Transdniestria has targeted the Eurasian integration

The Transdniestrian president has signed a decree approving a new foreign policy concept whose top priority was called a course for the Eurasian integration."The document fixes the country's foreign policy course determined by the people of TMR and reflects the national idea of Transdniestria ' the Eurasian integration. It is based on the Transdniestrians' will expressed in a referendum on 17 September 2006, when Transdniestria's citizens voted for independence and the subsequent rapprochement with Russia," said the press service of the TMR leader."The whole logic of Transdniestria historical development since the formation of the republic to the present day, suggests that we are an integral part of the Eurasian civilization space," said Shevchuk to journalists.The new concept adjusts the Transdniestrian foreign policy guidelines, highlights and for the first time clearly marks relations with Russia. This is followed by the development of Transdniestria's relations with Ukraine and Moldova. Next - strengthening of relations with Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and only thereafter - with other states and international organizations.

Russian Navy Commissions SSBN Yury Dolgoruky

Russian Navy Commissions SSBN Yury Dolgoruky

Text: Vzglyad

Photo: SSBN Yury Dolgoruky in the White Sea. Forum.sevastopol.info

The Project 955 Borei nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) Yury Dolgoruky was commissioned into Russian Navy on Sunday, Dec 30, reported sources in defense industry."Signing of the acceptance certificate was preceded by successful completion of the closing phase of trials, including missiles' guidance command channel. The submarine-launched ballistic missile Bulava was commissioned along with the submarine. In the new year, Yury Dolgoruky will be in experimental service", the insider told Interfax.As for him, the acceptance certificate was signed at Sevmash shipyard on Sunday in the presence of deputy defense minister Yury Borisov, Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Viktor Chirkov, president of United Shipbuilding Corporation Andrei Diachkov, and Director General of Sevmash shipyard Mikhail Budnichenko.Deputy defense minister Yury Borisov earlier told reporters that SSBN Yury Dolgoruky would be commissioned at the end of 2012. "I hope that on December 30 we'll take the sub in service. That would be a kind of a stocking-stuffer, I've already planned out my trip toSevmash", Borisov said then. He pointed out that all defects had been eliminated in accordance with the schedule, including problems of missile guidance channel.

Syria, Iran and the future of the CSTO

Syria, Iran and the future of the CSTO

In May 2007, secretary general of theCollective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Nikolai Bordyuzha invited Iran to join the alliance, stating that “the CSTO is an open organization. If Iran applies in accordance with our charter, we will consider the application.” Although the CSTO was already dealing with Tehranon several collective security tasks – including the fight against illicit drug trade in Central Asia – Iranian accession to the organization still did not take place, basically due to the ayatollahs’ opposition to join a military bloc clearly dominated by a traditionally rival power of Iran such as Russia.

Established on May 15, 1992, the CSTO is an intergovernmental military alliance aimed at ensuring security in the former Soviet space following the collapse of the USSR. As a Moscow-led military organization, the CSTO is often viewed as the natural successor of the Warsaw Pact, having also been described as the “NATO of the East.” Currently consisting of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the CSTO is nevertheless dealing with the likely withdrawal of this latter, following Tashkent’s decision to suspend its participation to the organization in June 2012.