tass--2020-06-18--Russia-Serbia partnership does not depend on Belgrade’s dialogue with Brussels - article

MOSCOW , June 18 .
/TASS/ .
Russian-Serbian partnership does not depend on Belgrade ’ s dialogue with Brussels , Foreign Ministers of Russia and Serbia , Sergey Lavrov and Ivica Dacic , said in a joint article published by Russia ’ s Rossiisakaya Gazeta and Serbia ’ s Kurir dailies on Thursday .
`` Moscow and Belgrade are strategic partners .
We are geared towards closer mutually beneficial cooperation in a wide spectrum of areas .
This approach does not depend on Serbia ’ s plans to negotiate accession to the European Union : it will continue to develop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Union , '' the ministers noted .
Touching on the Kosovo settlement , the two top diplomats said the two countries would continue close cooperation on that matter on the basis of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 .
`` At the same time , we note that some continue to use Serbia ’ s plans to join the European Union as a tool to exert pressure on Belgrade to make it recognize Kosovo ’ s ‘ independence.
’ So , it means that an applicant state is to cede part of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministers slammed such requirements as absurd .
`` Russia and Serbia continue to insist that United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 be observed .
A compromise is to be reached in the course of negotiations and this is the exclusive prerogative of Belgrade and Pristina , '' the stressed .
Lavrov and Dacic emphasized that it is up to the parties to the conflict to word and adopt a final solution that would be approved by the United Nations Security Council .
`` Moscow will accept only such a variant of settlement that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for external mediation , it should be an unbiased monitoring of the observance of international laws during the dialogue , without imposing ready-to-use designs , '' they added .
No support to Kosovo sovereignty concept anywhere in world The concept of Kosovo ’ s self-proclaimed independence has failed as it enjoys unanimous support neither in Europe nor anywhere in the world , Foreign Ministers of Russia and Serbia , Sergey Lavrov and Ivica Dacic , said in a joint article .
`` The concept of Kosovo ’ s self-proclaimed sovereignty has failed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Balkans nor in Europe nor elsewhere in the world , '' the ministers stressed .
`` About half of the United Nations member states do not recognize Kosovo ’ s notorious ‘ statehood , ’ and the number of such countries is growing . ''
According to the two top diplomats , more and more countries begin to understand the perniciousness of Kosovo ’ s precedent of coercive intervention into domestic affairs of an independent state under far-fetched pretexts .
`` In the recent months , the European Union and the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the resumption of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina .
Naturally , we support political methods of settlement but we think that talks are to rest on the principle of honest implementation of what has been agreed , '' Lavrov and Dacic emphasized .
`` The core agreement in this context is the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo , which will have due competences . ''
According to the two ministers , the European Union ’ s responsibility as a mediator in the negotiating process is to push the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` So far , no progress has been made towards the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities , '' they pointed out .
`` Let us hope that EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Miroslav Lajcak will act as honest brokers .
`` .

MOSCOW, June 18. /TASS/. Russian-Serbian partnership does not depend on Belgrade’s dialogue with Brussels, Foreign Ministers of Russia and Serbia, Sergey Lavrov and Ivica Dacic, said in a joint article published by Russia’s Rossiisakaya Gazeta and Serbia’s Kurir dailies on Thursday.
"Moscow and Belgrade are strategic partners. We are geared towards closer mutually beneficial cooperation in a wide spectrum of areas. This approach does not depend on Serbia’s plans to negotiate accession to the European Union: it will continue to develop ties with Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union," the ministers noted.
Touching on the Kosovo settlement, the two top diplomats said the two countries would continue close cooperation on that matter on the basis of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. "At the same time, we note that some continue to use Serbia’s plans to join the European Union as a tool to exert pressure on Belgrade to make it recognize Kosovo’s ‘independence.’ So, it means that an applicant state is to cede part of its territory," they noted.
The ministers slammed such requirements as absurd. "Russia and Serbia continue to insist that United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 be observed. A compromise is to be reached in the course of negotiations and this is the exclusive prerogative of Belgrade and Pristina," the stressed.
Lavrov and Dacic emphasized that it is up to the parties to the conflict to word and adopt a final solution that would be approved by the United Nations Security Council. "Moscow will accept only such a variant of settlement that will be acceptable for Belgrade. As for external mediation, it should be an unbiased monitoring of the observance of international laws during the dialogue, without imposing ready-to-use designs," they added.
No support to Kosovo sovereignty concept anywhere in world
The concept of Kosovo’s self-proclaimed independence has failed as it enjoys unanimous support neither in Europe nor anywhere in the world, Foreign Ministers of Russia and Serbia, Sergey Lavrov and Ivica Dacic, said in a joint article.
"The concept of Kosovo’s self-proclaimed sovereignty has failed. It enjoys unanimous support neither in the Balkans nor in Europe nor elsewhere in the world," the ministers stressed. "About half of the United Nations member states do not recognize Kosovo’s notorious ‘statehood,’ and the number of such countries is growing."
According to the two top diplomats, more and more countries begin to understand the perniciousness of Kosovo’s precedent of coercive intervention into domestic affairs of an independent state under far-fetched pretexts. "In the recent months, the European Union and the United States have been calling, quite enthusiastically, for the resumption of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. Naturally, we support political methods of settlement but we think that talks are to rest on the principle of honest implementation of what has been agreed," Lavrov and Dacic emphasized. "The core agreement in this context is the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo, which will have due competences."
According to the two ministers, the European Union’s responsibility as a mediator in the negotiating process is to push the Kosovo authorities towards implementing its commitments. "So far, no progress has been made towards the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities," they pointed out. "Let us hope that EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Miroslav Lajcak will act as honest brokers.".
US, EU seeking to take settlement of Kosovo problem in their hands
The United States and the European Union are seeking to take the settlement of the Kosovo problems in their hands, not reckoning with the opinion of other parties concerned, Foreign Ministers of Russia and Serbia said.
"Public discussions about possible solutions to the Kosovo problem have heated up in the recent time," the article reads. "The United States and the European Union have been demonstrating increased activities, seeking to take the settlement of this issue in their hands and claiming to have the leading role in this process. But, as it was before, they tend not to reckon with the opinion of all parties concerned, thus calling to question the very possibility of a fair solution."
The ministers noted that in order to avoid new mistakes it is worth looking back and analyzing the sad experience of external interference in to the regional affairs. "We also think it important to share our common views on the current situation and principled approaches to the problems of the Kosovo settlement," they said. "For more than twenty years, the unsettled Kosovo problem has been hampering comprehensive stabilization in the Western Balkans and triggering new escalations of tensions."
According to the two top diplomats, the ‘time bomb’ was planted when the Western countries, which had bombed former Yugoslavia back in 1999, made it their crusade to ensure Kosovo’s independence in bypassing of international law. "It was done under a cynical disguise of ‘muiltivariance’: either with Belgrade’s consent or without it," they noted. "In other words, Serbia’s opinion was not taken into account from the very beginning. Such detrimental approach, which flagrantly violates United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, is meant solely to satisfy Kosovars’ separatist aspirations."
Later on, in 2008, when Pristina declared its independence, Moscow and Belgrade were told that the negotiating potential had allegedly been exhausted and their calls for further talks were ignored. "Since then, the international community has seen for itself more than once that only effort to find a solution based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and reckoning with the interests of all parties can give chances to elaborate a viable settlement option," Lavrov and Dacic emphasized.
Kosovo has turned into nest of criminals and terrorism accomplices
Kosovo has become a nest of criminals, including those linked with terrorist groups, Foreign Ministers of Russia and Serbia said in a joint article.
"Rampant crime in Kosovo, with criminal elements linked with terrorist groups in the Middle East, first of all in Syria, and with criminal communities in the Balkans and other parts of Europe, is an evidence that the province, with its rich historic and cultural heritage, has become a nest for terrorists of all sorts," the ministers noted.
This situation, characterized by political chaos, proves that Kosovo has failed as an independent state. "Local parties are bogged down in dirty power scramble, scheming and clan wars amid economic decline and orgy of crime. In such conditions, the so-called statecraft local politicians and their foreign sponsors are so fond of speaking about has turned to be a bogus thing," they pointed out.
No efforts are being taken in Kosovo to fight against international criminals, former chief of the Kosovo Liberation Army, with the Kosovo Special Court, tasked to investigate their crimes, including murders and kidnappings for the purpose of trading in human organs, taking no action. "We still expect this body of justice to begin to work and bring charges against the criminals," the ministers stressed.
Lavrov and Dacic also drew attention to the fact that the presence of international forces does not promote normalization of the situation in the province. Thus, in their words, the NATO-led international Kosovo Force, which is mandated to ensure Serbs’ security "has been passive for years."
"On this background, the fact that the Bondsteel facility, which was initially meant as a peacekeeping one, has been turned into a closed zone and a training ground for Kosovo’s ‘armed forces’ arouses serious concern," they said, adding that United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) is demonstrating poor efficiency.
"The question about NATO’s responsibility for the use of depleted uranium munitions in Serbia, especially in Kosovo, during the bombardments in 1999 is still open," the two foreign ministers noted, adding that not only local residents but also peacekeepers are still suffering from the consequences of radioactive contamination.
The ministers also warned that the Greater Albania rhetoric coming from Pristina and Tirana may "bury the system of regional security that has been built for decades."
Serbia’s Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija unilaterally proclaimed independence in February 2008, which was recognized by the United Nations Court of Justice in 2010. However more than 60 countries, including Russia, China, India, Israel, Greece, India and Spain, are categorically against recognizing Kosovo’s independence. Nevertheless, Kosovo has been seeking to join international organizations, including UNESCO and Interpol.
Serbia’s diplomats have been urging developing countries to revise their decisions to recognize Kosovo’s independence. Thus, over the past year, eighteen countries, including Ghana, Papua New Guinea, Burundi, Guinea Bissau, Surinam, Liberia, Lesotho, and Madagascar, sided with Belgrade.


tass--2020-06-18--Video conference on Nagorno-Karabakh to be held by end of June - diplomat

MOSCOW , June 18 .
/TASS/ .
An online conference on Nagorno-Karabakh will be convened by the end of June , while the face-to-face talks will be resumed after the coronavirus restrictions are lifted , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday .
`` Another online meeting is scheduled by the end of this month , '' she said .
`` Once the borders are opened and restrictions on international communications are lifted , the meetings will again become face-to-face . ''
`` The co-chairs stay in regular contact with the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh , a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up but was mainly populated by Armenians , broke out in February 1988 .
Then the Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous region declared its independence from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .
In 1991-1994 , the confrontation spilled over into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan had lost control of them .
Thousands fled their homes on both sides in a conflict that killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh republic on one side and Azerbaijan on the other in May 1994 .
Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been held since 1992 within the OSCE Minsk Group , co-chaired by Russia , France and the United States .

MOSCOW, June 18. /TASS/. An online conference on Nagorno-Karabakh will be convened by the end of June, while the face-to-face talks will be resumed after the coronavirus restrictions are lifted, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.
"Another online meeting is scheduled by the end of this month," she said. "Once the borders are opened and restrictions on international communications are lifted, the meetings will again become face-to-face."
"The co-chairs stay in regular contact with the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia," Zakharova stressed.
The conflict between neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up but was mainly populated by Armenians, broke out in February 1988. Then the Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous region declared its independence from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic.
In 1991-1994, the confrontation spilled over into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan had lost control of them. Thousands fled their homes on both sides in a conflict that killed 30,000. A truce was called between Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh republic on one side and Azerbaijan on the other in May 1994.
Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been held since 1992 within the OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by Russia, France and the United States.


tass--2020-06-17--Russia may need one month for minimum of new coronavirus cases - chief sanitary doctor

MOSCOW , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
The lowest level of confirmed coronavirus cases could be reached in Russia within a month ’ s time , Anna Popova , head of the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing said in a televised interview on Russia ’ s Rossiya ’ 1 channel on Wednesday .
`` I would prefer the number of daily cases to equal zero .
It is the indicator we are striving to , but I am hopeful that we need one more month to reach the certain , lowest level , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that various countries see their weekly or daily increases in new cases .
`` For example , the United States has been long registering about 20,000 cases daily , '' she added .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe , including Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According to the latest statistics , over 8,266,480 people have been infected worldwide and more than 446,000 deaths have been reported .
In addition , so far , over 4,323,350 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .
To date , 553,301 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 304,342 patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 7,478 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the @ @ @ @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. The lowest level of confirmed coronavirus cases could be reached in Russia within a month’s time, Anna Popova, head of the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing said in a televised interview on Russia’s Rossiya’1 channel on Wednesday.
"I would prefer the number of daily cases to equal zero. It is the indicator we are striving to, but I am hopeful that we need one more month to reach the certain, lowest level," she said.
Popova pointed out that various countries see their weekly or daily increases in new cases.
"For example, the United States has been long registering about 20,000 cases daily," she added.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 8,266,480 people have been infected worldwide and more than 446,000 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 4,323,350 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.
To date, 553,301 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 304,342 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 7,478 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-06-17--Russia to analyze Guterres’ report on Iran at UN Security Council session on June 30

MOSCOW , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
Russia will estimate the UN Secretary General ’ s report on the Iran nuclear deal at the June 30 session of the UN Security Council , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday .
`` The Russian side will give a detailed analysis to the Secretary General ’ s report during a relevant procedure at the Security Council on June 30 , in accordance with the established practice and current procedures , '' she said .
`` The conversation is not going to be easy , as we already understand .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ could hardly be called `` balanced and fact-checked . ''
`` We could speak about a lack of impartiality and a complete lack of facts that would support accusations against Iran , '' she continued .
`` No convincing evidence of Iranian violations has ever been presented to members of the Security Council . ''
Zakharova did not rule out that those who `` are keen to prove Iran ’ s guilt at any cost '' could have a hand in `` the coherent structures '' presented in the report .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the so-called evidence against Iran is built on interceptions of some vessels in international waters by the US and Australian Navies .
The report does not say a word that this activity , which on the surface resembles piracy , goes beyond the recognized norms of interstate cooperation and international law , '' said the diplomat .
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pointed out earlier that the report of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the developments with Resolution 2231 far exceeds the powers of the UN Secretariat .
Lavrov noted that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` was immediately leaked to the western press '' the moment it was published , just as the recent report of Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ) Rafael Grossi .
The JCPOA was signed between Iran , the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council ( Russia , the United Kingdom , China , the United States and France ) and Germany in 2015 .
Under the deal , Iran undertook to curb its nuclear activities and place them under total control of the International Atomic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of abandonment of the sanctions imposed previously by the United Nations Security Council , the European Union and the United States over its nuclear program .
Iran pledged not to enrich uranium above the level of 3.67 % for 15 years and maintain enriched uranium stockpiles at the level not exceeding 300 kg , as well as not to build new heavy-water reactors , not to accumulate heavy water and not to develop nuclear explosive devices .
On July 20 , 2015 , the UNSC unanimously adopted Resolution 2231 to support the JCPOA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the arms embargo against Tehran is extended by 5 years .
Moreover , on May 8 , 2018 , the US pulled out of the deal and reinstated economic sanctions against Tehran , including restrictions on its oil sector .

MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. Russia will estimate the UN Secretary General’s report on the Iran nuclear deal at the June 30 session of the UN Security Council, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.
"The Russian side will give a detailed analysis to the Secretary General’s report during a relevant procedure at the Security Council on June 30, in accordance with the established practice and current procedures," she said. "The conversation is not going to be easy, as we already understand."
Zakharova pointed out that the report could hardly be called "balanced and fact-checked."
"We could speak about a lack of impartiality and a complete lack of facts that would support accusations against Iran," she continued. "No convincing evidence of Iranian violations has ever been presented to members of the Security Council."
Zakharova did not rule out that those who "are keen to prove Iran’s guilt at any cost" could have a hand in "the coherent structures" presented in the report.
"It is of a particular concern that part of the so-called evidence against Iran is built on interceptions of some vessels in international waters by the US and Australian Navies. The report does not say a word that this activity, which on the surface resembles piracy, goes beyond the recognized norms of interstate cooperation and international law," said the diplomat.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pointed out earlier that the report of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the developments with Resolution 2231 far exceeds the powers of the UN Secretariat. Lavrov noted that it also raises many questions that the report "was immediately leaked to the western press" the moment it was published, just as the recent report of Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi.
The JCPOA was signed between Iran, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (Russia, the United Kingdom, China, the United States and France) and Germany in 2015. Under the deal, Iran undertook to curb its nuclear activities and place them under total control of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in exchange of abandonment of the sanctions imposed previously by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union and the United States over its nuclear program. Iran pledged not to enrich uranium above the level of 3.67% for 15 years and maintain enriched uranium stockpiles at the level not exceeding 300 kg, as well as not to build new heavy-water reactors, not to accumulate heavy water and not to develop nuclear explosive devices.
On July 20, 2015, the UNSC unanimously adopted Resolution 2231 to support the JCPOA. In particular, the resolution stipulates that the arms embargo against Tehran is extended by 5 years. Moreover, on May 8, 2018, the US pulled out of the deal and reinstated economic sanctions against Tehran, including restrictions on its oil sector.


tass--2020-06-17--Russia may begin clinical trials of coronavirus vaccines within two weeks

MOSCOW , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
Some coronavirus vaccines developed in Russia could be tested on volunteers within the two weeks , Anna Popova , head of the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing said in a televised interview on Russia ’ s Rossiya ’ 1 channel on Wednesday .
`` I am sure that in the next two weeks , we will see several vaccines raised to a stage of clinical trials , or human test trials , '' she said .
Popova pointed out that only safe and effective vaccines would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but their number is not known .
`` Those are two mandatory features of a vaccine , of each new medication , which will allow to begin human test trials , '' she added .
Earlier , the Russian Health Ministry announced the start of clinical trials of two samples of the coronavirus vaccine developed by the N.F .
Gamalei National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology .
The first volunteers will be vaccinated on June 18-19 .
To date , 553,301 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 304,342 patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s latest data indicates 7,478 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. Some coronavirus vaccines developed in Russia could be tested on volunteers within the two weeks, Anna Popova, head of the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing said in a televised interview on Russia’s Rossiya’1 channel on Wednesday.
"I am sure that in the next two weeks, we will see several vaccines raised to a stage of clinical trials, or human test trials," she said.
Popova pointed out that only safe and effective vaccines would reach the stage of clinical trials, but their number is not known.
"Those are two mandatory features of a vaccine, of each new medication, which will allow to begin human test trials," she added.
Earlier, the Russian Health Ministry announced the start of clinical trials of two samples of the coronavirus vaccine developed by the N.F. Gamalei National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology. The first volunteers will be vaccinated on June 18-19.
To date, 553,301 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 304,342 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 7,478 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-06-17--At least 5,227 Russian service members recover from COVID-19

MOSCOW , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
More than 5,200 Russian service members have recovered from the novel coronavirus infection , the Russian Defense Ministry said in a bulletin on Wednesday .
`` In the past 24 hours , 79 members of the Russian Armed Forces recovered from the disease after undergoing treatment .
The overall number of recoveries in the Russian Armed Forces has increased to 5,227 , '' the ministry said .
Apart from that , a total of 599 civilians employed with the Russian Armed Forces have recovered from the illness .
As of June 17 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 268 students of Russian military schools and academies , 253 civilian specialists employed with the Russian Armed Forces are diagnosed with the novel coronavirus infection .
Most of them show no symptoms and five are in moderately severe condition .
The Defense Ministry also said that the participants in the June 24 Victory Day Parade are tested for coronavirus three times a week .
As of today , they all have tested negative .
To date , 553,301 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 304,342 patients having recovered from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indicates 7,478 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. More than 5,200 Russian service members have recovered from the novel coronavirus infection, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a bulletin on Wednesday.
"In the past 24 hours, 79 members of the Russian Armed Forces recovered from the disease after undergoing treatment. The overall number of recoveries in the Russian Armed Forces has increased to 5,227," the ministry said.
Apart from that, a total of 599 civilians employed with the Russian Armed Forces have recovered from the illness.
As of June 17, a total of 1,552 service members, 268 students of Russian military schools and academies, 253 civilian specialists employed with the Russian Armed Forces are diagnosed with the novel coronavirus infection. Most of them show no symptoms and five are in moderately severe condition.
The Defense Ministry also said that the participants in the June 24 Victory Day Parade are tested for coronavirus three times a week. As of today, they all have tested negative.
To date, 553,301 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 304,342 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 7,478 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-06-17--US sanctions against Damascus under Caesar Act affects ordinary Syrians, Moscow says

MOSCOW , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
The US Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act ( Caesar Act ) entered into force on June 17 along with sanctions against the Syrian government , but in reality they affect ordinary Syrians , the Russian foreign ministry said in a comment Wednesday .
`` The Caesar Act that is on paper aimed at protecting civilians only affects ordinary Syrians , the agency noted .
`` Washington fully realizes that the unilateral US sanctions that have been in place for a number of years and new restrictions added to them today largely provoked depreciation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of oil , food and essential goods soaring .
As a result , thousands of ordinary Syrians found themselves on the verge of survival , according to reports of specialized UN humanitarian agencies , '' the ministry added .
The Russian ministry also pointed out that Americans simultaneously are spinning the narrative of their large charity help , choosing not to mention the illegal trade of Syrian fossil fuels , freezing of Syrian bank assets and choking off international funding that Syria has the right to use and receive .
`` However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ established system of humanitarian seizing that allegedly does not prevent provision of humanitarian assistance to Syria and mention extraterritorial sanctions that are illegal in nature judging by international law , '' the ministry said .
`` It is not a secret that unilateral restrictions adopted [ by the US ] bypassing the UN Security Council block import of medicine to Syria , including the materials to produce medicine and anesthetics , computers and high-tech equipment ( x-ray scans , ventilators , dialysis and radiation therapy machines ) as well as fertilizers , water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generators and so on , '' the ministry recalled .
The ministry emphasized that in 2018 UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the observance of human rights Idris Jaziri in a report after his visit to Syria directly stated that multi-level sanctions obstruct provision of humanitarian aid and violate rights of Syrians .
Their negative effect can not be compensated by million charity donations or waivers , highly limited and bureaucratized , the report added .
`` It is clear that nothing has change since there , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toughen further , '' the diplomatic agency concluded .
The Caesar Act was added to the US military budget for 2020 fiscal year ( began October 1 , 2019 ) and was signed by US President Donald Trump on December 20 , 2019 .
After that , the US government had 180 days to draft new restriction , the time ran its course on June 17 .
The act gives US administration the right to impose sanctions on organizations and persons providing direct or indirect help to the Syrian government as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which , the US says , are supported by Syria , Russia and Iran .

MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. The US Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act (Caesar Act) entered into force on June 17 along with sanctions against the Syrian government, but in reality they affect ordinary Syrians, the Russian foreign ministry said in a comment Wednesday.
"The Caesar Act that is on paper aimed at protecting civilians only affects ordinary Syrians, the agency noted.
"Washington fully realizes that the unilateral US sanctions that have been in place for a number of years and new restrictions added to them today largely provoked depreciation of the Syrian lira and send prices of oil, food and essential goods soaring. As a result, thousands of ordinary Syrians found themselves on the verge of survival, according to reports of specialized UN humanitarian agencies," the ministry added.
The Russian ministry also pointed out that Americans simultaneously are spinning the narrative of their large charity help, choosing not to mention the illegal trade of Syrian fossil fuels, freezing of Syrian bank assets and choking off international funding that Syria has the right to use and receive. "However, they do not forget to mention the established system of humanitarian seizing that allegedly does not prevent provision of humanitarian assistance to Syria and mention extraterritorial sanctions that are illegal in nature judging by international law," the ministry said.
"It is not a secret that unilateral restrictions adopted [by the US] bypassing the UN Security Council block import of medicine to Syria, including the materials to produce medicine and anesthetics, computers and high-tech equipment (x-ray scans, ventilators, dialysis and radiation therapy machines) as well as fertilizers, water treatment system, construction equipment, energy generators and so on," the ministry recalled.
The ministry emphasized that in 2018 UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the observance of human rights Idris Jaziri in a report after his visit to Syria directly stated that multi-level sanctions obstruct provision of humanitarian aid and violate rights of Syrians. Their negative effect cannot be compensated by million charity donations or waivers, highly limited and bureaucratized, the report added. "It is clear that nothing has change since there, Washington’s sanctions only expanded and toughen further," the diplomatic agency concluded.
New sanctions
The Caesar Act was added to the US military budget for 2020 fiscal year (began October 1, 2019) and was signed by US President Donald Trump on December 20, 2019. After that, the US government had 180 days to draft new restriction, the time ran its course on June 17. The act gives US administration the right to impose sanctions on organizations and persons providing direct or indirect help to the Syrian government as well as various armed groups operating on its territory which, the US says, are supported by Syria, Russia and Iran.


tass--2020-06-17--Idlib militants stop convoy of school graduates heading for government-controlled regions

MOSCOW , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
A group of militants has blocked a convoy of 17 vans carrying school graduates from the Idlib de-escalation zone to the city of Hama controlled by the Syrian government , Alexander Shcherbitsky , chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria , said on Wednesday .
`` On June 17 , the motor convoy carrying schoolchildren from the Idlib de-escalation zone was expected to arrive in the city of Hama via the Trumba checkpoint .
However , on the southern outskirts of Nayrab , Idlib province , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Tahrir al-Sham terrorist group ( banned in Russia - TASS ) blocked the convoy of 17 vans carrying school graduates , '' Shcherbitsky said .
According to the Russian defense official , some young people and their parents attempted to walk toward the checkpoint of Syria ’ s Armed Forces , located near the settlement of Trumba , but the attempt was cut short by the militants threatening to use arms .
Shcherbitsky explained that the Syrian government had reached an agreement with local authorities in the Idlib de-escalation zone to grant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive high school diplomas and do entry exams for Syrian universities .
Nevertheless , radical groups hampered the implementation of those accords in the south of the de-escalation zone .
`` Thus , graduates of Idlib schools were deprived of the possibility granted by the Syrian government to obtain internationally standardized documents detailing their secondary and higher education .
The radical groups ’ actions are clearly aimed at undermining the peace process and at depriving the young people of a chance for a better future , '' he stressed .
Nevertheless , Shcherbitsky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syrian high schools were able to arrive from the areas not controlled by the Syrian government in the city of Aleppo through two new checkpoints of Aleppo and Trumba .
With assistance from the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties , they came to the city of Aleppo , completely retaken from militants in 2016 .
The Russian reconciliation center continues to fulfill assigned tasks after the completion of the military campaign in Syria .
The center ’ s officers regularly travel around the country 's liberated areas to assess the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Russian military are now focused on assistance to the refugees returning to their homes and evacuation of civilians from de-escalation zones .

MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. A group of militants has blocked a convoy of 17 vans carrying school graduates from the Idlib de-escalation zone to the city of Hama controlled by the Syrian government, Alexander Shcherbitsky, chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, said on Wednesday.
"On June 17, the motor convoy carrying schoolchildren from the Idlib de-escalation zone was expected to arrive in the city of Hama via the Trumba checkpoint. However, on the southern outskirts of Nayrab, Idlib province, a group of militants from the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham terrorist group (banned in Russia - TASS) blocked the convoy of 17 vans carrying school graduates," Shcherbitsky said.
According to the Russian defense official, some young people and their parents attempted to walk toward the checkpoint of Syria’s Armed Forces, located near the settlement of Trumba, but the attempt was cut short by the militants threatening to use arms.
Shcherbitsky explained that the Syrian government had reached an agreement with local authorities in the Idlib de-escalation zone to grant the high school students an opportunity to receive high school diplomas and do entry exams for Syrian universities. Nevertheless, radical groups hampered the implementation of those accords in the south of the de-escalation zone.
"Thus, graduates of Idlib schools were deprived of the possibility granted by the Syrian government to obtain internationally standardized documents detailing their secondary and higher education. The radical groups’ actions are clearly aimed at undermining the peace process and at depriving the young people of a chance for a better future," he stressed.
Nevertheless, Shcherbitsky added, more than 700 graduates of Syrian high schools were able to arrive from the areas not controlled by the Syrian government in the city of Aleppo through two new checkpoints of Aleppo and Trumba. With assistance from the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties, they came to the city of Aleppo, completely retaken from militants in 2016.
The Russian reconciliation center continues to fulfill assigned tasks after the completion of the military campaign in Syria. The center’s officers regularly travel around the country's liberated areas to assess the humanitarian situation. The main efforts of the Russian military are now focused on assistance to the refugees returning to their homes and evacuation of civilians from de-escalation zones.


tass--2020-06-17--About 50% of Russians infected with COVID-19 show no symptoms, says chief sanitary doctor

MOSCOW , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
Around 50 % of Russians infected with the coronavirus develop no symptoms , @ @ @ @ @ the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing said in @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Rossiya ’ 1 channel on Wednesday .
`` If we talk about asymptomatic @ @ @ @ @ , we can see up to 60 % on some days , but in general @ @ @ @ @ 50 % of actively detected carriers or asymptomatic carries .
It is a very good @ @ @ @ @ as it is our active detection , '' she said .
On May 22 , @ @ @ @ @ of asymptomatic cases was 45 % against 15 % in March .
To date , @ @ @ @ @ confirmed in Russia , with 304,342 patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia ’ @ @ @ @ @ fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. Around 50% of Russians infected with the coronavirus develop no symptoms, Anna Popova, head of the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing said in a televised interview on Russia’s Rossiya’1 channel on Wednesday.
"If we talk about asymptomatic [patients], yes, we can see up to 60% on some days, but in general, the statistics says about 50% of actively detected carriers or asymptomatic carries. It is a very good indicator for the country, as it is our active detection," she said.
On May 22, Popova said that a share of asymptomatic cases was 45% against 15% in March.
To date, 553,301 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 304,342 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 7,478 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-06-17--Over ten Russian regions see no decrease in coronavirus cases

MOSCOW , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
About ten Russian regions do not demonstrate a downward trend in coronavirus spread , Anna Popova , head of the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing said in a televised interview on Russia ’ s Rossiya ’ 1 channel on Wednesday .
`` Yesterday ’ s decrease showed that it [ the average number of cases confirmed daily - TASS ) is far fewer than 8,000 .
We can see this tendency in nearly all regions .
There are a few , slightly over ten regions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dramatic dynamic decrease as the rest ones , '' she said .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe , including Russia .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According to the latest statistics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worldwide and more than 446,000 deaths have been reported .
In addition , so far , over 4,323,350 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .
To date , 553,301 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 304,342 patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 7,478 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. About ten Russian regions do not demonstrate a downward trend in coronavirus spread, Anna Popova, head of the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing said in a televised interview on Russia’s Rossiya’1 channel on Wednesday.
"Yesterday’s decrease showed that it [the average number of cases confirmed daily - TASS) is far fewer than 8,000. We can see this tendency in nearly all regions. There are a few, slightly over ten regions, which do not yet demonstrate such a dramatic dynamic decrease as the rest ones," she said.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 8,266,480 people have been infected worldwide and more than 446,000 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 4,323,350 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.
To date, 553,301 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 304,342 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 7,478 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-06-17--Coronavirus infections exceed 8 million globally, WHO reports

GENEVA , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
The number of coronavirus cases in the world has surpassed the 8 million mark , Director General of the World Health Organization ( WHO ) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a briefing in Geneva Wednesday .
`` The world has now recorded more than 8 million cases of COVID-19 , '' he noted .
`` In the first two months , 85,000 cases were reported .
In the past two months 6 million cases have been reported , '' the WHO chief recalled , demonstrating that the pandemic scale is growing .
In Americas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 fatalities already topped 435,000 , he said , adding that `` COVID-19 cases are still rapidly rising . ''
At the same time , Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also emphasized , `` there are green shoots of hope , which show that together through global solidarity , humanity can overcome this pandemic . ''
According to him , many countries `` have shown how to effectively suppress the virus with a combination of testing , tracing , and quarantining patients and caring for those that get sick . ''
Moreover , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world to boost COVID-19 testing , which is critical for identifying where the virus is and informing government actions , '' the WHO head underscored .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @

GENEVA, June 17. /TASS/. The number of coronavirus cases in the world has surpassed the 8 million mark, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a briefing in Geneva Wednesday.
"The world has now recorded more than 8 million cases of COVID-19," he noted.
"In the first two months, 85,000 cases were reported. In the past two months 6 million cases have been reported," the WHO chief recalled, demonstrating that the pandemic scale is growing. In Americas, Africa and South Asia the number of COVID-19 fatalities already topped 435,000, he said, adding that "COVID-19 cases are still rapidly rising."
At the same time, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also emphasized, "there are green shoots of hope, which show that together through global solidarity, humanity can overcome this pandemic." According to him, many countries "have shown how to effectively suppress the virus with a combination of testing, tracing, and quarantining patients and caring for those that get sick." Moreover, "Lab capacity has been dramatically enhanced across the world to boost COVID-19 testing, which is critical for identifying where the virus is and informing government actions," the WHO head underscored.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.


tass--2020-06-17--Palestine’s Abbas not visiting Moscow for parade due to Middle East developments

GROZNY , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will not be able to travel to Moscow to attend the rescheduled Victory Parade on June 24 due to the recent developments in the Middle East , head of Russia ’ s Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov said Wednesday following a phone call with Abbas .
`` The Palestinian president underlined that he would have very much liked to attend the upcoming Victory Parade in Moscow , but the complicated situation in the Middle East got in the way .
Mahmoud Abbas vowed that he would visit Moscow and Chechnya at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote on his page in Russian social network VK .
According to him , the conversation also touched upon the issues of countering the coronavirus pandemic and political developments in the Middle east , adding that the Palestinian leader noted the help from a regional Chechen public fund for 10,000 Palestinian families .
On May 26 , Russian President Vladimir Putin announced at a meeting with Shoigu that the Victory parade will take place on June 24 and ordered to launch preparations to hold it .
He explained that he had chosen the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of victors was held on June 24 , 1945 , when the soldiers who had fought for Moscow and Stalingrad , defended Leningrad , liberated Europe and stormed Berlin marched on Red Square .

GROZNY, June 17. /TASS/. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will not be able to travel to Moscow to attend the rescheduled Victory Parade on June 24 due to the recent developments in the Middle East, head of Russia’s Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov said Wednesday following a phone call with Abbas.
"The Palestinian president underlined that he would have very much liked to attend the upcoming Victory Parade in Moscow, but the complicated situation in the Middle East got in the way. Mahmoud Abbas vowed that he would visit Moscow and Chechnya at the very first opportunity," Kadyrov wrote on his page in Russian social network VK.
According to him, the conversation also touched upon the issues of countering the coronavirus pandemic and political developments in the Middle east, adding that the Palestinian leader noted the help from a regional Chechen public fund for 10,000 Palestinian families.
On May 26, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced at a meeting with Shoigu that the Victory parade will take place on June 24 and ordered to launch preparations to hold it. He explained that he had chosen the date since the legendary, historic parade of victors was held on June 24, 1945, when the soldiers who had fought for Moscow and Stalingrad, defended Leningrad, liberated Europe and stormed Berlin marched on Red Square.


tass--2020-06-17--Russian military tracking USS Porter destroyer in Black Sea

MOSCOW , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
Special equipment of the Russian Southern Military District has begun tracking the US @ @ @ @ @ , Arleigh Burke-class destroyer , that entered the Black Sea , Russia ’ s National @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday .
The military agency clarified that the destroyer sailed into the Black Sea on @ @ @ @ @ and equipment of the Southern Military District are tracking the ship to timely react to @ @ @ @ @ Sea , '' the center noted .
Earlier on Wednesday , the press service of @ @ @ @ @ Sixth Fleet that the destroyer is part of announced that the ship started moving to @ @ @ @ @ with NATO allies and partners in the region .
This is the third time the @ @ @ @ @ Black Sea in 2020 .
The ship last sailed into the Black Sea in April @ @ @ @ @ the ship entered the Barents Sea accompanied by the Roosevelt and the Donald Cook destroyers @

MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. Special equipment of the Russian Southern Military District has begun tracking the US Navy’s USS Porter, Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, that entered the Black Sea, Russia’s National Defense Management Center told reporters Wednesday.
The military agency clarified that the destroyer sailed into the Black Sea on June 17. "Forces and equipment of the Southern Military District are tracking the ship to timely react to possible incidents in the Black Sea," the center noted.
Earlier on Wednesday, the press service of the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet that the destroyer is part of announced that the ship started moving to the Black Sea for drills with NATO allies and partners in the region. This is the third time the USS Porter has entered the Black Sea in 2020.
The ship last sailed into the Black Sea in April. In early May, the ship entered the Barents Sea accompanied by the Roosevelt and the Donald Cook destroyers.


tass--2020-06-17--Unconstructiveness of foreign pressure on Venezuela getting obvious to all, Zakharova says

MOSCOW , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
The futility of pressure on Venezuela is becoming obvious to foreign actors , Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told an online news briefing on Wednesday .
`` The radicals and their foreign handlers , who follow the tactic ‘ the worse-the better ’ are increasingly at odds with the reality .
The situation requires a fresh look .
We are urging influential international actors to do this .
This approach is already beginning to take shape , '' she said .
It has become obvious that pressure and unlawful restrictions against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steer it into a dead end , Zakharova stressed .
The sole correct approach for the foreign actors to make would be the one that not drives a wedge between the Venezuelan forces , but a constructive attitude that will help build trust between them .
`` We are firmly committed to this stance in the process of intensive contacts concerning Venezuela ’ s problems , and we are determined to adhere to it in the future , '' Zakharova said .
She welcomed the agreement on cooperation in the struggle against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s government and the opposition in the National Assembly with assistance from the Pan-American Health Organization .
`` It is important to devise a set of practical tools , which requires more contacts between the parties to the agreement .
It is essential to ensure Venezuela ’ s assets on the bank accounts , blocked in connection with US sanctions , be used to the benefit of all , namely for purchasing medical items for the struggle against the coronavirus and foods and for restoring the economy harmed by the pandemic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. The futility of pressure on Venezuela is becoming obvious to foreign actors, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told an online news briefing on Wednesday.
"The radicals and their foreign handlers, who follow the tactic ‘the worse-the better’ are increasingly at odds with the reality. The situation requires a fresh look. We are urging influential international actors to do this. This approach is already beginning to take shape," she said.
It has become obvious that pressure and unlawful restrictions against the Bolivarian Republic merely worsen the situation and steer it into a dead end, Zakharova stressed. The sole correct approach for the foreign actors to make would be the one that not drives a wedge between the Venezuelan forces, but a constructive attitude that will help build trust between them.
"We are firmly committed to this stance in the process of intensive contacts concerning Venezuela’s problems, and we are determined to adhere to it in the future," Zakharova said.
She welcomed the agreement on cooperation in the struggle against the pandemic, signed by President Nicolas Maduro’s government and the opposition in the National Assembly with assistance from the Pan-American Health Organization.
"It is important to devise a set of practical tools, which requires more contacts between the parties to the agreement. It is essential to ensure Venezuela’s assets on the bank accounts, blocked in connection with US sanctions, be used to the benefit of all, namely for purchasing medical items for the struggle against the coronavirus and foods and for restoring the economy harmed by the pandemic and Western restrictions," she added.


tass--2020-06-17--Russian radars track flight of US Air Force’s B-52 strategic bombers over Pacific

MOSCOW , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
Russian radar stations have tracked the flight of US Boeing B-52 strategic bombers over the northeastern Pacific , the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters on Wednesday .
`` On June 17 , 2020 , the Russian Airspace Control Means detected and tracked the flight of a pair of B-52 strategic bombers of the US Air Force , '' the ministry said adding that the bombers were flying in the neutral airspace over the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean .
The Defense Ministry explained that the bombers had not approached Russia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a distance of over 300 kilometers off the border of the Russian Federation , '' they said .
Russia ’ s Defense Ministry reported earlier that four Tu-95MS strategic missile-carrying bombers performed a patrol flight over the neutral waters of the Chukchi , Bering and Okhotsk Seas and the northern part of the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday .
The Russian bombers ’ scheduled flight lasted about 11 hours , the ministry specified .
At some sections of the route , the Russian aircraft were escorted by US Air Force F-22 fighters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aerospace Force perform all flights in strict compliance with the international rules of using the airspace , '' the Defense Ministry stressed .
Tu-95MS aircraft are the air component of Russia ’ s nuclear triad .
Tu-95MS strategic missile-carrying bombers are designated to deliver strikes against vital targets in remote areas and deep in the rear of continental theaters of military operations .

MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. Russian radar stations have tracked the flight of US Boeing B-52 strategic bombers over the northeastern Pacific, the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters on Wednesday.
"On June 17, 2020, the Russian Airspace Control Means detected and tracked the flight of a pair of B-52 strategic bombers of the US Air Force," the ministry said adding that the bombers were flying in the neutral airspace over the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean.
The Defense Ministry explained that the bombers had not approached Russia’s borders.
"The flight was performed at a distance of over 300 kilometers off the border of the Russian Federation," they said.
Russia’s Defense Ministry reported earlier that four Tu-95MS strategic missile-carrying bombers performed a patrol flight over the neutral waters of the Chukchi, Bering and Okhotsk Seas and the northern part of the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday. The Russian bombers’ scheduled flight lasted about 11 hours, the ministry specified. At some sections of the route, the Russian aircraft were escorted by US Air Force F-22 fighters.
"The aircraft of Russia’s Aerospace Force perform all flights in strict compliance with the international rules of using the airspace," the Defense Ministry stressed.
Tu-95MS aircraft are the air component of Russia’s nuclear triad. Tu-95MS strategic missile-carrying bombers are designated to deliver strikes against vital targets in remote areas and deep in the rear of continental theaters of military operations.


tass--2020-06-17--India’s PM plans to attend BRICS, SCO summits in Russia

NEW DELHI , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans to attend the summits of BRICS @ @ @ @ @ India , China and South Africa ) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization ( SCO ) @ @ @ @ @ Russia in 2020 , Russia ’ s Ambassador Nikolai Kudashev told Russian reporters in New @ @ @ @ @ Narendra Modi voiced readiness to take part in the summits of BRICS and SCO , @ @ @ @ @ July 21-23 , 2020 in St. Petersburg , but were later postponed because of the @ @ @ @ @ said .
The ambassador recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin had been scheduled to visit @ @ @ @ @ The fall season is being worked out for President Vladimir Putin ’ s visit to @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The density of highest-level contacts between Russia and India will be higher than @ @ @ @ @ he added .

NEW DELHI, June 17. /TASS/. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans to attend the summits of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) due to be held in Russia in 2020, Russia’s Ambassador Nikolai Kudashev told Russian reporters in New Delhi on Wednesday.
"Narendra Modi voiced readiness to take part in the summits of BRICS and SCO, which had been scheduled for July 21-23, 2020 in St. Petersburg, but were later postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic," Kudashev said.
The ambassador recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin had been scheduled to visit India this year.
"The fall season is being worked out for President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India," he said.
"The density of highest-level contacts between Russia and India will be higher than ever this year," he added.


tass--2020-06-17--European values replaced with ideology targeting religious values, official says

MOSOCW , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
The system of values of the European civilization was replaced in the West by an ideology , which aims to destroy basics of cultural and political sovereignty of countries and people , Nikolay Patrushev , Secretary of the Russian Security Council , opined in his article for Rossiyskaya Gazeta .
According to Patrushev , the entire previous framework of traditional Western values `` underwent such dramatic changes that the set of current ‘ universal ’ norms effectively has nothing to do with the previous , more familiar '' system of values of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer about replacement of certain values with other ones , '' he claimed .
`` We are now speaking about emergence of a new ideological system , aimed to eventually destroy any traditional religious and moral values as basics of cultural and political sovereignty of peoples and states , '' the Secretary writes .
He asserted that `` the new Western values gave birth to torture in prisons of Afghanistan and Guantanamo , and became a stimulus to avoid serving in the Army and defending one ’ s Homeland . ''
`` A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these values often lead to sanctions aimed at entire peoples , '' Patrushev noted .

MOSOCW, June 17. /TASS/. The system of values of the European civilization was replaced in the West by an ideology, which aims to destroy basics of cultural and political sovereignty of countries and people, Nikolay Patrushev, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, opined in his article for Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
According to Patrushev, the entire previous framework of traditional Western values "underwent such dramatic changes that the set of current ‘universal’ norms effectively has nothing to do with the previous, more familiar" system of values of the European civilization.
"This is no longer about replacement of certain values with other ones," he claimed.
"We are now speaking about emergence of a new ideological system, aimed to eventually destroy any traditional religious and moral values as basics of cultural and political sovereignty of peoples and states," the Secretary writes.
He asserted that "the new Western values gave birth to torture in prisons of Afghanistan and Guantanamo, and became a stimulus to avoid serving in the Army and defending one’s Homeland."
"A decisive denial of certain countries to adopt these values often lead to sanctions aimed at entire peoples," Patrushev noted.


tass--2020-06-17--German parliament’s committee calls to think of response to Nord Stream sanctions

BERLIN , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
The Economy and Energy Committee of German ’ s Bundestag calls on the @ @ @ @ @ consider the response to US sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project , @ @ @ @ @ press release on Wednesday .
`` Representatives of all fractions expressed unanimity in respect of @ @ @ @ @ with the international law , '' Committee Chairman Klaus Ernst said , cited in the @ @ @ @ @ [ was formed ] on the federal government to develop and present a commensurate response @ @ @ @ @ and the European Union , '' according to the press release .

BERLIN, June 17. /TASS/. The Economy and Energy Committee of German’s Bundestag calls on the country’s government to consider the response to US sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, the Committee said in its press release on Wednesday.
"Representatives of all fractions expressed unanimity in respect of incompatibility of such extraterritorial sanctions with the international law," Committee Chairman Klaus Ernst said, cited in the release. "The call [was formed] on the federal government to develop and present a commensurate response from the part of Germany and the European Union," according to the press release.


tass--2020-06-17--US troop pullout from Afghanistan not to increase threats for Central Asia, says diplomat

MOSCOW , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
Russia does not believe that the pullout of the US military contingent from Afghanistan may increase threats for Central Asian countries , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday .
`` We don ’ t believe that the pullout of US troops from Afghanistan is fraught with a growth in threats for Central Asian states .
Rather , the presence of the US and NATO contingents is an irritant for the armed opposition and an obstacle for normalizing the situation in the country , '' the Russian diplomat said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peace agreement signed between the United States and the Taliban movement ( outlawed in Russia ) in Doha on February 29 to lead to the complete pullout of foreign troops from Afghanistan , she said .
`` We also proceed from the fact that the situation normalization in the country will allow the Afghan authorities to fight more effectively the threats of terrorism and drug crimes currently existing on the territory of the Islamic republic , '' the Russian diplomat added .
Russia is strengthening the potential of its military base in Tajikistan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these steps as an important condition for enhancing the security of the southern borders of the Collective Security Treaty Organization ( CSTO ) , '' the Russian diplomat said .
The CSTO is implementing a set of measures aimed at reducing the tension at the Tajik-Afghan border , Zakharova said .
`` Measures are also being worked out to enhance reconnaissance over the movements of militants and to monitor the most dangerous directions , '' the diplomat said .
The CSTO is ready for any scenario of the development of the military and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The member states are taking joint efforts for strengthening the southern borders of the CSTO responsibility area , including the practice of holding drills with the collective forces contingents of this organization in the areas of Tajikistan bordering on Afghanistan , '' she said .

MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. Russia does not believe that the pullout of the US military contingent from Afghanistan may increase threats for Central Asian countries, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.
"We don’t believe that the pullout of US troops from Afghanistan is fraught with a growth in threats for Central Asian states. Rather, the presence of the US and NATO contingents is an irritant for the armed opposition and an obstacle for normalizing the situation in the country," the Russian diplomat said.
The Russian side expects the implementation of the peace agreement signed between the United States and the Taliban movement (outlawed in Russia) in Doha on February 29 to lead to the complete pullout of foreign troops from Afghanistan, she said.
"We also proceed from the fact that the situation normalization in the country will allow the Afghan authorities to fight more effectively the threats of terrorism and drug crimes currently existing on the territory of the Islamic republic," the Russian diplomat added.
Russia is strengthening the potential of its military base in Tajikistan, Zakharova said.
"We consider these steps as an important condition for enhancing the security of the southern borders of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)," the Russian diplomat said.
The CSTO is implementing a set of measures aimed at reducing the tension at the Tajik-Afghan border, Zakharova said.
"Measures are also being worked out to enhance reconnaissance over the movements of militants and to monitor the most dangerous directions," the diplomat said.
The CSTO is ready for any scenario of the development of the military and political situation in Afghanistan, Zakharova stressed.
"The member states are taking joint efforts for strengthening the southern borders of the CSTO responsibility area, including the practice of holding drills with the collective forces contingents of this organization in the areas of Tajikistan bordering on Afghanistan," she said.


tass--2020-06-17--NATO’s decision to grant Kiev new status has political motives, Moscow says

MOSCOW , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
The political motives of granting Kiev the status of NATO ’ s enhanced opportunities partner is obvious .
By making this decision the alliance encourages the Ukrainian authorities to push ahead with their destructive policies , Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a news briefing on Wednesday .
`` Whatever NATO might say about the decision , the political motives are obvious .
At a time when Kiev is openly defying the Minsk Accords and continuing the war in Donbass it can be interpreted in no way other than intentional encouragement of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she said .
Zakharova stressed that the NATO countries in fact demonstrated they were utterly uninterested in the settlement of the internal Ukrainian conflict .
`` Otherwise it will be difficult to keep the public at large scared by an alleged Russian threat and build up military muscle on the alliance ’ s eastern flank , '' Zakharova said .
On Friday , NATO ’ s spokesperson Oana Lungescu said in a statement in Brussels that the alliance had granted Ukraine the status of an enhanced opportunities partner .
This status gives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s program for enhancing the military compatibility of armed forces and NATO exercises and expands information exchange opportunities .
At the same time the alliance stressed that this status had nothing to do with any decisions regarding NATO membership .
Ukraine is a sixth country to have become NATO ’ s enhanced opportunities partner alongside Georgia , Jordan , Australia , Finland and Sweden .

MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. The political motives of granting Kiev the status of NATO’s enhanced opportunities partner is obvious. By making this decision the alliance encourages the Ukrainian authorities to push ahead with their destructive policies, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a news briefing on Wednesday.
"Whatever NATO might say about the decision, the political motives are obvious. At a time when Kiev is openly defying the Minsk Accords and continuing the war in Donbass it can be interpreted in no way other than intentional encouragement of the Ukrainian authorities’ destructive policies," she said.
Zakharova stressed that the NATO countries in fact demonstrated they were utterly uninterested in the settlement of the internal Ukrainian conflict. "Otherwise it will be difficult to keep the public at large scared by an alleged Russian threat and build up military muscle on the alliance’s eastern flank," Zakharova said.
On Friday, NATO’s spokesperson Oana Lungescu said in a statement in Brussels that the alliance had granted Ukraine the status of an enhanced opportunities partner. This status gives Ukraine wider access to the alliance’s program for enhancing the military compatibility of armed forces and NATO exercises and expands information exchange opportunities. At the same time the alliance stressed that this status had nothing to do with any decisions regarding NATO membership. Ukraine is a sixth country to have become NATO’s enhanced opportunities partner alongside Georgia, Jordan, Australia, Finland and Sweden.


tass--2020-06-17--Neo-liberal values create basis for civilizational conflict in the West, official says

MOSCOW , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
Neo-liberal values create basis for civilizational conflict in the Western European society , Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev opines in his article for Rossiyskaya Gazeta .
`` Unfortunately , real life shows that glamorously sounding statements about universal values are in many regards only a declaration these days , because , ever since those values were adopted , the Western World embarked on a rapid process of transition to a neo-liberal model of development , '' Patrushev wrote .
According to the Secretary , `` the West deliberately diluted such basic ideas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ father , a man and a woman . ''
`` Artificially imposed norms such as ‘ parent one ’ and ‘ parent two , ’ due to their unnatural character from purely biological standpoint , formed basis for civilizational conflict within the Western European society , '' the official claimed , underscoring that `` these norms contradict the fundamental nature of Christianity , Islam , Judaism and other religions and are simply hostile to them . ''
He stated that `` in , social sphere , neoliberalism imposes individualism , egoism , cult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedom of any expression . ''
In the meantime , not everyone supports such trends on the West , he asserted , recapping mass protests over same-sex marriages in France in January 2013 .
`` Considering the level of polarization of the French society during those days , a question arises , whether these values are actually universal or are being artificially imposed by someone , '' the Secretary questioned .
According to Patrushev , basic values as ideal goals and qualities are largely the same among the majority of peoples .
Meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are uncharacteristic for the Russian society are usually marked as `` Western values . ''
Patrushev also recalled such language as `` universal values , '' widely used during the years of Perestroika and early years of the Russian Federation .
`` Without denying the existence of values , common for the humanity , I would underscore that , during that period , implementation of the concept of ‘ universal values , ’ on the one hand , made the previously closed Western world closer and easier to understand , but , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible to propagate social and moral basics , which not always corresponded with domestic traditional values , '' Patrushev wrote .
According to the Secretary , the `` ’ Western values , which are being ever more often interpreted as universal , due to being cemented in the official documents of the European Union , have become a clich· '' .
In the meantime , the Secretary reminded that `` some European values , such as the 8-hour working day , equality between men and women , and voting rights for women , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1917 in Russia .
`` .

MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. Neo-liberal values create basis for civilizational conflict in the Western European society, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev opines in his article for Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
"Unfortunately, real life shows that glamorously sounding statements about universal values are in many regards only a declaration these days, because, ever since those values were adopted, the Western World embarked on a rapid process of transition to a neo-liberal model of development," Patrushev wrote.
According to the Secretary, "the West deliberately diluted such basic ideas as family, a mother and a father, a man and a woman."
"Artificially imposed norms such as ‘parent one’ and ‘parent two,’ due to their unnatural character from purely biological standpoint, formed basis for civilizational conflict within the Western European society," the official claimed, underscoring that "these norms contradict the fundamental nature of Christianity, Islam, Judaism and other religions and are simply hostile to them."
He stated that "in, social sphere, neoliberalism imposes individualism, egoism, cult of pleasure, unhinged consumption, absolutizes freedom of any expression."
In the meantime, not everyone supports such trends on the West, he asserted, recapping mass protests over same-sex marriages in France in January 2013.
"Considering the level of polarization of the French society during those days, a question arises, whether these values are actually universal or are being artificially imposed by someone," the Secretary questioned.
Values and labels
According to Patrushev, basic values as ideal goals and qualities are largely the same among the majority of peoples. Meanwhile, values that dominate foreign culture and that are uncharacteristic for the Russian society are usually marked as "Western values." Patrushev also recalled such language as "universal values," widely used during the years of Perestroika and early years of the Russian Federation.
"Without denying the existence of values, common for the humanity, I would underscore that, during that period, implementation of the concept of ‘universal values,’ on the one hand, made the previously closed Western world closer and easier to understand, but, on the other hand, made it possible to propagate social and moral basics, which not always corresponded with domestic traditional values," Patrushev wrote.
According to the Secretary , the "’Western values, which are being ever more often interpreted as universal, due to being cemented in the official documents of the European Union, have become a clich·".
In the meantime, the Secretary reminded that "some European values, such as the 8-hour working day, equality between men and women, and voting rights for women, appeared only thanks to the events of 1917 in Russia.".


tass--2020-06-17--Most Russians stranded in Latin America repatriated, says diplomat

MOSCOW , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
Most Russian citizens who applied to return home from Latin America have been @ @ @ @ @ Russians from Central America and Ecuador is in the works , spokeswoman for the Russian @ @ @ @ @ told a briefing Wednesday .
`` I can confirm that most of Latin America was @ @ @ @ @ .
However , we do not forget about the remaining Russians in Central America and @ @ @ @ @ have been sent yet .
We hope that soon we will be able to tell @ @ @ @ @ ’ s in the works , '' she said .
Russia began gradually restricting international @ @ @ @ @ , while all flights except for repatriation , mail and cargo ones were suspended on @ @ @

MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. Most Russian citizens who applied to return home from Latin America have been back, while repatriation of Russians from Central America and Ecuador is in the works, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova told a briefing Wednesday.
"I can confirm that most of Latin America was covered by the repatriation program. However, we do not forget about the remaining Russians in Central America and Ecuador where no repatriation flights have been sent yet. We hope that soon we will be able to tell them good news. Everything’s in the works," she said.
Russia began gradually restricting international air travel on February 1, while all flights except for repatriation, mail and cargo ones were suspended on March 27.


tass--2020-06-17--Rosatom keeps plans of building power plants overseas in 2020

MOSCOW , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
Rosatom maintains their plans of building nuclear power plants ( NPPs ) overseas @ @ @ @ @ measures , CEO of the Russian state-run nuclear corporation Alexei Likhachev said at the meeting @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday .
`` We are working in ten countries on 25 sites ; our facilities @ @ @ @ @ in total .
As I have already said , we are on track with the @ @ @ @ @ and bring specialists , despite the restrictions in place .
We do not revise the @ @ @ @ @ even for construction sites of the largest volume .
We will have the largest scope @ @ @ @ @ and Bangladesh this year , '' the top manager said .
Rosatom keeps all the @ @ @ @ @ , despite the difficulties caused by the coronavirus , Likhachev added .

MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. Rosatom maintains their plans of building nuclear power plants (NPPs) overseas in 2020 despite the lockdown measures, CEO of the Russian state-run nuclear corporation Alexei Likhachev said at the meeting with President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.
"We are working in ten countries on 25 sites; our facilities are ready in 36 countries in total. As I have already said, we are on track with the government and implement staff rotation and bring specialists, despite the restrictions in place. We do not revise the construction program for this year even for construction sites of the largest volume. We will have the largest scope of construction work in Turkey and Bangladesh this year," the top manager said.
Rosatom keeps all the construction programs for overseas projects, despite the difficulties caused by the coronavirus, Likhachev added.


tass--2020-06-17--US sanctions against Nord Stream 2 target German economy, says diplomat

MOSCOW , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
Sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 project discussed in Congress are designed to directly hit the German economy , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on Wednesday .
`` The aggressive pressure , this is exactly as we qualify it , applied by Washington on their European allies , Germany in the first instance , for the purpose of disrupting construction of the Nord Stream 2 is certainly an unprecedented fact for transatlantic relations .
Sanctions discussed in the United States Congress are called to directly hit exactly the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` A response to them , whether at the national or the pan-European level , is certainly a sovereign decision of Berlin and the European Union countries , '' she added .
Russia expects further support for the project from the German government , Zakharova noted .
`` We assume that all its parties will be able to meet their contractual obligations in full scope and all the states interested in the new pipeline will show the political will required for implementation of this initiative , strategically important for reliable energy support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In any case , `` the situation unfolding is a serious challenge for the EU from the foreign policy aspect and from the viewpoint of security of its market for foreign investments , '' the diplomat said .
It was reported earlier that US lawmakers introduced a bill expanding sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project to the Senate for review .
The Nord Stream 2 project envisages construction of two gas pipeline strings with the total capacity of 55 bln cubic meters per year from Russia to Germany across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is 93 % complete to date .

MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. Sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 project discussed in Congress are designed to directly hit the German economy, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on Wednesday.
"The aggressive pressure, this is exactly as we qualify it, applied by Washington on their European allies, Germany in the first instance, for the purpose of disrupting construction of the Nord Stream 2 is certainly an unprecedented fact for transatlantic relations. Sanctions discussed in the United States Congress are called to directly hit exactly the German economy," the diplomat said. "A response to them, whether at the national or the pan-European level, is certainly a sovereign decision of Berlin and the European Union countries," she added.
Russia expects further support for the project from the German government, Zakharova noted. "We assume that all its parties will be able to meet their contractual obligations in full scope and all the states interested in the new pipeline will show the political will required for implementation of this initiative, strategically important for reliable energy support of united Europe," she added.
In any case, "the situation unfolding is a serious challenge for the EU from the foreign policy aspect and from the viewpoint of security of its market for foreign investments," the diplomat said.
It was reported earlier that US lawmakers introduced a bill expanding sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project to the Senate for review.
The Nord Stream 2 project envisages construction of two gas pipeline strings with the total capacity of 55 bln cubic meters per year from Russia to Germany across the Baltic Sea. The gas pipeline is 93% complete to date.


tass--2020-06-17--Moscow mayor claims removing restrictions harder than introducing them

MOSCOW , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
Making decisions to scale back the coronavirus-related restrictions turned out to be harder than introducing them , Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Wednesday during his meeting with the troupe of the Oleg Tabakov Drama Theater .
`` It was difficult to make decisions on the restrictions , including the closing of theaters .
But those decisions were aimed at protecting against infection , illness , and death .
Those decisions were tough but understandable .
Not everyone approved of them , nor understood them .
And when one is making the reverse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out to be even tougher , '' Sobyanin said .
He explained that when introducing the restrictions `` the virus was to blame , while when lifting them you have only yourself to blame and accept full responsibility . ''
`` One needs to sense whether the right moment was chosen , factors dependent on the incidence of the disease , on economics , on culture , — all of them need to come together and one needs to make a decision on optimal restrictions or on their optimal removal , '' Sobyanin @ @

MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. Making decisions to scale back the coronavirus-related restrictions turned out to be harder than introducing them, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Wednesday during his meeting with the troupe of the Oleg Tabakov Drama Theater.
"It was difficult to make decisions on the restrictions, including the closing of theaters. But those decisions were aimed at protecting against infection, illness, and death. Those decisions were tough but understandable. Not everyone approved of them, nor understood them. And when one is making the reverse decisions on the openings, they turn out to be even tougher," Sobyanin said. He explained that when introducing the restrictions "the virus was to blame, while when lifting them you have only yourself to blame and accept full responsibility."
"One needs to sense whether the right moment was chosen, factors dependent on the incidence of the disease, on economics, on culture, — all of them need to come together and one needs to make a decision on optimal restrictions or on their optimal removal," Sobyanin added.


tass--2020-06-17--Serbia’s coronavirus cases reach 12,522

Serbia’s coronavirus cases reach 12,522

BELGRADE , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
The number of coronavirus infections in Serbia increased by 96 in the past 24 hours to reach 12,522 , while the number of coronavirus-related fatalities climbed to 257 , the national health ministry said Wednesday .
Over the past 24 hours , one person died from the virus-related causes .
In a single day , 6,098 people were tested for the virus .
The number of newly confirmed infections increased , as Tuesday ’ s figures showed 59 new infections .
Overall , 568 people are taken to hospitals after testing positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationwide .
Serbia reported its first coronavirus case on March 23 .
According to Serbian epidemiologist and a member of the national anti-coronavirus crisis center Predrag Kon , Serbia is coming out of the COVID-19 epidemic and is entering the phase of sporadic outbreaks .
Earlier , Serbia asked Russia for help to fight the epidemic .
Between April 3 and May 18 , a Russian unit fully disinfected medical facilities in more than 40 cities and towns across Serbia , disinfecting 376 buildings and constructions .
In late December 2019 , Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According to the latest statistics , over 8,266,480 people have been infected worldwide and more than 446,000 deaths have been reported .
In addition , so far , over 4,323,350 individuals have recovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @

BELGRADE, June 17. /TASS/. The number of coronavirus infections in Serbia increased by 96 in the past 24 hours to reach 12,522, while the number of coronavirus-related fatalities climbed to 257, the national health ministry said Wednesday.
Over the past 24 hours, one person died from the virus-related causes. In a single day, 6,098 people were tested for the virus. The number of newly confirmed infections increased, as Tuesday’s figures showed 59 new infections.
Overall, 568 people are taken to hospitals after testing positive for coronavirus, while 319,581 people were tested nationwide.
Serbia reported its first coronavirus case on March 23. According to Serbian epidemiologist and a member of the national anti-coronavirus crisis center Predrag Kon, Serbia is coming out of the COVID-19 epidemic and is entering the phase of sporadic outbreaks.
Earlier, Serbia asked Russia for help to fight the epidemic. Between April 3 and May 18, a Russian unit fully disinfected medical facilities in more than 40 cities and towns across Serbia, disinfecting 376 buildings and constructions.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 8,266,480 people have been infected worldwide and more than 446,000 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 4,323,350 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.


tass--2020-06-17--Yugoslavia bombings to remain disgraceful page for NATO states — Russian security chief

MOSCOW , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
The bombings of the former Yugoslavia in 1999 will forever remain a disgraceful page in the history of all NATO member states , Secretary of Russia ’ s Security Council Nikolai Patrushev said in an article for the Rossiyskaya Gazeta daily on Wednesday .
`` The barbaric bombings of Yugoslavia were a separate disgraceful page in the history of all the NATO countries and will remain so , '' Patrushev noted , citing the examples of the destructive influence of new Western values on the international security system .
As the chief of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` the substitution of international norms with the rule of force , which is imposing ‘ freedom and democracy ’ with fire and a sword in places where they can not exist by definition in this Western understanding by virtue of historical , religious , ethnological and other reasons , has already led to the tragedy of Iraq , Syria and Libya . ''
NATO launched its Allied Force air operation against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia over the situation in Kosovo on March 24 , 1999 .
During the operation that lasted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries made 38,000 sorties .
As a result of NATO ’ s bombings , from 3,500 to 4,000 people died and about 10,000 were wounded .
Two thirds of them were civilians , according to Serbia ’ s data .
NATO ’ s bombings wiped out the Yugoslav military industrial infrastructure , destroyed over 1,500 populated areas , 60 bridges , 30 % of all schools , about 100 monuments and 40,000 residential buildings .
NATO ’ s operation ended on June 10 , 1999 after an agreement was signed , under which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Kosovo .

MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. The bombings of the former Yugoslavia in 1999 will forever remain a disgraceful page in the history of all NATO member states, Secretary of Russia’s Security Council Nikolai Patrushev said in an article for the Rossiyskaya Gazeta daily on Wednesday.
"The barbaric bombings of Yugoslavia were a separate disgraceful page in the history of all the NATO countries and will remain so," Patrushev noted, citing the examples of the destructive influence of new Western values on the international security system.
As the chief of Russia’s Security Council said, "the substitution of international norms with the rule of force, which is imposing ‘freedom and democracy’ with fire and a sword in places where they cannot exist by definition in this Western understanding by virtue of historical, religious, ethnological and other reasons, has already led to the tragedy of Iraq, Syria and Libya."
NATO launched its Allied Force air operation against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia over the situation in Kosovo on March 24, 1999. During the operation that lasted 78 days, the aircraft of NATO countries made 38,000 sorties. As a result of NATO’s bombings, from 3,500 to 4,000 people died and about 10,000 were wounded. Two thirds of them were civilians, according to Serbia’s data.
NATO’s bombings wiped out the Yugoslav military industrial infrastructure, destroyed over 1,500 populated areas, 60 bridges, 30% of all schools, about 100 monuments and 40,000 residential buildings.
NATO’s operation ended on June 10, 1999 after an agreement was signed, under which Yugoslavia started to pull out its troops from Kosovo.


tass--2020-06-17--Russian diplomat warns European countries against hastily lifting travel restrictions

MOSCOW , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
Russia hopes that European countries will not relax their attention in the fight @ @ @ @ @ them against hastily lifting travel restrictions , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday .
`` I would like to emphasize once again that we are talking about @ @ @ @ @ the steps taken by our European partners towards restoring travel , we hope that our @ @ @ @ @ on issues of effectiveness in the fight against the novel coronavirus infection .
By way @ @ @ @ @ Health Organization continues to caution against haste in lifting lockdown restrictions , '' Zakharova noted @ @ @ @ @ urged all EU countries to open internal borders by June 15 .
In addition , @ @ @ @ @ to gradually reopen external borders on July 1 .

MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. Russia hopes that European countries will not relax their attention in the fight against the coronavirus and cautions them against hastily lifting travel restrictions, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters at a press briefing on Wednesday.
"I would like to emphasize once again that we are talking about statements and intentions. Given the steps taken by our European partners towards restoring travel, we hope that our neighbors will keep their focus on issues of effectiveness in the fight against the novel coronavirus infection. By way of reminder, the World Health Organization continues to caution against haste in lifting lockdown restrictions," Zakharova noted.
The European Commission earlier urged all EU countries to open internal borders by June 15. In addition, it recommended that they begin to gradually reopen external borders on July 1.


tass--2020-06-17--Musk popular in Russia due to illusions pinned on private projects, says Russian scientist

MOSCOW , June 17 .
/TASS/ .
The popularity of Elon Musk and the flight of his company SpaceX ’ @ @ @ @ @ the ISS should be attributed entirely to private companies ’ expectations of eventual privatization of @ @ @ @ @ of the Russian Academy of Sciences , Alexander Aseyev , told TASS on Wednesday .
@ @ @ @ @ president of the RAS , is certain that the current fuss about Musk ’ s @ @ @ @ @ free market economy enthusiasts pin on the privatization of space and space projects at some @ @ @ @ @ Aseyev attributes the popularity of Musk ’ s projects in Russia to the lingering illusions @ @ @ @ @ is capable of coping with complex tasks , including those involving the economy of whole @ @ @ @ @ ambitious technical problems .

MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. The popularity of Elon Musk and the flight of his company SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft to the ISS should be attributed entirely to private companies’ expectations of eventual privatization of space objects, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Alexander Aseyev, told TASS on Wednesday.
Aseyev, a former deputy president of the RAS, is certain that the current fuss about Musk’s projects stems from the expectations free market economy enthusiasts pin on the privatization of space and space projects at some future date.
Also, Aseyev attributes the popularity of Musk’s projects in Russia to the lingering illusions of the 1990s private enterprise is capable of coping with complex tasks, including those involving the economy of whole countries and the solution of ambitious technical problems.