tass--2020-10-02--Armenia’s Defense Ministry reports downed Azerbaijani aircraft in Karabakh

YEREVAN , October 2 .
/TASS/ .
Military operations along the entire line of contact in Nagorno-Karabakh carried on into Friday morning , with Armenia ’ s anti-aircraft systems downing a plane and a drone belonging to Azerbaijan ’ s air force , Shushan Stepanyan , spokesperson for the Armenian Defense Ministry ’ s press service wrote on her Facebook page .
`` At around 07:55 , air defense units of the Armenian forces shot down one enemy aircraft and one drone in the north-eastern direction of Artsakh .
Fighting continues along the Artsakh border .
The attempts of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our troops in separate parts failed․ '' she commented .
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27 , with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014 , in April 2016 and this past July .
Azerbaijan and Armenia have imposed martial law and launched mobilization efforts .
Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties , among them civilians .
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh , a disputed territory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Soviet Union break-up , but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians , broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .
In 1992-1994 , tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them .
Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group , led by its three co-chairs - Russia , France and the United States .

YEREVAN, October 2. /TASS/. Military operations along the entire line of contact in Nagorno-Karabakh carried on into Friday morning, with Armenia’s anti-aircraft systems downing a plane and a drone belonging to Azerbaijan’s air force, Shushan Stepanyan, spokesperson for the Armenian Defense Ministry’s press service wrote on her Facebook page.
"At around 07:55, air defense units of the Armenian forces shot down one enemy aircraft and one drone in the north-eastern direction of Artsakh. Fighting continues along the Artsakh border. The attempts of the enemy to break through the defense of our troops in separate parts failed․" she commented.
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014, in April 2016 and this past July. Azerbaijan and Armenia have imposed martial law and launched mobilization efforts. Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties, among them civilians.
The conflict between 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 primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1992-1994, tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them. Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group, led by its three co-chairs - Russia, France and the United States.


tass--2020-10-02--Renowned Master Makeup Artist Mario Dedivanovic launches MAKEUP BY MARIO

NEW YORK , October 2 .
/PRNewswire/ .
Makeup Artist Mario Dedivanovic introduces luxury beauty brand MAKEUP BY MARIO , featuring thoughtful , meticulously-crafted formulas infused with Mario 's signature techniques .
Comprised of 21 high-quality products and tools for eyes and skin , every shade is universal and created for all human skin tones .
`` With MAKEUP BY MARIO , I 've taken my signature techniques and transformed them into accessible pro products inspired by the ones I 've loved and used throughout my career , '' says Mario .
`` When I teach my Masterclasses , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process and demonstrate all of my techniques .
Now , my techniques and philosophy are infused into my products . ''
2020 marks Mario 's 20th year as a makeup artist .
His namesake brand is the culmination of twenty years of artistry , experience , and experimentation , having worked with some of the most famous faces of our time .
From education to social media to innovation , Mario is a visionary and pioneer at the leading edge of the beauty industry .
He has built a global following , having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the last decade and ignited viral trends that have inspired and forever altered the beauty landscape .
A respected authority and global sensation , MAKEUP BY MARIO is a new classic in the beauty industry .
A master of invention and reinvention , Mario formulated this collection with an uncompromising emphasis on product performance .
`` It is my mission that everyone feels secure , confident , and trusts in these products , '' he says .
`` MAKEUP BY MARIO is my passion and love for makeup artistry encapsulated in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a luxury and professional makeup experience that is n't precious .
Everyone should have access to the very best quality formulas .
That is so important to me . ''
MAKEUP BY MARIO will launch exclusively at makeupbymario.com on October 1 , 2020 , with expansion into further categories starting late 2020 and early 2021 .
MAKEUP BY MARIO products are $ 14 to $ 48 , and available at makeupbymario.com , beginning October 1 , 2020 .
CONTACT : For more information on MAKEUP BY MARIO or Mario Dedivanovic : Press Contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 646.214.5727 x104 , Shirin @ Boldpr.com

NEW YORK, October 2. /PRNewswire/. Makeup Artist Mario Dedivanovic introduces luxury beauty brand MAKEUP BY MARIO, featuring thoughtful, meticulously-crafted formulas infused with Mario's signature techniques. Comprised of 21 high-quality products and tools for eyes and skin, every shade is universal and created for all human skin tones.
Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8777551-renowned-master-makeup-artist-mario-dedivanovic-launches-makeup-by-mario/
"With MAKEUP BY MARIO, I've taken my signature techniques and transformed them into accessible pro products inspired by the ones I've loved and used throughout my career," says Mario. "When I teach my Masterclasses, I take my students through my entire thought process and demonstrate all of my techniques. Now, my techniques and philosophy are infused into my products."
2020 marks Mario's 20th year as a makeup artist. His namesake brand is the culmination of twenty years of artistry, experience, and experimentation, having worked with some of the most famous faces of our time. From education to social media to innovation, Mario is a visionary and pioneer at the leading edge of the beauty industry. He has built a global following, having taught and popularized the best-known makeup techniques of the last decade and ignited viral trends that have inspired and forever altered the beauty landscape. A respected authority and global sensation, MAKEUP BY MARIO is a new classic in the beauty industry.
A master of invention and reinvention, Mario formulated this collection with an uncompromising emphasis on product performance. "It is my mission that everyone feels secure, confident, and trusts in these products," he says. "MAKEUP BY MARIO is my passion and love for makeup artistry encapsulated in a very intentional collection, crafted to deliver a luxury and professional makeup experience that isn't precious. Everyone should have access to the very best quality formulas. That is so important to me."
MAKEUP BY MARIO will launch exclusively at makeupbymario.com on October 1, 2020, with expansion into further categories starting late 2020 and early 2021.
MAKEUP BY MARIO products are $14 to $48, and available at makeupbymario.com, beginning October 1, 2020.
Follow the brand: @makeupbymario
CONTACT: For more information on MAKEUP BY MARIO or Mario Dedivanovic: Press Contact: Shirin Azmi, BOLD PR, 646.214.5727 x104, Shirin@Boldpr.com


tass--2020-10-02--Trump and his wife test positive for coronavirus

WASHINGTON , October 2 .
/TASS/ .
US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania have contracted the coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ this on Friday on his Twitter page .
`` Tonight , [ Melania Trump ] @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately .
We will get @ @ @ @ @ he wrote .

WASHINGTON, October 2. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania have contracted the coronavirus. The American leader wrote about this on Friday on his Twitter page.
"Tonight, [Melania Trump] and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this together!" he wrote.


tass--2020-10-02--Russia to create advanced space tracking system — aerospace forces

MOSCOW , October 2 .
/TASS/ .
In the coming years , Russia will create an advanced military system of space tracking , allowing it to continuously monitor near-Earth objects , Commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces ’ 15th Special Army Lieutenant-General Andrei Vyshinsky said in an interview with the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper , published on Friday .
`` In the coming years , a network of special-purpose radio-technical control systems and new-generation electro-optical systems .
Apart from the Altai Territory , such systems will be deployed in other Russian regions , such as the Far East , Buryatia [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the general said .
He said that the new system would enable Russia ’ s space forces `` to continuously monitor the near-Earth space in all directions and in a wide range of altitudes . ''
The Russian Aerospace Forces are looking into the possibility of building additional radars for its missile attack early warning system , Vyshinsky said .
`` In order to further develop the missile attack early warning system , we are working on the possibility of deploying highly prefabricated radar stations in other Russian regions .
Those facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ procurement program for the period until 2030 and later , '' he said .
Vyshinsky said that at present , the Russian early warning network against ballistic missile attack ensures a continuous radar field around Russia ’ s borders and monitors all areas of a potential missile attack in the round-the-clock mode , including with the help of Tundra satellites .
To date , Voronezh-type advanced missile warning radars have already entered combat duty in northwestern Russia ’ s Leningrad Region , the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad , the East Siberian region of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yekaterinburg .
Besides , they have also been deployed in the regions of Krasnodar ( southern Russia ) , Krasnoyarsk ( east Siberia ) and Altai ( southwest Siberia ) .
Soviet-era missile warning radars of the Dnepr , Daryal and Volga family have been modernized .
Apart from that , Russia is building Voronezh-type radars in northwestern Russian cities of Olenegorsk and Vorkuta .
They are scheduled for completion in 2022 .
`` On top of that , a project to build a high-potential radar station near Sevastopol [ Crimea ] has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it will be put into operation and enter the combat duty in 2024 , '' Vyshinsky said .
This year , Russia will complete trials of the space segment of its missile attack early warning system , Commander of the Russian Aerospace Force ’ s 15th Special Army Lieutenant-General Andrei Vyshinsky said in an interview with the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper , published on Friday .
`` Another priority area in improving our missile attack early warning system is the development of its space segment , which is now undergoing flight trials .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As I have already said , four newest spacecraft have been launched , '' Vyshinsky said .
Russia is deploying the space-based component of its missile attack warning system in compliance with the approved schedule , the system ’ s chief designer , CEO of Vimpel Company Sergei Boyev , told TASS at the Army-2020 international military and technical forum in late August .
The Russian missile attack warning system is designed to warn about attacks on state and military command centers and provides data for Moscow ’ s anti-ballistic missile defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objects for space control facilities .
The system has two tiers : the space component , currently consisting of four Tundra satellites , and the ground network of Voronezh radars that keep under control all directions from which a potential missile attack may originate .
The main task of the system is to promptly identify and track ballistic missiles that may be launched against Russia or its allies .
The fourth Tundra satellite was orbited on May 22 .
In June , a defense industry source told TASS that with the launch of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a basic space segment of a missile attack warning system that allowed for monitoring the US territory for possible launches of ballistic missiles .
The Tundra satellites , equipped with new generation infrared monitoring instruments , allow for accurately identifying missile launches from the Earth ’ s surface , tracking the missiles in flight and automatically forecasting the areas where the warheads might fall .
Another defense source earlier told TASS that the Kupol cluster would have a total of nine satellites .
Kupol is to replace the previous generation space systems Oko @ @ @

MOSCOW, October 2. /TASS/. In the coming years, Russia will create an advanced military system of space tracking, allowing it to continuously monitor near-Earth objects, Commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces’ 15th Special Army Lieutenant-General Andrei Vyshinsky said in an interview with the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper, published on Friday.
"In the coming years, a network of special-purpose radio-technical control systems and new-generation electro-optical systems. Apart from the Altai Territory, such systems will be deployed in other Russian regions, such as the Far East, Buryatia [southeast Siberia] and in Crimea," the general said.
He said that the new system would enable Russia’s space forces "to continuously monitor the near-Earth space in all directions and in a wide range of altitudes."
Additional radars
The Russian Aerospace Forces are looking into the possibility of building additional radars for its missile attack early warning system, Vyshinsky said.
"In order to further develop the missile attack early warning system, we are working on the possibility of deploying highly prefabricated radar stations in other Russian regions. Those facilities will be included into the draft state procurement program for the period until 2030 and later," he said.
Vyshinsky said that at present, the Russian early warning network against ballistic missile attack ensures a continuous radar field around Russia’s borders and monitors all areas of a potential missile attack in the round-the-clock mode, including with the help of Tundra satellites.
To date, Voronezh-type advanced missile warning radars have already entered combat duty in northwestern Russia’s Leningrad Region, the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad, the East Siberian region of Irkugtsk and the southern Ural region of Yekaterinburg. Besides, they have also been deployed in the regions of Krasnodar (southern Russia), Krasnoyarsk (east Siberia) and Altai (southwest Siberia).
Soviet-era missile warning radars of the Dnepr, Daryal and Volga family have been modernized. Apart from that, Russia is building Voronezh-type radars in northwestern Russian cities of Olenegorsk and Vorkuta. They are scheduled for completion in 2022.
"On top of that, a project to build a high-potential radar station near Sevastopol [Crimea] has been launched. According to the schedule, it will be put into operation and enter the combat duty in 2024," Vyshinsky said.
Space segment of early warning system
This year, Russia will complete trials of the space segment of its missile attack early warning system, Commander of the Russian Aerospace Force’s 15th Special Army Lieutenant-General Andrei Vyshinsky said in an interview with the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper, published on Friday.
"Another priority area in improving our missile attack early warning system is the development of its space segment, which is now undergoing flight trials. We plan to complete it this year. As I have already said, four newest spacecraft have been launched," Vyshinsky said.
Russia is deploying the space-based component of its missile attack warning system in compliance with the approved schedule, the system’s chief designer, CEO of Vimpel Company Sergei Boyev, told TASS at the Army-2020 international military and technical forum in late August.
The Russian missile attack warning system is designed to warn about attacks on state and military command centers and provides data for Moscow’s anti-ballistic missile defense, as well as information on space objects for space control facilities.
The system has two tiers: the space component, currently consisting of four Tundra satellites, and the ground network of Voronezh radars that keep under control all directions from which a potential missile attack may originate. The main task of the system is to promptly identify and track ballistic missiles that may be launched against Russia or its allies.
The fourth Tundra satellite was orbited on May 22. In June, a defense industry source told TASS that with the launch of a fourth Tundra satellite, Russia created a basic space segment of a missile attack warning system that allowed for monitoring the US territory for possible launches of ballistic missiles. The Tundra satellites, equipped with new generation infrared monitoring instruments, allow for accurately identifying missile launches from the Earth’s surface, tracking the missiles in flight and automatically forecasting the areas where the warheads might fall.
Another defense source earlier told TASS that the Kupol cluster would have a total of nine satellites. Kupol is to replace the previous generation space systems Oko and Oko-1.


tass--2020-10-02--Armenian premier urges global community to stop escalation of Karabakh conflict

PARIS , October 2 .
/TASS/ .
Armenia hopes that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) ’ s Minsk Group will help to overcome the current crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh , Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview with Le Figaro .
`` This [ the Minsk group ] is the only format of negotiations existing today , '' he said .
`` The presidents of Russia and France have sent a strong message .
We are waiting for the international community ’ s active participation in the effort to stop the aggression .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposite side shows absolutely no intention to stop the hostilities , '' Pashinyan added .
Besides , the Armenian leader urged to suspend Turkey ’ s membership in the Minsk Group , established in 1992 to negotiate peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict .
`` Turkey ’ s participation in the Minsk Group must be suspended , because this country demonstrates a biased and belligerent approach , '' he said .
`` Therefore , it can not be a mediator any longer . ''
`` It were Turkey and Azerbaijan , who launched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s up to them to stop it , '' he said .
`` The international community , including the US public , should know that US-made F-16 fighter jets are used for killing Armenians in this conflict . ''
Pashinyan added that `` Turkey gathered and redeployed thousands of mercenaries and terrorists from the zones they occupy in Syria ’ s north . ''
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27 , with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
The area experienced flare-ups of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in April 2016 and this past July .
Azerbaijan and Armenia have imposed martial law and launched mobilization efforts .
Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties , among them civilians .
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh , a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up , but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians , broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .
In 1992-1994 , tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them .
Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group , led by its three co-chairs - Russia , France and the United States .

PARIS, October 2. /TASS/. Armenia hopes that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)’s Minsk Group will help to overcome the current crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview with Le Figaro.
"This [the Minsk group] is the only format of negotiations existing today," he said. "The presidents of Russia and France have sent a strong message. We are waiting for the international community’s active participation in the effort to stop the aggression."
"At this stage, the opposite side shows absolutely no intention to stop the hostilities," Pashinyan added.
Besides, the Armenian leader urged to suspend Turkey’s membership in the Minsk Group, established in 1992 to negotiate peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"Turkey’s participation in the Minsk Group must be suspended, because this country demonstrates a biased and belligerent approach," he said. "Therefore, it cannot be a mediator any longer."
"It were Turkey and Azerbaijan, who launched this offensive, and, therefore, it’s up to them to stop it," he said. "The international community, including the US public, should know that US-made F-16 fighter jets are used for killing Armenians in this conflict."
Pashinyan added that "Turkey gathered and redeployed thousands of mercenaries and terrorists from the zones they occupy in Syria’s north."
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014, in April 2016 and this past July. Azerbaijan and Armenia have imposed martial law and launched mobilization efforts. Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties, among them civilians.
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up, but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1992-1994, tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them. Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group, led by its three co-chairs - Russia, France and the United States.


tass--2020-10-02--Russian Aerospace Forces track over 60 rocket, ballistic missile launches this year

MOSCOW , October 2 .
/TASS/ .
Russian Aerospace Forces detected and tracked more than 60 domestic and foreign launches @ @ @ @ @ rockets , Commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces ’ 15th Special Army Lieutenant-General Andrei Vyshinsky @ @ @ @ @ the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper , published on Friday .
`` Operational units of the Main @ @ @ @ @ detected more than 60 launches of domestic and foreign ballistic missiles and space rockets .
@ @ @ @ @ for Reconnaissance of Situation in Space registered over 1,500 new space objects , detected over @ @ @ @ @ spacecraft and 14 dangerous approaches of Russian satellites with other space objects , '' he @ @ @ @ @ at present , Russia ’ s orbital grouping comprises more than 150 satellites .
90 @ @ @ @ @ Defense Ministry ’ s purposes while the rest perform tasks under the federal space program @ @ @ @ @ agencies .

MOSCOW, October 2. /TASS/. Russian Aerospace Forces detected and tracked more than 60 domestic and foreign launches of ballistic missiles and space rockets, Commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces’ 15th Special Army Lieutenant-General Andrei Vyshinsky said in an interview with the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper, published on Friday.
"Operational units of the Main Centre for Missile Attack Warning detected more than 60 launches of domestic and foreign ballistic missiles and space rockets. Specialists of the Main Centre for Reconnaissance of Situation in Space registered over 1,500 new space objects, detected over 250 maneuvers performed by foreign spacecraft and 14 dangerous approaches of Russian satellites with other space objects," he said.
Vyshinsky added that at present, Russia’s orbital grouping comprises more than 150 satellites. 90 of them operate for Russian Defense Ministry’s purposes while the rest perform tasks under the federal space program for other Russian ministries and agencies.


tass--2020-10-02--Persian Gulf to become key issue of Russia’s UN Security Council presidency — envoy

UNITED NATIONS , October 2 .
/TASS/ .
Debates on the situation in the Persian Gulf with the participation of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will be a signature event of Russia ’ s presidency in the UN Security Council in October , Russia ’ s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia said .
`` On 20 October we will have the first signature event of the Russian presidency under the title `` Maintenance of International Peace and Security '' , comprehensive review of the situation in the Gulf Region , '' he said .
`` We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as the Gulf countries to speak in the meeting . ''
On October 27 , the UN Security Council will hold a meeting on political and humanitarian situation in Syria .
`` This time we proposed to combine both political and humanitarian with the understanding that if certain developments require it , we will separate them , '' Nebenzia said .
Besides , on Russia ’ s initiative , a UN Security Council meeting on Syrian chemical disarmament , traditionally held behind closed doors , will be held in the open format @ @ @ @

UNITED NATIONS, October 2. /TASS/. Debates on the situation in the Persian Gulf with the participation of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will be a signature event of Russia’s presidency in the UN Security Council in October, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia said.
"On 20 October we will have the first signature event of the Russian presidency under the title "Maintenance of International Peace and Security", comprehensive review of the situation in the Gulf Region," he said. "We are inviting Secretary-General to brief us, as well as the Gulf countries to speak in the meeting."
On October 27, the UN Security Council will hold a meeting on political and humanitarian situation in Syria.
"This time we proposed to combine both political and humanitarian with the understanding that if certain developments require it, we will separate them," Nebenzia said.
Besides, on Russia’s initiative, a UN Security Council meeting on Syrian chemical disarmament, traditionally held behind closed doors, will be held in the open format on October 5.


tass--2020-10-02--Armenia, Azerbaijan show no readiness for dialogue so far — Russia’s UN envoy

UNITED NATIONS , October 2 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow hopes that Armenia and Azerbaijan will show readiness to engage in dialogue after a statement by the co-chairs of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) , Russia ’ s Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia told reporters .
`` The Minsk Group is the only established format that is to help the parties come to a settlement .
And the Minsk Group is ready to facilitate [ the negotiations ] .
But one important condition for the success of the Minsk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the parties themselves .
Unfortunately , so far we hear certain statements which testified that we are not there yet , '' Nebenzia said .
`` I hope that the joint statement by the Presidents of the Co-Chair countries of the Minsk Group will be a game changer . ''
`` The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh is a matter of utmost concern to us , not because it is very close to our borders , but primarily because both Armenia and Azerbaijan are not countries which are strange to us , '' the Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not strange to us .
We have special relations with both countries and , of course , it is painful for us to look at what is happening . ''
Nebenzia also dismissed an assumption that Russia and Turkey were supporting the opposing sides of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict .
`` Yes , Turkey is unequivocally supporting Azerbaijan .
We know that .
But that does n't mean that we are with the other side supporting Armenia vis-a-vis Azerbaijan .
That 's not the case .
We support the just settlement .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hostilities , '' he said .
`` We want both countries to stop this escalation . ''
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27 , with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014 , in April 2016 and this past July .
Azerbaijan and Armenia have imposed martial law and launched mobilization efforts .
Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties , among them civilians .
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh , a disputed territory that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soviet Union break-up , but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians , broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .
In 1992-1994 , tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them .
Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group , led by its three co-chairs - Russia , France and the United States .

UNITED NATIONS, October 2. /TASS/. Moscow hopes that Armenia and Azerbaijan will show readiness to engage in dialogue after a statement by the co-chairs of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia told reporters.
"The Minsk Group is the only established format that is to help the parties come to a settlement. And the Minsk Group is ready to facilitate [the negotiations]. But one important condition for the success of the Minsk Group facilitation is the political will of the parties themselves. Unfortunately, so far we hear certain statements which testified that we are not there yet," Nebenzia said. "I hope that the joint statement by the Presidents of the Co-Chair countries of the Minsk Group will be a game changer."
"The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh is a matter of utmost concern to us, not because it is very close to our borders, but primarily because both Armenia and Azerbaijan are not countries which are strange to us," the Russian diplomat added. "And their peoples are not strange to us. We have special relations with both countries and, of course, it is painful for us to look at what is happening."
Nebenzia also dismissed an assumption that Russia and Turkey were supporting the opposing sides of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"Yes, Turkey is unequivocally supporting Azerbaijan. We know that. But that doesn't mean that we are with the other side supporting Armenia vis-a-vis Azerbaijan. That's not the case. We support the just settlement. We support the ceasefire, the end of hostilities," he said. "We want both countries to stop this escalation."
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014, in April 2016 and this past July. Azerbaijan and Armenia have imposed martial law and launched mobilization efforts. Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties, among them civilians.
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up, but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1992-1994, tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them. Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group, led by its three co-chairs - Russia, France and the United States.


tass--2020-10-02--Lawyer sees no grounds for transfer of Russian pilot Yaroshenko to another US prison

NEW YORK , October 2 .
/TASS/ .
Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko , who is serving a prison sentence in the Danbury prison , Connecticut , will not be transferred to another penitentiary facility , his lawyer Alexei Tarasov told TASS .
`` Konstantin will not be transferred to another prison .
He still remains in isolation , in quarantine .
The information that we have suggests that he will not be transferred to another prison , '' Tarasov said .
He went on to say that the Russian citizen was taken out of the prison to consult a gastroenterologist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returned from this visit , he was placed in quarantine and is still there .
If he is not being transferred to another prison , then why is he still in quarantine ?
There have been no clear explanation for that , '' the lawyer said .
`` Normally , when [ an inmate ] is taken to another correctional facility , he is kept [ in quarantine ] for 10-14 days , but not for a month .
Isolation regime conditions in the Danbury prison are very bad . ''
Earlier , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diplomatic note to the U.S. Department of State with a request not to change the place of Yaroshenko ’ s detention .
According to Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov , the Embassy is concerned about the possibility because the transfer `` may negatively affect his physical and mental state of health . ''
The pilot ’ s wife Viktoria told TASS on September 18 that the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Philadelphia and the Danbury prison administration have no grounds to transfer Yaroshenko to another correctional facility .
Yaroshenko earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citing the coronavirus threat .
In April , the prison authorities informed the Russian that his request had been rejected .
Yaroshenko was arrested in Liberia in May 2010 , and was later clandestinely transferred to the United States .
In September 2011 , he was found guilty of conspiring to smuggle a major cocaine shipment into the US , and sentenced to 20 years behind bars .
However , Yaroshenko pleaded not guilty , saying that his arrest was a setup and the case was fabricated .

NEW YORK, October 2. /TASS/. Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, who is serving a prison sentence in the Danbury prison, Connecticut, will not be transferred to another penitentiary facility, his lawyer Alexei Tarasov told TASS.
"Konstantin will not be transferred to another prison. He still remains in isolation, in quarantine. The information that we have suggests that he will not be transferred to another prison," Tarasov said.
He went on to say that the Russian citizen was taken out of the prison to consult a gastroenterologist about two weeks ago.
"Having returned from this visit, he was placed in quarantine and is still there. If he is not being transferred to another prison, then why is he still in quarantine? There have been no clear explanation for that," the lawyer said. "Normally, when [an inmate] is taken to another correctional facility, he is kept [in quarantine] for 10-14 days, but not for a month. Isolation regime conditions in the Danbury prison are very bad."
Earlier, the Russian Embassy in Washington sent a diplomatic note to the U.S. Department of State with a request not to change the place of Yaroshenko’s detention. According to Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov, the Embassy is concerned about the possibility because the transfer "may negatively affect his physical and mental state of health."
The pilot’s wife Viktoria told TASS on September 18 that the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Philadelphia and the Danbury prison administration have no grounds to transfer Yaroshenko to another correctional facility.
Yaroshenko earlier filed a request for early release, citing the coronavirus threat. In April, the prison authorities informed the Russian that his request had been rejected.
Yaroshenko was arrested in Liberia in May 2010, and was later clandestinely transferred to the United States. In September 2011, he was found guilty of conspiring to smuggle a major cocaine shipment into the US, and sentenced to 20 years behind bars. However, Yaroshenko pleaded not guilty, saying that his arrest was a setup and the case was fabricated.


tass--2020-10-02--Russia’s UN envoy urges Germany to cooperate with Moscow on Navalny issue

UNITED NATIONS , October 2 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s envoy to the United Nations , Vassily Nebenzia , advised Germany to cooperate with Russia in investigating the incident involving Russian blogger Alexei Navalny instead of filing requests to the UN Security Council .
`` I think that instead of drafting letters that we saw yesterday , which they hurried to draft and to send on 30 September before the Niger Presidency expired , some of them should better cooperate with the Russian authorities , '' Nebenzia said , commenting on Germany ’ s request for a Russian briefing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Council .
`` In order to start our investigation , we need , according to our laws , to be provided with materials that would allow us to open such an investigation .
As long as these materials are not provided , we only can conduct the so-called pre-investigation , which is being held , '' the Russian diplomat continued .
He went on to say that Navalny ’ s accusations of Russian President Vladimir Putin ’ s role in the incident were ‘ insulting.
’ '' Navalny commented that he is convinced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this .
He has no other version .
I 'm not even taking the question why Putin would need it .
That 's absurd in principle , '' Nebenzia said .
`` But I would say that even the allegation of something like that , which comes not just from Navalny , but is somehow inherent in many statements that we hear on that issue , is insulting , '' he added .
`` That is immoral even to suggest this , let alone a simple question : why Russia or the Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was rushed to a local hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk on August 20 after collapsing on a Moscow-bound flight from Tomsk .
He fell into a coma and was put on a ventilator in an intensive care unit .
On August 22 , he was airlifted to Berlin and admitted to the Charite hospital .
On September 2 , Berlin claimed that having examined Navalny ’ s test samples , German government toxicologists had come to the conclusion that the blogger had been affected by a toxic agent belonging to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that Russia was ready for comprehensive cooperation with Germany .
He pointed out that no poisonous substances had been detected in Navalny ’ s system prior to his transfer to Berlin .

UNITED NATIONS, October 2. /TASS/. Russia’s envoy to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, advised Germany to cooperate with Russia in investigating the incident involving Russian blogger Alexei Navalny instead of filing requests to the UN Security Council.
"I think that instead of drafting letters that we saw yesterday, which they hurried to draft and to send on 30 September before the Niger Presidency expired, some of them should better cooperate with the Russian authorities," Nebenzia said, commenting on Germany’s request for a Russian briefing on the issue at the UN Security Council.
"In order to start our investigation, we need, according to our laws, to be provided with materials that would allow us to open such an investigation. As long as these materials are not provided, we only can conduct the so-called pre-investigation, which is being held," the Russian diplomat continued.
He went on to say that Navalny’s accusations of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s role in the incident were ‘insulting.’
"Navalny commented that he is convinced that it's Putin who is behind this. He has no other version. I'm not even taking the question why Putin would need it. That's absurd in principle," Nebenzia said.
"But I would say that even the allegation of something like that, which comes not just from Navalny, but is somehow inherent in many statements that we hear on that issue, is insulting," he added. "That is immoral even to suggest this, let alone a simple question: why Russia or the Russian authorities would need that?"
Navalny was rushed to a local hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk on August 20 after collapsing on a Moscow-bound flight from Tomsk. He fell into a coma and was put on a ventilator in an intensive care unit. On August 22, he was airlifted to Berlin and admitted to the Charite hospital.
On September 2, Berlin claimed that having examined Navalny’s test samples, German government toxicologists had come to the conclusion that the blogger had been affected by a toxic agent belonging to the Novichok family.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia was ready for comprehensive cooperation with Germany. He pointed out that no poisonous substances had been detected in Navalny’s system prior to his transfer to Berlin.


tass--2020-10-02--Over 300 Syrian Islamists arrive in Karabakh via Turkey — Macron

BRUSSELS , October 2 .
/TASS/ .
France confirms that more than 300 radical Islamists from Syria arrived in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone via Turkey ’ s Gaziantep , French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters after the first day of the EU summit in Brussels .
`` I can assure that more than 300 Syrian Islamist militants , earlier taken out of the Aleppo zone , were deployed to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone via Turkey ’ s Gaziantep [ to take part in the hostilities on Azerbaijan ’ s side ] , '' he said .
`` This is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identified and tracked down , all of them have links with the Islamic State terrorist group [ outlawed in Russia ] , '' Macron said .
`` I discussed this with President Vladimir Putin , who confirmed that Russia has also been informed about this , '' the French leader added .
`` [ Turkey ’ s ] behavior is unworthy of a NATO member state , we consider such actions to be totally inadmissible .
In this case , the red line had already been crossed , '' he said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France and its co-chairs in the OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorno Karabakh - Russia and the United States - will come up with a series of initiatives to stop the conflict .
`` Russia , the United States and France , as co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group will undertake a series of initiatives to stop the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh in the nearest possible time , '' he said .
`` We maintain close working contacts . ''
Meanwhile , European Council President Charles Michel said that EU leaders urge Turkey to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a constructive role in de-escalating the situation .
`` Yes , everyone should play a more constructive role to promote de-escalation .
We want foreign interference to stop , it only makes the situation more difficult , '' he said .
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27 , with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014 , in April 2016 and this past July .
Azerbaijan and Armenia have imposed martial law and launched mobilization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have reported casualties , among them civilians .
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh , a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up , but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians , broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .
In 1992-1994 , tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them .
Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by its three co-chairs - Russia , France and the United States .

BRUSSELS, October 2. /TASS/. France confirms that more than 300 radical Islamists from Syria arrived in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone via Turkey’s Gaziantep, French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters after the first day of the EU summit in Brussels.
"I can assure that more than 300 Syrian Islamist militants, earlier taken out of the Aleppo zone, were deployed to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone via Turkey’s Gaziantep [to take part in the hostilities on Azerbaijan’s side]," he said. "This is a confirmed fact, those people have been identified and tracked down, all of them have links with the Islamic State terrorist group [outlawed in Russia]," Macron said.
"I discussed this with President Vladimir Putin, who confirmed that Russia has also been informed about this," the French leader added.
"[Turkey’s] behavior is unworthy of a NATO member state, we consider such actions to be totally inadmissible. In this case, the red line had already been crossed," he said.
The French leader went on to say that France and its co-chairs in the OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorno Karabakh - Russia and the United States - will come up with a series of initiatives to stop the conflict.
"Russia, the United States and France, as co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group will undertake a series of initiatives to stop the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh in the nearest possible time," he said. "We maintain close working contacts."
Meanwhile, European Council President Charles Michel said that EU leaders urge Turkey to stop interfering in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue and play a constructive role in de-escalating the situation.
"Yes, everyone should play a more constructive role to promote de-escalation. We want foreign interference to stop, it only makes the situation more difficult," he said.
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014, in April 2016 and this past July. Azerbaijan and Armenia have imposed martial law and launched mobilization efforts. Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties, among them civilians.
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up, but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1992-1994, tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them. Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group, led by its three co-chairs - Russia, France and the United States.


tass--2020-10-02--Epidemic control to be toughened everywhere in Moscow — mayor

MOSCOW , October 1 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow authorities will toughen their control over how anti-coronavirus measures are being observed in Moscow , Mayor Sergei Sobyanin told the Rossiya-24 TV channel .
`` We stepped up inspections not only in retail facilities , but also in cinemas and theatres < … > .
And we warned heads of such organizations that if epidemiologic requirements are not observed , they will simply be closed .
The discipline in those places is much better now .
We will keep an eye on that , '' Sobyanin said .
`` Anyway , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with sanitary requirements in all areas - construction , industry , trade culture , '' Sobyanin added .
He went on to say the Moscow city administration will punish organizations and businesses who fail to comply with the demand to transfer some of the staff to remote work .
`` This spring , companies managed to transfer up to 70 % of their staff to remote work without any harm to production , compared to 30 % required today , '' he said .
`` However , now we see people moving around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and roads are congested .
It ’ s evident that our recommendations are no longer working . ''
`` If they [ companies ] fail to listen to us , we will sanction them , '' the mayor added .
Earlier , the mayor announced new preventive measures in Moscow in view of a growth in coronavirus cases in the recent days , and an expected surge in cold-related diseases .
Sobyanin advised Moscow residents over 65 and those with chronic illnesses to stay at home due to the increased incidence of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enterprises were asked to switch 30 % of their personnel to work from home as well as to ensure strict compliance with anti-epidemic measures at workplaces .
School students will go on two-week holidays on October 5 .
Kindergartens will continue working routinely .
Moscow , which has the highest number of coronavirus cases nationwide , has recently seen a rise in infections .
The city has so far recorded 295,025 cases , including 2,424 identified in the past day .
A total of 249,861 coronavirus patients have recovered in Moscow , and @ @ @

MOSCOW, October 1. /TASS/. Moscow authorities will toughen their control over how anti-coronavirus measures are being observed in Moscow, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin told the Rossiya-24 TV channel.
"We stepped up inspections not only in retail facilities, but also in cinemas and theatres <…>. And we warned heads of such organizations that if epidemiologic requirements are not observed, they will simply be closed. The discipline in those places is much better now. We will keep an eye on that," Sobyanin said.
"Anyway, I gave instructions to enhance control over compliance with sanitary requirements in all areas - construction, industry, trade culture," Sobyanin added.
He went on to say the Moscow city administration will punish organizations and businesses who fail to comply with the demand to transfer some of the staff to remote work.
"This spring, companies managed to transfer up to 70% of their staff to remote work without any harm to production, compared to 30% required today," he said. "However, now we see people moving around the city, the subway is overcrowded and roads are congested. It’s evident that our recommendations are no longer working."
"If they [companies] fail to listen to us, we will sanction them," the mayor added.
Earlier, the mayor announced new preventive measures in Moscow in view of a growth in coronavirus cases in the recent days, and an expected surge in cold-related diseases. Sobyanin advised Moscow residents over 65 and those with chronic illnesses to stay at home due to the increased incidence of the coronavirus. Also, the management of enterprises were asked to switch 30% of their personnel to work from home as well as to ensure strict compliance with anti-epidemic measures at workplaces. School students will go on two-week holidays on October 5. Kindergartens will continue working routinely.
Moscow, which has the highest number of coronavirus cases nationwide, has recently seen a rise in infections. The city has so far recorded 295,025 cases, including 2,424 identified in the past day. A total of 249,861 coronavirus patients have recovered in Moscow, and 5,282 died.


tass--2020-10-02--EU condemns alleged ‘use of chemical weapons’ against Navalny — EC president

BRUSSELS , October 2 .
/TASS/ .
Heads of the European Union states and governments , who convened for a summit on Thursday , condemned the alleged `` use of chemical weapons '' against Russian blogger Alexei Navalny , European Council President Charles Michel said .
So far , Germany has failed to present any evidence to substantiate its claims .
`` We condemn the use of chemical weapons and call upon Russia to conduct an investigation .
We will return to that question during the next summit , to be held in a couple of weeks , '' Michel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk on August 20 after collapsing on a Moscow-bound flight from Tomsk .
He fell into a coma and was put on a ventilator in an intensive care unit .
On August 22 , he was airlifted to Berlin and admitted to the Charite hospital .
On September 2 , Berlin claimed that having examined Navalny ’ s test samples , German government toxicologists had come to the conclusion that the blogger had been affected by a toxic agent belonging to the Novichok family .
Kremlin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready for comprehensive cooperation with Germany .
He pointed out that no poisonous substances had been detected in Navalny ’ s system prior to his transfer to Berlin .

BRUSSELS, October 2. /TASS/. Heads of the European Union states and governments, who convened for a summit on Thursday, condemned the alleged "use of chemical weapons" against Russian blogger Alexei Navalny, European Council President Charles Michel said.
So far, Germany has failed to present any evidence to substantiate its claims.
"We condemn the use of chemical weapons and call upon Russia to conduct an investigation. We will return to that question during the next summit, to be held in a couple of weeks," Michel said.
Navalny was rushed to a local hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk on August 20 after collapsing on a Moscow-bound flight from Tomsk. He fell into a coma and was put on a ventilator in an intensive care unit. On August 22, he was airlifted to Berlin and admitted to the Charite hospital.
On September 2, Berlin claimed that having examined Navalny’s test samples, German government toxicologists had come to the conclusion that the blogger had been affected by a toxic agent belonging to the Novichok family.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia was ready for comprehensive cooperation with Germany. He pointed out that no poisonous substances had been detected in Navalny’s system prior to his transfer to Berlin.


tass--2020-10-02--EU should seek efficient dialogue with Russia, Turkey, but on its own terms — Macron

BRUSSELS , October 2 .
/TASS/ .
The European Union should seek to establish an efficient strategic dialogue with Russia @ @ @ @ @ on its on own terms , French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters on Friday after @ @ @ @ @ EU summit in Brussels .
`` The European Union should seek an efficient strategic dialogue @ @ @ @ @ taking into account the authoritarian practices of these countries .
That is why we must @ @ @ @ @ for them : total respect for sovereignty and interests of the EU member states and @ @ @ @ @ would be compulsory , '' he said .

BRUSSELS, October 2. /TASS/. The European Union should seek to establish an efficient strategic dialogue with Russia and Turkey on the condition on its on own terms, French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters on Friday after the first day of the EU summit in Brussels.
"The European Union should seek an efficient strategic dialogue with Russia and Turkey, taking into account the authoritarian practices of these countries. That is why we must clearly draw our red lines for them: total respect for sovereignty and interests of the EU member states and compliance with basic European values would be compulsory," he said.


tass--2020-10-02--EU to blacklist about 40 Belarusian officials on Friday

BRUSSELS , October 2 .
/TASS/ .
On Friday , the European Union will blacklist about 40 Belarusian officials whom it accuses of election meddling and human rights violations in the country , President of the European Council Charles Michel said .
`` We decided to implement the sanctions that we had approved in August .
This means that tomorrow [ on Friday ] the blacklist of about 40 names will be implemented via a written procedure , '' he said .
Michel told reporters after the EU summit , which began on Thursday and ended after midnight Moscow time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not on the list .
In turn , French President Emmanuel Macron said Lukashenko was not blacklisted , because this would have undermined the EU demand to launch dialogue with the opposition , mediated by the OSCE .
`` The EU did not impose personal sanctions on Lukashenko , because this would have undermined Brussels ’ requirements to launch the dialogue with the opposition , mediated by the OSCE , and to free political prisoners , '' Macron told reporters .
`` This [ EU sanctions ] would have given Lukashenko legitimate grounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EU compiled a blacklist of Belarusian officials Brussels considers `` responsible for election fraud and police violence '' on August 14 .
However , its introduction was blocked by Cyprus .
In exchange for the approval Cyprus called for the adoption of sanctions against Turkey , which is conducting geological exploration of gas fields in the disputed waters off the island .
However , in the course of Thursday ’ s summit , Cyprus apparently revoked its veto .
In return , the EU vowed to slap Ankara with sanctions if it refuses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year-end .
Nationwide demonstrations have engulfed Belarus following the August 9 presidential election .
According to the Central Election Commission ’ s official results , incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won by a landslide , garnering 80.10 % of the vote .
His closest rival in the race , Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , came in second , with 10.12 % of the ballot .
However , she refused to recognize the election ’ s outcome , and left Belarus for Lithuania .
After the results of the exit polls were announced late on August 9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other Belarusian cities .
During the early post-election period , the rallies snowballed into fierce clashes between the protesters and police .
The current unrest is being cheered on by the opposition ’ s Coordination Council , which has been beating the drum for more protests .
In response , the Belarusian authorities have castigated the ongoing turmoil and demanded that these unauthorized demonstrations be stopped .

BRUSSELS, October 2. /TASS/. On Friday, the European Union will blacklist about 40 Belarusian officials whom it accuses of election meddling and human rights violations in the country, President of the European Council Charles Michel said.
"We decided to implement the sanctions that we had approved in August. This means that tomorrow [on Friday] the blacklist of about 40 names will be implemented via a written procedure," he said.
Michel told reporters after the EU summit, which began on Thursday and ended after midnight Moscow time, that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was not on the list.
In turn, French President Emmanuel Macron said Lukashenko was not blacklisted, because this would have undermined the EU demand to launch dialogue with the opposition, mediated by the OSCE.
"The EU did not impose personal sanctions on Lukashenko, because this would have undermined Brussels’ requirements to launch the dialogue with the opposition, mediated by the OSCE, and to free political prisoners," Macron told reporters. "This [EU sanctions] would have given Lukashenko legitimate grounds for rejecting those demands."
The EU compiled a blacklist of Belarusian officials Brussels considers "responsible for election fraud and police violence" on August 14. However, its introduction was blocked by Cyprus. In exchange for the approval Cyprus called for the adoption of sanctions against Turkey, which is conducting geological exploration of gas fields in the disputed waters off the island. However, in the course of Thursday’s summit, Cyprus apparently revoked its veto. In return, the EU vowed to slap Ankara with sanctions if it refuses to stop its unilateral provocations by the year-end.
Nationwide demonstrations have engulfed Belarus following the August 9 presidential election. According to the Central Election Commission’s official results, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won by a landslide, garnering 80.10% of the vote. His closest rival in the race, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, came in second, with 10.12% of the ballot. However, she refused to recognize the election’s outcome, and left Belarus for Lithuania. After the results of the exit polls were announced late on August 9, mass protests erupted in downtown Minsk and other Belarusian cities. During the early post-election period, the rallies snowballed into fierce clashes between the protesters and police. The current unrest is being cheered on by the opposition’s Coordination Council, which has been beating the drum for more protests. In response, the Belarusian authorities have castigated the ongoing turmoil and demanded that these unauthorized demonstrations be stopped.


tass--2020-10-01--Jack Ma says Hainan should play an important part in digital globalization

HAIKOU , October 1 .
/TASS/ .
China 's Hainan must take on a historic responsibility to explore the possibilities of a new digital globalization for the benefit of the world , stated the founder of the Chinese company Alibaba , co-chair of the UN high-level expert group on digital cooperation Jack Ma .
`` Hainan is now at a new historical starting point , '' Jack Ma was quoted by the Hainan Daily at the Chinese `` Green '' Companies Conference organized by the Chinese Entrepreneurs ' Club in Haikou .
`` The free trade port 's construction here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ province 's development , and , moreover , not only an opportunity for the economic development of the entire country ; it is a historical responsibility that Hainan must take upon itself to open up a new digital globalization to the whole world . ''
The transformation of Hainan into a free trade port , which began this year , should be seen as a `` choice of historic significance '' for China , he said .
Jack Ma noted that members of the China Entrepreneurship Club , which he chairs , came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` support the free trade port 's construction . ''
Speaking about the prospects for Hainan , he stressed that `` at this time , China needs to open up even more and integrate with the world . ''
`` Yesterday 's original traditional globalization of the industrial era is coming to an end , and a new , true digital age has just begun , '' the founder of Alibaba said at the conference .
According to Jack Ma , `` in the past , globalization was led by developed countries and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will be led by developing countries and small businesses ; trade was previously the main driving force , but it will be technology in the future . ''
He added that the past was characterized by the movement of people and goods , the future will be based on the flow of information and the provision of services .
Jack Ma noted that the globalization of a bygone era was caused by the consumption of 300 million people in the US .
`` The domestic demand of 1.4 billion people in China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ round of real globalization and will boost the development of the global economy , '' he stressed .

HAIKOU, October 1. /TASS/. China's Hainan must take on a historic responsibility to explore the possibilities of a new digital globalization for the benefit of the world, stated the founder of the Chinese company Alibaba, co-chair of the UN high-level expert group on digital cooperation Jack Ma.
"Hainan is now at a new historical starting point," Jack Ma was quoted by the Hainan Daily at the Chinese "Green" Companies Conference organized by the Chinese Entrepreneurs' Club in Haikou. "The free trade port's construction here is not just a chance for the province's development, and, moreover, not only an opportunity for the economic development of the entire country; it is a historical responsibility that Hainan must take upon itself to open up a new digital globalization to the whole world."
The transformation of Hainan into a free trade port, which began this year, should be seen as a "choice of historic significance" for China, he said. Jack Ma noted that members of the China Entrepreneurship Club, which he chairs, came to Hainan to attend the conference to "support the free trade port's construction." Speaking about the prospects for Hainan, he stressed that "at this time, China needs to open up even more and integrate with the world."
"Yesterday's original traditional globalization of the industrial era is coming to an end, and a new, true digital age has just begun," the founder of Alibaba said at the conference. According to Jack Ma, "in the past, globalization was led by developed countries and big enterprises, but in the future it will be led by developing countries and small businesses; trade was previously the main driving force, but it will be technology in the future." He added that the past was characterized by the movement of people and goods, the future will be based on the flow of information and the provision of services.
Jack Ma noted that the globalization of a bygone era was caused by the consumption of 300 million people in the US. "The domestic demand of 1.4 billion people in China will be the impetus for the next round of real globalization and will boost the development of the global economy," he stressed.


tass--2020-10-01--Siberian scientists offer biotechnology to clean Lake Pyasino near Norilsk

MOSCOW , October 1 .
/TASS/ .
Experts of the Russian Academy of Scientists ’ Siberian Branch have a biotechnology solution to remove industrial contamination from Lake Pyasino near Norilsk , leader of the Great Norilsk Expedition ’ s hydrobiology team , Mikhail Gladyshev of the Biophysics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences ’ Siberian Branch said in an interview with TASS .
“ Instead of useless stocking , we suggest restoring the water quality , which between the 1950s and the 1980s dropped below required limits for fishery reservoirs , ” he said .
“ Nobody in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Siberian Branch has a scientifically-based solution .
Any fish population recovery there would be possible only after the water quality is restored.
” The international practice of restoring lakes lies in biology manipulations “ from top to bottom ” along the food chain , he explained .
The US has used this method to restore water in the Great Lakes .
Similar methods have been used in Western Europe .
But on Taimyr , the process should be the opposite : “ from bottom to top ” along the food chain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done so in big water reservoirs .
But the Siberian Branch is known for doing many things , which nobody else has practiced .
I hope we shall be the first to make this large-scale biomanipulation to restore the lake ’ s condition , and only afterwards stocking could be done .
I am confident - we can use such ecotechnologies to restore resources in the Arctic .
However , this work requires public-private partnership , support from businesses and state authorities , ” he said in conclusion .
The Siberian Branch of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first time in recent years , at the invitation of Nornickel , sent a big scientific expedition to the Taimyr Peninsula to conduct a large-scale examination of the area .
Scientists will use the expedition ’ s results to present suggestions for industrial companies , working in the Arctic , on how to preserve the nature .
The expedition ’ s key points were watersheds of the Rivers Pyasina , Norilka and Ambarnaya and Lake Pyasino .
The expedition ’ s term is five months – from July to November .
Before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research institutes of the Academy of Sciences ’ Siberian Branch collected samples of soils , plants and sediments and are now conducting tests at the institutes ’ labs .

MOSCOW, October 1. /TASS/. Experts of the Russian Academy of Scientists’ Siberian Branch have a biotechnology solution to remove industrial contamination from Lake Pyasino near Norilsk, leader of the Great Norilsk Expedition’s hydrobiology team, Mikhail Gladyshev of the Biophysics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Siberian Branch said in an interview with TASS.
“Instead of useless stocking, we suggest restoring the water quality, which between the 1950s and the 1980s dropped below required limits for fishery reservoirs,” he said. “Nobody in the world has done anything of the kind. The Siberian Branch has a scientifically-based solution. Any fish population recovery there would be possible only after the water quality is restored.”
The international practice of restoring lakes lies in biology manipulations “from top to bottom” along the food chain, he explained. The US has used this method to restore water in the Great Lakes. Similar methods have been used in Western Europe. But on Taimyr, the process should be the opposite: “from bottom to top” along the food chain.
“Nobody in the world has done so in big water reservoirs. But the Siberian Branch is known for doing many things, which nobody else has practiced. I hope we shall be the first to make this large-scale biomanipulation to restore the lake’s condition, and only afterwards stocking could be done. I am confident - we can use such ecotechnologies to restore resources in the Arctic. However, this work requires public-private partnership, support from businesses and state authorities,” he said in conclusion.
Expedition to Taimyr
The Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences for the first time in recent years, at the invitation of Nornickel, sent a big scientific expedition to the Taimyr Peninsula to conduct a large-scale examination of the area. Scientists will use the expedition’s results to present suggestions for industrial companies, working in the Arctic, on how to preserve the nature.
The expedition’s key points were watersheds of the Rivers Pyasina, Norilka and Ambarnaya and Lake Pyasino. The expedition’s term is five months – from July to November. Before the end of August, experts from 14 research institutes of the Academy of Sciences’ Siberian Branch collected samples of soils, plants and sediments and are now conducting tests at the institutes’ labs.


tass--2020-10-03--OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs urge humanitarian ceasefire in Karabakh

TASS , October 3 .
The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Igor Popov ( Russia ) , Stephane Visconti ( France ) , and Andrew Schofer ( the U.S. ) called on the parties in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to remove the bodies of soldiers who died as a result of the clashes .
Their statement was published on the OSCE website on Friday .
The Co-Chairs `` call urgently for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to enable the repatriation of remains of fallen servicemen in coordination with the OSCE and ICRC ( the International Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The Co-Chairs also stressed that `` participation in the escalating violence by external parties undermines efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region . ''
`` Recalling the October 1 statement of the Presidents of the three Co-Chair countries , the Co-Chairs once again call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the resumption of substantive negotiations , in good faith and without preconditions , '' the officials said .
`` The Co-Chairs strongly condemn the continued violence in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone as well as against targets in the territory of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Contact , and express our alarm at reports of increasing civilian casualties .
Targeting or threatening civilians is never acceptable under any circumstances .
The Co-Chairs call on the sides to observe fully their international obligations to protect civilian populations , '' according to the statement .
On October 1 , Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia , Donald Trump of the United States and Emmanuel Macron of France in a joint statement called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to end hostilities and to resume talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict without preconditions .
Renewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September 27 , with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014 , in April 2016 and this past July .
Azerbaijan and Armenia have imposed martial law and launched mobilization efforts .
Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties , among them civilians .
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh , a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up , but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians , broke out in February 1988 after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .
In 1992-1994 , tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them .
Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group , led by its three co-chairs - Russia , France and the United States .

TASS, October 3. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Igor Popov (Russia), Stephane Visconti (France), and Andrew Schofer (the U.S.) called on the parties in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to remove the bodies of soldiers who died as a result of the clashes. Their statement was published on the OSCE website on Friday.
The Co-Chairs "call urgently for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to enable the repatriation of remains of fallen servicemen in coordination with the OSCE and ICRC (the International Committee of the Red Cross -TASS)."
The Co-Chairs also stressed that "participation in the escalating violence by external parties undermines efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region."
"Recalling the October 1 statement of the Presidents of the three Co-Chair countries, the Co-Chairs once again call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the resumption of substantive negotiations, in good faith and without preconditions," the officials said.
"The Co-Chairs strongly condemn the continued violence in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone as well as against targets in the territory of Armenia and Azerbaijan away from the Line of Contact, and express our alarm at reports of increasing civilian casualties. Targeting or threatening civilians is never acceptable under any circumstances. The Co-Chairs call on the sides to observe fully their international obligations to protect civilian populations," according to the statement.
Situation in Nagorno-Karabakh region
On October 1, Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia, Donald Trump of the United States and Emmanuel Macron of France in a joint statement called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to end hostilities and to resume talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict without preconditions.
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014, in April 2016 and this past July. Azerbaijan and Armenia have imposed martial law and launched mobilization efforts. Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties, among them civilians.
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up, but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1992-1994, tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them. Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group, led by its three co-chairs - Russia, France and the United States.


tass--2020-10-03--Venezuelan President thanks Russia for coronavirus vaccine supply

HAVANA , October 3 .
/TASS/ .
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro thanked President Vladimir Putin and Russian citizens for the delivery of the first batch of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine to the republic .
`` Sputnik V is already here !
We are the first country in the Western Hemisphere to begin phase 3 of the clinical trials of this vaccine against Covid-19 .
On behalf of the Venezuelan people , I thank President Vladimir Putin and the Russian people for their solidarity , '' he wrote on Twitter on Friday .
On Friday morning , the first batch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Venezuela .
About 2,000 Venezuelans will participate in clinical trials of the vaccine , according to the authorities .
The country 's Vice President , Delcy Rodriguez , noted that Venezuela also plans to launch production of the vaccine on its territory .
On August 11 , Russia became the first country to register a coronavirus vaccine , which was named Sputnik V. Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said the vaccine created by the N. F. Gamaleya Federal Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology had shown its effectiveness and safety on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ created on a platform that had been used for the development of a number of other vaccines .
On August 15 , the Russian Health Ministry announced the launch of vaccine production .
In August , head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev said that Russia had received a request for the production and supply of 1 bln doses of the Sputnik V vaccine from 20 states .

HAVANA, October 3. /TASS/. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro thanked President Vladimir Putin and Russian citizens for the delivery of the first batch of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine to the republic.
"Sputnik V is already here! We are the first country in the Western Hemisphere to begin phase 3 of the clinical trials of this vaccine against Covid-19. On behalf of the Venezuelan people, I thank President Vladimir Putin and the Russian people for their solidarity," he wrote on Twitter on Friday.
On Friday morning, the first batch of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine arrived in Venezuela. About 2,000 Venezuelans will participate in clinical trials of the vaccine, according to the authorities. The country's Vice President, Delcy Rodriguez, noted that Venezuela also plans to launch production of the vaccine on its territory.
On August 11, Russia became the first country to register a coronavirus vaccine, which was named Sputnik V. Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said the vaccine created by the N. F. Gamaleya Federal Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology had shown its effectiveness and safety on the outcomes of clinical trials. It was created on a platform that had been used for the development of a number of other vaccines. On August 15, the Russian Health Ministry announced the launch of vaccine production.
In August, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev said that Russia had received a request for the production and supply of 1 bln doses of the Sputnik V vaccine from 20 states.


tass--2020-10-03--Trump will be taken at Walter Medical Center

WASHINGTON , October 3 .
/TASS/ .
US President Donald Trump will be taken at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland and remain there for several days , White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said on Friday .
She added that the head of state will continue to work from there .
According to her , Trump `` remains in good spirits , has mild symptoms , and has been working throughout the day . ''
`` Out of an abundance of caution , and at the recommendation of his physician and medical experts , the President will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reed for the next few days , '' press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement , which was spread by the White House press pool .
Earlier , Trump ’ s physician , Dr. Sean Conley , said that the US leader is `` fatigued but in good spirits . ''
Trump posted a video message on Twitter before flying to the Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday .
In that message he assured that he and First Lady Melania were doing well .
`` I want to thank everybody for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Walter Reed hospital .
I think I am doing very well but we are going to make sure that things work out .
First Lady is doing very well .
So , thank you very much , I appreciate it , I will never forget it , '' he said .
Trump contracted the coronavirus a month before the US presidential election , which is due on November 3 .

WASHINGTON, October 3. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump will be taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland and remain there for several days, White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said on Friday. She added that the head of state will continue to work from there.
According to her, Trump "remains in good spirits, has mild symptoms, and has been working throughout the day."
"Out of an abundance of caution, and at the recommendation of his physician and medical experts, the President will be working from the presidential offices at Walter Reed for the next few days," press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement, which was spread by the White House press pool.
Earlier, Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean Conley, said that the US leader is "fatigued but in good spirits."
A video message
Trump posted a video message on Twitter before flying to the Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday. In that message he assured that he and First Lady Melania were doing well.
"I want to thank everybody for the tremendous support. I am going to Walter Reed hospital. I think I am doing very well but we are going to make sure that things work out. First Lady is doing very well. So, thank you very much, I appreciate it, I will never forget it," he said.
Trump contracted the coronavirus a month before the US presidential election, which is due on November 3.


tass--2020-10-03--Thirty-two more coronavirus patients die in Moscow in past day

MOSCOW , October 3 .
/TASS/ .
Thirty-two more coronavirus patients died in Moscow during the past day , with @ @ @ @ @ exceeding 5,300 , the city ’ s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Friday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ pneumonia have died in Moscow , '' it said , adding the overall number of @ @ @ @ @ reached 5,314 .
The center once again warned that in case of any symptoms of @ @ @ @ @ necessary to stay home , call a doctor and not indulge in self-treatment .
Moscow @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus cases in the country , with the morbidity demonstrating upwards tendencies in the recent @ @ @ @ @ Moscow has reported 297,729 confirmed coronavirus cases , including 2,704 registered during the day .
@ @ @ @ @ cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 970,296 patients having recovered from the disease @ @ @ @ @ government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation @

MOSCOW, October 3. /TASS/. Thirty-two more coronavirus patients died in Moscow during the past day, with the overall number of fatalities exceeding 5,300, the city’s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Friday.
"Thirty-two coronavirus-positive patients diagnosed with pneumonia have died in Moscow," it said, adding the overall number of coronavirus-related deaths in Moscow has reached 5,314.
The center once again warned that in case of any symptoms of a respiratory disease it is necessary to stay home, call a doctor and not indulge in self-treatment.
Moscow has the biggest number of coronavirus cases in the country, with the morbidity demonstrating upwards tendencies in the recent days. By today, Moscow has reported 297,729 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 2,704 registered during the day.
To date, 1,194,643 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 970,296 patients having recovered from the disease. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-10-02--Azerbaijan and Armenia unlikely to begin talks right now - experts

MOSCOW , October 2 .
/TASS/ .
Azerbaijan and Armenia are unlikely to sit down at the negotiating table right now to stop hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh , Fyodor Lukyanov , director of the Valdai international discussion club , told TASS on Friday .
According to the expert , the situation is developing in such a way that the sides can hardly be expected to begin talks .
Thus , in his words , Azerbaijan advances an impossible condition : as Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on September 30 his country would stop combat operation only after Armenia unconditionally withdraws from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side is not demonstrating any readiness , '' Lukyanov noted .
The Armenian side , however , expressed its readiness to begin OSCE Minsk Group-mediated talks .
Meanwhile , the Azerbaijani side and Turkey , which backs it , slammed the call of the Russian , US and French presidents , as the leaders of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair nations , for cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh .
Thus , shortly before this statement , Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said it was inadmissible that the Minsk Group insisted on a ceasefire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armenia withdraw from the occupied territories of Nagorno-Karabakh '' '' So far , the Azerbaijani side seems to believe that it can attain its goals by military means .
Talks will begin only when they see that they won ’ t be able to achieve anything by military means , '' Lukyanov stressed .
Meanwhile , Vladimir Yevseyev , head of the Caucasus department of the Institute of the CIS Countries , a thinktank , noted that the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs came when it was advantageous for Armenia because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Azerbaijani president .
`` Azerbaijan has attained neither of its goals .
That is why , it is not ruled out that it will try to tilt the balance at the frontline .
But I can not say how , '' he said , adding that the sides have not yet used some types of weapons .
`` I am afraid that Azerbaijan may begin to use them to move the frontline and it will entail Armenia ’ s response and Armenia has not only Iskander but also other types of missile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27 , with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014 , in April 2016 and this past July .
Azerbaijan and Armenia have imposed martial law and launched mobilization efforts .
Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties , among them civilians .
On October 1 , Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia , Donald Trump of the United States and Emmanuel Macron of France , as the leaders of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh .
The leaders resolutely condemned the current escalation along the contact line in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone and called for immediate cessation of hostilities .
The conflict between 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 primarily populated by ethnic Armenians , broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .
In 1992-1994 , tensions boiled over and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them .
Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group , led by its three co-chairs - Russia , France and the United States .

MOSCOW, October 2. /TASS/. Azerbaijan and Armenia are unlikely to sit down at the negotiating table right now to stop hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh, Fyodor Lukyanov, director of the Valdai international discussion club, told TASS on Friday.
According to the expert, the situation is developing in such a way that the sides can hardly be expected to begin talks. Thus, in his words, Azerbaijan advances an impossible condition: as Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on September 30 his country would stop combat operation only after Armenia unconditionally withdraws from Nagorno-Karabakh. "So, the Azerbaijani side is not demonstrating any readiness," Lukyanov noted.
The Armenian side, however, expressed its readiness to begin OSCE Minsk Group-mediated talks. Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani side and Turkey, which backs it, slammed the call of the Russian, US and French presidents, as the leaders of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair nations, for cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh. Thus, shortly before this statement, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said it was inadmissible that the Minsk Group insisted on a ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh "when it must demand Armenia withdraw from the occupied territories of Nagorno-Karabakh"
"So far, the Azerbaijani side seems to believe that it can attain its goals by military means. Talks will begin only when they see that they won’t be able to achieve anything by military means," Lukyanov stressed.
Meanwhile, Vladimir Yevseyev, head of the Caucasus department of the Institute of the CIS Countries, a thinktank, noted that the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs came when it was advantageous for Armenia because the current situation is a failure for the Azerbaijani president. "Azerbaijan has attained neither of its goals. That is why, it is not ruled out that it will try to tilt the balance at the frontline. But I cannot say how," he said, adding that the sides have not yet used some types of weapons.
"I am afraid that Azerbaijan may begin to use them to move the frontline and it will entail Armenia’s response and Armenia has not only Iskander but also other types of missile systems," Yevseyev noted.
Conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014, in April 2016 and this past July. Azerbaijan and Armenia have imposed martial law and launched mobilization efforts. Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties, among them civilians.
On October 1, Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia, Donald Trump of the United States and Emmanuel Macron of France, as the leaders of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair nations issued a statement on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. The leaders resolutely condemned the current escalation along the contact line in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone and called for immediate cessation of hostilities.
The conflict between 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 primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1992-1994, tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them. Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group, led by its three co-chairs - Russia, France and the United States.


tass--2020-10-02--US, Russia able to make progress in key areas - US National Security Council

WASHINGTON , October 2 .
/TASS/ .
Russia and the US are able to achieve progress in key cooperation spheres for the benefit of their peoples , US National Security Advisor Robert O ’ Brien said after his meeting with Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev in Geneva Friday .
`` We had business-like and constructive dialogue and , while we have differences , I am optimistic that the United States and Russia can make progress in key areas that will ultimately benefit both the American and Russian people , '' O ’ Brien underscored in a short statement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter Friday .
According to O ’ Brien , the sides discussed a number of mutually agreed upon topics .
`` Arms control , cybersecurity , elections non-interference , counterterrorism , the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict , Syria , Afghanistan , and several other bilateral issues of mutual interest , '' O ’ Brien listed .
According to the Advisor , he `` made it very clear that the United States will not tolerate foreign interference in our elections , and the Russian side committed not to do so . ''
Earlier , Russian Security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both sides confirmed the absence of intention to meddle in each other ’ s internal affairs , including in the electoral process in Russia and the US . ''
The sides also agreed to continue working on implementation of the initiatives of Russian President Vladimir Putin , including a summit of UN Security Council permanent members .
The talks in Geneva , the spokesman noted , took place `` in order to normalize bilateral relations and strengthen the international security .
`` .

WASHINGTON, October 2. /TASS/. Russia and the US are able to achieve progress in key cooperation spheres for the benefit of their peoples, US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien said after his meeting with Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev in Geneva Friday.
"We had business-like and constructive dialogue and, while we have differences, I am optimistic that the United States and Russia can make progress in key areas that will ultimately benefit both the American and Russian people," O’Brien underscored in a short statement, published in the US National Security Council Twitter Friday.
According to O’Brien, the sides discussed a number of mutually agreed upon topics.
"Arms control, cybersecurity, elections non-interference, counterterrorism, the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Syria, Afghanistan, and several other bilateral issues of mutual interest," O’Brien listed.
According to the Advisor, he "made it very clear that the United States will not tolerate foreign interference in our elections, and the Russian side committed not to do so."
Earlier, Russian Security Council spokesman Yevgeny Anoshin disclosed that "both sides confirmed the absence of intention to meddle in each other’s internal affairs, including in the electoral process in Russia and the US."
The sides also agreed to continue working on implementation of the initiatives of Russian President Vladimir Putin, including a summit of UN Security Council permanent members. The talks in Geneva, the spokesman noted, took place "in order to normalize bilateral relations and strengthen the international security.".


tass--2020-10-02--Kiev to join EU’s sanctions against Belarus - top diplomat

KIEV , October 2 .
/TASS/ .
Ukraine plans to join the European Union ’ s sanctions Belarusian officials , Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said on Friday .
`` I want to see the final legal decision , who is on the blacklist .
But , yes , we are set to join these sanctions because it is a matter of policy coherence , '' he told the BBC Ukrainian service .
Earlier in the day , the European Union issued a blacklist of 44 Belarusian senior officials .
The list includes Interior Minister Yuri Karayev and chairwoman of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Alexander Lukashenko was not put on the sanction list .
According to the Ukrainian foreign minister , his country should act in a consolidated way with its partners .
`` We are doing our best to help the Belarusian people in this difficult situation , '' he said .
Nationwide demonstrations have engulfed Belarus following the August 9 presidential election .
According to the Central Election Commission ’ s official results , incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won by a landslide , garnering 80.10 % of the vote .
His closest rival in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in second , with 10.12 % of the ballot .
However , she refused to recognize the election ’ s outcome , and left Belarus for Lithuania .
After the results of the exit polls were announced late on August 9 , mass protests erupted in downtown Minsk and other Belarusian cities .
During the early post-election period , the rallies snowballed into fierce clashes between the protesters and police .
The current unrest is being cheered on by the opposition ’ s Coordination Council , which has been beating the drum for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belarusian authorities have castigated the ongoing turmoil and demanded that these unauthorized demonstrations be stopped .

KIEV, October 2. /TASS/. Ukraine plans to join the European Union’s sanctions Belarusian officials, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said on Friday.
"I want to see the final legal decision, who is on the blacklist. But, yes, we are set to join these sanctions because it is a matter of policy coherence," he told the BBC Ukrainian service.
Earlier in the day, the European Union issued a blacklist of 44 Belarusian senior officials. The list includes Interior Minister Yuri Karayev and chairwoman of the Central Election Commission Lydia Yermoshina. President Alexander Lukashenko was not put on the sanction list.
According to the Ukrainian foreign minister, his country should act in a consolidated way with its partners. "We are doing our best to help the Belarusian people in this difficult situation," he said.
Nationwide demonstrations have engulfed Belarus following the August 9 presidential election. According to the Central Election Commission’s official results, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won by a landslide, garnering 80.10% of the vote. His closest rival in the race, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, came in second, with 10.12% of the ballot. However, she refused to recognize the election’s outcome, and left Belarus for Lithuania. After the results of the exit polls were announced late on August 9, mass protests erupted in downtown Minsk and other Belarusian cities. During the early post-election period, the rallies snowballed into fierce clashes between the protesters and police. The current unrest is being cheered on by the opposition’s Coordination Council, which has been beating the drum for more protests. In response, the Belarusian authorities have castigated the ongoing turmoil and demanded that these unauthorized demonstrations be stopped.