tass--2020-02-14--Scientists discover protein that stimulates development of lung cancer and melanoma

`` Scientists from Far Eastern Federal University , University of Geneva and Fuzhou University have disclosed that WDR74 protein plays an important role in development of the primary tumor and metastases of melanoma and lung cancer .
When the scientists artificially increased the amount of this protein in cancer cells , they observed the cells ’ increased activity .
When the amount of protein was reduced , however , the cells have lost their ability to produce metastases and have become vulnerable to chemotherapy , '' the press service said , adding that the full text of the research is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
MOSCOW , February 14 .
/TASS/ .
Scientists from Russia ’ s Far Eastern Federal University , University of Geneva and Fuzhou University have discovered a protein that takes part in development of lung cancer and melanoma .
This discovery opens new possibilities for effective cure for metastases of these two types of cancer by targeted therapy medicine , the Far Eastern Federal University told TASS Friday .
In most types of cancers , the patients die not from the main tumor , but from the metastases that affect the vital organs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of tumor development , when the tumor starts losing cells that get into the bloodstream .
Such cells are called circulating cancer cells ; they spark metastases , or secondary tumors , which appear at random body parts .
Only a small amount of circulating cancer cells - one tenth or even one hundredth per cent - can create metastases .
Several years ago , Fuzhou University scientists sought to determine the difference between regular circulating cancer cells from those that spark secondary tumors .
To do that , they performed protein analysis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cells that produce metastases have twice as much WDR74 protein than those who don ’ t .
The scientists theorized that this protein acts as an ignition , helping these cells to form secondary tumors .
`` We ’ ve base two our publications around this discovery : one on lung cancer and one on melanoma .
To check the carcinogenic activity of WDR74 protein in circulating cancer cells , we switched it off using CRISPR/Cas9 gene correction method and reduced its volume using interfering RNA , and observed the cells .
[ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contrary experiment : we ’ ve increased the amount of WDR74 in cancer cells , '' says Vladimir Katanayev , natural compounds pharmacology laboratory head .
The scientists have come to conclusion that WDR74 plays an important role in tumor creation and development of its metastases .
Its absence reduces , and it presence increases the carcinogenic properties of the circulating cancer cells .
This was confirmed by mice experiments .
The results pave the way to effective cure of metastases of lung cancer and melanoma using the targeted therapy medicine .
Such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WDR74 protein - in the circulating cancer cells .

"Scientists from Far Eastern Federal University, University of Geneva and Fuzhou University have disclosed that WDR74 protein plays an important role in development of the primary tumor and metastases of melanoma and lung cancer. When the scientists artificially increased the amount of this protein in cancer cells, they observed the cells’ increased activity. When the amount of protein was reduced, however, the cells have lost their ability to produce metastases and have become vulnerable to chemotherapy," the press service said, adding that the full text of the research is published in Cancer Letters and Oncogene journals.
MOSCOW, February 14. /TASS/. Scientists from Russia’s Far Eastern Federal University, University of Geneva and Fuzhou University have discovered a protein that takes part in development of lung cancer and melanoma. This discovery opens new possibilities for effective cure for metastases of these two types of cancer by targeted therapy medicine, the Far Eastern Federal University told TASS Friday.
In most types of cancers, the patients die not from the main tumor, but from the metastases that affect the vital organs. They appear at a certain stage of tumor development, when the tumor starts losing cells that get into the bloodstream. Such cells are called circulating cancer cells; they spark metastases, or secondary tumors, which appear at random body parts. Only a small amount of circulating cancer cells - one tenth or even one hundredth per cent - can create metastases.
Several years ago, Fuzhou University scientists sought to determine the difference between regular circulating cancer cells from those that spark secondary tumors. To do that, they performed protein analysis of the cancer cells and discovered that cells that produce metastases have twice as much WDR74 protein than those who don’t. The scientists theorized that this protein acts as an ignition, helping these cells to form secondary tumors.
"We’ve base two our publications around this discovery: one on lung cancer and one on melanoma. To check the carcinogenic activity of WDR74 protein in circulating cancer cells, we switched it off using CRISPR/Cas9 gene correction method and reduced its volume using interfering RNA, and observed the cells. […] We have also conducted a contrary experiment: we’ve increased the amount of WDR74 in cancer cells," says Vladimir Katanayev, natural compounds pharmacology laboratory head.
The scientists have come to conclusion that WDR74 plays an important role in tumor creation and development of its metastases. Its absence reduces, and it presence increases the carcinogenic properties of the circulating cancer cells. This was confirmed by mice experiments. The results pave the way to effective cure of metastases of lung cancer and melanoma using the targeted therapy medicine. Such medicine would affect specific target - the WDR74 protein - in the circulating cancer cells.


tass--2020-02-14--Putin asks Zelensky point-blank whether Kiev plans to implement Minsk accords — Kremlin

`` The Russian president stressed the importance of complete and unconditional implementation of the Minsk Package of Measures and decisions adopted at the Normandy Four summits , including the latest one in Paris on December 9 , 2019 , '' the Kremlin said .
`` Following the Ukrainian leadership ’ s recent pronouncements , Vladimir Putin put the question point-blank - if Kiev really plans to implement the Minsk agreements . ''
MOSCOW , February 14 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked his Ukrainian counterpart , Vladimir Zelensky , point-blank whether Kiev is going to ultimately implement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service said on Friday after their telephone conversation .
The two presidents discussed `` various aspects of the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict , '' it said .
`` The two presidents discussed issues of maintaining the ceasefire , further disengagement of forces and weapons along the contact line , and demining works .
They expressed preparedness to continue efforts to release and exchange all the detainees linked with the conflict , '' the press service said .
Apart from that , `` in the context of the upcoming 75th anniversary of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Great Patriotic War ( the Eastern Front during WWII where Russia fought against Nazi Germany - TASS ) , the Russian side emphasized that all the nations of the former Soviet Union had made their contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany and pointed to the inadmissibility of distorting historical truth about World War II , '' it added .
The conversation was initiated by the Ukrainian side .

"The Russian president stressed the importance of complete and unconditional implementation of the Minsk Package of Measures and decisions adopted at the Normandy Four summits, including the latest one in Paris on December 9, 2019," the Kremlin said. "Following the Ukrainian leadership’s recent pronouncements, Vladimir Putin put the question point-blank - if Kiev really plans to implement the Minsk agreements."
MOSCOW, February 14. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked his Ukrainian counterpart, Vladimir Zelensky, point-blank whether Kiev is going to ultimately implement the Minsk agreements, the Kremlin press service said on Friday after their telephone conversation.
The two presidents discussed "various aspects of the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict," it said.
"The two presidents discussed issues of maintaining the ceasefire, further disengagement of forces and weapons along the contact line, and demining works. They expressed preparedness to continue efforts to release and exchange all the detainees linked with the conflict," the press service said.
Apart from that, "in the context of the upcoming 75th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in the Great Patriotic War (the Eastern Front during WWII where Russia fought against Nazi Germany - TASS), the Russian side emphasized that all the nations of the former Soviet Union had made their contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany and pointed to the inadmissibility of distorting historical truth about World War II," it added.
The conversation was initiated by the Ukrainian side.


tass--2020-02-14--Westerdam cruise ship operator to bring Russian tourists home with compensations

MOSCOW , February 14 .
/TASS/ .
The Westerdam cruise ship owner will pay compensations to Russian passengers for their losses and will fly them home at its expense , press attache of the Russian embassy in Phnom Penh Rafael Yangareyev said Friday .
The Westerdam was forced to sail around Asian ports looking for one to dock for more than a week because of coronavirus fears .
`` Russian citizens , seven passengers and one crewmember , continue to stay aboard the ship .
They had their Cambodian visas issued and were cleared to enter the town .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16 all passengers will be sent to countries of their citizenship at the company ’ s expense with full reimbursement of losses suffered , '' he said .
The press attache added that consular department staffers are keeping in touch with local authorities and the Russian citizens .
`` Should it be necessary , the relevant assistance will be provided to them , '' he underlined .
The Westerdam cruise ship left Hong Kong on February 1 .
The ship was planning stopovers in a number of Japanese ports .
These plans were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had possible contracted the novel coronavirus could be aboard the ship .
Subsequently , the Philippines , Taiwan and Thailand also turned the ship away .
The Westerdam was stuck for more than a week trying to dock in Asian ports .
Eventually , it was cleared to do so by Cambodian authorities and entered Sihanoukville on Thursday morning .

MOSCOW, February 14. /TASS/. The Westerdam cruise ship owner will pay compensations to Russian passengers for their losses and will fly them home at its expense, press attache of the Russian embassy in Phnom Penh Rafael Yangareyev said Friday. The Westerdam was forced to sail around Asian ports looking for one to dock for more than a week because of coronavirus fears.
"Russian citizens, seven passengers and one crewmember, continue to stay aboard the ship. They had their Cambodian visas issued and were cleared to enter the town. According to the ship owner, before February 16 all passengers will be sent to countries of their citizenship at the company’s expense with full reimbursement of losses suffered," he said.
The press attache added that consular department staffers are keeping in touch with local authorities and the Russian citizens. "Should it be necessary, the relevant assistance will be provided to them," he underlined.
Westerdam’s troubled voyage
The Westerdam cruise ship left Hong Kong on February 1. The ship was planning stopovers in a number of Japanese ports. These plans were axed since Japan feared that people that had possible contracted the novel coronavirus could be aboard the ship. Subsequently, the Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand also turned the ship away.
The Westerdam was stuck for more than a week trying to dock in Asian ports. Eventually, it was cleared to do so by Cambodian authorities and entered Sihanoukville on Thursday morning.


tass--2020-02-14--Four patients quarantined in St. Petersburg escape from hospital, two return for tests

ST. PETERSBURG , February 14 .
/TASS/ .
Four patients quarantined at the Botkin Hospital in St. Petersburg this week escaped from the health service institution without permission , but two of them eventually returned for further examination , the city office of the consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor has told TASS .
`` I do confirm that there was such an incident .
Two have returned for further examination , '' Rospotrebnadzor said when asked , if it was true four quarantined patients left the hospital .
One of those who have not showed up for further tests is Alla @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China at the beginning of this month to have been taken to the Botkin Hospital .
St. Petersburg ’ s chief sanitary doctor Nataliya Bashketova has filed a law suit in court demanding that Ilyuna should undergo mandatory examination .
The court hearings are due on February 17 .
Rospotrebnadzor keeps quiet about if similar measures might be taken in relation to other patients who may leave hospital of their own accord and refuse to undergo further tests .
Bashketova said that medical examination on February 4 and 5 diagnosed Ilyina with an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ novel coronavirus should not be ruled out .
`` The Botkin Hospital provides conditions for patients ’ examination and treatment .
Upon arrival everybody is warned that violations of quarantine rules might cause the infection to spread and is potentially risky for others .
Hospital personnel are not empowered to keep patients by force .
They count on people ’ s common sense first thing , '' the city ’ s health service committee said .
An outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease was registered in China ’ s city of Wuhan at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World Health Organization has recognized it as an international emergency and an epidemic with multiple foci .
Apart from China some cases of the disease have been identified in 24 countries , including Russia .
According to the latest statistics , the virus has killed 1,380 in China .
More than 6,700 patients have recovered .
More than 63,000 have been infected .

ST. PETERSBURG, February 14. /TASS/. Four patients quarantined at the Botkin Hospital in St. Petersburg this week escaped from the health service institution without permission, but two of them eventually returned for further examination, the city office of the consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor has told TASS.
"I do confirm that there was such an incident. Two have returned for further examination," Rospotrebnadzor said when asked, if it was true four quarantined patients left the hospital.
One of those who have not showed up for further tests is Alla Ilyuna. The young woman arrived from China at the beginning of this month to have been taken to the Botkin Hospital. St. Petersburg’s chief sanitary doctor Nataliya Bashketova has filed a law suit in court demanding that Ilyuna should undergo mandatory examination. The court hearings are due on February 17. Rospotrebnadzor keeps quiet about if similar measures might be taken in relation to other patients who may leave hospital of their own accord and refuse to undergo further tests.
Bashketova said that medical examination on February 4 and 5 diagnosed Ilyina with an acute viral disease. Infection with the novel coronavirus should not be ruled out.
"The Botkin Hospital provides conditions for patients’ examination and treatment. Upon arrival everybody is warned that violations of quarantine rules might cause the infection to spread and is potentially risky for others. Hospital personnel are not empowered to keep patients by force. They count on people’s common sense first thing," the city’s health service committee said.
An outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease was registered in China’s city of Wuhan at the end of December 2019. The World Health Organization has recognized it as an international emergency and an epidemic with multiple foci. Apart from China some cases of the disease have been identified in 24 countries, including Russia. According to the latest statistics, the virus has killed 1,380 in China. More than 6,700 patients have recovered. More than 63,000 have been infected.


tass--2020-02-14--Russia’s top brass rejects Turkey’s reports of Syrian troops’ casualties in Idlib

`` Such statements about ‘ the shelling attacks ’ on the Syrian government troops by the Turkish armed forces and , all the more so , about casualties among Syrian servicemen as a result of them , have nothing to do with reality , '' the Center said in a statement circulated on Friday .
The Turkish side has claimed that its armed forces have allegedly eliminated 63 servicemen of the Syrian government troops in the de-escalation zone over the past 24 hours alone .
MOSCOW , February 14 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Warring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defense Ministry ) rejected Turkey ’ s reports that 63 Syrian troops were killed in the Idlib de-escalation zone , calling such statements irresponsible .
Such irresponsible statements further escalate the situation and do not meet the mutual interests of Russia and Turkey , the statement says .
The Turkish Defense Ministry officials bear responsibility for the provision of untrue information to Turkey ’ s leadership about the situation in the de-escalation zone , the Center stressed .
On February 10 , Turkey ’ s Defense Ministry reported casualties among the Turkish military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed and five more were wounded in the shelling of an observation post by the Syrian army .
In response , the Turkish military hit 115 targets of the Syrian army , neutralizing 101 Syrian soldiers .
On February 3 , Syrian artillery fire killed eight individuals ; among them were civilians and Turkish troops .
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that 76 Syrian soldiers were eliminated when Turkey retaliated .
Four de-escalation zones were established in Syria under an agreement reached by the three Syrian ceasefire guarantor nations , namely Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 in Astana ( now Nur-Sultan ) , Kazakhstan .
Three of them are now controlled by Damascus while the fourth one located in the Idlib province and partially in the neighboring Latakia , Hama and Aleppo provinces is still outside Damascus ’ control , with a larger part of it being seized by Jabhat al-Nusra ( a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia ) militants .
The de-escalation zone in Idlib was set up to give shelter to militants and their families who were reluctant to surrender their arms voluntarily in Eastern Ghouta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Twelve Turkish observation stations are operating in the Idlib province .

"Such statements about ‘the shelling attacks’ on the Syrian government troops by the Turkish armed forces and, all the more so, about casualties among Syrian servicemen as a result of them, have nothing to do with reality," the Center said in a statement circulated on Friday.
The Turkish side has claimed that its armed forces have allegedly eliminated 63 servicemen of the Syrian government troops in the de-escalation zone over the past 24 hours alone.
MOSCOW, February 14. /TASS/. The Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Warring Sides (part of Russia’s Defense Ministry) rejected Turkey’s reports that 63 Syrian troops were killed in the Idlib de-escalation zone, calling such statements irresponsible.
Such irresponsible statements further escalate the situation and do not meet the mutual interests of Russia and Turkey, the statement says.
The Turkish Defense Ministry officials bear responsibility for the provision of untrue information to Turkey’s leadership about the situation in the de-escalation zone, the Center stressed.
On February 10, Turkey’s Defense Ministry reported casualties among the Turkish military in Idlib, where five soldiers were killed and five more were wounded in the shelling of an observation post by the Syrian army. In response, the Turkish military hit 115 targets of the Syrian army, neutralizing 101 Syrian soldiers.
On February 3, Syrian artillery fire killed eight individuals; among them were civilians and Turkish troops. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that 76 Syrian soldiers were eliminated when Turkey retaliated.
Four de-escalation zones were established in Syria under an agreement reached by the three Syrian ceasefire guarantor nations, namely Russia, Iran and Turkey, in May 2017 in Astana (now Nur-Sultan), Kazakhstan. Three of them are now controlled by Damascus while the fourth one located in the Idlib province and partially in the neighboring Latakia, Hama and Aleppo provinces is still outside Damascus’ control, with a larger part of it being seized by Jabhat al-Nusra (a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia) militants.
The de-escalation zone in Idlib was set up to give shelter to militants and their families who were reluctant to surrender their arms voluntarily in Eastern Ghouta and in Syria’s southern regions. Twelve Turkish observation stations are operating in the Idlib province.


tass--2020-02-14--Woman carrying 50 bullets apprehended in Moscow airport

MOSCOW , February 14 .
/TASS/ .
Police officers have apprehended a woman trying to carry a bag with 50 @ @ @ @ @ Airport in Moscow , a source in law enforcement agencies told TASS .
`` A @ @ @ @ @ Airport ’ s Terminal E with 50 small-caliber bullets found in her bag , '' @ @ @ @ @ to the source , criminal proceedings were opened against her under article 222 of Russia @ @ @ @ @ Illegal Acquisition , Transfer , Sale , Storage , Transportation , or Bearing of Firearms @ @ @ @ @ Ammunition , Explosives , and Explosive Devices ) , police officers are investigating why the @ @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, February 14. /TASS/. Police officers have apprehended a woman trying to carry a bag with 50 small-caliber bullets through in Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow, a source in law enforcement agencies told TASS.
"A woman is detained in Sheremetyevo Airport’s Terminal E with 50 small-caliber bullets found in her bag," the source informed.
According to the source, criminal proceedings were opened against her under article 222 of Russia’s Criminal Code (Illegal Acquisition, Transfer, Sale, Storage, Transportation, or Bearing of Firearms, Its Basic Parts, Ammunition, Explosives, and Explosive Devices), police officers are investigating why the woman purchased the bullets.


tass--2020-02-14--Russian envoy says attacks on China over coronavirus ‘unjustified, unfounded’

`` A tidal wave has risen in the world - I ’ d even say , a murky tidal wave of all kinds of attacks on China , which I consider absolutely unjustified and unfounded , '' the envoy said .
`` Right before our eyes , a huge campaign to fight the epidemic is unfolding , which requires mobilization of all state resources , even such state as China . ''
BEIJING , February 14 .
/TASS/ .
A tidal wave of attacks on Chinese authorities over the coronavirus situation is unjustified and unfounded , Russian Ambassador to China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reminded that 600 million out of China ’ s 1.4 billion population live in 10 provinces , neighboring the Hubei province - the epidemic center - which itself has 60 million people .
Denisov expressed his doubts that `` any other country would manage the effort of such scale in such short time span . ''
The ambassador noted that the Chinese people `` are in no hurry to praise themselves . ''
`` On the contrary , if you browse the pages of Chinese newspapers , you would find quite a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work , and the central government , as well , '' Denisov said .
`` The Chinese doctors , who heroically - I won ’ t shy away from this word - have stood up to the disease , deserve the highest respect .
[ … ] We have repeatedly expressed our gratitude and respect , high respect to the Chinese medical staff , '' the ambassador concluded .

"A tidal wave has risen in the world - I’d even say, a murky tidal wave of all kinds of attacks on China, which I consider absolutely unjustified and unfounded," the envoy said. "Right before our eyes, a huge campaign to fight the epidemic is unfolding, which requires mobilization of all state resources, even such state as China."
BEIJING, February 14. /TASS/. A tidal wave of attacks on Chinese authorities over the coronavirus situation is unjustified and unfounded, Russian Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov said Friday.
The envoy reminded that 600 million out of China’s 1.4 billion population live in 10 provinces, neighboring the Hubei province - the epidemic center - which itself has 60 million people. Denisov expressed his doubts that "any other country would manage the effort of such scale in such short time span."
The ambassador noted that the Chinese people "are in no hurry to praise themselves."
"On the contrary, if you browse the pages of Chinese newspapers, you would find quite a lot if criticism regarding the local authorities’ work, and the central government, as well," Denisov said.
"The Chinese doctors, who heroically - I won’t shy away from this word - have stood up to the disease, deserve the highest respect. […] We have repeatedly expressed our gratitude and respect, high respect to the Chinese medical staff," the ambassador concluded.


tass--2020-02-14--Hainan intends to increase pork supplies to China's domestic market in 2020

HAIKOU , February 14 .
/TASS/ .
The Hainan authorities plan to increase the volume of supplies of pigs and pork to the Chinese market , in particular , by increasing the number of livestock in large agricultural households by 2.31 million animals this year , deputy head of the local department of agriculture Mo Zhengjun announced .
According to the official , there are 1,068 big pig farms operating in the region , capable of raising 2.32 million pigs in a year , however , some farms have not returned to work after the New Year holidays , extended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of pigs on the island amounts to about 1.58 million which is by 1.97 % less than in December 2019 .
`` Hainan is building another 54 large pig farms .
Twenty-seven of them will have more than 10,000 heads , investments in related projects will exceed 6.1 billion yuan ( approximately $ 873.3 million — TASS ) , '' Mo Zhenjun noted .
Recently , China has experienced a sharp decline in stock due to an outbreak of African swine fever ( ASF ) , which was first detected in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the north-east of the country and spread to other regions , including those bordering with Russia .
According to government 's data , over 1.2 million animals died in an epidemic in China over the year .
African swine fever virus is an infectious disease with an incubation period of up to two weeks .
There have been no cases of human infection before , however , scientists do not exclude such a risk , since the virus can develop unpredictably and an increase in its varieties is possible .

HAIKOU, February 14. /TASS/. The Hainan authorities plan to increase the volume of supplies of pigs and pork to the Chinese market, in particular, by increasing the number of livestock in large agricultural households by 2.31 million animals this year, deputy head of the local department of agriculture Mo Zhengjun announced.
According to the official, there are 1,068 big pig farms operating in the region, capable of raising 2.32 million pigs in a year, however, some farms have not returned to work after the New Year holidays, extended due to coronavirus outbreak. Currently, the number of pigs on the island amounts to about 1.58 million which is by 1.97% less than in December 2019.
"Hainan is building another 54 large pig farms. Twenty-seven of them will have more than 10,000 heads, investments in related projects will exceed 6.1 billion yuan (approximately $ 873.3 million — TASS)," Mo Zhenjun noted.
Recently, China has experienced a sharp decline in stock due to an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF), which was first detected in early August 2018 in Liaoning Province in the north-east of the country and spread to other regions, including those bordering with Russia. According to government's data, over 1.2 million animals died in an epidemic in China over the year.
African swine fever virus is an infectious disease with an incubation period of up to two weeks. There have been no cases of human infection before, however, scientists do not exclude such a risk, since the virus can develop unpredictably and an increase in its varieties is possible.


tass--2020-02-14--Over 20 Russian Baltic Fleet ships take to sea for tactical drills

KALININGRAD , February 14 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian Baltic Fleet ’ s naval group comprising over 20 ships and vessels has deployed to the sea for accomplishing combat training assignments during tactical drills , the Fleet ’ s press office reported on Friday .
`` As part of the maneuvers , corvettes , missile and amphibious assault ships , coastal-type minesweepers , landing boats and auxiliary vessels have deployed to the Baltic Fleet ’ s combat training naval ranges to hold a set of tactical drills , '' the press office said in a statement .
At sea , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vessels will carry out a set of anti-submarine warfare drills , practice delivering notional missile strikes against the enemy ships and perform artillery firings at the Fleet ’ s naval ranges , firings against air and sea targets of various complexity and will land military hardware onto the unequipped coast , the statement says .
During the drills , the ships ’ crews will also practice searching for and eliminating a notional submarine , conducting electronic launches of missile weapons and repelling a massive air strike , according to the statement .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by measures to practice training course assignments during the anchorage at the base .
The crews of the Fleet ’ ships will be accomplishing combat training missions for several days , '' the press office said .

KALININGRAD, February 14. /TASS/. The Russian Baltic Fleet’s naval group comprising over 20 ships and vessels has deployed to the sea for accomplishing combat training assignments during tactical drills, the Fleet’s press office reported on Friday.
"As part of the maneuvers, corvettes, missile and amphibious assault ships, coastal-type minesweepers, landing boats and auxiliary vessels have deployed to the Baltic Fleet’s combat training naval ranges to hold a set of tactical drills," the press office said in a statement.
At sea, the Baltic Fleet’s ships and vessels will carry out a set of anti-submarine warfare drills, practice delivering notional missile strikes against the enemy ships and perform artillery firings at the Fleet’s naval ranges, firings against air and sea targets of various complexity and will land military hardware onto the unequipped coast, the statement says.
During the drills, the ships’ crews will also practice searching for and eliminating a notional submarine, conducting electronic launches of missile weapons and repelling a massive air strike, according to the statement.
"The deployment to the sea was preceded by measures to practice training course assignments during the anchorage at the base. The crews of the Fleet’ ships will be accomplishing combat training missions for several days," the press office said.


tass--2020-02-14--Argentine province wants to team up with Moscow on gas projects, says Russian envoy

USHUAIA /Argentina/ , February 14 .
/TASS/ .
The authorities of the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego are interested in cooperating with Moscow in the field of gas production and exploration , Russia 's Ambassador to Buenos Aires Dmitry Feoktistov told reporters on Thursday .
`` The production and exploration of hydrocarbons , primarily gas , both on the territory of the province itself and in the open ocean [ offshore ] as well , '' is a potential area of cooperation between Russia and the Argentinian region , the diplomat said .
`` We have companies that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Melella ] has also confirmed to us that the province will be interested in working with Russia to carry out economic projects , '' he added .
On Thursday , the ambassador held a meeting with the head of the region , which was also attended by chairs of the Russia-Argentina Council of Entrepreneurs .
The parties discussed avenues , where they could broaden cooperation .
`` There are areas that are immediately obvious , for example , the fishing industry .
The governor confirmed that here Russian seamen would be welcome , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2018 , during Russian President Vladimir Putin ’ s visit to Argentina to attend the G20 summit , the countries inked a fishery cooperation agreement .
The first meeting of the Russian-Argentine fishing commission is to set be held at the end of February 2020 in Buenos Aires .

USHUAIA /Argentina/, February 14. /TASS/. The authorities of the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego are interested in cooperating with Moscow in the field of gas production and exploration, Russia's Ambassador to Buenos Aires Dmitry Feoktistov told reporters on Thursday.
"The production and exploration of hydrocarbons, primarily gas, both on the territory of the province itself and in the open ocean [offshore] as well," is a potential area of cooperation between Russia and the Argentinian region, the diplomat said. "We have companies that are interested in that. Governor [Gustavo Melella] has also confirmed to us that the province will be interested in working with Russia to carry out economic projects," he added.
On Thursday, the ambassador held a meeting with the head of the region, which was also attended by chairs of the Russia-Argentina Council of Entrepreneurs. The parties discussed avenues, where they could broaden cooperation. "There are areas that are immediately obvious, for example, the fishing industry. The governor confirmed that here Russian seamen would be welcome," Feoktistov said.
On November 30, 2018, during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Argentina to attend the G20 summit, the countries inked a fishery cooperation agreement. The first meeting of the Russian-Argentine fishing commission is to set be held at the end of February 2020 in Buenos Aires.


tass--2020-02-14--Serbia will maintain good relations with Russia and China, says president

MUNICH , February 14 .
/TASS/ .
Serbia aims to maintain good relations with Russia and China , Serbian President @ @ @ @ @ in the run-up to the Munich Security Conference , adding that cooperation with these countries @ @ @ @ @ the Serbian economy .
He noted that many European investors had asked him about the @ @ @ @ @ in Serbia .
`` We maintain very good relations with Russia and China , continuing @ @ @ @ @ will not change , '' Vucic told reporters .
The Serbian leader stressed that Serbian @ @ @ @ @ had benefited his country ’ s economy to a great extent .

MUNICH, February 14. /TASS/. Serbia aims to maintain good relations with Russia and China, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday in the run-up to the Munich Security Conference, adding that cooperation with these countries has a positive effect on the Serbian economy.
He noted that many European investors had asked him about the influence of Russia and China in Serbia. "We maintain very good relations with Russia and China, continuing our cooperation, our policy will not change," Vucic told reporters.
The Serbian leader stressed that Serbian policy on China and Russia had benefited his country’s economy to a great extent.


tass--2020-02-14--Mi-8 helicopter crash-lands on Yamal Peninsula killing two

MOSCOW , February 14 .
/TASS/ .
An Mi-8 helicopter has crash-landed on the Yamal Peninsula killing two , emergency @ @ @ @ @ `` Two persons died .
Both were crew members .
They were blocked in the @ @ @ @ @ , '' the source said .
There have no reports of other casualties .
There @ @ @ @ @ crew on board .
The Emergencies Ministry office in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Region has told @ @ @ @ @ carrying OJSC Gazpromneft-Geo workers to Sabetta .
It made a crash landing 400-500 meters away @ @ @ @ @ blizzard .
The airscrew was broken .
The helicopter capsized .

MOSCOW, February 14. /TASS/. An Mi-8 helicopter has crash-landed on the Yamal Peninsula killing two, emergency services have told TASS.
"Two persons died. Both were crew members. They were blocked in the cockpit after the crash landing," the source said.
There have no reports of other casualties. There were seven passengers and three crew on board.
The Emergencies Ministry office in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Region has told TASS that the helicopter was carrying OJSC Gazpromneft-Geo workers to Sabetta. It made a crash landing 400-500 meters away from the airfield in a blizzard. The airscrew was broken. The helicopter capsized.


tass--2020-02-14--Hainan medics able to make 1,200 coronavirus tests a day

HAIKOU , February 14 .
/TASS/ .
Hainan 's laboratories are able to conduct about 1,200 tests per day to detect the new coronavirus , according to the provincial healthcare authorities .
Currently , there are ten laboratories on the island able to detect coronavirus ' nucleic acid in the blood .
The authorities also noted that there are 14 more laboratories at Hainan 's medical institutions and universities .
If need be , those laboratories could additionally conduct up to 1,300 tests per day .
According to officials , it takes about two days to establish an accurate diagnosis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ informed the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan - a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people .
The source of the outbreak is the COVID-19 coronavirus .
The disease spread to 24 more countries apart from China - Australia , Belgium , Cambodia , Canada , Finland , France , Germany , Japan , India , Italy , Malaysia , Nepal , the Philippines , Russia , Singapore , South Korea , Spain , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United Arab Emirates , the United Kingdom , the United States and Vietnam .
WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak in China a global health emergency .
Currently , the total number of people infected with coronavirus exceeds 63,800 in China with 1,380 people reported to have died from the disease .
Meanwhile , over 6,700 people are said to have recovered from it .
The number of cases on the Island of Hainan reached 158 , four people died , 30 recovered and were discharged from hospitals .

HAIKOU, February 14. /TASS/. Hainan's laboratories are able to conduct about 1,200 tests per day to detect the new coronavirus, according to the provincial healthcare authorities.
Currently, there are ten laboratories on the island able to detect coronavirus' nucleic acid in the blood. The authorities also noted that there are 14 more laboratories at Hainan's medical institutions and universities. If need be, those laboratories could additionally conduct up to 1,300 tests per day. According to officials, it takes about two days to establish an accurate diagnosis.
On December 31, Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan - a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people. The source of the outbreak is the COVID-19 coronavirus. The disease spread to 24 more countries apart from China - Australia, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, India, Italy, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam. WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak in China a global health emergency.
Currently, the total number of people infected with coronavirus exceeds 63,800 in China with 1,380 people reported to have died from the disease. Meanwhile, over 6,700 people are said to have recovered from it.
The number of cases on the Island of Hainan reached 158, four people died, 30 recovered and were discharged from hospitals.


tass--2020-02-14--Russia-Norway cultural ties suffered after Oslo imposed sanctions, embassy says

TASS , February 14 .
Cultural relations between Russia and Norway have taken a hit after the economic cooperation between them was disrupted , the Russian embassy in Oslo commented on a statement made by Audun Halvorsen , the Norwegian State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , saying that relations between Moscow and Oslo are `` clean , constructive and clarified . ''
`` The Russian government could join Mr. Audun Halvorsen in echoing his remarks but they unfortunately relate more to the past .
Or , perhaps , he delivered them as a wish for the future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official Twitter account .
As an example , the diplomatic mission cited the trade and economic cooperation which suffered after Norway imposed sanctions against Russia and Moscow ’ s subsequent introduction of its own response measures .
`` In the last few years , the Norwegian export to Russia was cut down by 5-6 times , while investments disappeared .
It all undermines the foundation that took decades to lay down .
This situation is at odds with our countries ’ potential , '' the embassy underlined .
`` Disruption of economic cooperation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued , adding that there are now fewer cultural exchanges , while the ones that do take place are of worse quality .
`` Exhibitions from the collections of the State Tretyakov Gallery and Munch Museum only spring to mind as major events held in the last few years .
In light of this , we particularly appreciate the important cooperation between northern Norwegian regions with their neighbors from Russia , holding various events that are possible not as large in scale but take place more often than at the central level , @ @ @ @ @

TASS, February 14. Cultural relations between Russia and Norway have taken a hit after the economic cooperation between them was disrupted, the Russian embassy in Oslo commented on a statement made by Audun Halvorsen, the Norwegian State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying that relations between Moscow and Oslo are "clean, constructive and clarified."
"The Russian government could join Mr. Audun Halvorsen in echoing his remarks but they unfortunately relate more to the past. Or, perhaps, he delivered them as a wish for the future," the embassy said via its official Twitter account.
As an example, the diplomatic mission cited the trade and economic cooperation which suffered after Norway imposed sanctions against Russia and Moscow’s subsequent introduction of its own response measures. "In the last few years, the Norwegian export to Russia was cut down by 5-6 times, while investments disappeared. It all undermines the foundation that took decades to lay down. This situation is at odds with our countries’ potential," the embassy underlined.
"Disruption of economic cooperation compromises other spheres," the mission continued, adding that there are now fewer cultural exchanges, while the ones that do take place are of worse quality. "Exhibitions from the collections of the State Tretyakov Gallery and Munch Museum only spring to mind as major events held in the last few years. In light of this, we particularly appreciate the important cooperation between northern Norwegian regions with their neighbors from Russia, holding various events that are possible not as large in scale but take place more often than at the central level," the ministry added.


tass--2020-02-14--Putin discusses coronavirus, Idlib with Russian Security Council

MOSCOW , February 14 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has held a session of the Russian Security Council on Friday , discussing the situation in Syria ’ s Idlib and the outbreak of coronavirus in China , Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed .
`` A detailed exchange of opinions was held in relation to the aggravation of tensions in Idlib due to the activity of terrorist groups , '' he said .
`` Coronavirus was discussed as well in the context of its influence on global economy trends . ''
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin , Federation Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Valentina Matviyenko , Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev , Presidential Chief of Staff Anton Vaino , Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev , Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev , Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu , FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov , Foreign Intelligence Service chief Sergei Naryshkin , as well as Special Presidential Representative for Nature Protection , Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov took part in the meeting .
Earlier , the Russian Foreign Ministry noted a rise in tensions in the Idlib de-escalation zone in the past few weeks .
The Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ceasefire in the region , however , terrorist attacks persisted .
As a result , military specialists from Russia and Turkey were killed .
On February 10 , Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan informed of casualties among the Turkish military in Idlib .
In response , the Turkish military hit 115 targets of the Syrian army , neutralizing 101 Syrian soldiers .
Ankara announced deployment of additional forces to the area .
Earlier , Russian and Turkish diplomats held talks on Idlib in Ankara , with Moscow expecting to continue the discussion in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan - a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people .
The source of the outbreak is the COVID-19 coronavirus .
The disease spread to 24 more countries apart from China - Australia , Belgium , Cambodia , Canada , Finland , France , Germany , Japan , India , Italy , Malaysia , Nepal , the Philippines , Russia , Singapore , South Korea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Thailand , the United Arab Emirates , the United Kingdom , the United States and Vietnam .
WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak in China a global health emergency .
Currently , the total number of people infected with coronavirus exceeds 63,800 in China with 1,380 people reported to have died from the disease .
Meanwhile , over 6,700 people are said to have recovered from it .

MOSCOW, February 14. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has held a session of the Russian Security Council on Friday, discussing the situation in Syria’s Idlib and the outbreak of coronavirus in China, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed.
"A detailed exchange of opinions was held in relation to the aggravation of tensions in Idlib due to the activity of terrorist groups," he said. "Coronavirus was discussed as well in the context of its influence on global economy trends."
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Federation Council (upper house of parliament) Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, Presidential Chief of Staff Anton Vaino, Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov, Foreign Intelligence Service chief Sergei Naryshkin, as well as Special Presidential Representative for Nature Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov took part in the meeting.
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry noted a rise in tensions in the Idlib de-escalation zone in the past few weeks. The Russian and Turkish military attempted to establish a ceasefire in the region, however, terrorist attacks persisted. As a result, military specialists from Russia and Turkey were killed. On February 10, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan informed of casualties among the Turkish military in Idlib. In response, the Turkish military hit 115 targets of the Syrian army, neutralizing 101 Syrian soldiers. Ankara announced deployment of additional forces to the area. Earlier, Russian and Turkish diplomats held talks on Idlib in Ankara, with Moscow expecting to continue the discussion in the near future.
On December 31, Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan - a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people. The source of the outbreak is the COVID-19 coronavirus. The disease spread to 24 more countries apart from China - Australia, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, India, Italy, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam. WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak in China a global health emergency.
Currently, the total number of people infected with coronavirus exceeds 63,800 in China with 1,380 people reported to have died from the disease. Meanwhile, over 6,700 people are said to have recovered from it.


tass--2020-02-14--China shells out $5.87 bln to battle coronavirus, plans to double outlays

BEIJING , February 14 .
/TASS/ .
The Chinese government has spent 41 bln yuan ( about $ 5.87 bln @ @ @ @ @ the novel coronavirus , planning to double the expenses to reach 80.55 bln yuan ( @ @ @ @ @ China ’ s Assistant Minister of Finance Ou Wenhan said on Friday .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ facilitate the fight against pneumonia , '' he said during a press conference .
`` @ @ @ @ @ bodies at all levels to prioritize healthcare and human safety . ''
The official stressed @ @ @ @ @ should in no way affect the activity aimed to suppress the outbreak of the virus @ @ @ @ @ added that the Chinese government regularly improves allocation of resources .
`` We will win @ @ @ @ @ , and we will implement the plan for social-economic development for the current year , @ @ @ @

BEIJING, February 14. /TASS/. The Chinese government has spent 41 bln yuan (about $5.87 bln) on the fight against the novel coronavirus, planning to double the expenses to reach 80.55 bln yuan ($11.53 bln), China’s Assistant Minister of Finance Ou Wenhan said on Friday.
"We are allocating more money to facilitate the fight against pneumonia," he said during a press conference. "We have ordered all financial bodies at all levels to prioritize healthcare and human safety."
The official stressed that the issue of financing should in no way affect the activity aimed to suppress the outbreak of the virus in Chinese regions. He added that the Chinese government regularly improves allocation of resources.
"We will win in the fight against coronavirus, and we will implement the plan for social-economic development for the current year," he concluded.


tass--2020-02-14--Gazprom, Belarusian government sign gas prices protocol for 2020

MOSCOW , February 14 .
/TASS/ .
Gazprom and the Belarusian government signed a protocol determining the pricing procedure when @ @ @ @ @ in 2020 , the Russian holding said on Friday .
The document was signed by @ @ @ @ @ Alexei Miller and Belarusian Ambassador to Russia Vladimir Semashko .
Russia and Belarus agreed on @ @ @ @ @ on February 7 .
Russia will continue supplying gas at 2019 year conditions , i.e @ @ @ @ @ 1,000 cubic meters .

MOSCOW, February 14. /TASS/. Gazprom and the Belarusian government signed a protocol determining the pricing procedure when supplying natural gas to Belarus in 2020, the Russian holding said on Friday.
The document was signed by Chief Executive Officer of Gazprom Alexei Miller and Belarusian Ambassador to Russia Vladimir Semashko.
Russia and Belarus agreed on the gas price until 2021 on February 7. Russia will continue supplying gas at 2019 year conditions, i.e. at $127 per 1,000 cubic meters.
Belarus annually imports about 20 billion cubic meters of Russian gas.


tass--2020-02-17--US, Estonian, Lithuanian military to carry out observation flight over Russia, Belarus

MOSCOW , February 17 .
/TASS/ .
A joint mission of the United States , Estonia and Lithuania will execute an observation flight over the territory of the Union State of Russia and Belarus between February 17 and 21 , while Russian specialists will reciprocate by flying over Greece , Russia ’ s Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper reports on Monday , citing chief of the Russian National Centre for Nuclear Risk Reduction Sergei Ryzhkov .
`` Implementing the international Treaty on Open Skies , the Russian inspector group is planning to carry out an observation flight aboard a Russian An-30B observation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over Greece will be performed between February 17 and 21 from the Open Skies airfield Nea Anchialos , '' Ryzhkov underlined .
`` On the same dates , a joint mission of the US , Estonia and Lithuania will take off from the Kubinka airfield to carry out an observation flight over the member states [ of the treaty ] - Russia and Belarus - aboard a Swedish Saab 340 observation plane .
`` = Developed with Moscow ’ s active participation , the Treaty on Open Skies was signed in 1992 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently has 34 member states .
The treaty establishes a program of unarmed aerial surveillance flights over the entire territory of its participants .
Observation flights are made over the territories of the United States , Canada , European countries , and Russia .
Now , the treaty has more than 30 signatory states .
Russia ratified the Treaty on Open Skies on May 26 , 2001 .
The main purposes of the open skies regime are to develop transparency , render assistance in monitoring compliance with the existing or future arms control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and managing crisis situations within the scope of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and other relevant international organizations .
Subsequently , it is contemplated to apply the open skies regime to new fields , such as environmental protection .
In practical terms , the treaty allows signatory states to perform observation flights over any part of the observed state party ’ s territory to monitor military activities in conformity with the agreed quotas of such missions .
The treaty regulates observation flights procedures , establishes a mechanism of control over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the aircraft and observation equipment .

MOSCOW, February 17. /TASS/. A joint mission of the United States, Estonia and Lithuania will execute an observation flight over the territory of the Union State of Russia and Belarus between February 17 and 21, while Russian specialists will reciprocate by flying over Greece, Russia’s Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper reports on Monday, citing chief of the Russian National Centre for Nuclear Risk Reduction Sergei Ryzhkov.
"Implementing the international Treaty on Open Skies, the Russian inspector group is planning to carry out an observation flight aboard a Russian An-30B observation jet over Greece. The observation flight over Greece will be performed between February 17 and 21 from the Open Skies airfield Nea Anchialos," Ryzhkov underlined. "On the same dates, a joint mission of the US, Estonia and Lithuania will take off from the Kubinka airfield to carry out an observation flight over the member states [of the treaty] - Russia and Belarus - aboard a Swedish Saab 340 observation plane."=
Treaty on Open Skies
Developed with Moscow’s active participation, the Treaty on Open Skies was signed in 1992 and came into force in 2002. It currently has 34 member states. The treaty establishes a program of unarmed aerial surveillance flights over the entire territory of its participants. Observation flights are made over the territories of the United States, Canada, European countries, and Russia. Now, the treaty has more than 30 signatory states. Russia ratified the Treaty on Open Skies on May 26, 2001.
The main purposes of the open skies regime are to develop transparency, render assistance in monitoring compliance with the existing or future arms control agreements, broaden possibilities for preventing crises and managing crisis situations within the scope of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and other relevant international organizations. Subsequently, it is contemplated to apply the open skies regime to new fields, such as environmental protection.
In practical terms, the treaty allows signatory states to perform observation flights over any part of the observed state party’s territory to monitor military activities in conformity with the agreed quotas of such missions. The treaty regulates observation flights procedures, establishes a mechanism of control over its observance, and sets requirements to the aircraft and observation equipment.


tass--2020-02-17--Alexei Yerkhov: those behind threats may not understand they spur chain reaction of hatred

MOSCOW , February 16 .
/TASS/ .
Those who are behind the threats the Russian embassy in Turkey has been receiving in the recent days may not understand that they are spurring a chain reaction of xenophobia , hatred and animosity , Russian Ambassador to Turkey Alexei Yerkhov said in an interview with the Zvezda television channel on Sunday .
Yerkhov said earlier he was receiving threats in the wake of a recent flare-up in the Syrian region of Idlib .
According to the Russian embassy ’ s spokesperson , Irina Kasimova , the Turkish authorities had taken extra measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Those who write them [ the threats ] may not understand that they are spurring a chain reaction of xenophobia , hatred and animosity that may manifest itself in life after all .
Many specialists now recall that the propaganda situation of these days have much in common with the one of five years ago and we all remember it only too well what it ended in back then , '' he said , adding that such threats and insulting remarks were inadmissible because `` they are not about the embassy but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' According to the Russian diplomat , threats keep on coming but `` the information space around the topic of security of Russian overseas missions , and around Russia in general , has been , so to say , cleaned in the recent hours . ''
`` I think this is because of the public interest to this topic .
And we are thankful to those who is doing it , because it is also important , '' he noted .
He said he had no fears concerning his own security as Turkey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Naturally , the ambassador is safe , out of danger .
But we can not employ a security officer for each of the our foreign missions ’ staff member , '' Yerkhov said .
He called for `` utter caution and utter discretion '' in such matters not to spark hatred between peoples .
`` It is important because such atmosphere in society may jeopardize the entire architecture of Russian-Turkish relations .
It is a big and very important for our countries and peoples complex of ties that has been laboriously built @ @ @ @ @ @ @ painstaking efforts of tens of thousands of people , beginning from our presidents , Vladimir Putin and Tayyip Erdogan , who have made a serious personal contribution to the development of bilateral relations , '' he stressed .
`` Our countries need each other , our countries are interested in each other , and it is our duty to preserve and augment this potential .
`` .

MOSCOW, February 16. /TASS/. Those who are behind the threats the Russian embassy in Turkey has been receiving in the recent days may not understand that they are spurring a chain reaction of xenophobia, hatred and animosity, Russian Ambassador to Turkey Alexei Yerkhov said in an interview with the Zvezda television channel on Sunday.
Yerkhov said earlier he was receiving threats in the wake of a recent flare-up in the Syrian region of Idlib. According to the Russian embassy’s spokesperson, Irina Kasimova, the Turkish authorities had taken extra measures to ensure security of the embassy.
"Those who write them [the threats] may not understand that they are spurring a chain reaction of xenophobia, hatred and animosity that may manifest itself in life after all. Many specialists now recall that the propaganda situation of these days have much in common with the one of five years ago and we all remember it only too well what it ended in back then," he said, adding that such threats and insulting remarks were inadmissible because "they are not about the embassy but about Russia and all its representatives."
According to the Russian diplomat, threats keep on coming but "the information space around the topic of security of Russian overseas missions, and around Russia in general, has been, so to say, cleaned in the recent hours." "I think this is because of the public interest to this topic. And we are thankful to those who is doing it, because it is also important," he noted.
He said he had no fears concerning his own security as Turkey’s measures were quite efficient. "Naturally, the ambassador is safe, out of danger. But we cannot employ a security officer for each of the our foreign missions’ staff member," Yerkhov said.
He called for "utter caution and utter discretion" in such matters not to spark hatred between peoples. "It is important because such atmosphere in society may jeopardize the entire architecture of Russian-Turkish relations. It is a big and very important for our countries and peoples complex of ties that has been laboriously built in the recent year through scrupulous and painstaking efforts of tens of thousands of people, beginning from our presidents, Vladimir Putin and Tayyip Erdogan, who have made a serious personal contribution to the development of bilateral relations," he stressed. "Our countries need each other, our countries are interested in each other, and it is our duty to preserve and augment this potential.".


tass--2020-02-16--Belarusian, Saudi top diplomats discuss energy cooperation

MINSK , February 16 .
/TASS/ .
Issues of cooperation in various spheres , including in the energy sector , were in focus of talks between Belarusian and Saudi top diplomats , Vladimir Makey and Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud , on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference , the Belarusian foreign ministry said on Sunday .
`` The sides discussed possibilities for expanding cooperation in a number of areas , including in the energy , digital and farming sectors , '' the ministry said , adding that the ministers positively assessed the development of bilateral dialogue and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an agreement to organize a meeting of the joint trade-and-economic cooperation committee in the near future , and to exchange visits at different levels .
As Belarus has not yet reached an agreement with Russia on oil supplies , Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on February 14 that Minsk was negotiating with Warsaw possible supplies of oil bought from the United States and Saudi Arabia via the Druzhba oil pipeline .
Contract for supplies of Russian oil to Belarus expired on December 31 , 2019 .
The sides continue to negotiate their extension @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Russia ’ s Russneft and Neftisa oil companies controlled by businessman Mikhail Gutseriyev resumed supplies to Belarus on January 4 .
The first batch of Norwegian oil reached Naftan Co. on January 26 .
Belarus ’ Belneftekhim said on February 11 it had pumped process oil from the Druzhba pipeline to its oil refineries .
Belarus is demanding compensation for the damaged done by the so-called dirty oil supplies from Russia last April .

MINSK, February 16. /TASS/. Issues of cooperation in various spheres, including in the energy sector, were in focus of talks between Belarusian and Saudi top diplomats, Vladimir Makey and Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, the Belarusian foreign ministry said on Sunday.
"The sides discussed possibilities for expanding cooperation in a number of areas, including in the energy, digital and farming sectors," the ministry said, adding that the ministers positively assessed the development of bilateral dialogue and cooperation. The two top diplomats reached an agreement to organize a meeting of the joint trade-and-economic cooperation committee in the near future, and to exchange visits at different levels.
As Belarus has not yet reached an agreement with Russia on oil supplies, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on February 14 that Minsk was negotiating with Warsaw possible supplies of oil bought from the United States and Saudi Arabia via the Druzhba oil pipeline.
Contract for supplies of Russian oil to Belarus expired on December 31, 2019. The sides continue to negotiate their extension but are failing to agree the terms. Russia’s Russneft and Neftisa oil companies controlled by businessman Mikhail Gutseriyev resumed supplies to Belarus on January 4. The first batch of Norwegian oil reached Naftan Co. on January 26. Belarus’ Belneftekhim said on February 11 it had pumped process oil from the Druzhba pipeline to its oil refineries. Belarus is demanding compensation for the damaged done by the so-called dirty oil supplies from Russia last April.


tass--2020-02-16--Syrian government troops take control of 28 settlements west and north of Aleppo - agency

MOSCOW , February 16 .
/TASS/ .
/TASS/ .
Syrian government troops have taken control of 28 settlements west and @ @ @ @ @ kilometers of Damascus ) , SANA news agency reported on Sunday .
According to SANA @ @ @ @ @ outposts towards the Turkish border leaving 28 populated localities they had controlled since 2012 .
@ @ @ @ @ to the streets to hail liberation of these settlements .
The Syrian government army launched @ @ @ @ @ and neighboring Idlib governorate on January 25 after militants had broken down another ceasefire in @ @ @ @ @ Since then , government troops have regained control of more than 50 % of Idlib @ @ @ @ @ liberated Aleppo ’ s southern and western neighborhoods .
A strategic highway linking Damascus and @ @ @ @ @ centers , has been cleared of terrorists .

MOSCOW, February 16. /TASS/. /TASS/. Syrian government troops have taken control of 28 settlements west and north of Aleppo (360 kilometers of Damascus), SANA news agency reported on Sunday.
According to SANA, militants retreated from their outposts towards the Turkish border leaving 28 populated localities they had controlled since 2012.
Aleppo’s residents took to the streets to hail liberation of these settlements.
The Syrian government army launched a military operation in Aleppo and neighboring Idlib governorate on January 25 after militants had broken down another ceasefire in the northern de-escalation zone. Since then, government troops have regained control of more than 50% of Idlib governorate’s territory and liberated Aleppo’s southern and western neighborhoods. A strategic highway linking Damascus and Aleppo, with its industrial centers, has been cleared of terrorists.


tass--2020-02-16--Level of discussions at Munich conference is disappointing, says Russian diplomat

MOSCOW , February 16 .
/TASS/ .
The idea of the Munich Security Conference as an international dialogue meant to prevent new global conflicts is quite noble but the current level of discussions at this forum is disappointing , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday .
`` The idea [ of the Munich conference ] that has been working for decades is quite noble : to begin dialogue or draw a line under the efforts the international community has been taking to prevent new global conflicts , '' she said in an interview with the Voskresny Vecher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program on the Rossiya-1 television channel .
`` The thing is that experts are becoming petty and discussions are disappointing .
The level of such discussions is beyond criticism , mostly because everyone is serving own interests , '' she said .
According to Zakharova , the Munich conference used to be a platform where experts and politicians could make forecasts and analysis `` to offer certain scenarios or solutions to difficult situation in future . ''
`` Why could they do that ?
Because there were some rules of the game , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , agreements and accords .
It set the frame , a pattern for the development of international relations .
So , it was quite possible to make forecasts , '' she explained .
Now , in her words , many great powers and their leaders unilaterally `` refuse to recognize international law at all , '' thus breaking down the entire system of international agreements .
`` So , the question is how one can make any forecasts or analysis , what can serve as a basis for that .
As things stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elements at all , '' she noted .
`` Experts today have no frames , no groundwork for normal analytical work .
Hence , the only thing they can do is to analyze what is going on now or what happened yesterday .
Maybe , this is what explains the quality of discussions . ''
The Munich Security Conference was established by German publisher Ewald von Kleist in 1962 as a meeting of NATO defense ministries officials .
It has been attended by delegates from Central and Eastern Europe since 1999 .
Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the late 1990s .
The Russian delegation to the conference has been led by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov since 2010 , with exception of 2016 when it was headed by the then Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev .

MOSCOW, February 16. /TASS/. The idea of the Munich Security Conference as an international dialogue meant to prevent new global conflicts is quite noble but the current level of discussions at this forum is disappointing, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday.
"The idea [of the Munich conference] that has been working for decades is quite noble: to begin dialogue or draw a line under the efforts the international community has been taking to prevent new global conflicts," she said in an interview with the Voskresny Vecher (Sunday Evening) with Vladimir Solovyov program on the Rossiya-1 television channel.
"The thing is that experts are becoming petty and discussions are disappointing. The level of such discussions is beyond criticism, mostly because everyone is serving own interests," she said.
According to Zakharova, the Munich conference used to be a platform where experts and politicians could make forecasts and analysis "to offer certain scenarios or solutions to difficult situation in future." "Why could they do that? Because there were some rules of the game, international law, the United Nations Charter, agreements and accords. It set the frame, a pattern for the development of international relations. So, it was quite possible to make forecasts," she explained.
Now, in her words, many great powers and their leaders unilaterally "refuse to recognize international law at all," thus breaking down the entire system of international agreements.
"So, the question is how one can make any forecasts or analysis, what can serve as a basis for that. As things stand now, no one has any constraining elements at all," she noted. "Experts today have no frames, no groundwork for normal analytical work. Hence, the only thing they can do is to analyze what is going on now or what happened yesterday. Maybe, this is what explains the quality of discussions."
The Munich Security Conference was established by German publisher Ewald von Kleist in 1962 as a meeting of NATO defense ministries officials. It has been attended by delegates from Central and Eastern Europe since 1999. Russia has been taking part in the conference since the late 1990s. The Russian delegation to the conference has been led by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov since 2010, with exception of 2016 when it was headed by the then Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.


tass--2020-02-16--Munich conference turns blind eye on growing nationalism in Ukraine - Russian diplomat

MOSCOW , February 16 .
/TASS/ .
Instead of discussing the problem of growing Ukrainian nationalism , participants in the @ @ @ @ @ to include the so-called Ukrainian factor into the array of problems that cause much concern @ @ @ @ @ Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday .
In her interview with the Voskresny Vecher @ @ @ @ @ Vladimir Solovyov program on the Rossiya-1 television channel , she noted that the discussion of @ @ @ @ @ the backdrop of an initiative of the `` corresponding group , '' which referred to @ @ @ @ @ special commission its ideas about a total ban of the Russian language in the mass @ @ @ @ @ to some unknown reason , no one from among those who discussed Ukraine here had @ @ @ @ @ ideology that is gaining momentum in that country , '' she said .
`` Instead @ @ @ @ @ to include the Ukrainian factor into the array of things Europe is concerned with .
@ @

MOSCOW, February 16. /TASS/. Instead of discussing the problem of growing Ukrainian nationalism, participants in the Munich Security Conference apparently tries to include the so-called Ukrainian factor into the array of problems that cause much concern in Europe, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday.
In her interview with the Voskresny Vecher (Sunday Evening) with Vladimir Solovyov program on the Rossiya-1 television channel, she noted that the discussion of the Ukraine-related topics proceeded on the backdrop of an initiative of the "corresponding group," which referred to the Ukrainian government’s special commission its ideas about a total ban of the Russian language in the mass media. "And due to some unknown reason, no one from among those who discussed Ukraine here had any questions about the real ideology that is gaining momentum in that country," she said. "Instead, we saw away-from-reality attempts to include the Ukrainian factor into the array of things Europe is concerned with.".


tass--2020-02-16--Munich conference drops Russophobic bias to plunge into anti-Chinese one - diplomat

MOSCOW , February 16 .
/TASS/ .
/TASS/ .
The Munich Security Conference has managed to break out of the Russophobic bias , only to plunge into the anti-Chinese one , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday .
`` It might look surprising but saddening all the same , but this call ( to stop the Russophobic bias at the conference ) has been heeded .
But , it seems to have been taken in a wrong way .
Now the Munich conference demonstrates an openly anti-Chinese bias , '' she said in an interview with Voskresny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Solovyov program on the Rossiya-1 television channel .
She pointed to the anti-Chinese rhetoric voiced at the Munich Security Conference by the world leaders and representatives of government foreign policy institutions , as well as of international organizations .
`` They spoke about that country as a threat to entire humankind .
They said that China ’ s policy is the treat of the 21st century .
I have a feeling that we are witnessing , through the speeches delivered at the Munich conference in particular , the revival of new colonial approaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinks it shameful to reincarnate the spirit of colonialism by means of dividing people , nations and countries into those deserving sympathy and support < … > and those that can wait , those that need no sympathy and no support in times of trouble , '' Zakharova noted .
She recalled that China is currently countering an epidemic caused by the new coronavirus and doing its best to prevent its spread .
`` Don ’ t these people deserve to hear the words of support to this huge country and , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the leaders and heads of state at the Munich conference ?
Not a single word was uttered .
The Russian delegation drew attention to that .
Regrettably , all the rest were absorbed with the so-called phenomenon of Ukraine , '' she added .

MOSCOW, February 16. /TASS/. /TASS/. The Munich Security Conference has managed to break out of the Russophobic bias, only to plunge into the anti-Chinese one, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday.
"It might look surprising but saddening all the same, but this call (to stop the Russophobic bias at the conference) has been heeded. But, it seems to have been taken in a wrong way. Now the Munich conference demonstrates an openly anti-Chinese bias," she said in an interview with Voskresny Vecher (Sunday Evening) with Vladimir Solovyov program on the Rossiya-1 television channel.
She pointed to the anti-Chinese rhetoric voiced at the Munich Security Conference by the world leaders and representatives of government foreign policy institutions, as well as of international organizations.
"They spoke about that country as a threat to entire humankind. They said that China’s policy is the treat of the 21st century. I have a feeling that we are witnessing, through the speeches delivered at the Munich conference in particular, the revival of new colonial approaches, as though the West no longer thinks it shameful to reincarnate the spirit of colonialism by means of dividing people, nations and countries into those deserving sympathy and support <…> and those that can wait, those that need no sympathy and no support in times of trouble," Zakharova noted.
She recalled that China is currently countering an epidemic caused by the new coronavirus and doing its best to prevent its spread. "Don’t these people deserve to hear the words of support to this huge country and, I would dare say, great nation from the leaders and heads of state at the Munich conference? Not a single word was uttered. The Russian delegation drew attention to that. Regrettably, all the rest were absorbed with the so-called phenomenon of Ukraine," she added.


tass--2020-02-16--EU needs independence rather than power, says Russian lawmaker

MOSCOW , February 16 .
/TASS/ .
The European Union needs independence rather than power , otherwise it will be serving Washington ’ s interests rather than its own , a senior Russian lawmakers said on Sunday commenting on the EU top diplomat ’ s words .
The European Union ’ s foreign policy chief , Josep Borrell , told the Munich Security Conference earlier in the day that the European Union needed to learn to speak force and action .
`` Europe has to develop an appetite for power , '' he said , noting he meant not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need independence rather than power .
And as long as it obediently following its ‘ elder brother , ’ who is already using secondary sanctions against its own European partners , its power will bring no good to Europe as it will be serving Washington ’ s interests , '' Konstantin Kosachev , chairman of the international committee of Russia ’ s Federation Council upper parliament house , wrote on his Facebook account .
According to the Russian lawmaker , Borrell ’ s would sound right if Russian and the European Union shared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ i.e .
independence and the ability to contribute to the resolution of common problems .
`` But the European Union seems to have a different understanding of the ability to act .
Indeed , sometimes one really has to demonstrate force and resoluteness .
For instance , when the EU nations opted to act as guarantors of the agreement between the government and the opposition in Kiev in 2014 to later back away disgracefully facilitating a constitutional coup and the subsequent civil war .
It was resoluteness that was needed back then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Ukraine , '' he stressed .
Resolute action , in his words , was also needed when the United States unilaterally withdrew from two major international agreements , on the Iranian nuclear program and on intermediate-and shorter-range missiles .
`` In both cases , Europe was either mumbling something inarticulate or making helpless gestures - what can we do , Washington has persuaded us , '' he noted .
More to it , resoluteness and firmness were needed when the United States blocked the implementation of such an important project as Nord @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helplessness of its diplomacy '' again , Kosachev noted , adding that Brussels recalls the language of force only when it is supposed to follow Washington .
`` Only sanctions and threats , but for remarks by individual politicians , instead of flexibility and the ability to find solutions and maintain dialogue .
No way , in such cases , the European Union boasts its resoluteness , solidarity and consensus , and unwillingness to compromise , '' he added .

MOSCOW, February 16. /TASS/. The European Union needs independence rather than power, otherwise it will be serving Washington’s interests rather than its own, a senior Russian lawmakers said on Sunday commenting on the EU top diplomat’s words.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, told the Munich Security Conference earlier in the day that the European Union needed to learn to speak force and action. "Europe has to develop an appetite for power," he said, noting he meant not only military power.
"The European Union need independence rather than power. And as long as it obediently following its ‘elder brother,’ who is already using secondary sanctions against its own European partners, its power will bring no good to Europe as it will be serving Washington’s interests," Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the international committee of Russia’s Federation Council upper parliament house, wrote on his Facebook account.
According to the Russian lawmaker, Borrell’s would sound right if Russian and the European Union shared a common notion of ‘action,’ i.e. independence and the ability to contribute to the resolution of common problems. "But the European Union seems to have a different understanding of the ability to act. Indeed, sometimes one really has to demonstrate force and resoluteness. For instance, when the EU nations opted to act as guarantors of the agreement between the government and the opposition in Kiev in 2014 to later back away disgracefully facilitating a constitutional coup and the subsequent civil war. It was resoluteness that was needed back then. It might have saved 13,000 lives in Ukraine," he stressed.
Resolute action, in his words, was also needed when the United States unilaterally withdrew from two major international agreements, on the Iranian nuclear program and on intermediate-and shorter-range missiles. "In both cases, Europe was either mumbling something inarticulate or making helpless gestures - what can we do, Washington has persuaded us," he noted.
More to it, resoluteness and firmness were needed when the United States blocked the implementation of such an important project as Nord Stream-2. But Europe demonstrated "utter helplessness of its diplomacy" again, Kosachev noted, adding that Brussels recalls the language of force only when it is supposed to follow Washington. "Only sanctions and threats, but for remarks by individual politicians, instead of flexibility and the ability to find solutions and maintain dialogue. No way, in such cases, the European Union boasts its resoluteness, solidarity and consensus, and unwillingness to compromise," he added.


tass--2020-02-16--Ukrainian security chief in Iran to discuss January 8 crash probe

KIEV , February 16 .
/TASS/ .
Secretary of Ukraine ’ s National Security and Defense Council Alexei Danilov is currently in Iran to discuss issues related to the investigation of the Ukraine International Airlines passenger jet crash near Teheran in early January , the Council ’ s press service said on Sunday .
`` Secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Alexei Danilov is on a working visit to Iran on February 15-17 , at an invitation of Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran Ali Shamkhani , to discuss problem matters of the investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the press service said .
According to the press service , Danilov has visited the crash site and honored the memory of the Ukrainian nationals killed in the crash .
On Saturday , Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reiterated Teheran ’ s readiness to cooperate with Kiev in the crash probe .
Meanwhile , Iranian Foreign Minister Vadim Pristaiko said after a meeting with his Iranian counterpart that no agreement had yet been reached on how the plane ’ s flight recorders would be decoded but it had been agreed that Ukrainian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On January 8 , a Boeing-737 of the Ukrainian International Airlines bound for Kiev crashed minutes after takeoff at Tehran ’ s Imam Khomeini Airport .
The crash killed all 176 people on board - citizens of Afghanistan , Germany , Iran , Canada and Ukraine and also British and Swedish subjects .
On January 11 , Iran ’ s Armed Forces General Staff released a statement admitting the plane had been mistakenly shot down .
According to Iranian Brigadier-General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh , the plane was misidentified as a cruise missile by @ @ @ @ @

KIEV, February 16. /TASS/. Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Alexei Danilov is currently in Iran to discuss issues related to the investigation of the Ukraine International Airlines passenger jet crash near Teheran in early January, the Council’s press service said on Sunday.
"Secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Alexei Danilov is on a working visit to Iran on February 15-17, at an invitation of Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran Ali Shamkhani, to discuss problem matters of the investigation of the Ukrainian plane crash," the press service said.
According to the press service, Danilov has visited the crash site and honored the memory of the Ukrainian nationals killed in the crash.
On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reiterated Teheran’s readiness to cooperate with Kiev in the crash probe.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Vadim Pristaiko said after a meeting with his Iranian counterpart that no agreement had yet been reached on how the plane’s flight recorders would be decoded but it had been agreed that Ukrainian specialists would be present during the process.
On January 8, a Boeing-737 of the Ukrainian International Airlines bound for Kiev crashed minutes after takeoff at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport. The crash killed all 176 people on board - citizens of Afghanistan, Germany, Iran, Canada and Ukraine and also British and Swedish subjects.
On January 11, Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff released a statement admitting the plane had been mistakenly shot down. According to Iranian Brigadier-General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, the plane was misidentified as a cruise missile by the air defense force.


tass--2020-02-16--Yemen’s conflicting parties agree on exchange of 1,400 prisoners - Ansar Allah

MOSCOW , February 16 .
/TASS/ .
/TASS/ .
The parties to the Yemeni conflict have agreed to exchange 1,400 prisoners , Al Masirah news said on Sunday citing Mohamed Abdul-Salam , the chief negotiator of the Ansar Allah ( Houthi ) movement at talks in Jordan .
According to Abdul-Salam , the United Nations-brokered talks with the Yemeni government delegation in the Jordanian capital city have yielded an agreement on the exchange of 1,400 prisoners within the Stockholm settlement process .
`` Citizens od Sudan and Saudi Arabia '' will be among those to be released under the agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General ’ s Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths confirmed that the conflicting parties had reached such an agreement .
He said the prisoner exchange would be carried out in several stages , but did not specify how many .
Neither did he say when the exchange process was supposed to be over .
Griffiths called on the Yemeni government and the leaders of Ansar Allah to abide by the agreements reached in Jordan .
Armed confrontation between government forces and Ansar Allah ( Houthi ) rebels , who currently control the capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Yemen since August 2014 , reaching the most active phase in March 2015 after the Saudi-led coalition invaded the country .
The intra-Yemeni consultations in Stockholm in early December 2018 yielded a number of agreements on a ceasefire and gradual withdrawal of armed units from Yemen ’ s largest Red Sea port of Hodeidah , as well as from the ports of Salif and Ras Isa .
The parties also agreed to begin negotiation on prisoner exchange .

MOSCOW, February 16. /TASS/. /TASS/. The parties to the Yemeni conflict have agreed to exchange 1,400 prisoners, Al Masirah news said on Sunday citing Mohamed Abdul-Salam, the chief negotiator of the Ansar Allah (Houthi) movement at talks in Jordan.
According to Abdul-Salam, the United Nations-brokered talks with the Yemeni government delegation in the Jordanian capital city have yielded an agreement on the exchange of 1,400 prisoners within the Stockholm settlement process.
"Citizens od Sudan and Saudi Arabia" will be among those to be released under the agreement, he noted.
United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths confirmed that the conflicting parties had reached such an agreement. He said the prisoner exchange would be carried out in several stages, but did not specify how many. Neither did he say when the exchange process was supposed to be over. Griffiths called on the Yemeni government and the leaders of Ansar Allah to abide by the agreements reached in Jordan.
Armed confrontation between government forces and Ansar Allah (Houthi) rebels, who currently control the capital city Sana, has been going on in Yemen since August 2014, reaching the most active phase in March 2015 after the Saudi-led coalition invaded the country.
The intra-Yemeni consultations in Stockholm in early December 2018 yielded a number of agreements on a ceasefire and gradual withdrawal of armed units from Yemen’s largest Red Sea port of Hodeidah, as well as from the ports of Salif and Ras Isa. The parties also agreed to begin negotiation on prisoner exchange.


tass--2020-02-16--Iranian president calls on Turkey to observe Sochi agreements on Syria

TEHERAN , February 16 .
/TASS/ .
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called on Turkey to abide by the agreements reached during talks with the Russian side in Sochi .
`` The Sochi process has a huge significance .
It should not be abandoned , '' he said on Sunday .
`` I hope we will be able to continue work with Turkey within the Astana process . ''
`` Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan agreed [ under the Sochi memorandum ] to stay committed to two things , '' he said .
`` First , Syria ’ s entire territory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Second , it is necessary to continue fight against terrorists . ''
On October 22 , Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan met in Sochi to agree a ten-provision memorandum on joint operations to control the situation in northeastern Syria .
Under the arrangement , Russian military police and Syrian border guards were to be deployed to Syrian territories outside the zone of Turkey ’ s operation in Syria from noon on October 23 .
Kurdish units were to withdraw to a distance of 30 kilometers of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , Russian and Turkish militaries were to begin joint patrolling missions .
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported on the ultimatum expiration day that all Kurdish armed units had been pulled out of the buffer zone .

TEHERAN, February 16. /TASS/. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called on Turkey to abide by the agreements reached during talks with the Russian side in Sochi.
"The Sochi process has a huge significance. It should not be abandoned," he said on Sunday. "I hope we will be able to continue work with Turkey within the Astana process."
"Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan agreed [under the Sochi memorandum] to stay committed to two things," he said. "First, Syria’s entire territory is to be controlled by Damascus. Second, it is necessary to continue fight against terrorists."
On October 22, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan met in Sochi to agree a ten-provision memorandum on joint operations to control the situation in northeastern Syria. Under the arrangement, Russian military police and Syrian border guards were to be deployed to Syrian territories outside the zone of Turkey’s operation in Syria from noon on October 23. Kurdish units were to withdraw to a distance of 30 kilometers of the Syrian-Turkish border by October 29. After that, Russian and Turkish militaries were to begin joint patrolling missions. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported on the ultimatum expiration day that all Kurdish armed units had been pulled out of the buffer zone.


tass--2020-02-16--Four Ukrainian poachers arrested for 10 days in Crimea

SIMFEROPOL , February 16 .
/TASS/ .
The Kerch City Court has arrested for ten days four Ukrainian nationals , @ @ @ @ @ border guards in the Sea of Azov over illegal fishing , the Border Service of @ @ @ @ @ Crimea said on Sunday .
The Ukrainian nationals were detained on Saturday by the FSB @ @ @ @ @ offense , in particular for defying the security services ’ legal demands and violating the @ @ @ @ @ .
The FSB Border Service in Crimea reported on February 15 that the Russian border @ @ @ @ @ vessel in the western part of the Sea of Azov off the Crimean Peninsula .
@ @ @ @ @ were onboard the vessel .
The captain failed to meet the legal demands of the @ @ @ @ @ attempted to escape .
During the checks , some 290 species of kalkan were found @ @ @ @ @ crew members admitted that they had been involved in illegal fishing .

SIMFEROPOL, February 16. /TASS/. The Kerch City Court has arrested for ten days four Ukrainian nationals, who were detained by Russian border guards in the Sea of Azov over illegal fishing, the Border Service of the Federal Security Service in Crimea said on Sunday.
The Ukrainian nationals were detained on Saturday by the FSB personnel for committing an administrative offense, in particular for defying the security services’ legal demands and violating the rules of catching biological resources.
The FSB Border Service in Crimea reported on February 15 that the Russian border guards had detained a small vessel in the western part of the Sea of Azov off the Crimean Peninsula. Four Ukrainian nationals without IDs were onboard the vessel. The captain failed to meet the legal demands of the border guards to stop and attempted to escape. During the checks, some 290 species of kalkan were found onboard the ship. All crew members admitted that they had been involved in illegal fishing.


tass--2020-02-16--Two clergymen injured in stabbing attack in Moscow church

MOSCOW , February 16 .
/TASS/ .
A priest at a Moscow church , the scene of a stabbing attack on Sunday morning , told TASS that two injured men were his assistants .
`` During the preparations for the service , a young man rushed to the altar and stabbed my assistants with a knife .
I want to thank all worshippers and the guards , who were able to neutralize the attacker .
I thank the police for coming on time and quickly detaining him .
The life of my assistants , the bell ringers , is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' priest at St. Nicholas Church Kirill Sladkov said .
According to the priest , the attacker looked like an ordinary worshipper and he did not shout anything .
`` When he ran to the altar , I met him as a priest together with my assistant .
It ’ s difficult to say now why he attacked my assistant , '' Sladkov said .
Earlier on Sunday , a man entered St. Nicholas Church in downtown Moscow and injured two men with a knife .
Shortly after , the attacker was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Irina Volk said .
According to preliminary data , the attacker was identified as Efim Efimov , a native of the Lipetsk Region , who was in `` an inadequate condition . ''
A source in the law enforcement agencies told TASS that this was most likely an act of hooliganism .

MOSCOW, February 16. /TASS/. A priest at a Moscow church, the scene of a stabbing attack on Sunday morning, told TASS that two injured men were his assistants.
"During the preparations for the service, a young man rushed to the altar and stabbed my assistants with a knife. I want to thank all worshippers and the guards, who were able to neutralize the attacker. I thank the police for coming on time and quickly detaining him. The life of my assistants, the bell ringers, is not under threat, they are in hospital," priest at St. Nicholas Church Kirill Sladkov said.
According to the priest, the attacker looked like an ordinary worshipper and he did not shout anything. "When he ran to the altar, I met him as a priest together with my assistant. It’s difficult to say now why he attacked my assistant," Sladkov said.
Earlier on Sunday, a man entered St. Nicholas Church in downtown Moscow and injured two men with a knife. Shortly after, the attacker was detained by police, Interior Ministry Spokeswoman Irina Volk said.
According to preliminary data, the attacker was identified as Efim Efimov, a native of the Lipetsk Region, who was in "an inadequate condition."
A source in the law enforcement agencies told TASS that this was most likely an act of hooliganism.


tass--2020-02-16--Man stabs two persons with knife in Moscow church

MOSCOW , February 16 .
/TASS/ .
A man attacked worshippers with a knife in a church in downtown Moscow @ @ @ @ @ persons , Russian Interior Ministry Spokeswoman Irina Volk told TASS .
The suspect has been @ @ @ @ @ in hot pursuit a 26-year-old resident of the Lipetsk Region , who entered a church @ @ @ @ @ morning of February 16 and injured two persons with a knife .
The victims have @ @ @ @ @ receive medical assistance , '' Volk said .
Police are investigating the causes and circumstances @ @ @ @ @ noted .
A source in the law enforcement agencies said the incident occurred at St. @ @ @ @ @ , who is suspected of attacking the worshippers , was in an `` inadequate condition @ @ @ @ @ data .

MOSCOW, February 16. /TASS/. A man attacked worshippers with a knife in a church in downtown Moscow on Sunday, wounding two persons, Russian Interior Ministry Spokeswoman Irina Volk told TASS.
The suspect has been detained. "Police detained in hot pursuit a 26-year-old resident of the Lipetsk Region, who entered a church on Bakuninskaya Street in the morning of February 16 and injured two persons with a knife. The victims have been sent to hospitals to receive medical assistance," Volk said.
Police are investigating the causes and circumstances of the attack, she noted.
A source in the law enforcement agencies said the incident occurred at St. Nicholas Church.
The man, who is suspected of attacking the worshippers, was in an "inadequate condition," according to preliminary data.


tass--2020-02-16--KamAZ and Sollers discussing alliance

KamAZ and Sollers discussing alliance

MOSCOW , February 16 .
/TASS/ .
The largest Russian truck maker KamAZ and one of major cars and light @ @ @ @ @ producers Sollers are negotiating an alliance , a spokesperson of Sollers told TASS .
`` @ @ @ @ @ '' the source said .
`` We are indeed discussing the issue of establishing an @ @ @ @ @ cooperation , '' he added .
The alliance would deal in developing new forms of @ @ @ @ @ digitalization and marketing technologies , Vedomosti newspaper reported earlier .
The roadmap for setup of @ @ @ @ @ , the newspaper said .

MOSCOW, February 16. /TASS/. The largest Russian truck maker KamAZ and one of major cars and light commercial vehicles (LCV) producers Sollers are negotiating an alliance, a spokesperson of Sollers told TASS.
"Yes, we confirm," the source said. "We are indeed discussing the issue of establishing an alliance and specific areas of cooperation," he added.
The alliance would deal in developing new forms of using commercial vehicles, sales digitalization and marketing technologies, Vedomosti newspaper reported earlier. The roadmap for setup of the alliance is under preparation, the newspaper said.