 2011-11-19 21:01:53 FeedbackPrintRSS
by Zheng Haoning, Zhou Liang, Igor Serebryany
MOSCOW, Nov. 19 (Xinhua)
Border services of Caspian littoral states to conduct joint exercises
Border services of Caspian littoral states to conduct joint exercises
The border services of all Caspian Sea littoral states (Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran) will conduct joint exercises, chief of the South Regional Border Department of the Russian Federal Security Service, Colonel-General Nikolay Lisinsky told journalists here on Friday.
"We want to exceed the limits of (Russian-Azeri) bilateral format by involving Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran in the exercises,"Lisinsky said after meeting with the Azerbaijani border services officials at the State Border Service.
He said discussions concerning the exercises are underway, though the sides have not reached total agreement on some of issues. "The heads of all five countries' border services will hold talks in Moscow in the near future."
According to the Russian General, "Border services of Azerbaijan and Russia cooperate closely in the fight against transnational crime, the sides inform each other about the situation on the border."
The Russian delegation led by Lisinsky arrived in Azerbaijan on Thursday.
The Caspian Sea region has become a central focal point for oil and natural gas resources, which is estimated to be worth over a dozen trillions dollars. The five littoral countries haven't solved the disagreement about the status of the Caspian Sea and the establishment of the water boundaries.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-19 03:24:47 FeedbackPrintRSS
BAKU, Nov. 18 (Xinhua)
The border services of all Caspian Sea littoral states (Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran) will conduct joint exercises, chief of the South Regional Border Department of the Russian Federal Security Service, Colonel-General Nikolay Lisinsky told journalists here on Friday.
"We want to exceed the limits of (Russian-Azeri) bilateral format by involving Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran in the exercises,"Lisinsky said after meeting with the Azerbaijani border services officials at the State Border Service.
He said discussions concerning the exercises are underway, though the sides have not reached total agreement on some of issues. "The heads of all five countries' border services will hold talks in Moscow in the near future."
According to the Russian General, "Border services of Azerbaijan and Russia cooperate closely in the fight against transnational crime, the sides inform each other about the situation on the border."
The Russian delegation led by Lisinsky arrived in Azerbaijan on Thursday.
The Caspian Sea region has become a central focal point for oil and natural gas resources, which is estimated to be worth over a dozen trillions dollars. The five littoral countries haven't solved the disagreement about the status of the Caspian Sea and the establishment of the water boundaries.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-19 03:24:47 FeedbackPrintRSS
BAKU, Nov. 18 (Xinhua)
Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan sign deals on economic integration
Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan sign deals on economic integration
The presidents of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan signed Friday a package of agreements aimed at moving the former Soviet republics closer together, including the one about the creation of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed issues related to the Customs Union that groups the three nations as well as the next phase of their integration -- to create the EEU by 2015.
"We have made another powerful move toward creation of the Eurasian Economic Union, which undoubtedly will define the future of our countries," Medvedev said after talks with his two counterparts.
The Russian president thanked Nazarbayev who, in Medvedev's words, coined the idea of the EEU in 1990s, and Lukashenko who has initiated the current meeting.
Besides the EEU treaty, the leaders also signed a declaration about the Eurasian economic integration and the Treaty on Eurasian Economic Commission among other papers.
"The priority task now is to provide a free movement of goods, capitals, workers in our space and, in prospective, coordinated currency and macro-economic policy," Medvedev said.
He added that the Eurasian Economic Commission, the executive body of the EEU, has been open for other Commonwealth Independent States (CIS) members to join, saying that the EEU would avoid problems the European Union came across lately.
"Our multifaceted cooperation is a great mutual resource and this is why our partners in the EurAsEC (Eurasian Economic Community) and the CIS show interests in the new integration structure," Medvedev said.
After the meeting, Kazakh President Nazarbayev proposed that the standing bodies of the EEU could be located in Moscow, "taking into account Russia's intellectual and economic weight."
Belarusian President Lukashenko said that the three countries' integration will not threaten the sovereignty of each of the country.
"We clearly stated that we are not losing sovereignty," he said.
The presidents agreed to appoint Russian Industry and Trade Minister Viktor Khristenko as the head of the Eurasian Economic Union's board.
The agreements reached in Moscow will enter into force after being ratified by the parliaments of the three countries.
The tripartite Customs Union became fully operational on July 1, 2010. Its member states -- Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan -- have agreed to officially launch the Common Economic Space on January 1, 2012.
The Eurasian Economic Union was initiated by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in October.
According to Putin's initiative, the Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan Customs Union should gradually transform itself into the Eurasian Economic Union, which is expected to become a bridge between Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-19 00:51:45 FeedbackPrintRSS
MOSCOW, Nov. 18 (Xinhua)
The presidents of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan signed Friday a package of agreements aimed at moving the former Soviet republics closer together, including the one about the creation of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed issues related to the Customs Union that groups the three nations as well as the next phase of their integration -- to create the EEU by 2015.
"We have made another powerful move toward creation of the Eurasian Economic Union, which undoubtedly will define the future of our countries," Medvedev said after talks with his two counterparts.
The Russian president thanked Nazarbayev who, in Medvedev's words, coined the idea of the EEU in 1990s, and Lukashenko who has initiated the current meeting.
Besides the EEU treaty, the leaders also signed a declaration about the Eurasian economic integration and the Treaty on Eurasian Economic Commission among other papers.
"The priority task now is to provide a free movement of goods, capitals, workers in our space and, in prospective, coordinated currency and macro-economic policy," Medvedev said.
He added that the Eurasian Economic Commission, the executive body of the EEU, has been open for other Commonwealth Independent States (CIS) members to join, saying that the EEU would avoid problems the European Union came across lately.
"Our multifaceted cooperation is a great mutual resource and this is why our partners in the EurAsEC (Eurasian Economic Community) and the CIS show interests in the new integration structure," Medvedev said.
After the meeting, Kazakh President Nazarbayev proposed that the standing bodies of the EEU could be located in Moscow, "taking into account Russia's intellectual and economic weight."
Belarusian President Lukashenko said that the three countries' integration will not threaten the sovereignty of each of the country.
"We clearly stated that we are not losing sovereignty," he said.
The presidents agreed to appoint Russian Industry and Trade Minister Viktor Khristenko as the head of the Eurasian Economic Union's board.
The agreements reached in Moscow will enter into force after being ratified by the parliaments of the three countries.
The tripartite Customs Union became fully operational on July 1, 2010. Its member states -- Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan -- have agreed to officially launch the Common Economic Space on January 1, 2012.
The Eurasian Economic Union was initiated by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in October.
According to Putin's initiative, the Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan Customs Union should gradually transform itself into the Eurasian Economic Union, which is expected to become a bridge between Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-19 00:51:45 FeedbackPrintRSS
MOSCOW, Nov. 18 (Xinhua)
Kazakhstan supports Serbia's bid for OSCE chairmanship
Kazakhstan supports Serbia's bid for OSCE chairmanship
Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov said here Friday that Kazakhstan will support Serbia's bid for chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2014.
During a briefing after a meeting with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, Kazykhanov said he and his counterpart discussed a wide range of issues related to Kazakh-Serbian cooperation.
"We particularly discussed cooperation between Astana and Belgrade in political, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres," he said.
Kazykhanov said the two countries will support each other in their activities within international organizations such as the United Nations.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-18 23:30:12 FeedbackPrintRSS
ASTANA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua)
Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov said here Friday that Kazakhstan will support Serbia's bid for chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2014.
During a briefing after a meeting with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, Kazykhanov said he and his counterpart discussed a wide range of issues related to Kazakh-Serbian cooperation.
"We particularly discussed cooperation between Astana and Belgrade in political, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres," he said.
Kazykhanov said the two countries will support each other in their activities within international organizations such as the United Nations.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-18 23:30:12 FeedbackPrintRSS
ASTANA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua)
Pakistan asks U.S. to vacate key air base in 15 days
Pakistan asks U.S. to vacate key air base in 15 days
Pakistan's top civilian and military leadership Saturday night decided to ask the United States to vacate a key air base in the country's southwest Balochistan province in 15 days after the NATO fighter jets and helicopters killed 24 Pakistani soldiers and injured 13 others in the tribal region of Mohmand Agency which borders Afghanistan.
An emergency meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet ( DCC) which was chaired by the Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani here in Islamabad on Saturday night also decided to close with immediate effect the NATO's and the ISAF's logistics supply lines, an official statement said
The meeting was called to review the situation arising out of the NATO strikes in Mohmand Agency late Friday night and early Saturday morning.
The DCC meeting was attended by Federal Ministers, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Services Chiefs and members of the DCC.
The meeting decided to ask the United States to vacate Shamsi Air Base in southwestern Balochistan province within 15 days in an apparent protest against NATO strikes.
The DCC decided that the government will revisit and undertake a complete review of all programs, activities and cooperative arrangements with the United States, the NATO and the ISAF, including the fields of diplomacy, politics, military and intelligence, a statement from the Prime Minister office said.
The Prime Minister will take the Parliament into confidence on the whole range of measures regarding matters relating to Pakistan 's future cooperation with the United States, the NATO and the ISAF in the near future, it said.
"The DCC strongly condemned the attack by the NATO's and the ISAF's aircrafts on Pakistani border posts in the Mohmand Agency which has resulted in the loss of precious lives of officers and men of Pakistan Army and injuries to several," said the statement.
The DCC noted that strong protests had been lodged with the United States and at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels conveying in the strongest possible terms Pakistan's condemnation of these attacks which constituted breach of sovereignty, were violative of international law and had gravely dented the fundamental basis of Pakistan's cooperation with the NATO and the ISAF against militancy and terror.
The DCC noted that the NATO's and the ISAF's attacks were also violative of their mandate which was confined to Afghanistan. Pakistan had clearly conveyed to the United States, the NATO and the ISAF its red lines which constituted an integral element of Pakistan's cooperation that was based on a partnership approach.
The attack on Pakistan Army border posts is totally unacceptable and warrants an effective national response, the DCC added.
The DCC reiterated the resolve of the Pakistani people and Armed Forces to safeguard Pakistan's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity at all costs, the statement said.
The DCC expressed heartfelt sympathies and condolences to families of the brave soldiers who fought valiantly and also prayed for the early recovery of those injured.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-11-27 02:24:06 FeedbackPrintRSS
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 26 (Xinhua)
Pakistan's top civilian and military leadership Saturday night decided to ask the United States to vacate a key air base in the country's southwest Balochistan province in 15 days after the NATO fighter jets and helicopters killed 24 Pakistani soldiers and injured 13 others in the tribal region of Mohmand Agency which borders Afghanistan.
An emergency meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet ( DCC) which was chaired by the Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani here in Islamabad on Saturday night also decided to close with immediate effect the NATO's and the ISAF's logistics supply lines, an official statement said
The meeting was called to review the situation arising out of the NATO strikes in Mohmand Agency late Friday night and early Saturday morning.
The DCC meeting was attended by Federal Ministers, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Services Chiefs and members of the DCC.
The meeting decided to ask the United States to vacate Shamsi Air Base in southwestern Balochistan province within 15 days in an apparent protest against NATO strikes.
The DCC decided that the government will revisit and undertake a complete review of all programs, activities and cooperative arrangements with the United States, the NATO and the ISAF, including the fields of diplomacy, politics, military and intelligence, a statement from the Prime Minister office said.
The Prime Minister will take the Parliament into confidence on the whole range of measures regarding matters relating to Pakistan 's future cooperation with the United States, the NATO and the ISAF in the near future, it said.
"The DCC strongly condemned the attack by the NATO's and the ISAF's aircrafts on Pakistani border posts in the Mohmand Agency which has resulted in the loss of precious lives of officers and men of Pakistan Army and injuries to several," said the statement.
The DCC noted that strong protests had been lodged with the United States and at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels conveying in the strongest possible terms Pakistan's condemnation of these attacks which constituted breach of sovereignty, were violative of international law and had gravely dented the fundamental basis of Pakistan's cooperation with the NATO and the ISAF against militancy and terror.
The DCC noted that the NATO's and the ISAF's attacks were also violative of their mandate which was confined to Afghanistan. Pakistan had clearly conveyed to the United States, the NATO and the ISAF its red lines which constituted an integral element of Pakistan's cooperation that was based on a partnership approach.
The attack on Pakistan Army border posts is totally unacceptable and warrants an effective national response, the DCC added.
The DCC reiterated the resolve of the Pakistani people and Armed Forces to safeguard Pakistan's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity at all costs, the statement said.
The DCC expressed heartfelt sympathies and condolences to families of the brave soldiers who fought valiantly and also prayed for the early recovery of those injured.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-11-27 02:24:06 FeedbackPrintRSS
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 26 (Xinhua)
Pakistan summons U.S. envoy over NATO strikes
Pakistan summons U.S. envoy over NATO strikes
Pakistani Foreign Secretary summoned the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan and lodged a formal protest Saturday over the NATO helicopter strikes on border posts which killed 24 soldiers, said the Foreign Ministry.
"On instructions from Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, the Foreign Secretary today called in U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter to lodge a strong protest on the unprovoked NATO/ISAF attack on Pakistan border posts in the Mohmand Agency," a Foreign Ministry statement said.
The Foreign Secretary conveyed to the U.S. Ambassador that the unprovoked attack by NATO/ISAF aircraft on border posts in which 24 Pakistani troops lost their lives and another 13 were injured had deeply incensed the government and the people of Pakistan, it said.
"The President, the Prime Minister and the Government of Pakistan strongly condemn the attacks which were totally unacceptable, constituted a grave infringement of Pakistan's sovereignty, were violative of international law and a serious transgression of the oft conveyed red lines and could have serious repercussions on Pakistan-US/NATO/ISAF cooperation," said the statement.
The statement said the ambassador was informed that the Prime Minister had convened an emergency meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet to evaluate the situation arising from these uncalled-for attacks by NATO/ISAF forces.
"Strong protest has also been lodged in Washington and at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels," the statement said.
Earlier the U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter "expressed regret" over the killing of Pakistani security personnel in strikes by NATO helicopters in the county's border region, the U.S. embassy said.
"I have seen press accounts of an incident on the Pakistani- Afghan border in which Pakistani soldiers were reportedly killed. I regret the loss of life of any Pakistani servicemen, and pledge that the United States will work closely with Pakistan to investigate this incident," ambassador Munter said in a statement.
Pakistan Army Chief Saturday condemned NATO/ISAF strikes as " blatant and unacceptable act" resulting in loss of precious lives of Pakistani soldiers," an army statement said.
"While lauding the effective response by the soldiers of Pakistan Army in self defence, he directed that all necessary steps be undertaken for an effective response to this irresponsible act," General Kayani said.
Giving details of the incident, the army statement said that on late Friday night and early Saturday morning NATO helicopters and fighter aircraft carried out unprovoked firing on two Pakistan Army border posts in Mohmand Agency, in which 24 troops were killed and 13 were injured.
"Pakistani troops effectively responded immediately in self defence to NATO/ISAF's aggression with all available weapons," the statement said.
Earlier local media reports said that 28 Pakistani troops including two officers were killed and some 15 others injured in the NATO attack.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-11-26 23:51:22 FeedbackPrintRSS
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 26 (Xinhua)
Pakistani Foreign Secretary summoned the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan and lodged a formal protest Saturday over the NATO helicopter strikes on border posts which killed 24 soldiers, said the Foreign Ministry.
"On instructions from Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, the Foreign Secretary today called in U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter to lodge a strong protest on the unprovoked NATO/ISAF attack on Pakistan border posts in the Mohmand Agency," a Foreign Ministry statement said.
The Foreign Secretary conveyed to the U.S. Ambassador that the unprovoked attack by NATO/ISAF aircraft on border posts in which 24 Pakistani troops lost their lives and another 13 were injured had deeply incensed the government and the people of Pakistan, it said.
"The President, the Prime Minister and the Government of Pakistan strongly condemn the attacks which were totally unacceptable, constituted a grave infringement of Pakistan's sovereignty, were violative of international law and a serious transgression of the oft conveyed red lines and could have serious repercussions on Pakistan-US/NATO/ISAF cooperation," said the statement.
The statement said the ambassador was informed that the Prime Minister had convened an emergency meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet to evaluate the situation arising from these uncalled-for attacks by NATO/ISAF forces.
"Strong protest has also been lodged in Washington and at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels," the statement said.
Earlier the U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter "expressed regret" over the killing of Pakistani security personnel in strikes by NATO helicopters in the county's border region, the U.S. embassy said.
"I have seen press accounts of an incident on the Pakistani- Afghan border in which Pakistani soldiers were reportedly killed. I regret the loss of life of any Pakistani servicemen, and pledge that the United States will work closely with Pakistan to investigate this incident," ambassador Munter said in a statement.
Pakistan Army Chief Saturday condemned NATO/ISAF strikes as " blatant and unacceptable act" resulting in loss of precious lives of Pakistani soldiers," an army statement said.
"While lauding the effective response by the soldiers of Pakistan Army in self defence, he directed that all necessary steps be undertaken for an effective response to this irresponsible act," General Kayani said.
Giving details of the incident, the army statement said that on late Friday night and early Saturday morning NATO helicopters and fighter aircraft carried out unprovoked firing on two Pakistan Army border posts in Mohmand Agency, in which 24 troops were killed and 13 were injured.
"Pakistani troops effectively responded immediately in self defence to NATO/ISAF's aggression with all available weapons," the statement said.
Earlier local media reports said that 28 Pakistani troops including two officers were killed and some 15 others injured in the NATO attack.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-11-26 23:51:22 FeedbackPrintRSS
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 26 (Xinhua)
NATO supplies to Afghanistan blocked over NATO air strike in NW Pakistan
NATO supplies to Afghanistan blocked over NATO air strike in NW Pakistan
Pakistani security forces have blocked the NATO supplies to Afghanistan following a Saturday morning's NATO air strike at an army checkpost in northwest Pakistan, which has so far reportedly killed 28 Pakistani troops and injured 15 others, reported local Urdu TV channel Duniya.
According to the local media reports, an unknown number of NATO gunship helicopters launched an air strike at an army checkpost in the Salala village in the Baizai town of Mohmmand Agency, a tribal area in northwest Pakistan, which borders Afghanistan, killing a large number of the security personnel posted there, including two officers.
An estimated 50 security personnel were present at the post when the strike was launched by NATO helicopters, said the local media.
Other local media said that actually three army checkposts were attacked by the NATO helicopters instead of just one, but so far there is no official confirmation about this.
At a meeting scheduled late Saturday night, the army will give a detailed report about the attack to the Pakistani Prime Minister when he will fly back to the country's capital Islamabad after a public address in Pakistan's central city of Multan.
Following the reports about the NATO air strike in northwestern Pakistan, there first came the news about the suspension by the Pakistani security forces of the NATO supplies to Afghanistan at a border checkpoint in Torkham, one of the two supply routes for NATO troops in northwestern Pakistan.
Hundreds of NATO supply trucks are seen stranded on the way leading to the Torkham border checkpoint following the suspension, said local residents.
Hours after this, local media Duniya said that the Pakistani security forces have also blocked the NATO supplies to Afghanistan from another route in the country's southwest Chaman city.
It is reported that currently nearly 70 percent of the NATO supplies are shipped into Afghanistan via the land route of Pakistan. The NATO supplies to Afghanistan are first sent to Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi and then transported into Afghanistan for the 140,000-plus NATO troops in Afghanistan through the two border checkpoints via the land route of Pakistan.
Saturday's NATO cross-border air strike into the Pakistani side, particularly at a Pakistani army checkpost, is considered to be a very serious violation of the Pakistan's space territorial rights. The attack has drawn nation-wide protest and condemnation from various walks of life in Pakistan.
Pakistani Prime Minister strongly condemned the attack and described it as an attack on Pakistan's sovereignty. The prime minister will hold a meeting scheduled late Saturday night with the political and army leaders to discuss the matter, said official sources.
Pakistani foreign ministry has raised the issue "in the strongest term" to the U.S. side both in Washington and Islamabad and strongly protested over the attack.
Pakistani army chief General Kayani also condemned the attack and said that the attack is against the sovereignty of Pakistan and military action should be taken against the responsible elements.
The Pakistani side has also demanded NATO troops to investigate into the incident immediately.
Opposition party leaders including Nawaz Sharif of PML-N and Imran Khan of PTI have also strongly protested against the NATO air strike and demanded the government to take a serious notice of the incident.
The cross-border air strikes by NATO helicopters into the Pakistani side often occurred in the past. On Sept. 30, 2010, the NATO helicopters launched a strike in Pakistan's northwest tribal area of Kurram Agency bordering Afghanistan, killing three Pakistani troops. The incident sparked off a nation-wide protest both from the government, army and people of Pakistan.
In the wake of the incident, the Pakistani government closed two border checkpoints at Torkham and Chaman for the NATO supplies and the suspension of the NATO supplies to Afghanistan had not been lifted days after the Pakistani government had received a written apology from the NATO troops at its demand. During the suspension period, thousands of NATO supply trucks were stranded on the ways from Pakistan to Afghanistan and hundreds of them had been attacked and torched, causing a heavy loss for the NATO troops.
English.news.cn 2011-11-26 21:03:28 FeedbackPrintRSS
by Misbah Saba Malik
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 26 (Xinhua)
Pakistani security forces have blocked the NATO supplies to Afghanistan following a Saturday morning's NATO air strike at an army checkpost in northwest Pakistan, which has so far reportedly killed 28 Pakistani troops and injured 15 others, reported local Urdu TV channel Duniya.
According to the local media reports, an unknown number of NATO gunship helicopters launched an air strike at an army checkpost in the Salala village in the Baizai town of Mohmmand Agency, a tribal area in northwest Pakistan, which borders Afghanistan, killing a large number of the security personnel posted there, including two officers.
An estimated 50 security personnel were present at the post when the strike was launched by NATO helicopters, said the local media.
Other local media said that actually three army checkposts were attacked by the NATO helicopters instead of just one, but so far there is no official confirmation about this.
At a meeting scheduled late Saturday night, the army will give a detailed report about the attack to the Pakistani Prime Minister when he will fly back to the country's capital Islamabad after a public address in Pakistan's central city of Multan.
Following the reports about the NATO air strike in northwestern Pakistan, there first came the news about the suspension by the Pakistani security forces of the NATO supplies to Afghanistan at a border checkpoint in Torkham, one of the two supply routes for NATO troops in northwestern Pakistan.
Hundreds of NATO supply trucks are seen stranded on the way leading to the Torkham border checkpoint following the suspension, said local residents.
Hours after this, local media Duniya said that the Pakistani security forces have also blocked the NATO supplies to Afghanistan from another route in the country's southwest Chaman city.
It is reported that currently nearly 70 percent of the NATO supplies are shipped into Afghanistan via the land route of Pakistan. The NATO supplies to Afghanistan are first sent to Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi and then transported into Afghanistan for the 140,000-plus NATO troops in Afghanistan through the two border checkpoints via the land route of Pakistan.
Saturday's NATO cross-border air strike into the Pakistani side, particularly at a Pakistani army checkpost, is considered to be a very serious violation of the Pakistan's space territorial rights. The attack has drawn nation-wide protest and condemnation from various walks of life in Pakistan.
Pakistani Prime Minister strongly condemned the attack and described it as an attack on Pakistan's sovereignty. The prime minister will hold a meeting scheduled late Saturday night with the political and army leaders to discuss the matter, said official sources.
Pakistani foreign ministry has raised the issue "in the strongest term" to the U.S. side both in Washington and Islamabad and strongly protested over the attack.
Pakistani army chief General Kayani also condemned the attack and said that the attack is against the sovereignty of Pakistan and military action should be taken against the responsible elements.
The Pakistani side has also demanded NATO troops to investigate into the incident immediately.
Opposition party leaders including Nawaz Sharif of PML-N and Imran Khan of PTI have also strongly protested against the NATO air strike and demanded the government to take a serious notice of the incident.
The cross-border air strikes by NATO helicopters into the Pakistani side often occurred in the past. On Sept. 30, 2010, the NATO helicopters launched a strike in Pakistan's northwest tribal area of Kurram Agency bordering Afghanistan, killing three Pakistani troops. The incident sparked off a nation-wide protest both from the government, army and people of Pakistan.
In the wake of the incident, the Pakistani government closed two border checkpoints at Torkham and Chaman for the NATO supplies and the suspension of the NATO supplies to Afghanistan had not been lifted days after the Pakistani government had received a written apology from the NATO troops at its demand. During the suspension period, thousands of NATO supply trucks were stranded on the ways from Pakistan to Afghanistan and hundreds of them had been attacked and torched, causing a heavy loss for the NATO troops.
English.news.cn 2011-11-26 21:03:28 FeedbackPrintRSS
by Misbah Saba Malik
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 26 (Xinhua)
Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan ink agreements on creation of Eurasian Economic Union
Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan ink agreements on creation of Eurasian Economic Union
Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have signed a package of agreements aimed at moving the former Soviet republics closer together, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Friday.
Among the agreements, which will enter into force after ratified by parliaments of the three countries, Medvedev, Belorussian President Alexander Lukashenko and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed one on the creation of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) by 2015.
"We have made another powerful move toward creation of the Eurasian Economic Union, which undoubtedly will define the future of our countries," Medvedev said after talks with his counterparts from Belarus and Kazakhstan.
The treaty envisages future common developments of the three countries, which are already the founding members of the Customs Union.
The Russian president thanked Nazarbayev who, in Medvedev's words, coined the idea of the EEU in 1990s, and Lukashenko who has initiated the current meeting.
Besides the EEU treaty, the leaders also signed a declaration about the Eurasian economic integration and the Treaty on Eurasian Economic Commission among other papers.
"The priority task now is to provide a free movement of goods, capitals, workers in our space and, in prospective, coordinated currency and macro-economic policy," Medvedev said.
He added that the Eurasian Economic Commission, the executive body of the EEU, has been open for other Commonwealth Independent States (CIS) members to join, saying that the EEU would avoid the problems the European Union came across lately.
The tripartite Customs Union became fully operational on July 1, 2010. Its member states Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have agreed to officially launch the Common Economic Space on Jan. 1, 2012.
The Eurasian Economic Union was initiated by Russian Prime Minister Putin in October. According to Putin's initiative, the Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan Customs Union should gradually transform itself into the Eurasian Economic Union, which is expected to become a bridge between Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
English.news.cn 2011-11-18 21:05:57 FeedbackPrintRSS
MOSCOW, Nov. 18 (Xinhua)
Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have signed a package of agreements aimed at moving the former Soviet republics closer together, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Friday.
Among the agreements, which will enter into force after ratified by parliaments of the three countries, Medvedev, Belorussian President Alexander Lukashenko and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed one on the creation of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) by 2015.
"We have made another powerful move toward creation of the Eurasian Economic Union, which undoubtedly will define the future of our countries," Medvedev said after talks with his counterparts from Belarus and Kazakhstan.
The treaty envisages future common developments of the three countries, which are already the founding members of the Customs Union.
The Russian president thanked Nazarbayev who, in Medvedev's words, coined the idea of the EEU in 1990s, and Lukashenko who has initiated the current meeting.
Besides the EEU treaty, the leaders also signed a declaration about the Eurasian economic integration and the Treaty on Eurasian Economic Commission among other papers.
"The priority task now is to provide a free movement of goods, capitals, workers in our space and, in prospective, coordinated currency and macro-economic policy," Medvedev said.
He added that the Eurasian Economic Commission, the executive body of the EEU, has been open for other Commonwealth Independent States (CIS) members to join, saying that the EEU would avoid the problems the European Union came across lately.
The tripartite Customs Union became fully operational on July 1, 2010. Its member states Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have agreed to officially launch the Common Economic Space on Jan. 1, 2012.
The Eurasian Economic Union was initiated by Russian Prime Minister Putin in October. According to Putin's initiative, the Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan Customs Union should gradually transform itself into the Eurasian Economic Union, which is expected to become a bridge between Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
English.news.cn 2011-11-18 21:05:57 FeedbackPrintRSS
MOSCOW, Nov. 18 (Xinhua)
Man convicted of three murders in Georgia's first-ever jury trial
Man convicted of three murders in Georgia's first-ever jury trial
The panel hearing Georgia's first-ever jury trial has convicted a man in the 1994 murders of three people.
The verdict against Revaz Demetrashvili was returned late Thursday after the 12 jurors deliberated after hearing evidence presented by prosecutors and defense attorneys during the trial.
The trial, which began Nov. 9 in Tbilisi city court, caught the attention of the legal community and general public as the South Caucasus country changes to jury trials in criminal cases.
Georgia has been reforming its justice system with a move away from bench trials.
A recent survey showed that 72 percent of the 2,765 Georgians queried trust in the country's justice system, compared to 35 percent in a similar survey in 2005.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
English.news.cn 2011-11-18 21:05:14 FeedbackPrintRSS
TBILISI, Nov. 18 (Xinhua)
The panel hearing Georgia's first-ever jury trial has convicted a man in the 1994 murders of three people.
The verdict against Revaz Demetrashvili was returned late Thursday after the 12 jurors deliberated after hearing evidence presented by prosecutors and defense attorneys during the trial.
The trial, which began Nov. 9 in Tbilisi city court, caught the attention of the legal community and general public as the South Caucasus country changes to jury trials in criminal cases.
Georgia has been reforming its justice system with a move away from bench trials.
A recent survey showed that 72 percent of the 2,765 Georgians queried trust in the country's justice system, compared to 35 percent in a similar survey in 2005.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
English.news.cn 2011-11-18 21:05:14 FeedbackPrintRSS
TBILISI, Nov. 18 (Xinhua)
Tent fire kills two children in Turkey's quake zone
Tent fire kills two children in Turkey's quake zone
Two children were killed and two others injured when a fire erupted in a tent set up for quake survivors in the province of Van in eastern Turkey on Friday, local newspaper Today's Zaman reported on its website.
The incident took place in a tent in Karpuzalan village in the province and the fire was caused by a heating stove in the Tolukan family's tent, according to the report.
Six-year-old Ismail and 12-year-old Bahar were killed in the fire while the family's 12-year-old Mikail and two-year-old Kerem were seriously burned, said the report.
Thousands of quake victims are taking shelter in tents in Van after the province was hit by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake on Oct. 23 and a 5.6-magnitude earthquake on Nov. 9, which killed 644 people and left thousands of others homeless.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
English.news.cn 2011-11-18 20:12:58 FeedbackPrintRSS
ANKARA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua)
Two children were killed and two others injured when a fire erupted in a tent set up for quake survivors in the province of Van in eastern Turkey on Friday, local newspaper Today's Zaman reported on its website.
The incident took place in a tent in Karpuzalan village in the province and the fire was caused by a heating stove in the Tolukan family's tent, according to the report.
Six-year-old Ismail and 12-year-old Bahar were killed in the fire while the family's 12-year-old Mikail and two-year-old Kerem were seriously burned, said the report.
Thousands of quake victims are taking shelter in tents in Van after the province was hit by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake on Oct. 23 and a 5.6-magnitude earthquake on Nov. 9, which killed 644 people and left thousands of others homeless.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
English.news.cn 2011-11-18 20:12:58 FeedbackPrintRSS
ANKARA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua)
Kyrgyzstan can modernize its army with SCO, CSTO support: Otunbayeva
Kyrgyzstan can modernize its army with SCO, CSTO support: Otunbayeva
Kyrgyzstan could modernize its national army with the military and technical help of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), interim President Roza Otunbayeva said Friday.
Between 2010 and 2011, the republic's Defense Ministry received 25 million U.S. dollars in aid from the SCO and the CSTO, she said at an annual stocktaking meeting of senior Kyrgyz defense officials.
"With this military-technical help you can respond to modern challenges with dignity," Otunbayeva said.
The country's armed forces also needed to address the problem of ethnic integration, the interim president said, adding all ethnic groups in the country could and must serve in the armed forces.
Kyrgyzstan, a Central Asian nation that hosts both U.S. and Russian air bases, has been unsettled by political instability and violence since the April 2010 overthrow of then president Kurmanbek Bakiyev.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
English.news.cn 2011-11-18 18:55:40 FeedbackPrintRSS
BISHKEK, Nov. 18 (Xinhua)
Kyrgyzstan could modernize its national army with the military and technical help of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), interim President Roza Otunbayeva said Friday.
Between 2010 and 2011, the republic's Defense Ministry received 25 million U.S. dollars in aid from the SCO and the CSTO, she said at an annual stocktaking meeting of senior Kyrgyz defense officials.
"With this military-technical help you can respond to modern challenges with dignity," Otunbayeva said.
The country's armed forces also needed to address the problem of ethnic integration, the interim president said, adding all ethnic groups in the country could and must serve in the armed forces.
Kyrgyzstan, a Central Asian nation that hosts both U.S. and Russian air bases, has been unsettled by political instability and violence since the April 2010 overthrow of then president Kurmanbek Bakiyev.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
English.news.cn 2011-11-18 18:55:40 FeedbackPrintRSS
BISHKEK, Nov. 18 (Xinhua)
Turkey rules out water cut to Syria
Turkey rules out water cut to Syria
Turkey ruled out cutting its water flow to Syria as part of the sanctions on the unrest-rattled country over its crackdown on protesters and army defectors, Turkish newspaper Today's Zaman's website quoted Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu as saying on Friday.
While imposing sanctions against Syria, nations must make sure that the Syrian people are not harmed in this process, said Davutoglu at a conference in Istanbul on Thursday.
Turkey is currently releasing 517 cubic meters per second on average, instead of the required 500 cubic meters per second, sacrificing its own needs, according to Today's Zaman.
Back in early 1990s, Turkey once threatened water cut to Syria over its suspected connection with the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party.
Earlier this week, Turkey suspended joint oil exploration plans in six wells in Syria but ruled out electricity cut out of humanitarian concerns.
However, Turkish officials said they might reconsider cutting the power lines after Syrian pro-government protesters stormed Turkish diplomatic missions and burned a Turkish flag last Saturday, following the Arab League's vote to suspend Syria's participation and impose sanctions on it.
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-11-18 16:54:30 FeedbackPrintRSS
ANKARA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua)
Turkey ruled out cutting its water flow to Syria as part of the sanctions on the unrest-rattled country over its crackdown on protesters and army defectors, Turkish newspaper Today's Zaman's website quoted Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu as saying on Friday.
While imposing sanctions against Syria, nations must make sure that the Syrian people are not harmed in this process, said Davutoglu at a conference in Istanbul on Thursday.
Turkey is currently releasing 517 cubic meters per second on average, instead of the required 500 cubic meters per second, sacrificing its own needs, according to Today's Zaman.
Back in early 1990s, Turkey once threatened water cut to Syria over its suspected connection with the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party.
Earlier this week, Turkey suspended joint oil exploration plans in six wells in Syria but ruled out electricity cut out of humanitarian concerns.
However, Turkish officials said they might reconsider cutting the power lines after Syrian pro-government protesters stormed Turkish diplomatic missions and burned a Turkish flag last Saturday, following the Arab League's vote to suspend Syria's participation and impose sanctions on it.
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-11-18 16:54:30 FeedbackPrintRSS
ANKARA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua)
Russia, Azerbaijan to prolong Gabala radar lease contract up to 2025
Russia, Azerbaijan to prolong Gabala radar lease contract up to 2025
Russia and Azerbaijan are going to prolong the Gabala radar lease contract till 2025, Russian Defense Ministry's press-secretary, Lieutenant-Colonel Irina Kovalchyuk was quoted by Azerbaijani media as saying on Thursday.
Kovalchyuk made the statement after the Thursday's meeting between Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and his Azerbaijani counterpart Colonel-General Safar Abiyev during the 61st meeting of the Council of the CIS Defense Ministers in Alamaty, Kazakhstan.
"The two sides discussed the procedure of joint work to prolong till 2025 the lease contract for the Gabala radar," Kovalchyuk said. "It was agreed to step up work with the aim to agree and prepare for signature within tight deadlines a document that would formalize the agreement between Russia and Azerbaijan on the issue."
According to Kovalchuk, at the end of the 61st meeting of the Council of the CIS Defense Ministers the Russian defense minister held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan."
"At the meetings with the defense ministers of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Kazakhstan plans were approved for military cooperation between the Russian Ministry of Defense and the defense ministries of these countries in 2012," she said.
The Gabala radar, located in the northwest of Azerbaijan, was built in the Soviet era as one of the most important elements of the USSR missile defense system. After Azerbaijan regained its independence and became the owner of the radar, Russia continued to use the radar.
The 10-year Gabala radar lease agreement was signed in 2002. Russia uses the radar to detect missile movement in the southern hemisphere.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-18 05:27:56 FeedbackPrintRSS
BAKU, Nov. 17 (Xinhua)
Russia and Azerbaijan are going to prolong the Gabala radar lease contract till 2025, Russian Defense Ministry's press-secretary, Lieutenant-Colonel Irina Kovalchyuk was quoted by Azerbaijani media as saying on Thursday.
Kovalchyuk made the statement after the Thursday's meeting between Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and his Azerbaijani counterpart Colonel-General Safar Abiyev during the 61st meeting of the Council of the CIS Defense Ministers in Alamaty, Kazakhstan.
"The two sides discussed the procedure of joint work to prolong till 2025 the lease contract for the Gabala radar," Kovalchyuk said. "It was agreed to step up work with the aim to agree and prepare for signature within tight deadlines a document that would formalize the agreement between Russia and Azerbaijan on the issue."
According to Kovalchuk, at the end of the 61st meeting of the Council of the CIS Defense Ministers the Russian defense minister held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan."
"At the meetings with the defense ministers of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Kazakhstan plans were approved for military cooperation between the Russian Ministry of Defense and the defense ministries of these countries in 2012," she said.
The Gabala radar, located in the northwest of Azerbaijan, was built in the Soviet era as one of the most important elements of the USSR missile defense system. After Azerbaijan regained its independence and became the owner of the radar, Russia continued to use the radar.
The 10-year Gabala radar lease agreement was signed in 2002. Russia uses the radar to detect missile movement in the southern hemisphere.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-18 05:27:56 FeedbackPrintRSS
BAKU, Nov. 17 (Xinhua)
Two British soldiers killed in Afghanistan blast
Two British soldiers from 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards were killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan, the British Ministry of Defence said on Thursday.
Both soldiers were on a patrol in the Yakchal region of Nahr-e Saraj in central Helmand when their armoured vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED).
"It is with great sadness that I must confirm the deaths of two soldiers from 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards after their vehicle was hit by an IED. Our deepest condolences go out to the families and loved ones of both these brave soldiers at this very difficult time," said spokesman for Task Force Helmand Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Mackenzie.
The soldiers' families have asked for a 24 hour period of grace before further details are released.
Another British soldier from the 2nd Battalion The Rifles died from an explosion also in Nahr-e Saraj on Wednesday.
The death toll of British forces in Afghanistan has risen to 388 since 2001.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-18 03:00:27 FeedbackPrintRSS
LONDON, Nov. 17 (Xinhua)
Both soldiers were on a patrol in the Yakchal region of Nahr-e Saraj in central Helmand when their armoured vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED).
"It is with great sadness that I must confirm the deaths of two soldiers from 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards after their vehicle was hit by an IED. Our deepest condolences go out to the families and loved ones of both these brave soldiers at this very difficult time," said spokesman for Task Force Helmand Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Mackenzie.
The soldiers' families have asked for a 24 hour period of grace before further details are released.
Another British soldier from the 2nd Battalion The Rifles died from an explosion also in Nahr-e Saraj on Wednesday.
The death toll of British forces in Afghanistan has risen to 388 since 2001.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-18 03:00:27 FeedbackPrintRSS
LONDON, Nov. 17 (Xinhua)
Georgia starts preparing for next year's parliamentary elections
The South Caucasus country of Georgia on Thursday started its voters list preparation for next year's parliamentary elections.
A special commission in charge of voters list preparation met for its inaugural session during the day when it elected the commission chief and secretary.
The commission is composed of representatives from both the ruling and opposition parties of the country. Procedures and technical issues were also touched upon during Thursday's first session of the commission.
Representatives of non-governmental organizations are also included in the commission.
The commission, to be chaired by New Rights Party member Mamuka Katsitadze, has until July 1 of next year to prepare the complete voters list which is then to be presented for approval to the Georgian Central Election Commission.
The unicameral parliament of Georgia has 150 seats and the next parliamentary elections are slated for October of 2012. The previous elections were held in May of 2008.
Half of the Georgian lawmakers will be elected through a proportional representation system while the remaining half will be elected by majority votes from single-member constituencies. All the elected lawmakers will serve for four years.
The ruling United National Movement party now occupies 119 seats of the parliament while three opposition parties, the Labor Party, Christian Democrats party and Republican Party of Georgia, combine to occupy 14 seats, with the remaining 17 seats scattered with other smaller opposition parties.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-18 01:11:44 FeedbackPrintRSS
TBILISI, Nov. 17 (Xinhua)
A special commission in charge of voters list preparation met for its inaugural session during the day when it elected the commission chief and secretary.
The commission is composed of representatives from both the ruling and opposition parties of the country. Procedures and technical issues were also touched upon during Thursday's first session of the commission.
Representatives of non-governmental organizations are also included in the commission.
The commission, to be chaired by New Rights Party member Mamuka Katsitadze, has until July 1 of next year to prepare the complete voters list which is then to be presented for approval to the Georgian Central Election Commission.
The unicameral parliament of Georgia has 150 seats and the next parliamentary elections are slated for October of 2012. The previous elections were held in May of 2008.
Half of the Georgian lawmakers will be elected through a proportional representation system while the remaining half will be elected by majority votes from single-member constituencies. All the elected lawmakers will serve for four years.
The ruling United National Movement party now occupies 119 seats of the parliament while three opposition parties, the Labor Party, Christian Democrats party and Republican Party of Georgia, combine to occupy 14 seats, with the remaining 17 seats scattered with other smaller opposition parties.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-18 01:11:44 FeedbackPrintRSS
TBILISI, Nov. 17 (Xinhua)
Medvedev says Russia expects to sign Eurasian Union treaty
Medvedev says Russia expects to sign Eurasian Union treaty
President Dmitry Medvedev said Thursday that he expects a treaty on the creation of the Eurasian Union would be signed on Friday.
"Two leaders of our close countries, Belarus and Kazakhstan, will come here tomorrow and I hope we will sign an agreement concerning further economic integration," Medvedev was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying.
Medvedev spoke during a Kremlin meeting with a group of retired people and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
The president said the Eurasian Union, which was initiated by Putin, "has a very bright future" while the treaty will be an "important and painful step."
Medvedev said the concept of the Eurasian Union is mature and a frame of future cooperation is trying to be created that will be of any country's own will to join in.
Putin proposed the concept of "Eurasian Union," which includes former Soviet states, in an article published in October.
According to his initiative, the Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan Customs Union should gradually transform itself into the Eurasian Union, which is expected to become a bridge between Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
Editor: Wang Guanqun
English.news.cn 2011-11-17 21:44:58 FeedbackPrintRSS
MOSCOW, Nov. 17 (Xinhua)
President Dmitry Medvedev said Thursday that he expects a treaty on the creation of the Eurasian Union would be signed on Friday.
"Two leaders of our close countries, Belarus and Kazakhstan, will come here tomorrow and I hope we will sign an agreement concerning further economic integration," Medvedev was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying.
Medvedev spoke during a Kremlin meeting with a group of retired people and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
The president said the Eurasian Union, which was initiated by Putin, "has a very bright future" while the treaty will be an "important and painful step."
Medvedev said the concept of the Eurasian Union is mature and a frame of future cooperation is trying to be created that will be of any country's own will to join in.
Putin proposed the concept of "Eurasian Union," which includes former Soviet states, in an article published in October.
According to his initiative, the Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan Customs Union should gradually transform itself into the Eurasian Union, which is expected to become a bridge between Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
Editor: Wang Guanqun
English.news.cn 2011-11-17 21:44:58 FeedbackPrintRSS
MOSCOW, Nov. 17 (Xinhua)
Russia concerned by U.S. military plans in central Asia, Afghanistan
Russia concerned by U.S. military plans in central Asia, Afghanistan
Russia was concerned by U.S. plans to expand its military presence in central Asia and to set up large military bases in Afghanistan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday.
"It is still unclear how the (U.S.) troops' withdrawal scheduled in 2014 after the end of anti-terrorism operations corresponds to the U.S. plans to set up in Afghanistan quite big military bases," Lavrov told reporters after his talks with visiting Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna here.
Lavrov said Moscow had discussed the issue with Afghan and U.S. representatives, but "there are more questions than answers so far."
"Moreover, information comes in periodically that our American colleagues want to expand their military presence in central Asia," he said.
Lavrov said, from the start of the operations against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, Russia was told that the foreign presence in Afghanistan and its transit centers in central Asia would be used purely to fight that particular terrorism threat.
"Russia was told there were no long-term geopolitical calculations," Lavrov said, adding these principals should be respected in full.
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-11-17 20:39:49 FeedbackPrintRSS
MOSCOW, Nov. 17 (Xinhua)
Russia was concerned by U.S. plans to expand its military presence in central Asia and to set up large military bases in Afghanistan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday.
"It is still unclear how the (U.S.) troops' withdrawal scheduled in 2014 after the end of anti-terrorism operations corresponds to the U.S. plans to set up in Afghanistan quite big military bases," Lavrov told reporters after his talks with visiting Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna here.
Lavrov said Moscow had discussed the issue with Afghan and U.S. representatives, but "there are more questions than answers so far."
"Moreover, information comes in periodically that our American colleagues want to expand their military presence in central Asia," he said.
Lavrov said, from the start of the operations against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, Russia was told that the foreign presence in Afghanistan and its transit centers in central Asia would be used purely to fight that particular terrorism threat.
"Russia was told there were no long-term geopolitical calculations," Lavrov said, adding these principals should be respected in full.
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-11-17 20:39:49 FeedbackPrintRSS
MOSCOW, Nov. 17 (Xinhua)
World Bank approves loan for Azerbaijani internally displaced
World Bank approves loan for Azerbaijani internally displaced
Azerbaijan and the World Bank on Wednesday signed an agreement for a loan of 50 million U.S. dollars to finance the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs Living Standard and Livelihood Project in the central Asian country.
According to the report of AzerTAc, Azerbaijan's state news agency, the agreement was signed by Ali Hasanov, Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan and Chairman of State Committee of Azerbaijan for Refugees and IDPs, and the World Bank's representative Saida Bagirli in Baku.
The project, which is subject to conditions of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) approved by the World Bank Director Board on Oct. 27, aims to support Azerbaijani Government's efforts to improve living conditions and increase the economic self-reliance of targeted internally displaced persons.
The government will allocate an additional 28.5 million dollars for the project, which will require a total of 78.5 million dollars. About 185,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Azerbaijan will have better access to infrastructure, services, housing conditions and livelihood opportunities with the help of the project.
Azerbaijan accounts of seven percent of the IDPs in the world, as a result of the conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno Karabakh region. Up to 50 percent of its IDPs still live in harsh conditions.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-17 03:47:02 FeedbackPrintRSS
BAKU, Nov. 16 (Xinhua)
Azerbaijan and the World Bank on Wednesday signed an agreement for a loan of 50 million U.S. dollars to finance the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs Living Standard and Livelihood Project in the central Asian country.
According to the report of AzerTAc, Azerbaijan's state news agency, the agreement was signed by Ali Hasanov, Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan and Chairman of State Committee of Azerbaijan for Refugees and IDPs, and the World Bank's representative Saida Bagirli in Baku.
The project, which is subject to conditions of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) approved by the World Bank Director Board on Oct. 27, aims to support Azerbaijani Government's efforts to improve living conditions and increase the economic self-reliance of targeted internally displaced persons.
The government will allocate an additional 28.5 million dollars for the project, which will require a total of 78.5 million dollars. About 185,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Azerbaijan will have better access to infrastructure, services, housing conditions and livelihood opportunities with the help of the project.
Azerbaijan accounts of seven percent of the IDPs in the world, as a result of the conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno Karabakh region. Up to 50 percent of its IDPs still live in harsh conditions.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-17 03:47:02 FeedbackPrintRSS
BAKU, Nov. 16 (Xinhua)
Georgia tops South Caucasus in ease of paying taxes: survey
Georgia tops South Caucasus in ease of paying taxes: survey
The South Caucasus country of Georgia has been ranked 39th overall in a worldwide survey in the ease of paying taxes.
The survey, which was conducted by the World Bank (WB), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), also took into consideration such other matters as tax payment, time to comply and pay taxes and total tax rate.
Georgia moved up on the latest WB-IFC-PWC survey whereas it was ranked 61st overall in the previous survey which also studied 183 countries and regions in the world.
In the South Caucasus region, Georgia was ranked first, ahead of Azerbaijan's 77th and Armenia's 153rd positions in the ease of paying taxes.
The tax survey was carried out alongside the World Bank Doing Business 2012 Report.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-17 02:32:09 FeedbackPrintRSS
TBILISI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua)
The South Caucasus country of Georgia has been ranked 39th overall in a worldwide survey in the ease of paying taxes.
The survey, which was conducted by the World Bank (WB), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), also took into consideration such other matters as tax payment, time to comply and pay taxes and total tax rate.
Georgia moved up on the latest WB-IFC-PWC survey whereas it was ranked 61st overall in the previous survey which also studied 183 countries and regions in the world.
In the South Caucasus region, Georgia was ranked first, ahead of Azerbaijan's 77th and Armenia's 153rd positions in the ease of paying taxes.
The tax survey was carried out alongside the World Bank Doing Business 2012 Report.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-17 02:32:09 FeedbackPrintRSS
TBILISI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua)
Russia to support Kazakhstan, Belarus bids for WTO: envoy
Russia to support Kazakhstan, Belarus bids for WTO: envoy
Russia will support Kazakhstan and Belarus in their efforts to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) after Moscow itself joins the trade bloc, Russia's top WTO negotiator Maxim Medvedkov said Wednesday.
He told a press conference here that Russia has been ahead of Kazakhstan by one year and ahead of Belarus by two years in the WTO accession process.
"It will be easier for our partners in the Customs Union (to join the WTO), because Russia has spent two years in WTO negotiations on the complicated problems regarding to the creation of the Customs Union," Medvedkov told a press conference.
Before the establishment of the Customs Union, the three nations have agreed to seek a joint accession to the WTO.
Meanwhile, Medvedkov said that the Russian laws correspond to the WTO requirements "by 99 percent" and he believed that there would be no problems with the adaptation of WTO rules.
According to the official, after Russia joins WTO, the country' s gross domestic product could fall no more than 0.5 percent, as only a few sectors of the Russian economy would be affected.
Russia and Georgia signed an agreement in Geneva on Nov. 10 under the mediation of Switzerland, removing a vital hurdle for Russia joining the 153-member trade bloc.
Russia, which has been seeking WTO membership for more than 18 years, is the largest economy remaining outside the global trade watchdog.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-17 01:26:37 FeedbackPrintRSS
MOSCOW, Nov. 16 (Xinhua)
Russia will support Kazakhstan and Belarus in their efforts to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) after Moscow itself joins the trade bloc, Russia's top WTO negotiator Maxim Medvedkov said Wednesday.
He told a press conference here that Russia has been ahead of Kazakhstan by one year and ahead of Belarus by two years in the WTO accession process.
"It will be easier for our partners in the Customs Union (to join the WTO), because Russia has spent two years in WTO negotiations on the complicated problems regarding to the creation of the Customs Union," Medvedkov told a press conference.
Before the establishment of the Customs Union, the three nations have agreed to seek a joint accession to the WTO.
Meanwhile, Medvedkov said that the Russian laws correspond to the WTO requirements "by 99 percent" and he believed that there would be no problems with the adaptation of WTO rules.
According to the official, after Russia joins WTO, the country' s gross domestic product could fall no more than 0.5 percent, as only a few sectors of the Russian economy would be affected.
Russia and Georgia signed an agreement in Geneva on Nov. 10 under the mediation of Switzerland, removing a vital hurdle for Russia joining the 153-member trade bloc.
Russia, which has been seeking WTO membership for more than 18 years, is the largest economy remaining outside the global trade watchdog.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-17 01:26:37 FeedbackPrintRSS
MOSCOW, Nov. 16 (Xinhua)
Georgian president expects start of free-trade talks with EU
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili on Wednesday expressed hope for kicking off free-trade negotiations with the European Union as soon as possible.
"We are getting closer to launching negotiations with the EU on deep and comprehensive free-trade agreement," said the president at a joint press conference with visiting EU high representative for foreign policy and security matters Catherine Ashton after a meeting here.
"This is very important for Georgia's economy. We know what economic problems Europe is facing, but at the same time, access to EU market for Georgian products is a decisive step for Georgia' s further economic growth and welfare of our people," Saakashvili said.
Ashton said that the South Caucasus country had made much progress toward launching free trade talks with the EU.
"You are quite right and the expectation we have is that we will be able to move forward very quickly in the next few weeks and by Christmas to be able to show that progress, which, I know, you have worked so hard for," Ashton said.
The Georgian president described the completion of free-trade talks with the EU as one of the major points of his government's modernization program which sets 2015 as the deadline for meeting the program targets.
Saakashvili said that Georgia had achieved a huge progress in the direction of the EU since the launch of the association agreement talks with the 27-member bloc in July of last year.
Ashton arrived in Tbilisi after her visit to Baku, Azerbaijan.
Apart from meeting the Georgian president and Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze, the EU foreign policy chief is also scheduled to meet the chief of EUMM (EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia) which has been monitoring the cease-fire after the August 2008 conflict between Georgia and Russia in South Ossetia.
"The main aim of my visit is to show the commitment of the European Union to the South Caucasus," said Ashton before leaving for the region. "Over the last year, in the context of the renewed European Neighborhood Policy and Eastern Partnership, we have engaged in a process of significant strengthening of our relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, including through negotiations of association agreements."
Vashadze said Wednesday that the talks on the EU-Georgia Association Agreement had entered a decisive phase.
"The negotiations on deep and free-trade agreement will definitely open before the end of this year," the foreign minister told local media.
Ashton is also scheduled to travel to Yerevan of Armenia before visiting Moscow later this week.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-17 01:14:06 FeedbackPrintRSS
TBILISI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua)
"We are getting closer to launching negotiations with the EU on deep and comprehensive free-trade agreement," said the president at a joint press conference with visiting EU high representative for foreign policy and security matters Catherine Ashton after a meeting here.
"This is very important for Georgia's economy. We know what economic problems Europe is facing, but at the same time, access to EU market for Georgian products is a decisive step for Georgia' s further economic growth and welfare of our people," Saakashvili said.
Ashton said that the South Caucasus country had made much progress toward launching free trade talks with the EU.
"You are quite right and the expectation we have is that we will be able to move forward very quickly in the next few weeks and by Christmas to be able to show that progress, which, I know, you have worked so hard for," Ashton said.
The Georgian president described the completion of free-trade talks with the EU as one of the major points of his government's modernization program which sets 2015 as the deadline for meeting the program targets.
Saakashvili said that Georgia had achieved a huge progress in the direction of the EU since the launch of the association agreement talks with the 27-member bloc in July of last year.
Ashton arrived in Tbilisi after her visit to Baku, Azerbaijan.
Apart from meeting the Georgian president and Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze, the EU foreign policy chief is also scheduled to meet the chief of EUMM (EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia) which has been monitoring the cease-fire after the August 2008 conflict between Georgia and Russia in South Ossetia.
"The main aim of my visit is to show the commitment of the European Union to the South Caucasus," said Ashton before leaving for the region. "Over the last year, in the context of the renewed European Neighborhood Policy and Eastern Partnership, we have engaged in a process of significant strengthening of our relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, including through negotiations of association agreements."
Vashadze said Wednesday that the talks on the EU-Georgia Association Agreement had entered a decisive phase.
"The negotiations on deep and free-trade agreement will definitely open before the end of this year," the foreign minister told local media.
Ashton is also scheduled to travel to Yerevan of Armenia before visiting Moscow later this week.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-17 01:14:06 FeedbackPrintRSS
TBILISI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua)
British soldier killed in southern Afghanistan explosion
British soldier killed in southern Afghanistan explosion
A British soldier from 2nd Battalion The Rifles has died from an explosion in southern Afghanistan, the British Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday.
The soldier was serving with the 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment as a part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj North when he was killed by an improvised explosive device.
Family of the soldier was informed of the death in the Mirmandab region of Nahr-e Saraj in southern Afghanistan.
The death toll of British soldiers in Afghanistan since 2001 has risen to 386. The British government has decided to withdraw its combat troops from Afghanistan by 2015.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-16 23:03:50 FeedbackPrintRSS
LONDON, Nov. 16 (Xinhua)
A British soldier from 2nd Battalion The Rifles has died from an explosion in southern Afghanistan, the British Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday.
The soldier was serving with the 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment as a part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj North when he was killed by an improvised explosive device.
Family of the soldier was informed of the death in the Mirmandab region of Nahr-e Saraj in southern Afghanistan.
The death toll of British soldiers in Afghanistan since 2001 has risen to 386. The British government has decided to withdraw its combat troops from Afghanistan by 2015.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-16 23:03:50 FeedbackPrintRSS
LONDON, Nov. 16 (Xinhua)
Seven Kurdish rebels surrender to Turkish security forces
Seven Kurdish rebels surrender to Turkish security forces
Seven members of the Turkish outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) have turned themselves in to Turkish security forces in the southeastern province of Sirnak, Turkish newspaper Today's Zaman reported Wednesday at its official website.
Seven members, including a woman, entered Turkey from Iraq through the Habur border gate in the Silopi district of Sirnak province and surrendered to Turkish soldiers after leaving a PKK camp in northern Iraq, said the report.
After being questioned by prosecutors, they were transferred to the Diyarbakir Specially Authorized Prosecutor's Office Wednesday.
The surrender came after a call by Turkish President Abdullah Gul for PKK members who are Turkish citizens to lay down arms and return to their families, benefiting form a law that guarantees amnesty, according to the report.
Listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, the PKK took up arms in 1984 to create an ethnic homeland in southeastern Turkey. More than 40,000 people have been killed in conflicts involving the PKK during over the past two decades.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
English.news.cn 2011-11-16 19:52:21 FeedbackPrintRSS
ANKARA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua)
Seven members of the Turkish outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) have turned themselves in to Turkish security forces in the southeastern province of Sirnak, Turkish newspaper Today's Zaman reported Wednesday at its official website.
Seven members, including a woman, entered Turkey from Iraq through the Habur border gate in the Silopi district of Sirnak province and surrendered to Turkish soldiers after leaving a PKK camp in northern Iraq, said the report.
After being questioned by prosecutors, they were transferred to the Diyarbakir Specially Authorized Prosecutor's Office Wednesday.
The surrender came after a call by Turkish President Abdullah Gul for PKK members who are Turkish citizens to lay down arms and return to their families, benefiting form a law that guarantees amnesty, according to the report.
Listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, the PKK took up arms in 1984 to create an ethnic homeland in southeastern Turkey. More than 40,000 people have been killed in conflicts involving the PKK during over the past two decades.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
English.news.cn 2011-11-16 19:52:21 FeedbackPrintRSS
ANKARA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua)
Turkey suspends oil search plans in Syria
Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said Turkey has suspended joint oil exploration plans in six wells in Syria, local newspaper Today's Zaman reported Wednesday.
The plans for Turkish petroleum company TPAO to explore oil jointly with Syria's state oil company in six wells within Syria has been suspended, Yildiz was quoted as saying on Tuesday.
The minister also said that Turkey might consider terminating the sale of electricity to Syria if tensions continue to escalate over the alleged Syrian crackdown on anti-government protests.
"We are currently supplying electricity to Syria. If this trend continues, however, we may have to revise all these decisions," Yildiz said.
Yildiz's statement came hours after Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan slammed the Syrian government for the weekend's attacks on the Turkish diplomatic missions in Syria following an Arab League (AL) decision to suspend Syria's membership in the organization.
Gul warned Syria that Turkey would make a "different reaction" if any similar attack was repeated, according to the report.
Syrian pro-government demonstrators attacked the Turkish diplomatic missions in the Syrian capital of Damascus and two other cities on Saturday after the AL voted to suspend Syria's participation in its meetings and impose sanctions on the government for its alleged crackdown on protesters.
Turkey evacuated the families of its diplomats after the attacks and sent a diplomatic note to Syria on Sunday over the matter. The foreign ministry has also advised Turkish citizens to avoid travelling to the unrest-hit country.
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-11-16 18:26:06 FeedbackPrintRSS
ANKARA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua)
The plans for Turkish petroleum company TPAO to explore oil jointly with Syria's state oil company in six wells within Syria has been suspended, Yildiz was quoted as saying on Tuesday.
The minister also said that Turkey might consider terminating the sale of electricity to Syria if tensions continue to escalate over the alleged Syrian crackdown on anti-government protests.
"We are currently supplying electricity to Syria. If this trend continues, however, we may have to revise all these decisions," Yildiz said.
Yildiz's statement came hours after Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan slammed the Syrian government for the weekend's attacks on the Turkish diplomatic missions in Syria following an Arab League (AL) decision to suspend Syria's membership in the organization.
Gul warned Syria that Turkey would make a "different reaction" if any similar attack was repeated, according to the report.
Syrian pro-government demonstrators attacked the Turkish diplomatic missions in the Syrian capital of Damascus and two other cities on Saturday after the AL voted to suspend Syria's participation in its meetings and impose sanctions on the government for its alleged crackdown on protesters.
Turkey evacuated the families of its diplomats after the attacks and sent a diplomatic note to Syria on Sunday over the matter. The foreign ministry has also advised Turkish citizens to avoid travelling to the unrest-hit country.
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-11-16 18:26:06 FeedbackPrintRSS
ANKARA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua)
7 killed, 25 injured in traffic accident in western Turkey
7 killed, 25 injured in traffic accident in western Turkey
At least seven people were killed and 25 others injured in a traffic accident in the western Turkish province of Afyonkarahisar on Tuesday, local newspaper Today's Zaman reported Wednesday.
Afyonkarahisar Governor Irfan Balkanlioglu was quoted as saying that four vehicles had collided, leaving seven people dead and 25 others injured.
The accident occurred on the Afyonkarahisar-Konya highway when two passenger buses crashed into two trucks, said the report, adding that the injured were rushed to hospitals nearby for medical treatment.
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-11-16 15:58:12 FeedbackPrintRSS
ANKARA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua)
At least seven people were killed and 25 others injured in a traffic accident in the western Turkish province of Afyonkarahisar on Tuesday, local newspaper Today's Zaman reported Wednesday.
Afyonkarahisar Governor Irfan Balkanlioglu was quoted as saying that four vehicles had collided, leaving seven people dead and 25 others injured.
The accident occurred on the Afyonkarahisar-Konya highway when two passenger buses crashed into two trucks, said the report, adding that the injured were rushed to hospitals nearby for medical treatment.
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-11-16 15:58:12 FeedbackPrintRSS
ANKARA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua)
7 killed, 25 injured in traffic accident in western Turkey
7 killed, 25 injured in traffic accident in western Turkey
At least seven people were killed and 25 others injured in a traffic accident in the western Turkish province of Afyonkarahisar on Tuesday, local newspaper Today's Zaman reported.
Afyonkarahisar Governor Irfan Balkanlioglu was quoted as saying that four vehicles had collided, leaving seven people dead and 25 others injured.
The accident occurred on the Afyonkarahisar-Konya highway when two passenger buses crashed into two trucks, said the report, adding that the injured were rushed to hospitals nearby for medical treatment.
Editor: Lu Hui
English.news.cn 2011-11-16 15:31:15 FeedbackPrintRSS
ANKARA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua)
At least seven people were killed and 25 others injured in a traffic accident in the western Turkish province of Afyonkarahisar on Tuesday, local newspaper Today's Zaman reported.
Afyonkarahisar Governor Irfan Balkanlioglu was quoted as saying that four vehicles had collided, leaving seven people dead and 25 others injured.
The accident occurred on the Afyonkarahisar-Konya highway when two passenger buses crashed into two trucks, said the report, adding that the injured were rushed to hospitals nearby for medical treatment.
Editor: Lu Hui
English.news.cn 2011-11-16 15:31:15 FeedbackPrintRSS
ANKARA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua)
NATO probes raids near Afghan-Pakistan border
NATO probes raids near Afghan-Pakistan border
The NATO-led ISAF on Saturday said it has initiated an investigation into an incident near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border earlier on Saturday that resulted in the killing and injuring of a number of Pakistani security forces.
"The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is investigating an incident that occurred early this morning along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border," the ISAF said in a statement.
"This incident has my highest personal attention and my commitment to thoroughly investigating it to determine the facts," General John R. Allen, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, said in the statement.
"My most sincere and personal heartfelt condolences go out to the families and loved ones of any members of Pakistan Security Forces who may have been killed or injured." Allen said.
The ISAF leadership remains committed to improving security relations with Pakistan, including coordination of operations along border regions in their united fight against terrorism, according to the statement.
According to local media reports, at least 25 Pakistan security forces were killed and over a dozen were injured when NATO helicopters carried out an airstrike on a Pakistani army check post in northwest Mohmmand Agency, a tribal area in northwest Pakistan, in the wee hours Saturday.
Editor: Zhang Xiang
English.news.cn 2011-11-26 18:59:11 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Nov. 26 (Xinhua)
The NATO-led ISAF on Saturday said it has initiated an investigation into an incident near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border earlier on Saturday that resulted in the killing and injuring of a number of Pakistani security forces.
"The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is investigating an incident that occurred early this morning along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border," the ISAF said in a statement.
"This incident has my highest personal attention and my commitment to thoroughly investigating it to determine the facts," General John R. Allen, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, said in the statement.
"My most sincere and personal heartfelt condolences go out to the families and loved ones of any members of Pakistan Security Forces who may have been killed or injured." Allen said.
The ISAF leadership remains committed to improving security relations with Pakistan, including coordination of operations along border regions in their united fight against terrorism, according to the statement.
According to local media reports, at least 25 Pakistan security forces were killed and over a dozen were injured when NATO helicopters carried out an airstrike on a Pakistani army check post in northwest Mohmmand Agency, a tribal area in northwest Pakistan, in the wee hours Saturday.
Editor: Zhang Xiang
English.news.cn 2011-11-26 18:59:11 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Nov. 26 (Xinhua)
NATO supplies to Afghanistan blocked in NW Pakistan
Pakistani security forces have blocked the NATO supplies to Afghanistan following a Saturday morning's NATO air strike at an army checkpost in northwest Pakistan, which has so far reportedly killed 25 Pakistani troops and injured 15 others, according to local media.
Local government-run TV channel PTV quoted unidentified official sources as saying that the death toll of Saturday morning 's NATO air strike at an army checkpost in the Salala village of Baizai town of Mohmmand Agency, a tribal area in northwest Pakistan, which borders Afghanistan, has risen to 25 and 15 other security forces have also been injured in the attack and some of them are in serious condition.
Following the attack, the Pakistani security forces have blocked the NATO supplies to Afghanistan at the Jamrud area of Khyber Agency, a neighboring tribal area of Mohmmand Agency, which leads to the border check point of Tor Kham, one of the two border check points through which NATO supplies are currently shipped into Afghanistan through Pakistan.
Currently nearly 70 percent of the NATO supplies are reportedly shipped to the 140,000-plus U.S.-led NATO troops in Afghanistan through two border check points in Pakistan. The other one is located at Chaman in Pakistan's southwest province of Balochistan.
Editor: Yamei Wang
English.news.cn 2011-11-26 15:10:38
Local government-run TV channel PTV quoted unidentified official sources as saying that the death toll of Saturday morning 's NATO air strike at an army checkpost in the Salala village of Baizai town of Mohmmand Agency, a tribal area in northwest Pakistan, which borders Afghanistan, has risen to 25 and 15 other security forces have also been injured in the attack and some of them are in serious condition.
Following the attack, the Pakistani security forces have blocked the NATO supplies to Afghanistan at the Jamrud area of Khyber Agency, a neighboring tribal area of Mohmmand Agency, which leads to the border check point of Tor Kham, one of the two border check points through which NATO supplies are currently shipped into Afghanistan through Pakistan.
Currently nearly 70 percent of the NATO supplies are reportedly shipped to the 140,000-plus U.S.-led NATO troops in Afghanistan through two border check points in Pakistan. The other one is located at Chaman in Pakistan's southwest province of Balochistan.
Editor: Yamei Wang
English.news.cn 2011-11-26 15:10:38
13 insurgents killed, 17 arrested in Afghanistan
Afghan police, backed by army and NATO-led coalition forces, during operations have killed 13 insurgents and detained 17 other suspects over the past 24 hours, Afghan Interior Ministry said on Saturday. "Over the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police (ANP), Afghan army and Coalition Forces launched five joint operations in surrounding areas of the Kabul, Helmand, Uruzgan and Herat provinces," the ministry said in a statement.
"As a result of these operations, 13 armed insurgents were killed, one wounded and 17 others were arrested by ANP," it said.
Afghan officials often use the word "insurgents" referring to Taliban.
The Taliban insurgents, who launched in May this year spring offensive against Afghan and NATO forces, have yet to make comments.
English.news.cn 2011-11-26 14:03:08 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Nov. 26 (Xinhua)
"As a result of these operations, 13 armed insurgents were killed, one wounded and 17 others were arrested by ANP," it said.
Afghan officials often use the word "insurgents" referring to Taliban.
The Taliban insurgents, who launched in May this year spring offensive against Afghan and NATO forces, have yet to make comments.
English.news.cn 2011-11-26 14:03:08 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Nov. 26 (Xinhua)
Snow avalanche kills 3 in Kyrgyzstan
A snow avalanche killed three people in Kyrgyzstan, two of them were Chinese citizens, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Emergency Situations told Xinhua Friday.
The avalanche, carrying a snow volume of 105,000 cubic meters, occurred Thursday morning on the Bishkek-Osh highway, which has seen several avalanches recently.
During search and clean-out Friday evening, rescuers found a Lexus car buried under the snow rubble, in which the bodies of a Kyrgyz citizen and two Chinese citizens were found.
All three worked in the Chinese gold mining company Kaidi, confirmed the Chinese Embassy in Kyrgyzstan.
Earlier, the Ministry of Emergency Situations had recommended that people avoid traveling on the Bishkek-Osh highway.
Editor: Tang Danlu
English.news.cn 2011-11-26 08:04:14 FeedbackPrintRSS
BISHKEK, Nov. 25 (Xinhua)
The avalanche, carrying a snow volume of 105,000 cubic meters, occurred Thursday morning on the Bishkek-Osh highway, which has seen several avalanches recently.
During search and clean-out Friday evening, rescuers found a Lexus car buried under the snow rubble, in which the bodies of a Kyrgyz citizen and two Chinese citizens were found.
All three worked in the Chinese gold mining company Kaidi, confirmed the Chinese Embassy in Kyrgyzstan.
Earlier, the Ministry of Emergency Situations had recommended that people avoid traveling on the Bishkek-Osh highway.
Editor: Tang Danlu
English.news.cn 2011-11-26 08:04:14 FeedbackPrintRSS
BISHKEK, Nov. 25 (Xinhua)
Friday, November 25, 2011
230 new graduates join police force in W. Afghanistan
230 new graduates join police force in W. Afghanistan
A total of 230 new graduates joined the Afghan National Police (ANP) in Herat province with Herat city as its capital, 640 km west of capital city of Kabul, a police official said on Wednesday.
"As many as 230 newly trained policemen commissioned to the ANP on Wednesday and were deployed to six districts of Herat province to provide security for their countrymen," a police official with the Adraskan police training center, Fazil Ahmad Karimi told Xinhua.
The Afghan government and NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan (NTM-A) have stepped up efforts to train and equip Afghan police and army as Afghan forces are getting ready to take security responsibility from foreign forces in parts of the country in the coming weeks.
Herat city was among seven areas where Afghan security forces took security responsibilities from NATO forces in July this year, in the first part of a security transition process which will run to 2014 when Afghanistan will take over the full leadership of its own security duties from U.S. and NATO forces.
English.news.cn 2011-11-23 19:21:57 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Nov. 23 (Xinhua)
A total of 230 new graduates joined the Afghan National Police (ANP) in Herat province with Herat city as its capital, 640 km west of capital city of Kabul, a police official said on Wednesday.
"As many as 230 newly trained policemen commissioned to the ANP on Wednesday and were deployed to six districts of Herat province to provide security for their countrymen," a police official with the Adraskan police training center, Fazil Ahmad Karimi told Xinhua.
The Afghan government and NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan (NTM-A) have stepped up efforts to train and equip Afghan police and army as Afghan forces are getting ready to take security responsibility from foreign forces in parts of the country in the coming weeks.
Herat city was among seven areas where Afghan security forces took security responsibilities from NATO forces in July this year, in the first part of a security transition process which will run to 2014 when Afghanistan will take over the full leadership of its own security duties from U.S. and NATO forces.
English.news.cn 2011-11-23 19:21:57 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Nov. 23 (Xinhua)
107 insurgents killed in Afghanistan in one month: official
107 insurgents killed in Afghanistan in one month: official
A total of 107 insurgents had been killed in Afghanistan over the past month, a spokesman for the Afghan Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
"Some 107 armed insurgents had been killed and 98 more insurgents injured during military operations and armed clashes in different parts of the country over the past one month," General Zahir Azimi told reporters in a weekly press briefing here.
According to Azimi, the Afghan army, during joint and independent operations with NATO-led coalition forces, have also detained 511 suspected insurgents all over the country in the same period of time.
However, he also confirmed some 65 personnel of the Afghan National Army were also killed over the last one month in military operations, direct clashes with insurgents and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks elsewhere in the country.
Afghan officials often use the word "insurgents" referring to the Taliban.
Taliban insurgents, who have intensified activities since the militant group announced to launch a spring offensive against Afghan security forces and NATO-led troops stationed in Afghanistan on May 1, have yet to make comments.
Editor: Deng Shasha
English.news.cn 2011-11-23 19:21:18
A total of 107 insurgents had been killed in Afghanistan over the past month, a spokesman for the Afghan Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
"Some 107 armed insurgents had been killed and 98 more insurgents injured during military operations and armed clashes in different parts of the country over the past one month," General Zahir Azimi told reporters in a weekly press briefing here.
According to Azimi, the Afghan army, during joint and independent operations with NATO-led coalition forces, have also detained 511 suspected insurgents all over the country in the same period of time.
However, he also confirmed some 65 personnel of the Afghan National Army were also killed over the last one month in military operations, direct clashes with insurgents and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks elsewhere in the country.
Afghan officials often use the word "insurgents" referring to the Taliban.
Taliban insurgents, who have intensified activities since the militant group announced to launch a spring offensive against Afghan security forces and NATO-led troops stationed in Afghanistan on May 1, have yet to make comments.
Editor: Deng Shasha
English.news.cn 2011-11-23 19:21:18
30 insurgents killed, 40 arrested by Afghan National Police
30 insurgents killed, 40 arrested by Afghan National Police
Afghan police, backed by army and NATO-led Coalition forces, have killed 30 armed insurgents and detained 40 others during operations in different provinces over the past 24 hours, the Afghan Interior Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
"The Afghan National Police (ANP), Afghan Army and Coalition Forces launched 17 joint operations in surrounding areas of Kabul, Kunar, Nooristan, Faryab, Kandahar, Helmand, Zabul, Uruzgan, Wardak, Logar, Khost, Paktika, Paktiya and Herat provinces over the past 24 hours," the ministry said in the statement.
"As a result of these operations, 30 armed insurgents were killed and 40 other armed insurgents were arrested by the ANP," it said.
The ANP also discovered and confiscated four AK-47guns, 225 kg of Improvised Explosive Device (IED), three BM-1 rockets, 600 machine gun bullets, one PKM machine gun with 160 bullets, one round mortar mine, 3 hand grenades, and one radio handset, according to the statement.
Afghan officials often use the word "insurgents" referring to the Taliban.
Taliban insurgents, whose regime was toppled in a U.S.-led incursion in late 2001, have intensified activities since the militant group announced to launch a spring offensive against Afghan security forces and NATO-led troops stationed in Afghanistan on May 1, have yet to make comments.
English.news.cn 2011-11-23 15:29:52 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Nov. 23 (Xinhua)
Afghan police, backed by army and NATO-led Coalition forces, have killed 30 armed insurgents and detained 40 others during operations in different provinces over the past 24 hours, the Afghan Interior Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
"The Afghan National Police (ANP), Afghan Army and Coalition Forces launched 17 joint operations in surrounding areas of Kabul, Kunar, Nooristan, Faryab, Kandahar, Helmand, Zabul, Uruzgan, Wardak, Logar, Khost, Paktika, Paktiya and Herat provinces over the past 24 hours," the ministry said in the statement.
"As a result of these operations, 30 armed insurgents were killed and 40 other armed insurgents were arrested by the ANP," it said.
The ANP also discovered and confiscated four AK-47guns, 225 kg of Improvised Explosive Device (IED), three BM-1 rockets, 600 machine gun bullets, one PKM machine gun with 160 bullets, one round mortar mine, 3 hand grenades, and one radio handset, according to the statement.
Afghan officials often use the word "insurgents" referring to the Taliban.
Taliban insurgents, whose regime was toppled in a U.S.-led incursion in late 2001, have intensified activities since the militant group announced to launch a spring offensive against Afghan security forces and NATO-led troops stationed in Afghanistan on May 1, have yet to make comments.
English.news.cn 2011-11-23 15:29:52 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Nov. 23 (Xinhua)
14 insurgents killed in Helmand, Afghanistan
14 insurgents killed in Helmand, Afghanistan
Fourteen insurgents were killed Tuesday afternoon in a clash in Helmand province, 555 km south of capital city of Kabul, a provincial official said on Wednesday.
"An unknown number of armed terrorists attacked a joint patrol of Afghan and NATO-led ISAF forces in an area between Zambuli and Meermandab region in Gereshk district on Tuesday afternoon," a spokesman for the provincial government Daud Ahmadi told Xinhua on Wednesday morning.
The joint forces returned fire killing 14 insurgents on the spot besides discovering and seizing a handful of weapons on the scene, Ahmadi said, adding "Unfortunately a 13-year-old girl was also killed and another nine-year-old girl was injured in the clash that lasted for a while,"
"So far, it is unknown that whose firing killed the innocent girl but an investigation was underway by police into the case," Ahmadi added.
The Taliban militants stepped up their attacks on Afghan and NATO-led troops since a spring rebel offensive was launched in May this year in the war-ravaged country.
The Taliban outfit has also warned the civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centers regarded as the legitimate targets by militants.
The insurgent group has yet to make comments.
English.news.cn 2011-11-23 15:21:23 FeedbackPrintRSS
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Nov. 23 (Xinhua)
Fourteen insurgents were killed Tuesday afternoon in a clash in Helmand province, 555 km south of capital city of Kabul, a provincial official said on Wednesday.
"An unknown number of armed terrorists attacked a joint patrol of Afghan and NATO-led ISAF forces in an area between Zambuli and Meermandab region in Gereshk district on Tuesday afternoon," a spokesman for the provincial government Daud Ahmadi told Xinhua on Wednesday morning.
The joint forces returned fire killing 14 insurgents on the spot besides discovering and seizing a handful of weapons on the scene, Ahmadi said, adding "Unfortunately a 13-year-old girl was also killed and another nine-year-old girl was injured in the clash that lasted for a while,"
"So far, it is unknown that whose firing killed the innocent girl but an investigation was underway by police into the case," Ahmadi added.
The Taliban militants stepped up their attacks on Afghan and NATO-led troops since a spring rebel offensive was launched in May this year in the war-ravaged country.
The Taliban outfit has also warned the civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centers regarded as the legitimate targets by militants.
The insurgent group has yet to make comments.
English.news.cn 2011-11-23 15:21:23 FeedbackPrintRSS
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Nov. 23 (Xinhua)
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