tass--2020-01-16--New Russian PM plans to boost investments, restore trust between business and government

MOSCOW , January 16 .
/TASS/ .
New Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said his government is going to work @ @ @ @ @ to return trust between business and government .
He was speaking at plenary session of @ @ @ @ @ a candidate for the post of Prime Minister .
Later on Thursday , the State @ @ @ @ @ President Vladimir Putin signed a decree appointing Mishustin as Russia ’ s new Prime Minister @ @ @ @ @ macroeconomic stability , which is a very important factor .
Today , sufficient reserves have @ @ @ @ @ , low inflation has been achieved .
In fact , we believe that we will @ @ @ @ @ 4 % , this is a very important factor .
For further development and further @ @ @ @ @ is necessary , first of all , to ensure the growth of investments , '' @ @ @ @ @ is also necessary `` to regain the lost trust between the government and business .
@

MOSCOW, January 16. /TASS/. New Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said his government is going to work to ensure investment growth and to return trust between business and government.
He was speaking at plenary session of the State Duma, as a candidate for the post of Prime Minister. Later on Thursday, the State Duma approved his candidacy and President Vladimir Putin signed a decree appointing Mishustin as Russia’s new Prime Minister.
"Now we have macroeconomic stability, which is a very important factor. Today, sufficient reserves have been created <...>, low inflation has been achieved. In fact, we believe that we will manage to keep it within 4%, this is a very important factor. For further development and further growth of GDP, it is necessary, first of all, to ensure the growth of investments,"Mishustin said adding that it is also necessary "to regain the lost trust between the government and business."


tass--2020-01-16--Russian president, EU council head hope for revival of Libya’s political process

BRUSSELS , January 16 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin and President of the European Council Charles Michel have @ @ @ @ @ expressed hope that parties to the Libyan conflict will reach an agreement to implement ceasefire @ @ @ @ @ the council said in a statement on Thursday .
`` The crisis in Libya poses @ @ @ @ @ the statement reads .
Putin and Michel `` discussed the importance of the cessation of @ @ @ @ @ that `` all parties will come to an agreement to lock in a ceasefire and @ @ @ @ @ , '' the council said .
`` The president of the European Council repeated that @ @ @ @ @ UN initiatives and the Berlin process , '' the document points out .

BRUSSELS, January 16. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and President of the European Council Charles Michel have had a phone call and expressed hope that parties to the Libyan conflict will reach an agreement to implement ceasefire and restart political process, the council said in a statement on Thursday.
"The crisis in Libya poses significant regional risks," the statement reads. Putin and Michel "discussed the importance of the cessation of hostilities" and expressed hope that "all parties will come to an agreement to lock in a ceasefire and to re-launch the political process," the council said.
"The president of the European Council repeated that the European Union fully supports UN initiatives and the Berlin process," the document points out.


tass--2020-01-16--Volume of Hainan's duty free store sales up by 35% in 2019

HAIKOU , January 16 .
/TASS/ .
The total sales volume of Hainan duty free stores in 2019 amounted to 13.61 billion yuan ( about $ 1.97 billion ) , which is by 35 % higher than in 2018 , reported Xinhua citing provincial authorities .
Over the indicated period , about 3.84 million purchases were made in the Hainan duty free shops - an increase of 34 % year on year .
The New Year period , with over 70,000 units of goods worth 54 million yuan ( $ 7.9 million ) sold , is considered a peak in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compared to the same period in 2018 amounted to 35.91 % and 19.69 % , respectively .
Currently , there are four duty free stores on the island : two of them are located in the provincial capital , Haikou , the rest of them were opened in Sanya and the coastal town of Boao in the island 's north-east .
The pilot program for the development of the duty free store chain in the Chinese province of Hainan was launched by the Chinese government in 2011 .
Duty-free stores are part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tourism on Hainan .
In order to create the most favorable conditions for tourists , in December 2018 , the authorities decided to increase the maximum amount of duty free purchases on the island from 16,000 to 30,000 yuan ( from $ 2.280 to $ 4.480 ) without restrictions on the number of purchased goods .
On December 30 , 2019 , another major duty free store with an area of 64,000 square meters , which includes shops with various local and international brands , entertainment infrastructure and restaurants , and four Michelin @ @ @ @ @ @ @

HAIKOU, January 16. /TASS/. The total sales volume of Hainan duty free stores in 2019 amounted to 13.61 billion yuan (about $ 1.97 billion), which is by 35% higher than in 2018, reported Xinhua citing provincial authorities.
Over the indicated period, about 3.84 million purchases were made in the Hainan duty free shops - an increase of 34% year on year. The New Year period, with over 70,000 units of goods worth 54 million yuan ($ 7.9 million) sold, is considered a peak in sales. The growth of these figures compared to the same period in 2018 amounted to 35.91% and 19.69%, respectively.
Currently, there are four duty free stores on the island: two of them are located in the provincial capital, Haikou, the rest of them were opened in Sanya and the coastal town of Boao in the island's north-east. The pilot program for the development of the duty free store chain in the Chinese province of Hainan was launched by the Chinese government in 2011.
Duty-free stores are part of the authorities' plan to promote international tourism on Hainan. In order to create the most favorable conditions for tourists, in December 2018, the authorities decided to increase the maximum amount of duty free purchases on the island from 16,000 to 30,000 yuan (from $ 2.280 to $ 4.480) without restrictions on the number of purchased goods.
On December 30, 2019, another major duty free store with an area of 64,000 square meters, which includes shops with various local and international brands, entertainment infrastructure and restaurants, and four Michelin restaurants, was opened in Sanya.


tass--2020-01-16--Putin does not rule out more constitutional amendments for discussion

MOSCOW , January 16./TASS/ .
Meeting on Thursday with the working group tasked with drafting amendments to the Russian constitution , President Vladimir Putin did not rule out that more amendments could be put forward to look into , co-chair of the working group Andrey Klishas told TASS on Thursday .
`` I think that we can shortly commit to paper the proposals that have already been formulated by the president in his State of the Nation Address .
However , the president did not rule out that there could be some additional proposals , '' said Klishas , chair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Legislation and State Building .
`` The task of the working group is to put together these proposals , assess them , discuss them extensively , including with members of the public , '' Klishas said after a meeting of the working group .
Afterwards , the working group will report to the president about the results .
`` And we will be jointly deciding which proposals to bring up for nationwide discussion , and which will be submitted directly to the parliament for passing a law , '' the senator said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the working group would be actively involving scientific establishments and the expert society .
The president emphasized that `` political experience is important , life experience , that is why we have a lot of members of the public ( in the group ) , who are expected to make a major contribution to drafting the amendments , '' Klishas explained .
He said a next meeting of the working group would be held on Friday , and then its members would be meeting whenever necessary .
`` We will be working hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president said this is not an activity for years , it will be conducted within the next few months , '' the co-chair said .
In his State of the Nation Address delivered Wednesday , Putin proposed adopting a number of amendments to the Constitution .
In particular , he proposed cementing the supremacy of the Constitution over international treaties within Russia ’ s domestic legal space , as well as a number of social guarantees , including adjusting the minimal wage and pensions for inflation .
Besides , the Russian leader suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and regional governors when making federal-level decisions and cementing the status of the State Council .
His proposals also included expanding the power of the State Duma , the Federation Council and the Constitutional Court , as well as toughening the requirements for senior officials and presidential candidates .
Putin suggested putting to the vote a package of amendments to the Russian Constitution .
The president will sign a special decree to set a date and rules of putting to the vote amendments to the Constitution , Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, January 16./TASS/. Meeting on Thursday with the working group tasked with drafting amendments to the Russian constitution, President Vladimir Putin did not rule out that more amendments could be put forward to look into, co-chair of the working group Andrey Klishas told TASS on Thursday.
"I think that we can shortly commit to paper the proposals that have already been formulated by the president in his State of the Nation Address. However, the president did not rule out that there could be some additional proposals," said Klishas, chair of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building.
"The task of the working group is to put together these proposals, assess them, discuss them extensively, including with members of the public," Klishas said after a meeting of the working group.
Afterwards, the working group will report to the president about the results. "And we will be jointly deciding which proposals to bring up for nationwide discussion, and which will be submitted directly to the parliament for passing a law," the senator said.
He said it had been decided that the working group would be actively involving scientific establishments and the expert society. The president emphasized that "political experience is important, life experience, that is why we have a lot of members of the public (in the group), who are expected to make a major contribution to drafting the amendments," Klishas explained.
He said a next meeting of the working group would be held on Friday, and then its members would be meeting whenever necessary. "We will be working hard. As for the terms, the president said this is not an activity for years, it will be conducted within the next few months," the co-chair said.
In his State of the Nation Address delivered Wednesday, Putin proposed adopting a number of amendments to the Constitution. In particular, he proposed cementing the supremacy of the Constitution over international treaties within Russia’s domestic legal space, as well as a number of social guarantees, including adjusting the minimal wage and pensions for inflation. Besides, the Russian leader suggested boosting the role of local governmental bodies and regional governors when making federal-level decisions and cementing the status of the State Council. His proposals also included expanding the power of the State Duma, the Federation Council and the Constitutional Court, as well as toughening the requirements for senior officials and presidential candidates.
Putin suggested putting to the vote a package of amendments to the Russian Constitution. The president will sign a special decree to set a date and rules of putting to the vote amendments to the Constitution, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said later on Wednesday.


tass--2020-01-16--Russian national Alexei Burkov to plead guilty in US court to some charges

WASHINGTON , January 16 .
/TASS/ .
Russian national Alexei Burkov , extradited from Israel to the United States , @ @ @ @ @ to some charges in the federal court of Alexandria , Virginia , on January 23 @ @ @ @ @ statement , Burkov ’ s lawyer Greg Stambaugh told TASS .
`` I can state @ @ @ @ @ enter a guilty plea to certain charges on the 23rd .
The plea document will @ @ @ @ @ time , '' Stambaugh said .
On November 22 , 2019 Burkov told the court @ @ @ @ @ .

WASHINGTON, January 16. /TASS/. Russian national Alexei Burkov, extradited from Israel to the United States, is going to plead guilty to some charges in the federal court of Alexandria, Virginia, on January 23, thus changing his original statement, Burkov’s lawyer Greg Stambaugh told TASS.
"I can state that Mr. Burkov intends to enter a guilty plea to certain charges on the 23rd. The plea document will be made public at that time," Stambaugh said. On November 22, 2019 Burkov told the court in Alexandria he was innocent.


tass--2020-01-16--New Russian Prime Minister vows to set clear priorities of budget spending

`` We should clearly prioritize budget spending , keep inflation within the given parameters , no higher than 4 % , '' Mishustin added .
`` Of course , to achieve these goals [ of the government ’ s work in the socio-economic sector ] , we need to maintain macroeconomic balance , and therefore , to accumulate additional revenues to fulfill the commitments , '' he said in State Duma , lower house of parliament earlier on Thursday .
He was speaking at plenary session of the State Duma , as a candidate for the post of Prime Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Duma approved his candidacy and President Putin signed a decree appointing Mishustin as Russia ’ s new Prime Minister He stressed that he is going to closely cooperate with the regions of Russia and heads of regions on all key issues of economic and social development .
`` I am convinced that by doing so we will be able to ensure the most effective work and to bring the solutions many regions have to the federal level , '' Mishustin said .
As one of the priorities for his government he named the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of infrastructure restrictions for the regions and the country as a whole .
Mishustin mentioned roads that connect the regional centers and federal highways , as well as bypasses of large cities .
`` We can spend funds of the National Wealth Fund on such payback projects already this year , as the President stressed in his Address to the Federal Assembly , this year , '' Mishustin said .

"We should clearly prioritize budget spending, keep inflation within the given parameters, no higher than 4%," Mishustin added.
"Of course, to achieve these goals [of the government’s work in the socio-economic sector], we need to maintain macroeconomic balance, and therefore, to accumulate additional revenues to fulfill the commitments," he said in State Duma, lower house of parliament earlier on Thursday. He was speaking at plenary session of the State Duma, as a candidate for the post of Prime Minister. Later on Thursday, the State Duma approved his candidacy and President Putin signed a decree appointing Mishustin as Russia’s new Prime Minister
He stressed that he is going to closely cooperate with the regions of Russia and heads of regions on all key issues of economic and social development.
"I am convinced that by doing so we will be able to ensure the most effective work and to bring the solutions many regions have to the federal level," Mishustin said.
As one of the priorities for his government he named the development of transport infrastructure in particular removal of infrastructure restrictions for the regions and the country as a whole. Mishustin mentioned roads that connect the regional centers and federal highways, as well as bypasses of large cities.
"We can spend funds of the National Wealth Fund on such payback projects already this year, as the President stressed in his Address to the Federal Assembly, this year," Mishustin said.


tass--2020-01-18--S&P affirms Russia's BBB-rating with stable outlook

MOSCOW , January 18 .
/TASS/ .
The Standard & Poor 's ( S & P ) rating agency has affirmed Russia ’ s `` BBB- '' credit rating with a stable outlook , S & P said in a report on Saturday .
`` We could take a negative rating action in the next 24 months if geopolitical events result in materially tighter international sanctions on Russia , '' the statement reads .
`` These could , for example , target large state-owned energy companies , systemically important banks , or the secondary market for Russian sovereign debt .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ if we saw a risk of a material deterioration of Russia 's budgetary performance , either due to a looser fiscal framework or contingent liabilities in the banking sector or state-owned enterprises ( SOEs ) , '' S & P added .
According to the rating agency , `` risks of tighter international sanctions , mostly from the US , remain '' but Russia ’ s `` strong policy framework shields the economy , public finance , and the financial system from external shocks . ''
S & P analysts expect Russia ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy continuity and to broadly comply with its conservative fiscal rule , even though spending pressures are building up . ''
S & P also `` expects the Central Bank of Russia ( CBR ) to maintain price and financial stability , including during episodes of market volatility .
`` .

MOSCOW, January 18. /TASS/. The Standard & Poor's (S&P) rating agency has affirmed Russia’s "BBB-" credit rating with a stable outlook, S&P said in a report on Saturday.
"We could take a negative rating action in the next 24 months if geopolitical events result in materially tighter international sanctions on Russia," the statement reads. "These could, for example, target large state-owned energy companies, systemically important banks, or the secondary market for Russian sovereign debt. We could also take a negative action if we saw a risk of a material deterioration of Russia's budgetary performance, either due to a looser fiscal framework or contingent liabilities in the banking sector or state-owned enterprises (SOEs)," S&P added.
According to the rating agency, "risks of tighter international sanctions, mostly from the US, remain" but Russia’s "strong policy framework shields the economy, public finance, and the financial system from external shocks."
S&P analysts expect Russia’s new government "to broadly comply with its conservative fiscal rule, even though spending pressures are building up." S&P also "expects the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) to maintain price and financial stability, including during episodes of market volatility."
The rating agency also expects Russia’s new government to maintain macroeconomic policy continuity.
"The proposed constitutional amendments triggered the immediate resignation of the government and, on January 16, the appointment of the new prime minister, Mikhail Mishustin, former head of the federal tax service. Despite these changes, we expect the new government to maintain macroeconomic policy continuity," the document reads.
S&P analysts recognized "Russia's progress in establishing prudent and credible macroeconomic policies." "These remain some of the strongest among emerging market sovereigns and have enabled the economy to absorb a severe terms-of-trade shock in 2014-2015 and withstand episodes of financial market and exchange-rate volatility caused by several rounds of international sanctions," the report pointed out.
"We also acknowledge that the government's recent implementation of parametric pension reform could help mitigate adverse demographic trends in the longer run," S&P experts noted.
Growth of Russia’s GDP
The rating agency also expects Russia’s GDP to grow to 1.8% in 2020.
"We expect growth to rebound to 1.8% in 2020 on the low base effect and policy easing. However, at this point, we don't expect the pace of medium-term economic growth to significantly exceed this level, which remains slower than rated sovereigns with similar income levels," the document reads. "The subdued growth outlook emanates from negative demographic trends (including a shrinking labor force) and only modest productivity gains. Structural impediments to productivity-driven growth include the state's dominant and increasing role in the economy and relatively low levels of competition and innovation," S&P added.
"We estimate full-year 2019 real GDP growth at 1.3%, mainly reflecting a negative fiscal impulse (the combination of the increase in value-added tax and delays to a planned public spending boost) and also weaker global growth," S&P analysts said.


tass--2020-01-18--Merkel congratulates Mishustin on assuming office as Russian PM

BERLIN , January 18 .
/TASS/ .
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has congratulated Mikhail Mishustin on assuming office as Russia @ @ @ @ @ , the German cabinet said in a statement .
`` Personal , civic , cultural @ @ @ @ @ between our countries , which are rooted in history , are the basis of bilateral @ @ @ @ @ chancellor said in a message to Mishustin .
`` The German government is interested in @ @ @ @ @ and looks forward to cooperating with your government in order to achieve this goal , @ @ @ @ @ Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree appointing Mikhail Mishustin as the country ’ s @ @ @ @ @ after the State Duma ( the lower house of parliament ) had endorsed Mishustin ’ @ @ @ @ @ prime minister said later that he would name his cabinet in the coming days .

BERLIN, January 18. /TASS/. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has congratulated Mikhail Mishustin on assuming office as Russia’s new prime minister, the German cabinet said in a statement.
"Personal, civic, cultural, economic and political ties between our countries, which are rooted in history, are the basis of bilateral relations," the German chancellor said in a message to Mishustin. "The German government is interested in boosting relations on this basis and looks forward to cooperating with your government in order to achieve this goal," the message added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree appointing Mikhail Mishustin as the country’s prime minister on January 16 after the State Duma (the lower house of parliament) had endorsed Mishustin’s nomination. The new prime minister said later that he would name his cabinet in the coming days.


tass--2020-01-18--Ukraine’s new security strategy aimed at easing tensions with Russia

KIEV , January 17 .
/TASS/ .
Ukraine ’ s new National Security Strategy , which was presented at the @ @ @ @ @ Security and Defense Council , stipulates measures to curb tensions with Russia , the Ukrainian @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
`` There were proposals to take measures aimed at easing a possibility @ @ @ @ @ tensions in bilateral relations , '' the statement says .

KIEV, January 17. /TASS/. Ukraine’s new National Security Strategy, which was presented at the Friday session of the National Security and Defense Council, stipulates measures to curb tensions with Russia, the Ukrainian presidential press office said in a statement.
"There were proposals to take measures aimed at easing a possibility of escalation with Russia and tensions in bilateral relations," the statement says.


tass--2020-01-18--Draft conclusions of Berlin conference on Libya call for formation of unified government

UNITED NATIONS , January 18 .
/TASS/ .
The draft conclusions of the upcoming Berlin conference on Libya , a copy of which was made available to TASS on Friday , emphasize the need to form a unified government in the country .
`` We [ the participants ] support the Libyan Political Agreement as viable framework for the political solution in Libya , '' the document reads .
`` We also call for the establishment of a functioning Presidency Council and the formation of a single , unified , inclusive and effective Libyan government approved by the House of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The participants also `` urge all Libyan parties to resume the inclusive Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process under the auspices of the UNSMIL [ the United Nations Support Mission in Libya ] , engaging in it constructively , paving the way to end the transitional period through free , fair , inclusive and credible parliamentary and presidential elections . ''
The document underlines `` the important role of neighboring countries in the Libyan stabilization process . ''
`` We commit to using all bilateral contacts to urge all Libyan parties to enter into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political process under UNSMIL auspices , '' the document adds .
Participants in the Berlin conference on Libya call for the termination of all military movements in support of the parties of the conflict .
`` We call for the termination of all military movements by , or in direct support of , the conflict parties , in and over the entire territory of Libya , starting from the beginning of the ceasefire process , '' the document reads .
Turkey announced earlier that it would send troops to Libya to support the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ headed by Fayez al-Sarraj .
On January 16 , Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara had begun the deployment of troops to Libya .
A special Follow-up Committee will be set up under the United Nations aegis to implement the results of the Berlin conference on Libya .
The international committee will deal with the implementation of the six Libyan settlement `` baskets '' outlined in the document .
They are the ceasefire , weapons embargo , resumption of the political process , reforms in the security sector , economic reforms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We herewith create an International Follow-Up Committee ( IFC ) in order to maintain coordination in the aftermath of the Berlin summit , under the aegis of the United Nations , '' the document says .
According to the document , the committee will meet on a monthly basis at different locations .
`` At the end of each session , a conclusion acknowledging specific achievements or compliance would be presented , '' it reads .
Apart from that , special working groups will meet in Libya or Tunisia twice a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the parties to the Libyan conflict to make a ceasefire agreement .
`` We [ the participants ] welcome the marked reduction in violence since January 12 and the negotiations undertaken in Moscow on January 14 aimed at paving the way towards a ceasefire agreement , '' the document reads .
`` We call for credible , verifiable , sequenced and reciprocal steps , starting with a truce implemented by all parties concerned , including credible steps towards the dismantling of all armed groups and militias by all parties , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the redeployment of heavy weapons , artillery and aerial vehicles and their cantonment . ''
`` We call upon the United Nations to facilitate ceasefire negotiations between the parties , including through the immediate establishment of technical committees to monitor and verify the implementation of the ceasefire , '' the document adds .
An international conference on Libya will take place in the German capital on January 19 .
According to the German government , the event will involve a number of countries , namely Russia , the United States , China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France , Egypt , Algeria , and the United Arab Emirates , as well as organizations such as the United Nations , the European Union , the African Union and the Arab League .

UNITED NATIONS, January 18. /TASS/. The draft conclusions of the upcoming Berlin conference on Libya, a copy of which was made available to TASS on Friday, emphasize the need to form a unified government in the country.
"We [the participants] support the Libyan Political Agreement as viable framework for the political solution in Libya," the document reads. "We also call for the establishment of a functioning Presidency Council and the formation of a single, unified, inclusive and effective Libyan government approved by the House of Representatives," the document adds.
The participants also "urge all Libyan parties to resume the inclusive Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process under the auspices of the UNSMIL [the United Nations Support Mission in Libya], engaging in it constructively, paving the way to end the transitional period through free, fair, inclusive and credible parliamentary and presidential elections." The document underlines "the important role of neighboring countries in the Libyan stabilization process."
"We commit to using all bilateral contacts to urge all Libyan parties to enter into the ceasefire and engage in the intra-Libyan political process under UNSMIL auspices," the document adds.
The military movements
Participants in the Berlin conference on Libya call for the termination of all military movements in support of the parties of the conflict.
"We call for the termination of all military movements by, or in direct support of, the conflict parties, in and over the entire territory of Libya, starting from the beginning of the ceasefire process," the document reads.
Turkey announced earlier that it would send troops to Libya to support the Government of National Accord (GNA) headed by Fayez al-Sarraj. On January 16, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara had begun the deployment of troops to Libya.
Security reforms
The draft conclusions of the upcoming Berlin conference on Libya call for security reforms in the country.
"We [the participants] call for the restoration of the monopoly of the State to the legitimate use of force," the document reads, adding: "We support the establishment of unified Libyan national security, police and military forces under central, civilian authority, building upon the Cairo talks, and the documents produced there-in."
Sanctions on those breaching arms embargo
The draft conclusions of the upcoming Berlin conference on Libya call for sanctions on those who breach the United Nations Security Council arms embargo.
"We [participants in the conference] commit to unequivocally and fully respect the arms embargo established by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011) and the Council’s subsequent Resolutions, including the proliferation of arms from Libya, and call on all international actors to do the same," the document reads.
"We call on all actors to apply and enforce UNSC sanctions, including through national implementation measures, against those who are found to be in breach of the UNSC arms embargo or the ceasefire."
A special Committee
A special Follow-up Committee will be set up under the United Nations aegis to implement the results of the Berlin conference on Libya.
The international committee will deal with the implementation of the six Libyan settlement "baskets" outlined in the document. They are the ceasefire, weapons embargo, resumption of the political process, reforms in the security sector, economic reforms, and humanitarian law and human rights.
"We herewith create an International Follow-Up Committee (IFC) in order to maintain coordination in the aftermath of the Berlin summit, under the aegis of the United Nations," the document says.
According to the document, the committee will meet on a monthly basis at different locations. "At the end of each session, a conclusion acknowledging specific achievements or compliance would be presented," it reads.
Apart from that, special working groups will meet in Libya or Tunisia twice a months.
A ceasefire agreement
The draft conclusions also call on the parties to the Libyan conflict to make a ceasefire agreement.
"We [the participants] welcome the marked reduction in violence since January 12 and the negotiations undertaken in Moscow on January 14 aimed at paving the way towards a ceasefire agreement," the document reads. "We call for credible, verifiable, sequenced and reciprocal steps, starting with a truce implemented by all parties concerned, including credible steps towards the dismantling of all armed groups and militias by all parties," the document says, emphasizing the need "for the redeployment of heavy weapons, artillery and aerial vehicles and their cantonment."
"We call upon the United Nations to facilitate ceasefire negotiations between the parties, including through the immediate establishment of technical committees to monitor and verify the implementation of the ceasefire," the document adds.
Economic reforms
Participants in the Berlin conference on Libya also call for economic reforms in the country, as can be seen from the draft conclusions of the conference.
"We support the Economic Dialogue with representatives of Libyan financial and economic institutions, and encourage the implementation of structural economic reforms. To facilitate this dialogue, we support the creation of an inclusive Libyan Expert Economic Commission composed of representatives of the key financial and economic institutions," the document reads.
The participants also "encourage the establishment of a reconstruction mechanism for Libya supporting development and reconstruction in all regions under the auspices of a new representative and unified government of national accord exercising its authority over all Libyan territory, to develop the severely affected areas."
Conference on Libya
An international conference on Libya will take place in the German capital on January 19. According to the German government, the event will involve a number of countries, namely Russia, the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Egypt, Algeria, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as organizations such as the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union and the Arab League.


tass--2020-01-17--Russian-Indian relations go up to qualitatively new level, says ambassador

NEW DELHI , January 17 .
/TASS/ .
Relations between Moscow and New Delhi have recently achieved a qualitatively new level , Russia ’ s Ambassador to India Nikolai Kudashev told Russian reporters on Friday .
`` It is not easy to find a definition for the new nature of relations , which would be both short and working , which would reflect the new trends .
But the fact that this new quality has appeared in our relationship is undeniable , '' the ambassador said at the news conference .
Kudashev recalled that initially , the Russian-Indian relations were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now this bilateral relationship is officially recognized as an especially privileged strategic partnership .
`` Russian-Indian relations are getting more and more comprehensive and are acquiring a continental scale - from the Atlantic to Russia ’ s Pacific coast and even to the Arctic , up to the North Pole .
Our cooperation covers more and more new areas and involves the exchange of sophisticated technologies .
Among them is collaboration in energy , space , transport , in the military-technical and communication fields , '' Kudashev stressed .
The Russian ambassador added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is being formed between Russia and India .
`` People are the ultimate value .
A new culture of interhuman relations is maturing between India and Russia , '' he said .
Kudashev recalled that a series of bilateral summit meetings is expected in the coming year .
`` Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’ s visit to Moscow on May 9 for the festivities marking the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory will open this year ’ s summit meetings .
Then we expect to see Mr. Modi [ in Russia ] in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He has already confirmed his participation .
Afterwards , Mr. Modi hopes to hold talks with [ Russian President ] Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia on the sidelines of the G20 summit .
The Russian president is also expected to come to India on a return visit , '' the ambassador said .

NEW DELHI, January 17. /TASS/. Relations between Moscow and New Delhi have recently achieved a qualitatively new level, Russia’s Ambassador to India Nikolai Kudashev told Russian reporters on Friday.
"It is not easy to find a definition for the new nature of relations, which would be both short and working, which would reflect the new trends. But the fact that this new quality has appeared in our relationship is undeniable," the ambassador said at the news conference.
Kudashev recalled that initially, the Russian-Indian relations were dubbed as a strategic partnership, but now this bilateral relationship is officially recognized as an especially privileged strategic partnership.
"Russian-Indian relations are getting more and more comprehensive and are acquiring a continental scale - from the Atlantic to Russia’s Pacific coast and even to the Arctic, up to the North Pole. Our cooperation covers more and more new areas and involves the exchange of sophisticated technologies. Among them is collaboration in energy, space, transport, in the military-technical and communication fields," Kudashev stressed.
The Russian ambassador added that a new culture of interhuman relations is being formed between Russia and India.
"People are the ultimate value. A new culture of interhuman relations is maturing between India and Russia," he said.
Kudashev recalled that a series of bilateral summit meetings is expected in the coming year.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Moscow on May 9 for the festivities marking the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory will open this year’s summit meetings. Then we expect to see Mr. Modi [in Russia] in July for the SCO and BRICS summits. He has already confirmed his participation. Afterwards, Mr. Modi hopes to hold talks with [Russian President] Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia on the sidelines of the G20 summit. The Russian president is also expected to come to India on a return visit," the ambassador said.


tass--2020-01-17--Syrian civilians unable to flee Idlib amid escalation

MOSCOW , January 17 .
/TASS/ .
Syrian civilians were unable to leave the Idlib de-escalation zone controlled by armed groups in the wake of escalation in the region , Major-General Yuri Borenkov , chief of the Russian center for reconciliation of the conflicting sides in Syria , told reporters on Friday .
`` In the wake of escalation , the exit of civilians from the areas of the Idlib de-escalation zone controlled by armed groups into the areas controlled by the Syrian government forces was not carried out on January 17 , 2020 , '' he said .
Borenkov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 63 motor and agricultural vehicles had left the zone since January 13 .
`` The Russian reconciliation center urges the commanders of illegal armed groups to refrain from armed provocations , to embark on a path of peaceful settlement in the areas under their control and stop hampering civilians ’ exit via the opened checkpoints , '' the general stressed .
In the past 24 hours , 62 cases of shelling by militants operating in the Idlib de-escalation zone have been registered in the regions of Latakia , Aleppo , Idlib and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 28 civilians have been killed in shelling in the city of Aleppo so far , while 56 more have been wounded .
Three checkpoints were opened on January 13 for civilians to flee from Syria ’ s Idlib de-escalation zone controlled by militants .
The checkpoints are located in the regions of Idlib , Hama and Aleppo .
A ceasefire agreement in the Idlib de-escalation zone in northern Syria came into effect on January 12 .
Moreover , Syrian government forces stopped fighting at 2.00 p.m. Moscow time on January 9 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tasks assigned to them after the completion of the military campaign in Syria .
They regularly travel around the country 's liberated areas to assess the humanitarian situation .
The main efforts of the Russian military are now focused on aiding the refugees who are returning to their homes and evacuating civilians from the war-torn country ’ s de-escalation zones .

MOSCOW, January 17. /TASS/. Syrian civilians were unable to leave the Idlib de-escalation zone controlled by armed groups in the wake of escalation in the region, Major-General Yuri Borenkov, chief of the Russian center for reconciliation of the conflicting sides in Syria, told reporters on Friday.
"In the wake of escalation, the exit of civilians from the areas of the Idlib de-escalation zone controlled by armed groups into the areas controlled by the Syrian government forces was not carried out on January 17, 2020," he said.
Borenkov added that a total of 1,490 people and 63 motor and agricultural vehicles had left the zone since January 13.
"The Russian reconciliation center urges the commanders of illegal armed groups to refrain from armed provocations, to embark on a path of peaceful settlement in the areas under their control and stop hampering civilians’ exit via the opened checkpoints," the general stressed.
In the past 24 hours, 62 cases of shelling by militants operating in the Idlib de-escalation zone have been registered in the regions of Latakia, Aleppo, Idlib and Hama. Since January 14, at least 28 civilians have been killed in shelling in the city of Aleppo so far, while 56 more have been wounded.
Three checkpoints were opened on January 13 for civilians to flee from Syria’s Idlib de-escalation zone controlled by militants. The checkpoints are located in the regions of Idlib, Hama and Aleppo. A ceasefire agreement in the Idlib de-escalation zone in northern Syria came into effect on January 12. Moreover, Syrian government forces stopped fighting at 2.00 p.m. Moscow time on January 9.
The Russian reconciliation center continues to fulfill the tasks assigned to them after the completion of the military campaign in Syria. They regularly travel around the country's liberated areas to assess the humanitarian situation. The main efforts of the Russian military are now focused on aiding the refugees who are returning to their homes and evacuating civilians from the war-torn country’s de-escalation zones.


tass--2020-01-17--Berlin conference on Libya to help launch crisis settlement process, says EU ambassador

MOSCOW , September 17 .
/TASS/ .
An international conference on Libya due to be held in Berlin on January @ @ @ @ @ launch an intra-Libyan political process with a minimal external interference into the domestic affairs of @ @ @ @ @ Union ’ s Ambassador to Russia Markus Ederer told TASS on Friday .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ latest development of [ Commander of the Libyan National Army ] General Haftar not signing @ @ @ @ @ was presented here in Moscow .
Obviously , the German side are trying to work @ @ @ @ @ arm embargo and reducing the outside interference into Libya 's affairs into the absolute minimum @ @ @ @ @ in order to allow the political process between Libyans , not a military solution , @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, September 17. /TASS/. An international conference on Libya due to be held in Berlin on January 19 is called to help launch an intra-Libyan political process with a minimal external interference into the domestic affairs of that country, the European Union’s Ambassador to Russia Markus Ederer told TASS on Friday.
"The process is complicated. The latest development of [Commander of the Libyan National Army] General Haftar not signing on the document, which was presented here in Moscow. Obviously, the German side are trying to work on de-escalation, maintaining the arm embargo and reducing the outside interference into Libya's affairs into the absolute minimum if not bringing down entirely in order to allow the political process between Libyans, not a military solution," he said.


tass--2020-01-17--US spy suspect Paul Whelan’s relatives unhappy about inaction of US State Secretary

NEW YORK , January 17 .
/TASS/ .
Relatives of Paul Whelan , the American accused in Russia of spying , voiced their discontent at inaction by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and have pinned their hopes on new US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan , said a statement released by David Whelan , Paul ’ s brother , on Friday .
Paul Whelan `` has been held at Lefortovo prison for 386 days , '' David Whelan said .
`` Despite his public pleas for help and support , no word from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
More than a year ago , Secretary Pompeo stated that he would seek Paul 's release if the charges are unfounded .
He has yet to take any action . ''
According to David , Paul ’ s relatives pin their hopes on the new US ambassador to Russia , John Sullivan .
`` We are looking forward to the imminent arrival of Ambassador John Sullivan .
We are confident he will continue the advocacy of his predecessor , Ambassador Jon Huntsman , on Paul ’ s behalf , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who also holds British , Canadian and Irish citizenship , was holding the position of a global security chief at BorgWarner , a Michigan-based automotive components company .
The Russian Federal Security Service ( FSB ) said Whelan was detained on December 28 , 2018 in Moscow while on an alleged spy mission .
A criminal investigation was launched against him on espionage charges carrying a punishment of anywhere from 10 to 20 years behind bars .

NEW YORK, January 17. /TASS/. Relatives of Paul Whelan, the American accused in Russia of spying, voiced their discontent at inaction by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and have pinned their hopes on new US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan, said a statement released by David Whelan, Paul’s brother, on Friday.
Paul Whelan "has been held at Lefortovo prison for 386 days," David Whelan said. "Despite his public pleas for help and support, no word from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Silence from President Donald Trump's administration. More than a year ago, Secretary Pompeo stated that he would seek Paul's release if the charges are unfounded. He has yet to take any action."
According to David, Paul’s relatives pin their hopes on the new US ambassador to Russia, John Sullivan.
"We are looking forward to the imminent arrival of Ambassador John Sullivan. We are confident he will continue the advocacy of his predecessor, Ambassador Jon Huntsman, on Paul’s behalf," he said.
US citizen Paul Whelan, 48, who also holds British, Canadian and Irish citizenship, was holding the position of a global security chief at BorgWarner, a Michigan-based automotive components company. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said Whelan was detained on December 28, 2018 in Moscow while on an alleged spy mission. A criminal investigation was launched against him on espionage charges carrying a punishment of anywhere from 10 to 20 years behind bars.


tass--2020-01-17--Ukraine issues repeated request to Iran to hand over flight recorders from downed plane

KIEV , January 17 .
/TASS/ .
The Ukrainian prosecutor general ’ s office said on Friday it had issued a repeated request to Iran asking to hand over the flight recorders from the Ukraine International Airlines passenger jet that was downed near Teheran in early January .
`` The prosecutor general ’ s office has issued a repeated request to Iran ’ s relevant agencies asking to hand over to the Ukrainian side flight recorders from the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 ( flight PS0752 Teheran-Kiev ) , '' it said , adding that the request also `` concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into this crash . ''
The previous request was issued on January 15 .
On the same day , director of the Kiev-based research institute of forensic medicine Alexander Ruvin said that an international team of experts would begin decoding the plane ’ s flight recorders on Monday , January 20 , in Kiev .
On January 8 , a Boeing-737 of the Ukrainian International Airlines bound for Kiev crashed minutes after takeoff at Tehran ’ s Imam Khomeini Airport .
The crash killed all 176 people on board - citizens of Afghanistan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine and also British and Swedish subjects .
On January 11 , Iran ’ s Armed Forces General Staff released a statement admitting the plane had been mistakenly shot down .
According to Iranian Brigadier-General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh , the plane was misidentified as a cruise missile by the air defense force .

KIEV, January 17. /TASS/. The Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office said on Friday it had issued a repeated request to Iran asking to hand over the flight recorders from the Ukraine International Airlines passenger jet that was downed near Teheran in early January.
"The prosecutor general’s office has issued a repeated request to Iran’s relevant agencies asking to hand over to the Ukrainian side flight recorders from the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 (flight PS0752 Teheran-Kiev)," it said, adding that the request also "concerns invigoration of international cooperation on the investigation into this crash."
The previous request was issued on January 15. On the same day, director of the Kiev-based research institute of forensic medicine Alexander Ruvin said that an international team of experts would begin decoding the plane’s flight recorders on Monday, January 20, in Kiev.
On January 8, a Boeing-737 of the Ukrainian International Airlines bound for Kiev crashed minutes after takeoff at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport. The crash killed all 176 people on board - citizens of Afghanistan, Germany, Iran, Canada and Ukraine and also British and Swedish subjects.
On January 11, Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff released a statement admitting the plane had been mistakenly shot down. According to Iranian Brigadier-General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, the plane was misidentified as a cruise missile by the air defense force.


tass--2020-01-17--West demands from Russia to plead guilty in MH17 crash regardless of evidence, says Lavrov

`` When the Dutch investigation , in spite of the fact we have provided them with everything we can in response to their requests , make public statements and when my counterpart - the foreign minister - dares to claim that Russia has not cooperated with the investigation , and when we hand over everything we have and ask what are the grounds for such statements , do you know what the answer is ?
‘ Russia does not cooperate because Russia has failed to admit its guilt ’ , '' Lavrov said at a Friday press conference on summing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 .
MOSCOW , January 17 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Acting Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said indignantly that in response to Russia ’ s willingness to cooperate in the investigation into the crash of the Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 , the West demands to admit the guilt .
The acting foreign minister pointed out that Moscow would prefer to have it clear about the MH17 crash .
He recalled that Russia was a co-author of the resolution passed by the United Nations Security Council .
The resolution contains the provisions calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strict compliance with requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization ( ICAO ) .
Lavrov did not elaborate on any non-compliance with the requirements , but claimed that the facts had taken place .
`` Among other things , the resolution stipulated that those engaged in the investigation should regularly report to the UN Security Council .
There has not been a single report yet , '' he noted .
Apart from that , Lavrov recalled that after the crash a Joint Investigation Team ( JIT ) was established , comprising Ukraine , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Actually , Malaysia has not been invited even though its Boeing was shot down .
It was invited to join six months later , not in order to participate in the criminal investigation but to participate in the technical probe , '' the acting foreign minister said .
`` By the way , if they had had any claims against us , they could have asked us to join the investigation team .
We were not expected there , we were not wanted , but we did cooperate actively , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been submitted , he said .
`` We even field tested presentations .
Almaz-Antei that manufactures those Buk missile systems , one of which allegedly brought down that plane , showed how it could have happened in real life , in a real situation , '' Lavrov explained .
`` They [ Almaz-Antei ] provided radar data , moreover primary radar data .
The answer to our question where the Ukrainian radar data are was odd , ‘ They have none whatsoever.
’ Afterwards , someone said that the radars had accidentally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Ukraine that were monitoring that section of airspace somehow switched off for a while ! ''
Lavrov complained that the question why Kiev was unable to provide the records of air traffic controllers ’ conversations on that day had been left unanswered .
`` To my mind , five years after the crash either Bellingcat , or someone else with a similar reputation , suddenly published certain phone records between alleged representatives of Russia and Donbass .
They had been searching for those records for five years .
As for the Ukrainian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to search for anything .
These records should be automatically handed over to the investigation team .
But they do not want to , '' Lavrov said indignantly , underlining that the US satellite data had not been provided either .
Nevertheless , the Russian Foreign Ministry is aware that there is an agreement between the four states , which initially joined the MH17 investigation team , on sharing the information coming from external sources .
`` They agreed in advance that any information coming from outside should be approved by all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Ukraine .
When Dutch lawmakers asked the government a question of why the investigation does not ask Ukraine why its airspace had not been closed , the Dutch government keeps mum .
You see there are still multiple questions , '' Lavrov added .
In conclusion , the acting Russian foreign minister stressed that Russia had agreed to hold consultations with Australia and the Netherlands under the condition that Russia would consider all the issues they are concerned about , but would prefer to discuss the above mentioned questions with its counterparts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and attempt to package it like ‘ the probe is not over yet , but you are guilty , so let ’ s start talking about compensations ’ , '' he said .
`` Once they touch upon this issue , or the Skripals , or the issue of whosoever used chemical weapons in Syria by exclusively using the logic of ‘ highly likely ’ , you know that is the same story when instead of international law some rules are invented , which you yourself find comfortable and which make you yourself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boeing-777 of the Malaysia Airlines ( flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur ) was shot out of the sky over Ukraine ’ s Donetsk Region on July 17 , 2014 .
A total of 298 people - citizens of 10 countries - died in the disaster .
Although hostilities were underway on the ground at the moment , Kiev failed to close Donbass airspace to international passenger flights .
A Joint Investigation Team consisting of Australian , Belgian , Malaysian , Dutch and Ukrainian officials was established .
In June 2019 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspects in the crash , including three Russians - Igor Girkin ( also known under the nickname Strelkov ) , Sergei Dubinsky , and Oleg Pulatov .
The fourth suspect is Ukrainian citizen Leonid Kharchenko .
Their trial is scheduled to begin on March 9 , 2020 .

"When the Dutch investigation, in spite of the fact we have provided them with everything we can in response to their requests, make public statements and when my counterpart - the foreign minister - dares to claim that Russia has not cooperated with the investigation, and when we hand over everything we have and ask what are the grounds for such statements, do you know what the answer is? ‘Russia does not cooperate because Russia has failed to admit its guilt’," Lavrov said at a Friday press conference on summing up the results of Russian diplomacy in 2019.
MOSCOW, January 17. /TASS/. Russia’s Acting Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said indignantly that in response to Russia’s willingness to cooperate in the investigation into the crash of the Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, the West demands to admit the guilt.
The acting foreign minister pointed out that Moscow would prefer to have it clear about the MH17 crash. He recalled that Russia was a co-author of the resolution passed by the United Nations Security Council. The resolution contains the provisions calling to ensure security of the investigation in strict compliance with requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Lavrov did not elaborate on any non-compliance with the requirements, but claimed that the facts had taken place.
"Among other things, the resolution stipulated that those engaged in the investigation should regularly report to the UN Security Council. There has not been a single report yet," he noted.
Apart from that, Lavrov recalled that after the crash a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was established, comprising Ukraine, Australia, the Netherlands and Belgium.
"Actually, Malaysia has not been invited even though its Boeing was shot down. It was invited to join six months later, not in order to participate in the criminal investigation but to participate in the technical probe," the acting foreign minister said.
"By the way, if they had had any claims against us, they could have asked us to join the investigation team. We were not expected there, we were not wanted, but we did cooperate actively," he said.
Any information they applied for has been submitted, he said.
"We even field tested presentations. Almaz-Antei that manufactures those Buk missile systems, one of which allegedly brought down that plane, showed how it could have happened in real life, in a real situation," Lavrov explained. "They [Almaz-Antei] provided radar data, moreover primary radar data. The answer to our question where the Ukrainian radar data are was odd, ‘They have none whatsoever.’ Afterwards, someone said that the radars had accidentally switched off. Imagine all the radars in Ukraine that were monitoring that section of airspace somehow switched off for a while!"
Lavrov complained that the question why Kiev was unable to provide the records of air traffic controllers’ conversations on that day had been left unanswered.
"To my mind, five years after the crash either Bellingcat, or someone else with a similar reputation, suddenly published certain phone records between alleged representatives of Russia and Donbass. They had been searching for those records for five years. As for the Ukrainian air traffic controllers, we do not have to search for anything. These records should be automatically handed over to the investigation team. But they do not want to," Lavrov said indignantly, underlining that the US satellite data had not been provided either.
Nevertheless, the Russian Foreign Ministry is aware that there is an agreement between the four states, which initially joined the MH17 investigation team, on sharing the information coming from external sources.
"They agreed in advance that any information coming from outside should be approved by all the four members of the team, including Ukraine. When Dutch lawmakers asked the government a question of why the investigation does not ask Ukraine why its airspace had not been closed, the Dutch government keeps mum. You see there are still multiple questions," Lavrov added.
In conclusion, the acting Russian foreign minister stressed that Russia had agreed to hold consultations with Australia and the Netherlands under the condition that Russia would consider all the issues they are concerned about, but would prefer to discuss the above mentioned questions with its counterparts.
"They shy away from that and attempt to package it like ‘the probe is not over yet, but you are guilty, so let’s start talking about compensations’," he said.
"Once they touch upon this issue, or the Skripals, or the issue of whosoever used chemical weapons in Syria by exclusively using the logic of ‘highly likely’, you know that is the same story when instead of international law some rules are invented, which you yourself find comfortable and which make you yourself believe in that."
MH17 flight crash
A passenger Boeing-777 of the Malaysia Airlines (flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur) was shot out of the sky over Ukraine’s Donetsk Region on July 17, 2014. A total of 298 people - citizens of 10 countries - died in the disaster. Although hostilities were underway on the ground at the moment, Kiev failed to close Donbass airspace to international passenger flights.
A Joint Investigation Team consisting of Australian, Belgian, Malaysian, Dutch and Ukrainian officials was established. In June 2019, the JIT said it had identified four suspects in the crash, including three Russians - Igor Girkin (also known under the nickname Strelkov), Sergei Dubinsky, and Oleg Pulatov. The fourth suspect is Ukrainian citizen Leonid Kharchenko. Their trial is scheduled to begin on March 9, 2020.


tass--2020-01-17--Russian watchdog can impose restrictions on supplies of Ecuadorian shrimps

BERLIN , January 17 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian veterinary and phytosanitary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor can impose restrictions on imports of @ @ @ @ @ of found violations of national requirements to such products , head of the regulator Sergei @ @ @ @ @ sidelines of the International Green Week in Berlin .
`` We will have to introduce @ @ @ @ @ because we found [ violations in products - TASS ] , '' the official said @ @ @ @ @ the strict control regime in respect of Ecuadorian shrimps and plans to get results in @ @ @ @ @ finally decide on whether to impose the ban or not , Dankvert added .
According @ @ @ @ @ customs service , in 2018 Ecuador ranked fifth in shellfish supplies to Russia ( including @ @ @ @ @ Greenland , China and Argentina .

BERLIN, January 17. /TASS/. The Russian veterinary and phytosanitary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor can impose restrictions on imports of shrimps from Ecuador in view of found violations of national requirements to such products, head of the regulator Sergei Dankvert told reporters on the sidelines of the International Green Week in Berlin.
"We will have to introduce restrictions for all shrimps shortly because we found [violations in products - TASS]," the official said.
The Russian regulator introduced the strict control regime in respect of Ecuadorian shrimps and plans to get results in 1-1.5 months in order to finally decide on whether to impose the ban or not, Dankvert added.
According to data of the Russian customs service, in 2018 Ecuador ranked fifth in shellfish supplies to Russia (including shrimps) after India, Greenland, China and Argentina.


tass--2020-01-18--Kiev uses new education law to continue forced Ukrainization, says Russian ministry

MOSCOW , January 18 .
/TASS/ .
The Ukrainian authorities pursue the policy of forced Ukrainization of the country , violating their commitments to protect human rights , Russia ’ s Foreign Ministry said in a note on Saturday .
On January 16 , Ukraine ’ s Verkhovna Rada ( parliament ) adopted the bill ‘ On secondary education ’ , which highlighted that despite the recommendations of the Council of Europe 's Venice Commission to ensure the required balance in the language field and the promises of Kiev ’ s authorities to follow them , the Russian language still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ministry said .
`` The children of Ukrainian-speaking citizens and representatives of indigenous nations , to which Crimean Tatars , Karaites and Krymchaks belong in Ukraine , will still have an opportunity to receive education in the mother tongue in grades 1-11 after the adopted document is enforced .
Meanwhile , the minorities speaking the languages of the European Union will receive education in the mother tongue until grade 5 with a gradual increase in the time of Ukrainian language teaching - from 20 % to 60 % by grade 9 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children will have the right to receive education in the mother tongue until grade 5 , after which the state ( Ukrainian ) language teaching should amount to at least 80 % , '' it added .
Moreover , the country ’ s authorities have not conducted consultations with representatives of the peoples living in Ukraine despite the findings of the Venice Commission .
`` Consequently , the official Kiev still keeps the track of forced Ukrainization , assimilation of non-Ukrainian-speaking population violating the country ’ s Constitution and obligations in the field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the note said .
The ministry urged international human rights institutions of the UN , OSCE and the Council of Europe `` to provide an adequate estimation of the actions of Ukraine ’ s authorities .
`` .

MOSCOW, January 18. /TASS/. The Ukrainian authorities pursue the policy of forced Ukrainization of the country, violating their commitments to protect human rights, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a note on Saturday.
On January 16, Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada (parliament) adopted the bill ‘On secondary education’, which highlighted that despite the recommendations of the Council of Europe's Venice Commission to ensure the required balance in the language field and the promises of Kiev’s authorities to follow them, the Russian language still experiences double discrimination in the country, the ministry said. "The children of Ukrainian-speaking citizens and representatives of indigenous nations, to which Crimean Tatars, Karaites and Krymchaks belong in Ukraine, will still have an opportunity to receive education in the mother tongue in grades 1-11 after the adopted document is enforced. Meanwhile, the minorities speaking the languages of the European Union will receive education in the mother tongue until grade 5 with a gradual increase in the time of Ukrainian language teaching - from 20% to 60% by grade 9," the ministry noted. "Russian-speaking children will have the right to receive education in the mother tongue until grade 5, after which the state (Ukrainian) language teaching should amount to at least 80%," it added.
Moreover, the country’s authorities have not conducted consultations with representatives of the peoples living in Ukraine despite the findings of the Venice Commission. "Consequently, the official Kiev still keeps the track of forced Ukrainization, assimilation of non-Ukrainian-speaking population violating the country’s Constitution and obligations in the field of human rights and national minorities protection," the note said.
The ministry urged international human rights institutions of the UN, OSCE and the Council of Europe "to provide an adequate estimation of the actions of Ukraine’s authorities.".


tass--2020-01-18--Yerevan negotiating fixed gas prices for ten years with Gazprom, says regulator

YEREVAN , January 18 .
/TASS/ .
Armenia is negotiating mechanisms of fixed gas pricing for a ten-year period with @ @ @ @ @ Armenia should the company announce an increase in the gas tariff , chairman of Armenia @ @ @ @ @ Commission Garegin Baghramyan told reporters on Saturday .
`` Today ’ s talks are aimed @ @ @ @ @ for a ten-year period if Gazprom Armenia submits an application on gas tariff change .
@ @ @ @ @ , be connected both with investments and the results of those investments , '' he @ @

YEREVAN, January 18. /TASS/. Armenia is negotiating mechanisms of fixed gas pricing for a ten-year period with Gazprom’s subsidiary Gazprom Armenia should the company announce an increase in the gas tariff, chairman of Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission Garegin Baghramyan told reporters on Saturday.
"Today’s talks are aimed at fixing gas pricing mechanisms for a ten-year period if Gazprom Armenia submits an application on gas tariff change. That will, of course, be connected both with investments and the results of those investments," he said.


tass--2020-01-18--Application of budget funds for National Projects equals 91.4% in 2019, says ministry

MOSCOW , January 17 .
/TASS/ .
Application of Russia ’ s federal budget funds for implementation of National Projects in 2019 totaled 91.4 % from the planned amount , according to preliminary estimates , Finance Minister reported .
Particularly , application of budget funds for implementation of ‘ Demography ’ National Project amounted to 95.5 % , ‘ Healthcare ’ - to 98 % , ‘ Education ’ - to 91 % .
Budget funds for ‘ Science ’ National Project were applied by 99.1 % of the planned amount , ‘ Environment ’ - by 66.3 % , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 97.1 % , ‘ Housing and urban environment ’ - by 93.8 % , ‘ Labor efficiency and employment maintenance ’ - by 87.1 % , ‘ Digital economy ’ - by 73.3 % , ‘ Culture ’ - by 99 % , `` International cooperation and export ’ - by 89.1 % , ‘ Small and medium-sized entrepreneurship and support of individual business initiative ’ - by 93.1 % , the ministry said .
Application of budget funds for implementation of the Comprehensive plan on modernization and expansion of trunk infrastructure @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, January 17. /TASS/. Application of Russia’s federal budget funds for implementation of National Projects in 2019 totaled 91.4% from the planned amount, according to preliminary estimates, Finance Minister reported.
Particularly, application of budget funds for implementation of ‘Demography’ National Project amounted to 95.5%, ‘Healthcare’ - to 98%, ‘Education’ - to 91%.
Budget funds for ‘Science’ National Project were applied by 99.1% of the planned amount, ‘Environment’ - by 66.3%, ‘Secure and high-quality roads’ - by 97.1%, ‘Housing and urban environment’ - by 93.8%, ‘Labor efficiency and employment maintenance’ - by 87.1%, ‘Digital economy’ - by 73.3%, ‘Culture’ - by 99%, "International cooperation and export’ - by 89.1%, ‘Small and medium-sized entrepreneurship and support of individual business initiative’ - by 93.1%, the ministry said.
Application of budget funds for implementation of the Comprehensive plan on modernization and expansion of trunk infrastructure totaled 88%.


tass--2020-01-18--Militant shelling kills 28 civilians in Syria’s Aleppo

ALEPPO /Syria/ , January 18 .
/TASS/ .
Illegal armed units continue to shell the Syrian city of Aleppo , where 28 civilians were killed in the past three days , the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Sides in Syria said in a statement , adding that another 56 civilians had suffered wounds .
According to the center , attacks keep coming from areas in the Idlib province that are still controlled by militants .
`` As many as 18 people were brought here and three of them died because they had suffered fatal wounds .
Some underwent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the head of the surgical department at a local hospital told reporters .
The Aleppo province is part of the Idlib de-escalation zone , where military activities were halted on January 9 based on an agreement with Turkey .
Four de-escalation zones were set up in Syria in May 2017 in accordance with a decision made by Russia , Iran and Turkey - the guarantors of the Syrian ceasefire .
The four zones include the Idlib Province , certain parts of neighboring areas in the Latakia , Hama and Aleppo provinces , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daraa and Quneitra provinces in southern Syria .
Damascus took control of three of the four zones in 2018 , but the fourth one , which covers the Idlib province and certain parts of the Latakia , Hama and Aleppo provinces , is still controlled by terrorists from the Jabhat al-Nusra terror group ( outlawed in Russia ) .

ALEPPO /Syria/, January 18. /TASS/. Illegal armed units continue to shell the Syrian city of Aleppo, where 28 civilians were killed in the past three days, the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Sides in Syria said in a statement, adding that another 56 civilians had suffered wounds.
According to the center, attacks keep coming from areas in the Idlib province that are still controlled by militants.
"As many as 18 people were brought here and three of them died because they had suffered fatal wounds. Some underwent surgery and others received outpatient care," the head of the surgical department at a local hospital told reporters.
The Aleppo province is part of the Idlib de-escalation zone, where military activities were halted on January 9 based on an agreement with Turkey.
Syrian de-escalation zones
Four de-escalation zones were set up in Syria in May 2017 in accordance with a decision made by Russia, Iran and Turkey - the guarantors of the Syrian ceasefire. The four zones include the Idlib Province, certain parts of neighboring areas in the Latakia, Hama and Aleppo provinces, as well as some areas in the Daraa and Quneitra provinces in southern Syria. Damascus took control of three of the four zones in 2018, but the fourth one, which covers the Idlib province and certain parts of the Latakia, Hama and Aleppo provinces, is still controlled by terrorists from the Jabhat al-Nusra terror group (outlawed in Russia).


tass--2020-01-18--Moscow authorities approve protest against constitutional amendments

MOSCOW , January 18 .
/TASS/ .
The Moscow authorities have approved a request for a protest rally against recently @ @ @ @ @ would involve up to 10,000 people , Moscow ’ s Department of Regional Security said @ @ @ @ @ The Moscow city authorities have considered and approved a request for a public event in @ @ @ @ @ aimed at ‘ protesting against the draft constitutional reform ’ on Academician Sakharov Avenue , @ @ @ @ @ 10,000 people , '' the statement reads .
According to media reports , a group @ @ @ @ @ a permission to hold a rally on Academician Sakharov Avenue on February 1 .

MOSCOW, January 18. /TASS/. The Moscow authorities have approved a request for a protest rally against recently proposed constitutional amendments, which would involve up to 10,000 people, Moscow’s Department of Regional Security said in a statement.
"The Moscow city authorities have considered and approved a request for a public event in the form of a rally aimed at ‘protesting against the draft constitutional reform’ on Academician Sakharov Avenue, which would involve up to 10,000 people," the statement reads.
According to media reports, a group of citizens earlier applied for a permission to hold a rally on Academician Sakharov Avenue on February 1.


tass--2020-01-18--Aeroflot reschedules Tehran flights to daytime hours to reduce risks

MOSCOW , January 18 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s national air carrier Aeroflot decided to carry out Tehran flights only during daylight hours in order to ensure better identification of aircraft and reduce risks , Federal Air Transport Agency chief Alexander Neradko told reporters .
`` We believe that in the daytime , there are more chances to identify a plane and there are fewer risks .
This is why Aeroflot rescheduled its flights , '' Neradko said .
At the same time , he pointed out that the agency ’ s task force on flights over the Middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the region .
A Ukraine International Airlines flight en route from Tehran to Kiev crashed outside the Iranian capital on January 8 .
The crash killed 176 people , including citizens of Iran , Canada , Ukraine , Sweden , Afghanistan , Germany and the United Kingdom .
On January 11 , the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces issued a statement saying that Iran had shot down the plane by mistake .
According to Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard 's Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh , the country ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a cruise missile .
A thing to note is that Aeroflot is the only Russian airline that operates flights to Iran .

MOSCOW, January 18. /TASS/. Russia’s national air carrier Aeroflot decided to carry out Tehran flights only during daylight hours in order to ensure better identification of aircraft and reduce risks, Federal Air Transport Agency chief Alexander Neradko told reporters.
"We believe that in the daytime, there are more chances to identify a plane and there are fewer risks. This is why Aeroflot rescheduled its flights," Neradko said.
At the same time, he pointed out that the agency’s task force on flights over the Middle East continued to monitor the situation in the region.
A Ukraine International Airlines flight en route from Tehran to Kiev crashed outside the Iranian capital on January 8. The crash killed 176 people, including citizens of Iran, Canada, Ukraine, Sweden, Afghanistan, Germany and the United Kingdom. On January 11, the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces issued a statement saying that Iran had shot down the plane by mistake. According to Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, the country’s air defense forces mistook the aircraft for a cruise missile.
A thing to note is that Aeroflot is the only Russian airline that operates flights to Iran.


tass--2020-01-19--Russian healthcare segment spends over $17.9 bln on smokers - research

MOSCOW , January 19 .
/TASS/ .
Annual expenses of the Russian healthcare system for smokers amount to more than @ @ @ @ @ 17.9 bln ) per year , the Healthcare Development Center of the Skolkovo Moscow School @ @ @ @ @ research available with TASS .
Such expenditures total $ 170 bln in the United States @ @ @ @ @ Canada , and $ 482 mln in Israel at the same time .
28.8 % @ @ @ @ @ Russian smokers , compared to non-smokers , researchers say .
`` Cessation of smoking by @ @ @ @ @ reduce government spending for healthcare by 7.9 % per year , '' Director of the @ @ @ @ @ About 15.1 % of deaths are related exactly to smoking , according to the research @ @ @ @ @ 2019 , the Russian government approved the anti-tobacco concept .
The concept provides for reduction @ @ @ @ @ smokers to 21 % by 2035 .

MOSCOW, January 19. /TASS/. Annual expenses of the Russian healthcare system for smokers amount to more than 1.1 trillion rubles ($17.9 bln) per year, the Healthcare Development Center of the Skolkovo Moscow School of Management says in its research available with TASS.
Such expenditures total $170 bln in the United States, $16.2 bln in Canada, and $482 mln in Israel at the same time. 28.8% more funds are spend for Russian smokers, compared to non-smokers, researchers say.
"Cessation of smoking by each and every consumer might reduce government spending for healthcare by 7.9% per year," Director of the Center Natalia Komarova said.
About 15.1% of deaths are related exactly to smoking, according to the research.
On November 22, 2019, the Russian government approved the anti-tobacco concept. The concept provides for reduction in the number of adult smokers to 21% by 2035.


tass--2020-01-19--Orthodox believers celebrate Epiphany

Orthodox believers celebrate Epiphany

MOSCOW , January 19 .
/TASS/ .
Orthodox Russians are celebrating one of main Christian feasts , Epiphany , on @ @ @ @ @ the Gospel , during Christ ’ s baptism in the Jordan River , God was @ @ @ @ @ : the Father , the Son and the Holy Spirit .
In line with the @ @ @ @ @ Orthodox Church carries out the solemn blessing of the waters twice , on the eve @ @ @ @ @ holiday .
Orthodox Russians take traditional three dips in icy rivers , lakes and ponds @ @ @ @ @ 19 .
Over 5,500 individuals attended the dips in Moscow and about 3,000 of them @ @ @ @ @ 21.00 pm of January 18 , press service of the Moscow emergencies department told TASS @ @ @ @ @ pools is expected after midnight .

MOSCOW, January 19. /TASS/. Orthodox Russians are celebrating one of main Christian feasts, Epiphany, on January 19.
According to the Gospel, during Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River, God was revealed in His three hypostases: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. In line with the ancient tradition, the Russian Orthodox Church carries out the solemn blessing of the waters twice, on the eve of Epiphany and on the holiday.
Orthodox Russians take traditional three dips in icy rivers, lakes and ponds in early hours of January 19. Over 5,500 individuals attended the dips in Moscow and about 3,000 of them plunged into waters as of 21.00 pm of January 18, press service of the Moscow emergencies department told TASS. The large-scale visiting of pools is expected after midnight.


tass--2020-01-19--Putin, participants in Berlin summit will attempt to launch resolution process in Libya

BERLIN , January 19 .
/TASS/ .
The capital of Germany will host an international summit conference on Libya on Sunday .
Germany ’ s Chancellor invited heads of states and governments of the whole range of countries for the purpose of discussing ways of settling the conflict in the North African country .
The conference will start at 14.00 pm ( 16.00 pm Moscow time ) .
Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate in the international conference on Libya , the Kremlin ’ s press service said .
`` An exchange of opinions is anticipated on the problems of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the soonest possible termination of hostilities , the reconciliation of opposing parties and the start of a broad political dialog under UN auspices , '' the press service said .
Key agreements will be recorded in the final document of the conference , the Kremlin added .
At least ten heads of states and governments are expected to take part in the summit .
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres , President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan , President of France Emmanuel Macron , UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US Secretary of State Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Algeria , Egypt , the UAE and China are expected to attend .
Currently , Libya has two supreme executive authorities , namely the internationally-recognized Tripoli-based Government of National Accord headed by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj , and the interim government of Abdullah al-Thani , seated in the east of the country , along with the elected parliament , which is supported by the Libyan National Army headed by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar .

BERLIN, January 19. /TASS/. The capital of Germany will host an international summit conference on Libya on Sunday. Germany’s Chancellor invited heads of states and governments of the whole range of countries for the purpose of discussing ways of settling the conflict in the North African country. The conference will start at 14.00 pm (16.00 pm Moscow time).
Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate in the international conference on Libya, the Kremlin’s press service said. "An exchange of opinions is anticipated on the problems of resolution of the Libyan crisis, including the soonest possible termination of hostilities, the reconciliation of opposing parties and the start of a broad political dialog under UN auspices," the press service said.
Key agreements will be recorded in the final document of the conference, the Kremlin added.
At least ten heads of states and governments are expected to take part in the summit. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of France Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo confirmed their participation. Representatives of Algeria, Egypt, the UAE and China are expected to attend.
Currently, Libya has two supreme executive authorities, namely the internationally-recognized Tripoli-based Government of National Accord headed by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, and the interim government of Abdullah al-Thani, seated in the east of the country, along with the elected parliament, which is supported by the Libyan National Army headed by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.


tass--2020-01-19--Truth about WWII frequently hushed up deliberately abroad - Putin

ST. PETERSBURG , January 19 .
/TASS/ .
The truth about Second World War is sometimes hushed up deliberately at the state level and some corresponding websites are closed down , Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday at a meeting with WWII veterans and public activists .
According to the president , when propaganda that distorts the truth about the war goes up to the level of state in foreign countries , nothing can be said against , since it would not be allowed .
`` They close them up , that ’ s all .
We have quoted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war - TASS ) is posted on the Internet , and oops !
The site is shut down from abroad .
Then again oops and it is closed down .
As soon as ( the information ) appears , they shut it down , '' Putin said adding that `` the major media outlets do not cover impartial information '' about those historic events .
The Russian president concluded that it was `` purposeful work . ''
Putin again commented on last year ’ s resolution of the European Parliament , which blamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unleashing World War Two .
`` Those people seem to be either unable to read or write , or to be without eyes .
And most likely it happens due to the current political situation to to achieve , excuse me for such a word , certain ferret-like political goals , '' the Russian president said pointing out that it could be prevented with the help of only the truth .
`` We will set up an archive center to display the records , recordings and photos , which are archival documents in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Putin , adding that Russia has enough records .
`` We know validly and documentarily what was happening on the eve of World War II , not only day by day , but sometimes even hour by hour , '' the president said .

ST. PETERSBURG, January 19. /TASS/. The truth about Second World War is sometimes hushed up deliberately at the state level and some corresponding websites are closed down, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday at a meeting with WWII veterans and public activists.
According to the president, when propaganda that distorts the truth about the war goes up to the level of state in foreign countries, nothing can be said against, since it would not be allowed.
"They close them up, that’s all. We have quoted several times that (information about the war - TASS) is posted on the Internet, and oops! The site is shut down from abroad. Then again oops and it is closed down. As soon as (the information) appears, they shut it down," Putin said adding that "the major media outlets do not cover impartial information" about those historic events.
The Russian president concluded that it was "purposeful work."
Putin again commented on last year’s resolution of the European Parliament, which blamed the Soviet Union for partial responsibility for unleashing World War Two.
"Those people seem to be either unable to read or write, or to be without eyes. And most likely it happens due to the current political situation to to achieve, excuse me for such a word, certain ferret-like political goals," the Russian president said pointing out that it could be prevented with the help of only the truth.
"We will set up an archive center to display the records, recordings and photos, which are archival documents in the literal sense of the word," said Putin, adding that Russia has enough records.
"We know validly and documentarily what was happening on the eve of World War II, not only day by day, but sometimes even hour by hour," the president said.


tass--2020-01-18--Terrorists’ leaders try to trigger escalation in Syria in hope for West’s support - center

MOSCOW , January 18 .
/TASS/ .
Leaders of terrorist groups in the Idlib de-escalation zone , who fight against the Syrian government forces , seek to trigger a spiral of escalation , hoping for Western countries ’ support , in order to mobilize militants and hold control of the occupied areas , Major-General Yuri Borenkov , chief of the Russian center for reconciliation of the conflicting sides in Syria , told reporters on Saturday .
`` Widespread discontent of the population about terrorists ’ dictatorship sparks more and more protests in the areas under their control .
A huge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are gradually getting out of obedience to terror leaders due to a low level of material support .
In these conditions , jihadist leaders seek to trigger a new spiral of escalation in order to mobilize militants in the Idlib de-escalation zone to stand against the government forces and not to lose control over the occupied territories .
At the same time , the radical leadership obviously count on the West ’ s support , which will once more attempt to prevent the government forces from taking decisive action in eradicating the nest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
As of Saturday , according to the general , fighting , which broke out on Friday night , is still ongoing in Abu Djref in Idlib province .
`` At 21.20 of January 17 , a gang of up to 50 militants , supported by an infantry fighting vehicle and six tanks , attacked the Syrian Arab Army near Abu Djref .
The militants advanced at distances of 1.2 kilometers deep and of 500 meters wide along the front .
On January 18 the hostilities continued in that area , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the regions of Idlib and Aleppo the government forces supported by artillery and tanks repelled militants ’ attacks on Friday and forced them to retreat to previous position .
`` The incessant attacks by Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham ( one of the names of the Jabhat al-Nusra extremist group , which is banned in Russia ) on January 16-17 on government troops prove that the command of radical groups are intentionally acting to derail the ceasefire declared in accordance with the Russian-Turkish agreements , '' the general said .
`` The terrorist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the situation .
The Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham terrorist group bears the main responsibility for escalation .
It has at least 20,000 combatants in the Idlib de-escalation zone , if the foreign mercenaries are not taken into account , '' Borenkov stressed .
In the past 24 hours , 66 incidents of shelling by illegal armed groups operating in the Idlib de-escalation zone have been recorded in the populated areas of Latakia , Aleppo , Idlib and Hama .
A total of 1,490 people and 63 motor and agricultural vehicles have left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Russian reconciliation center continues to fulfill the tasks assigned to them after the completion of the military campaign in Syria .
They regularly travel around the country 's liberated areas to assess the humanitarian situation .
The main efforts of the Russian military are now focused on aiding the refugees who are returning to their homes and evacuating civilians from the war-torn country ’ s de-escalation zones .

MOSCOW, January 18. /TASS/. Leaders of terrorist groups in the Idlib de-escalation zone, who fight against the Syrian government forces, seek to trigger a spiral of escalation, hoping for Western countries’ support, in order to mobilize militants and hold control of the occupied areas, Major-General Yuri Borenkov, chief of the Russian center for reconciliation of the conflicting sides in Syria, told reporters on Saturday.
"Widespread discontent of the population about terrorists’ dictatorship sparks more and more protests in the areas under their control. A huge number of illegal armed groups’ members are gradually getting out of obedience to terror leaders due to a low level of material support. In these conditions, jihadist leaders seek to trigger a new spiral of escalation in order to mobilize militants in the Idlib de-escalation zone to stand against the government forces and not to lose control over the occupied territories. At the same time, the radical leadership obviously count on the West’s support, which will once more attempt to prevent the government forces from taking decisive action in eradicating the nest of terrorism in Idlib," he said.
As of Saturday, according to the general, fighting, which broke out on Friday night, is still ongoing in Abu Djref in Idlib province.
"At 21.20 of January 17, a gang of up to 50 militants, supported by an infantry fighting vehicle and six tanks, attacked the Syrian Arab Army near Abu Djref. The militants advanced at distances of 1.2 kilometers deep and of 500 meters wide along the front. On January 18 the hostilities continued in that area," he said.
Ongoing fighting
Borenkov reported that in the regions of Idlib and Aleppo the government forces supported by artillery and tanks repelled militants’ attacks on Friday and forced them to retreat to previous position.
"The incessant attacks by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (one of the names of the Jabhat al-Nusra extremist group, which is banned in Russia) on January 16-17 on government troops prove that the command of radical groups are intentionally acting to derail the ceasefire declared in accordance with the Russian-Turkish agreements," the general said.
"The terrorist groups’ obvious goal is to destabilize the situation. The Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham terrorist group bears the main responsibility for escalation. It has at least 20,000 combatants in the Idlib de-escalation zone, if the foreign mercenaries are not taken into account," Borenkov stressed.
In the past 24 hours, 66 incidents of shelling by illegal armed groups operating in the Idlib de-escalation zone have been recorded in the populated areas of Latakia, Aleppo, Idlib and Hama. A total of 1,490 people and 63 motor and agricultural vehicles have left the de-escalation zone since January 13.
The Russian reconciliation center continues to fulfill the tasks assigned to them after the completion of the military campaign in Syria. They regularly travel around the country's liberated areas to assess the humanitarian situation. The main efforts of the Russian military are now focused on aiding the refugees who are returning to their homes and evacuating civilians from the war-torn country’s de-escalation zones.


tass--2020-01-18--Nothing extraordinary in government’s resignation, it should be taken calmly - former PM

MOSCOW , January 18 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s former Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev dubbed the government ’ s resignation as a routine event and called to take it calmly , Medvedev said in a televised interview on Channel One on Saturday .
`` In general , the resignation of a government should be always taken absolutely calmly .
There is nothing extraordinary about that .
It happens throughout the world , it happens in our country .
Maybe , it did not use to take place very often in recent years , but nevertheless , it is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Moreover , when a government is being formed , I will say frankly , both a president and a prime minister , whoever president or prime minister are , not only discuss issues before the cabinet appointment , but also the issues of potential resignations .
It is absolutely normal , '' he added .
Medvedev and his cabinet offered their resignation on Wednesday night after Russian President Vladimir Putin had delivered his State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly ( both houses of Russia ’ s parliament ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Russians and besides , putting forward a proposal to amend Russia ’ s Constitution .
In particular , he spoke about delegating to the State Duma the authority of approving the candidate for prime minister , along with the deputy prime ministers and ministers nominated by the new prime minister .
Later in the day , at Putin ’ s meeting with the cabinet , Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said it was right amid those conditions for the government to resign in conformity with Article 117 of Russia ’ s Constitution .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ head of Russia ’ s tax service , for prime minister .
On January 16 , the lower house of Russia ’ s parliament , the State Duma , backed the candidate at its plenary session and Putin immediately signed a decree appointing Mikhail Mishustin as the country ’ s prime minister .
Under Article 112 of Russia ’ s Constitution , within seven days after their appointment a prime minister submits proposals to the president about composition of the federal executive bodies and nominates candidates for deputy prime ministers and ministers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the coming days .

MOSCOW, January 18. /TASS/. Russia’s former Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev dubbed the government’s resignation as a routine event and called to take it calmly, Medvedev said in a televised interview on Channel One on Saturday.
"In general, the resignation of a government should be always taken absolutely calmly. There is nothing extraordinary about that. It happens throughout the world, it happens in our country. Maybe, it did not use to take place very often in recent years, but nevertheless, it is a totally routine event," Medvedev said.
"Moreover, when a government is being formed, I will say frankly, both a president and a prime minister, whoever president or prime minister are, not only discuss issues before the cabinet appointment, but also the issues of potential resignations. It is absolutely normal," he added.
Resignation and appointment
Medvedev and his cabinet offered their resignation on Wednesday night after Russian President Vladimir Putin had delivered his State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly (both houses of Russia’s parliament), announcing ambitious measures of social protection for Russians and besides, putting forward a proposal to amend Russia’s Constitution. In particular, he spoke about delegating to the State Duma the authority of approving the candidate for prime minister, along with the deputy prime ministers and ministers nominated by the new prime minister. Later in the day, at Putin’s meeting with the cabinet, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said it was right amid those conditions for the government to resign in conformity with Article 117 of Russia’s Constitution.
The president nominated Mikhail Mishustin, the head of Russia’s tax service, for prime minister. On January 16, the lower house of Russia’s parliament, the State Duma, backed the candidate at its plenary session and Putin immediately signed a decree appointing Mikhail Mishustin as the country’s prime minister.
Under Article 112 of Russia’s Constitution, within seven days after their appointment a prime minister submits proposals to the president about composition of the federal executive bodies and nominates candidates for deputy prime ministers and ministers. Mishustin said he would name his cabinet in the coming days.