tass--2020-01-14--Film, found in Arctic, is a documentary about Antarctic explorers of the 1970s

ARKHANGELSK , January 14 .
/TASS/ .
Experts of the Russian Arctic National Park restored and made a digital copy of a film dated the 1970s , which had been found on the Heiss Island ( Franz Josef Land ) .
The park ’ s head of the heritage department , Evgeny Yermolov , told TASS that when the film was found , specialists did not doubt it was a documentary about the USSR ’ s northernmost polar station named after Krenkel , but as they were making a digital copy , the documentary turned out to be about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Krenkel geo-physics polar observatory on the Heiss Island was opened in 1957 .
About 200 people could be accommodated there at a time .
After a fire in 2001 , the station was closed and resumed work in 2004 .
Nowadays , the staff there is about 5-6 people .
`` The movie film ’ s roll was found in an abandoned house at the Krenkel observatory on the Heiss Island , and it was clear that was an amateur movie , home video as we call it now : different parts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connected almost with bandage .
But the true value is that this is a video from distanced polar stations , which are very few ; existing samples are mostly official documentaries , which do not show everything .
Of course , we couldn ’ t doubt the film contained images of the Heiss Island , and how astonished we were to see pictures from the Earth ’ s other end - Antarctica , '' he said .
The film was in an extremely poor condition , but the specialists decided they would try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what price .
On the first frames they could see ice , and something which they believed was a walrus .
`` Loading it into the camera was out of question - it would ’ ve fallen into ash , '' the expert said .
Restoration specialist Elena Schneider used to tell him in detail about the recovery progress .
`` She says , the process moves on , we can see polar explorers , they start fireworks , bathe in the snow , we can see aircraft , helicopters , images of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is everything which was on the Heiss Island .
And here she adds : we can see there penguins .
I say : no , there can ’ t be any penguins , those might be little auks or kairas ( Arctic birds of black and white colors , could be taken for penguins - TASS ) .
Therefore I remain waiting patiently for the restoration to be completed . ''
Finally , we see those were penguins , and the film is a movie about polar explorers in the Antarctica .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Molodezhnaya station , in some 1970s , '' the scientist said .
`` Thus , it was a specific connection between Arctic and Antarctic , a very close connection .
Those , who worked in the Arctic , could well work also in the Antarctic .
The author must have brought the film to show the movie to his colleagues on the Heiss Island - about how he had worked in the Antarctic . ''
The restored movie ’ s duration is 39 minutes .
`` It ’ s an author ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a documentary , which has not been published , it is not to be found in archives , and surely there are moments , which you can never see in official documentaries of those days.
`` The Molodezhnaya station , which could accommodate 150 people at a time , began working in the Antarctic in 1962 .
`` It is a coastal station , on the ocean coast .
Back then , it was a town there , a very powerful and advanced station , it was even dubbed the capital of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
In 1999 , work at the station was suspended , and since 2006 it is used only during summer seasons .
The part with penguins is followed by a fragment , showing how an M-100 meteorology rocket is launched .
Such rockets could go as high as 100km , much higher than weather balloons .
A rocket registered temperature , humidity , air pressure and other parameters .
The rockets ’ first part with equipment chuted down , and explorers had to search for it , hoping it does not fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data while in the air .
In polar areas , specialists paid special attention to launching rockets during the Northern Lights season to collect data on the ionosphere .
`` The Soviet Union had a few stations : from almost the North Pole on the Heiss Island to the Antarctic .
Plus a few inside the country , as well as in India , and on vessels at sea , '' the scientist said .
`` It was most important to launch rockets across the globe .
Most probably the movie ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the movie shows a few launches . ''
Between October 1957 and December 1990 , specialists made more than 1,500 successful launches of M-100 rockets .
The polar explorers used the long hangars with huge windows to assemble those rockets as greenhouses .
`` Look here , can you see growing cucumbers , tomatoes , '' he said showing the movie .
Colored parts have suffered more than black-and-white passages , but still red tomatoes amid green leaves are seen quite clear .
In the movie , the author shows a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for example the Mikhail Somov , which now works in the Arctic .
`` That very Mikhail Somov , to which we are so used here in the Arctic , is by the ice pier , and here are jumping penguins , '' the historian said .
The curious birds wandered across the station , following people wherever they go .
The movie also shows how people spent free time at the station .
They used to play football and volleyball on the show , wearing unty ( fur boots ) , warm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The movie shows how some would tap dance , others sing to an accordion and guitars , or perform theatrical sketches .
The documentary shows an artist by the easel , and his pictures .
`` Unfortunately , it ’ s impossible to see clearly the face - just a beard and long hair .
The man must have worked in the Arctic : his pictures show polar bears , '' the national park ’ s expert said .
The polar stations used to welcome guests , most likely from other Antarctic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for example , an American icebreaker .
`` Look , here are guests , most probably from a Chilean station , like they should - with presents , '' the expert shows .
`` And these must be Americans .
Look , how a Robertson ( a small helicopter - TASS ) is approaching the pad .
A true master class in parking .
Communication continued despite all political complications - people networked , used to pay visits to other stations . ''
A key moment on the film : a big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ devoted to November 7 ( the Revolution anniversary ) or May 1 .
Here is a podium , the staff is in columns .
`` And here is the culmination : a parade of the equipment , very many items .
Here is the Buran off-road vehicle carrying the flag , and it ’ s followed by heavy trucks with flags .
Each truck bears slogans like `` Water is All ! ''
or `` Glorious Polar Explorers !
`` , or `` To the South !
Hurrah ! ''
At least twenty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it had been staged thoroughly . ''
The national park ’ s representative takes the film : a few parts are glued together , all by different materials .
The film will be stored accurately : it is sensitive to temperatures , humidity and light .
Thus , it would not be exhibited in the park .
`` The film has fulfilled its task - it has provided the material , '' he said .
The park ’ s experts hope to find the movie ’ s author or his relatives and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recognize the scenes , '' he said .
The Russian Arctic National Park will make a digest of most impressive images to post it on the website .
`` We shall accompany it with a brief description , since now we can see pictures without sound .
By the way , the work was very professional : good positions , the camera did not shake anywhere .
Though , nowadays , we are more used to dynamic movies , '' he added .
The Russian Arctic National Park is Russia ’ s northernmost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the area of 8.8 million hectares .
It was organized on June 15 , 2009 .
The Park includes a northern part of the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago ’ s Severny Island and the entire Franz Josef Land Archipelago .

ARKHANGELSK, January 14. /TASS/. Experts of the Russian Arctic National Park restored and made a digital copy of a film dated the 1970s, which had been found on the Heiss Island (Franz Josef Land). The park’s head of the heritage department, Evgeny Yermolov, told TASS that when the film was found, specialists did not doubt it was a documentary about the USSR’s northernmost polar station named after Krenkel, but as they were making a digital copy, the documentary turned out to be about the Molodezhnaya station in Antarctica. The Ernst Krenkel geo-physics polar observatory on the Heiss Island was opened in 1957. About 200 people could be accommodated there at a time. After a fire in 2001, the station was closed and resumed work in 2004. Nowadays, the staff there is about 5-6 people. "The movie film’s roll was found in an abandoned house at the Krenkel observatory on the Heiss Island, and it was clear that was an amateur movie, home video as we call it now: different parts of film - colored and black-and-white, are connected almost with bandage. But the true value is that this is a video from distanced polar stations, which are very few; existing samples are mostly official documentaries, which do not show everything. Of course, we couldn’t doubt the film contained images of the Heiss Island, and how astonished we were to see pictures from the Earth’s other end - Antarctica," he said. How comes penguins? The film was in an extremely poor condition, but the specialists decided they would try to restore it, no matter at what price. On the first frames they could see ice, and something which they believed was a walrus. "Loading it into the camera was out of question - it would’ve fallen into ash," the expert said.
Read also How to endure winter if your neighbors are polar bears
Restoration specialist Elena Schneider used to tell him in detail about the recovery progress. "She says, the process moves on, we can see polar explorers, they start fireworks, bathe in the snow, we can see aircraft, helicopters, images of the station, the greenhouse, - that is everything which was on the Heiss Island. And here she adds: we can see there penguins. I say: no, there can’t be any penguins, those might be little auks or kairas (Arctic birds of black and white colors, could be taken for penguins - TASS). Therefore I remain waiting patiently for the restoration to be completed." Finally, we see those were penguins, and the film is a movie about polar explorers in the Antarctica. "We could see it was the Molodezhnaya station, in some 1970s," the scientist said. "Thus, it was a specific connection between Arctic and Antarctic, a very close connection. Those, who worked in the Arctic, could well work also in the Antarctic. The author must have brought the film to show the movie to his colleagues on the Heiss Island - about how he had worked in the Antarctic." The restored movie’s duration is 39 minutes. "It’s an author’s movie, though without titles, it is a documentary, which has not been published, it is not to be found in archives, and surely there are moments, which you can never see in official documentaries of those days. " The Molodezhnaya station, which could accommodate 150 people at a time, began working in the Antarctic in 1962. "It is a coastal station, on the ocean coast. Back then, it was a town there, a very powerful and advanced station, it was even dubbed the capital of the Soviet Antarctic," the expert said. In 1999, work at the station was suspended, and since 2006 it is used only during summer seasons. Sounding rockets The part with penguins is followed by a fragment, showing how an M-100 meteorology rocket is launched. Such rockets could go as high as 100km, much higher than weather balloons. A rocket registered temperature, humidity, air pressure and other parameters. The rockets’ first part with equipment chuted down, and explorers had to search for it, hoping it does not fall into the sea. Later models transmitted data while in the air. In polar areas, specialists paid special attention to launching rockets during the Northern Lights season to collect data on the ionosphere. "The Soviet Union had a few stations: from almost the North Pole on the Heiss Island to the Antarctic. Plus a few inside the country, as well as in India, and on vessels at sea," the scientist said. "It was most important to launch rockets across the globe. Most probably the movie’s author worked to launch those rockets, as the movie shows a few launches." Between October 1957 and December 1990, specialists made more than 1,500 successful launches of M-100 rockets. The polar explorers used the long hangars with huge windows to assemble those rockets as greenhouses. "Look here, can you see growing cucumbers, tomatoes," he said showing the movie. Colored parts have suffered more than black-and-white passages, but still red tomatoes amid green leaves are seen quite clear. In the movie, the author shows a few times unloading of the service vessels, for example the Mikhail Somov, which now works in the Arctic. "That very Mikhail Somov, to which we are so used here in the Arctic, is by the ice pier, and here are jumping penguins," the historian said. The curious birds wandered across the station, following people wherever they go. Antarctic parade The movie also shows how people spent free time at the station. They used to play football and volleyball on the show, wearing unty (fur boots), warm overcoats and hats, they went fishing. The movie shows how some would tap dance, others sing to an accordion and guitars, or perform theatrical sketches.
Read also Arctic hangar: what was there beneath the ice


tass--2020-01-14--New YPO global survey on trust finds young business leaders view trust as critical

NEW YORK , Jan. 14 , 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- YPO , the global leadership community of more than 28,000 chief executives in 135 countries , conducted a member survey designed to provide the chief executive perspective on the importance of stakeholder trust , the extent to which they are taking action and succeeding at building cultures of trust within their organizations , and their views on the role of societal impact in building trust with stakeholders .
YPO 's 2020 Global Pulse Survey on Trust , conducted 1-18 November 2019 with 2,960 respondents , found it is a key matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but there are significant gaps between business leaders ' thoughts and actions .
Key findings include : • 96 percent of chief executives rate building and maintaining trust with stakeholders as a high priority , with close to half ( 42 percent ) saying that the importance of building trust with stakeholders has increased in the past five years .
• Only 40 percent of chief executives find it easy to build trust with employees , and they find it even more challenging to do so with their customers ( 36 percent ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders agree this is high priority issue in which they feel increasing urgency around , over 60 percent have yet to measure employee trust within their business and only a third ( 34 percent ) have defined specific plans within their business for building/maintaining employee trust .
• Most chief executives understand the weight of their role , with 89 percent agreeing that they as business leaders are under pressure to embody their organizations ' values through their actions .
• 77 percent of business leaders agree that they are under pressure to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than waiting on government to impose it .
• Most business leaders ( 71 percent ) agree that their business can have a positive societal impact ; fewer business leaders agree that taking action on societal issues improves employee ( 56 percent ) or public trust ( 57 percent ) .
The 2020 Global Pulse Survey on Trust was conducted by YPO from 1-18 November 2019 via an online questionnaire .
A total of 2,960 YPO members responded to the survey .
The sample included members in 115 countries .
The margin of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level .
YPO is the global leadership community of more than 28,000 chief executives in 135 countries who are driven by the belief that the world needs better leaders .
Each of our members have achieved significant leadership success at a young age .
Combined , they lead businesses and organizations contributing USD 9 trillion in annual revenue .
YPO members inspire and support each other through peer learning and exceptional experiences in an inclusive community of open sharing and trust .
For more information , @ @ @

NEW YORK, Jan. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- YPO, the global leadership community of more than 28,000 chief executives in 135 countries, conducted a member survey designed to provide the chief executive perspective on the importance of stakeholder trust, the extent to which they are taking action and succeeding at building cultures of trust within their organizations, and their views on the role of societal impact in building trust with stakeholders.
YPO's 2020 Global Pulse Survey on Trust, conducted 1-18 November 2019 with 2,960 respondents, found it is a key matter for business leaders around the world, but there are significant gaps between business leaders' thoughts and actions. Key findings include:
96 percent of chief executives rate building and maintaining trust with stakeholders as a high priority, with close to half (42 percent) saying that the importance of building trust with stakeholders has increased in the past five years.
Only 40 percent of chief executives find it easy to build trust with employees, and they find it even more challenging to do so with their customers (36 percent).
Even though most global business leaders agree this is high priority issue in which they feel increasing urgency around, over 60 percent have yet to measure employee trust within their business and only a third (34 percent) have defined specific plans within their business for building/maintaining employee trust.
Most chief executives understand the weight of their role, with 89 percent agreeing that they as business leaders are under pressure to embody their organizations' values through their actions.
77 percent of business leaders agree that they are under pressure to take the lead on change, rather than waiting on government to impose it.
Most business leaders (71 percent) agree that their business can have a positive societal impact; fewer business leaders agree that taking action on societal issues improves employee (56 percent) or public trust (57 percent).
YPO's 2020 Global Pulse Survey on Trust Methodology:
The 2020 Global Pulse Survey on Trust was conducted by YPO from 1-18 November 2019 via an online questionnaire. A total of 2,960 YPO members responded to the survey. The sample included members in 115 countries. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 1.84 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.
About YPO:
YPO is the global leadership community of more than 28,000 chief executives in 135 countries who are driven by the belief that the world needs better leaders. Each of our members have achieved significant leadership success at a young age. Combined, they lead businesses and organizations contributing USD 9 trillion in annual revenue. YPO members inspire and support each other through peer learning and exceptional experiences in an inclusive community of open sharing and trust. For more information, visit ypo.org.
CONTACT: Amy Zelvin Reid, areid@ypo.org, 646-678-0575; Angela Mers, amers@ypo.org, 415-298-8534


tass--2020-01-14--Spain's Mondragon University Embraces Education of the Future with Huawei Wi-Fi 6

MODRAGON , Spain , Jan. 14 , 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently , Huawei and WBA announced that a series of Wi-Fi 6 verification tests will be carried out at Mondragon University to explore the different use cases in higher education and lay a solid foundation for immersive education .
Established in 1997 , Mondragon University is a non-profit cooperative private university in Spain 's Basque region , ranked the eight best university in the country according to CYD Ranking ( which ranks all of Spain 's universities ) .
The university is part of the Mondragon Corporation , the tenth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turnover and the top business group in the Basque Country , with operations in five continents .
Mondragon University provides a unique education and innovation model designed to meet the educational and social needs of a new era , offering comprehensive education , and knowledge generation and transfer to help accelerate greater social transformation .
Adopting a truly student-centric model that redefines how students and teachers interact , teachers become coaches and more like peers , breaking the traditional model .
Students learn by honing leadership , teamwork , communication , problem solving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skills , rather than just learning limited academic skills .
Today , traditional classrooms are being disrupted by new teaching methods .
Indeed , a variety of immersive teaching methods — such as online live streaming , remote education , and Virtual Reality ( VR ) — are becoming increasingly common , transforming classroom dynamics .
Adapting to such change is integral to Mondragon University 's philosophy and establishing reliable , stable Wi-Fi access to a variety of applications — anytime , anywhere — is one of the university 's top priorities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenges to overcome before that could happen , including serious network roaming issues in teaching areas , frequent and unrecoverable disconnections in classrooms and corridors , uneven signal coverage in residential areas , and unstable network access speeds .
All diminished the user experience .
With students and teachers plagued by poor network access , the university decided to directly address these pain points and looked to upgrade the wireless network .
After learning about specific network objectives and existing problems from the university 's IT team , Huawei cooperated with local partners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the aim of delivering a seamless Wi-Fi experience for students and teachers — a process that took just one and a half days .
Featuring smart antennas , Huawei AP5760-10s were deployed in corridors where wireless signals move with users , providing intelligent gain signals for irregular coverage areas .
Meanwhile , AP7060DNs — Access Points ( APs ) that are adept at handling a high number of concurrent users — were deployed in classrooms .
For dormitories , an agile distributed Wi-Fi solution was deployed : one Resource Unit ( RU ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wireless signals to every corner , allowing students to enjoy a high-quality network experience .
The test period lasted for one month , generating a significant amount of data for the university 's IT team .
Indeed , during the test , they were able to witness first-hand the superior performance of Huawei APs , especially when there were a large number of users at the same time .
A survey was also conducted to further verify Huawei 's Wi-Fi 6 performance and almost all teachers rated the new network experience highly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meraki network .
According to the feedback , there were no longer roaming disconnections and network access speeds were fast and stable .
Mondragon University 's unique education model delivers high-quality education to students ' fingertips , promoting real-world career skills and values .
Plus , given that the university is a part of the Mondragon Group — a conglomerate with 257 companies — it can offer students tangible , first-hand experience of a working environment , and many students even get the chance to directly participate in an enterprise project .
Back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of applications embrace multimedia teaching and online communication and interaction .
In this environment , then , a traditional network really is a bottleneck for education innovation .
Huawei AirEngine Wi-Fi 6 is specifically designed to meet the burgeoning data requirements of the intelligent era and is capable of handling the high-density and increasingly diversified teaching application requirements of a 21st century university .
Digital talent cultivation is therefore no longer constrained by a poorly performing network , with low bandwidth and high latency , and students are able to enjoy a diversified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boundaries Further with Wi-Fi 6 Testing At the recent Wireless Global Congress — hosted by the Wireless Broadband Alliance ( WBA ) — Huawei and WBA announced that they would jointly launch an innovation pilot program in colleges and universities to test Wi-Fi 6-based applications .
Initially , a series of Wi-Fi 6 verification tests will be carried out at Mondragon University to explore the different use cases in higher education and lay a solid foundation for immersive education .
Huawei 's AirEngine Wi-Fi 6 has been widely deployed around the world .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Wi-Fi 6 industry , and will continue to work closely with partners to provide ubiquitous connectivity and pervasive intelligence for colleges , universities , government organizations , and enterprises — helping customers realize the vast benefits of digital transformation .
For more information , please visit https : //e.huawei.com/en/case-studies/leading-new-ict/2020/mondragon-university-wifi6

MODRAGON, Spain, Jan. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Huawei and WBA announced that a series of Wi-Fi 6 verification tests will be carried out at Mondragon University to explore the different use cases in higher education and lay a solid foundation for immersive education.
Established in 1997, Mondragon University is a non-profit cooperative private university in Spain's Basque region, ranked the eight best university in the country according to CYD Ranking (which ranks all of Spain's universities). The university is part of the Mondragon Corporation, the tenth largest Spanish company in terms of asset turnover and the top business group in the Basque Country, with operations in five continents.
Mondragon University provides a unique education and innovation model designed to meet the educational and social needs of a new era, offering comprehensive education, and knowledge generation and transfer to help accelerate greater social transformation. Adopting a truly student-centric model that redefines how students and teachers interact, teachers become coaches and more like peers, breaking the traditional model.
Students learn by honing leadership, teamwork, communication, problem solving, decision-making, and other practical real-world skills, rather than just learning limited academic skills.
Traditional Networks Constrain Emerging Teaching Methods
Today, traditional classrooms are being disrupted by new teaching methods. Indeed, a variety of immersive teaching methods — such as online live streaming, remote education, and Virtual Reality (VR) — are becoming increasingly common, transforming classroom dynamics.
Adapting to such change is integral to Mondragon University's philosophy and establishing reliable, stable Wi-Fi access to a variety of applications — anytime, anywhere — is one of the university's top priorities. However, there were a number of challenges to overcome before that could happen, including serious network roaming issues in teaching areas, frequent and unrecoverable disconnections in classrooms and corridors, uneven signal coverage in residential areas, and unstable network access speeds. All diminished the user experience.
With students and teachers plagued by poor network access, the university decided to directly address these pain points and looked to upgrade the wireless network.
Verified by PoC Tests, Huawei Wi-Fi 6 Delivers Exceptional User Experience
After learning about specific network objectives and existing problems from the university's IT team, Huawei cooperated with local partners to set up a test environment with the aim of delivering a seamless Wi-Fi experience for students and teachers — a process that took just one and a half days.
Featuring smart antennas, Huawei AP5760-10s were deployed in corridors where wireless signals move with users, providing intelligent gain signals for irregular coverage areas. Meanwhile, AP7060DNs — Access Points (APs) that are adept at handling a high number of concurrent users — were deployed in classrooms. For dormitories, an agile distributed Wi-Fi solution was deployed: one Resource Unit (RU) was deployed in each dormitory to extend wireless signals to every corner, allowing students to enjoy a high-quality network experience.
The test period lasted for one month, generating a significant amount of data for the university's IT team. Indeed, during the test, they were able to witness first-hand the superior performance of Huawei APs, especially when there were a large number of users at the same time. A survey was also conducted to further verify Huawei's Wi-Fi 6 performance and almost all teachers rated the new network experience highly, proving an obvious improvement over the original Meraki network. According to the feedback, there were no longer roaming disconnections and network access speeds were fast and stable.
Student-Centric Education — New Ways to Cultivate Talent
Mondragon University's unique education model delivers high-quality education to students' fingertips, promoting real-world career skills and values. Plus, given that the university is a part of the Mondragon Group — a conglomerate with 257 companies — it can offer students tangible, first-hand experience of a working environment, and many students even get the chance to directly participate in an enterprise project. Back in the classroom, a wide variety of applications embrace multimedia teaching and online communication and interaction. In this environment, then, a traditional network really is a bottleneck for education innovation.
Huawei AirEngine Wi-Fi 6 is specifically designed to meet the burgeoning data requirements of the intelligent era and is capable of handling the high-density and increasingly diversified teaching application requirements of a 21st century university. Digital talent cultivation is therefore no longer constrained by a poorly performing network, with low bandwidth and high latency, and students are able to enjoy a diversified and personalized learning experience.
Pushing the Boundaries Further with Wi-Fi 6 Testing
At the recent Wireless Global Congress — hosted by the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) — Huawei and WBA announced that they would jointly launch an innovation pilot program in colleges and universities to test Wi-Fi 6-based applications. Initially, a series of Wi-Fi 6 verification tests will be carried out at Mondragon University to explore the different use cases in higher education and lay a solid foundation for immersive education.
Huawei's AirEngine Wi-Fi 6 has been widely deployed around the world. Huawei remains committed to promoting the development of the Wi-Fi 6 industry, and will continue to work closely with partners to provide ubiquitous connectivity and pervasive intelligence for colleges, universities, government organizations, and enterprises — helping customers realize the vast benefits of digital transformation.
For more information, please visit https://e.huawei.com/en/case-studies/leading-new-ict/2020/mondragon-university-wifi6
CONTACT: Qiwei Li, +86-180-2533-9127, liqiwei2@huawei.com


tass--2020-01-14--Haftar says ceasefire agreement ignores Libyan army's demands

MOSCOW , January 14 .
/TASS/ .
Libyan National Army ( LNA ) Commander Khalifa Haftar , who left Moscow early on Tuesday without signing a ceasefire deal with the the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord ( GNA ) led by Fayez al-Sarraj , said the proposed document ignored some of LNA ’ s demands .
Sky News Arabia earlier reported that during the indirect talks in Moscow , Haftar insisted on allowing his troops to enter Tripoli and on forming a national unity government that would receive a vote of confidence from the Tobruk-based parliament .
The field marshal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without Turkey ’ s participation and demanded immediate withdrawal of mercenaries `` who arrived from Syria and Turkey . ''
At the same time , Sarraj wanted Haftar ’ s forces to retreat to positions they had occupied before April 4 , 2019 , when LNA announced it was advancing towards the country ’ s capital city .
He also insisted on retaining the post of the supreme commander-in-chief of the Libyan armed forces .
According to the channel ’ s sources , those demands became the main bone of contention for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A ceasefire took effect in Libya at midnight on January 12 within the framework of a joint initiative proposed by the Russian and Turkish presidents .
Delegations of the sides arrived in Moscow on January 13 for talks , after which Sarraj and Chairman of the High Council of State Khaled al-Mishri signed a draft document on the settlement in the country , while Haftar took a pause until Tuesday morning .

MOSCOW, January 14. /TASS/. Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander Khalifa Haftar, who left Moscow early on Tuesday without signing a ceasefire deal with the the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) led by Fayez al-Sarraj, said the proposed document ignored some of LNA’s demands.
Sky News Arabia earlier reported that during the indirect talks in Moscow, Haftar insisted on allowing his troops to enter Tripoli and on forming a national unity government that would receive a vote of confidence from the Tobruk-based parliament. The field marshal also called for international monitoring of ceasefire without Turkey’s participation and demanded immediate withdrawal of mercenaries "who arrived from Syria and Turkey."
At the same time, Sarraj wanted Haftar’s forces to retreat to positions they had occupied before April 4, 2019, when LNA announced it was advancing towards the country’s capital city. He also insisted on retaining the post of the supreme commander-in-chief of the Libyan armed forces. According to the channel’s sources, those demands became the main bone of contention for the sides during their talks in Moscow.
A ceasefire took effect in Libya at midnight on January 12 within the framework of a joint initiative proposed by the Russian and Turkish presidents. Delegations of the sides arrived in Moscow on January 13 for talks, after which Sarraj and Chairman of the High Council of State Khaled al-Mishri signed a draft document on the settlement in the country, while Haftar took a pause until Tuesday morning.


tass--2020-01-14--Iran slams UK ambassador’s attendance of Tehran rally

`` The Iranian Foreign Ministry views the attendance of a rally [ in Tehran ] by the UK Ambassador as an overt interference into the domestic affairs of the country , which runs counter to diplomatic principles , '' the statement reads .
`` The ministry calls upon the UK Embassy to immediately stop any interference into internal affairs and [ acts of ] incitement . ''
TEHRAN , January 14 .
/TASS/ .
Iran views the attendance of a protest rally by UK Ambassador to Tehran Rob Macaire as interference into the country ’ s domestic affairs , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement on Monday .
`` If such actions continue , the consequences will go beyond the summoning of the ambassador , '' the ministry said .
The Tasnim news agency reported on January 11 that Macaire was detained by Iranian law enforcement officers for participating in a protest and trying to steer a crowd that gathered outside the Amirkabir University of Technology .
The diplomat was released several hours later .
On January 12 , the UK diplomat was summoned to the Iranian Foreign Ministry .
The diplomat denied taking part in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pay tribute to victims of the Boeing 737 plane crash near Tehran and left the rally five minutes later .

"The Iranian Foreign Ministry views the attendance of a rally [in Tehran] by the UK Ambassador as an overt interference into the domestic affairs of the country, which runs counter to diplomatic principles," the statement reads. "The ministry calls upon the UK Embassy to immediately stop any interference into internal affairs and [acts of] incitement."
TEHRAN, January 14. /TASS/. Iran views the attendance of a protest rally by UK Ambassador to Tehran Rob Macaire as interference into the country’s domestic affairs, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in an official statement on Monday.
"If such actions continue, the consequences will go beyond the summoning of the ambassador," the ministry said.
The Tasnim news agency reported on January 11 that Macaire was detained by Iranian law enforcement officers for participating in a protest and trying to steer a crowd that gathered outside the Amirkabir University of Technology. The diplomat was released several hours later. On January 12, the UK diplomat was summoned to the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
The diplomat denied taking part in the protest, saying that he only planned to pay tribute to victims of the Boeing 737 plane crash near Tehran and left the rally five minutes later.


tass--2020-01-14--Russia’s first helicopter carriers to be laid in early May — source

MOSCOW , January 14 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s first two amphibious assault ships will be laid at the Zaliv shipyard in Crimea in early May , a defense industry source told TASS on Monday .
`` In line with the plan , the helicopter carriers are to be laid in early May , [ the ceremony is ] to coincide with celebrations of the 75th anniversary of victory [ over the Nazi Germany ] , '' the source said .
In his words , the ceremony is supposed to take place on VE Day ( May 9 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Russian Foreign Ministry , but the exact date is yet to be announced .
The Russian Defense Ministry and the Zaliv shipyard are to sign a contract on the construction of the warships in February .
TASS has been unable to officially confirm the information at the time of the publication .
According to an earlier report by TASS , the ships will be named Sevastopol and Vladivostok , after cities in Crimea and Russia ’ s Far East , respectively .
The ships , with water displacement of some 25,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meters , will be capable of carrying over 20 heavy helicopters .
They will also have a dock for landing boats and will carry up to two reinforced marine battalions with a total strength of 900 men .
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko said in an interview with the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper in late December 2019 that the contract for those ships is to be signed in 2020 .

MOSCOW, January 14. /TASS/. Russia’s first two amphibious assault ships will be laid at the Zaliv shipyard in Crimea in early May, a defense industry source told TASS on Monday.
"In line with the plan, the helicopter carriers are to be laid in early May, [the ceremony is] to coincide with celebrations of the 75th anniversary of victory [over the Nazi Germany]," the source said.
In his words, the ceremony is supposed to take place on VE Day (May 9), with the participation of top officials from the Russian Foreign Ministry, but the exact date is yet to be announced.
The Russian Defense Ministry and the Zaliv shipyard are to sign a contract on the construction of the warships in February.
TASS has been unable to officially confirm the information at the time of the publication.
According to an earlier report by TASS, the ships will be named Sevastopol and Vladivostok, after cities in Crimea and Russia’s Far East, respectively. The ships, with water displacement of some 25,000 tonnes and maximum length of about 220 meters, will be capable of carrying over 20 heavy helicopters. They will also have a dock for landing boats and will carry up to two reinforced marine battalions with a total strength of 900 men.
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko said in an interview with the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper in late December 2019 that the contract for those ships is to be signed in 2020.


tass--2020-01-14--Iraqi government to have final say on US military presence — Pompeo

WASHINGTON , January 14 .
/TASS/ .
The final decision on US military presence in Iraq will be made by the country ’ s government , US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said on Monday in a speech at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University .
`` Ultimately , our force posture will be resolved inside of Iraq , we will work along the duly elected leaders in Iraq to get to the right place , but I ’ ve probably had 50 phone calls with various Iraqis over just these past 10 days - Sunni leaders , Kurdish leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Shia community as well .
They won ’ t all say so publicly , but privately , they all welcome the fact that America is still there executing its counterterror campaign , '' he said .
The US Secretary of State said he fully supported efforts of US President Donald Trump to reduce the US military presence in the region , but the `` risk is not behind us . ''
Commenting on the US drone strike , in which Iranian General Qassem Soleimani , the head of Iran 's Islamic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed , Pompeo said : `` I ’ ve also seen the mantra repeated that says that the strike that we took would unite the Iranian people around the flagpole . ''
`` I think the Iranian people ’ s hearts beat for freedom , '' the US top diplomat added .
Tensions in the Middle East escalated following a US drone strike near Baghdad 's airport on January 3 , which killed Soleimani .
Iran targeted Iraq ’ s Ain Al-Asad air base and a facility in Erbil , which house US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack .
The US has been attacking Shiite groups in Iraq since December 29 , attracting a wave of criticism from Iraqi authorities and raising questions on whether actions of the coalition led by Washington are legitimate .
On January 5 , the Iraqi parliament passed a resolution demanding that all foreign troops be withdrawn from the country .
Trump refused to do so threatening Baghdad with `` unprecedented sanctions .
`` .

WASHINGTON, January 14. /TASS/. The final decision on US military presence in Iraq will be made by the country’s government, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said on Monday in a speech at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
"Ultimately, our force posture will be resolved inside of Iraq, we will work along the duly elected leaders in Iraq to get to the right place, but I’ve probably had 50 phone calls with various Iraqis over just these past 10 days - Sunni leaders, Kurdish leaders, Shia leaders from a broad spectrum of the Shia community as well. They won’t all say so publicly, but privately, they all welcome the fact that America is still there executing its counterterror campaign," he said.
The US Secretary of State said he fully supported efforts of US President Donald Trump to reduce the US military presence in the region, but the "risk is not behind us."
Commenting on the US drone strike, in which Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force was killed, Pompeo said: "I’ve also seen the mantra repeated that says that the strike that we took would unite the Iranian people around the flagpole." "I think the Iranian people’s hearts beat for freedom," the US top diplomat added.
Tensions in the Middle East escalated following a US drone strike near Baghdad's airport on January 3, which killed Soleimani. Iran targeted Iraq’s Ain Al-Asad air base and a facility in Erbil, which house US troops, in retaliation for the drone attack.
The US has been attacking Shiite groups in Iraq since December 29, attracting a wave of criticism from Iraqi authorities and raising questions on whether actions of the coalition led by Washington are legitimate. On January 5, the Iraqi parliament passed a resolution demanding that all foreign troops be withdrawn from the country. Trump refused to do so threatening Baghdad with "unprecedented sanctions.".


tass--2020-01-14--US sanctions to continue until Iran gives up nuclear ambitions — Pompeo

WASHINGTON , January 14 .
/TASS/ .
The United States will continue its policy of sanctions against Iran as long as Tehran goes ahead with its nuclear ambitions , US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said on Monday .
`` Our sanctions will continue until the regime stops its terrorist activity and commits to never having nuclear weapons and permits a verification regime which can give the world confidence that that will not take place , '' he said in a speech at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University .
`` We have re-established deterrence , but we know it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains .
We are determined not to lose that deterrence , '' Pompeo added .
The future of the Iranian nuclear deal , known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action ( JCPOA ) , was called in question after the United States ’ unilateral withdrawal on May 8 , 2018 and Washington ’ s unilateral oil export sanctions against Tehran .
Iran argues that all other participants , Europeans in the first place , ignore some of their own obligations in the economic sphere , thus making the deal in its current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran began suspending some of its commitments related to uranium enrichment and research activities .

WASHINGTON, January 14. /TASS/. The United States will continue its policy of sanctions against Iran as long as Tehran goes ahead with its nuclear ambitions, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said on Monday.
"Our sanctions will continue until the regime stops its terrorist activity and commits to never having nuclear weapons and permits a verification regime which can give the world confidence that that will not take place," he said in a speech at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
"We have re-established deterrence, but we know it’s not everlasting, that risk remains. We are determined not to lose that deterrence," Pompeo added.
The future of the Iranian nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was called in question after the United States’ unilateral withdrawal on May 8, 2018 and Washington’s unilateral oil export sanctions against Tehran. Iran argues that all other participants, Europeans in the first place, ignore some of their own obligations in the economic sphere, thus making the deal in its current shape senseless. In this connection, Iran began suspending some of its commitments related to uranium enrichment and research activities.


tass--2020-01-14--Iran’s defense minister says strike on US base was ‘necessary action’

MOSCOW , January 14 .
/TASS/ .
Iran ’ s airstrike on the Ain Al-Asad US air base in Iraq was a ‘ necessary action , ’ Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami was quoted as saying by the country ’ s IRNA news agency on Monday .
`` [ US President Donald ] Trump was mistaken , arrogantly believing that killing one person would stop resistance .
As a result , the United States increased the cost of their presence in the region , '' Amir Hatami said during a meeting with his Syrian counterpart Ali Abdullah Ayyoub .
Hatami @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing of General Qassem Soleimani , the head of Iran 's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ' Quds Force .
`` The resistance will continue even after Soleimani , '' the Iranian minister said , adding that `` without Soleimani ’ s efforts , the hegemony of the Islamic State terrorist organization [ outlawed in Russia ] in the region would have been imminent . ''
`` The strike at the US Ain Al-Asad air base in Iraq , carried out by Iran , was a necessary action .
Resistance to US forces in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Hatami said .
He vowed that `` Iran would stand by Syria during the period when the country is being rebuilt . ''
Tensions in the Middle East escalated following a US drone strike near Baghdad 's airport on January 3 , which killed Soleimani .
Iran targeted Iraq ’ s Ain Al-Asad air base and a facility in Erbil , which house US troops , in retaliation for the drone attack .

MOSCOW, January 14. /TASS/. Iran’s airstrike on the Ain Al-Asad US air base in Iraq was a ‘necessary action,’ Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami was quoted as saying by the country’s IRNA news agency on Monday.
"[US President Donald] Trump was mistaken, arrogantly believing that killing one person would stop resistance. As a result, the United States increased the cost of their presence in the region," Amir Hatami said during a meeting with his Syrian counterpart Ali Abdullah Ayyoub.
Hatami was speaking about the consequences of the killing of General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force.
"The resistance will continue even after Soleimani," the Iranian minister said, adding that "without Soleimani’s efforts, the hegemony of the Islamic State terrorist organization [outlawed in Russia] in the region would have been imminent."
"The strike at the US Ain Al-Asad air base in Iraq, carried out by Iran, was a necessary action. Resistance to US forces in the region should become a continuous process," Hatami said.
He vowed that "Iran would stand by Syria during the period when the country is being rebuilt."
Tensions in the Middle East escalated following a US drone strike near Baghdad's airport on January 3, which killed Soleimani. Iran targeted Iraq’s Ain Al-Asad air base and a facility in Erbil, which house US troops, in retaliation for the drone attack.


tass--2020-01-14--UN Security Council to discuss OPCW report on Douma incident — Russian mission

UNITED NATIONS , January 14 .
/TASS/ .
Russia has put forward an initiative to discuss a report by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons about the April 2018 incident in Syria ’ s Douma , a spokesman for the Russian Permanent Mission to the United Nations said on Monday .
`` Russia has put forward an initiative to convoke an Arria-Formula meeting of the UN Security Council members to discuss the situation surrounding the OPCW report on the April 7 , 2018 incident in the city of Douma ( Syrian Arab Republic ) , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the investigation into this incident by the OPCW fact-finding mission .
The session is scheduled for the afternoon of January 20 , '' Fyodor Strzhizhovsky said .
A number of non-governmental organizations , including the White Helmets , alleged that chemical weapons were used in Douma , Eastern Ghouta , on April 7 , 2018 .
According to a statement on the organization ’ s website , chlorine bombs had been dropped on the city , which caused dozens of fatalities .
Many other civilians were rumored to have been taken to hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria investigated Douma but did not find any traces of chemical weapons .
On April 14 , 2018 , the US , the UK and France delivered massive missile strikes at targets in Syria without the UN Security Council ’ s mandate .
The scientific and research center in Damascus , the Syrian Republican Guard headquarters , an air defense base , a few military airfields and army warehouses came under attack .
According to the Russian Defense Ministry information , Syria managed to shoot down 71 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launched on April 14 to hit targets in Syria .
Washington , London and Paris claimed the strikes had come as a response to an alleged use of chemical weapons in Douma .
The OPCW Fact-Finding Mission ( FFM ) issued a 100-page final report on March 1 , concluding that chlorine was used during the attack in Syria ’ s Douma on April 7 , 2018 .
The report was submitted to the United Nations Security Council through the UN secretary general and specifically states that the cylinders containing chemicals that were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , a new report signed by OPCW expert Ian Henderson emerged on the Internet in May , stating that both cylinders were likely to be placed at the incident site rather than airdropped .
These conclusions support Russia and Syria ’ s version that the incident was staged , however , they were not included in the final report of the organization .

UNITED NATIONS, January 14. /TASS/. Russia has put forward an initiative to discuss a report by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons about the April 2018 incident in Syria’s Douma, a spokesman for the Russian Permanent Mission to the United Nations said on Monday.
"Russia has put forward an initiative to convoke an Arria-Formula meeting of the UN Security Council members to discuss the situation surrounding the OPCW report on the April 7, 2018 incident in the city of Douma (Syrian Arab Republic)," he said. "The meeting will focus on the investigation into this incident by the OPCW fact-finding mission. The session is scheduled for the afternoon of January 20," Fyodor Strzhizhovsky said.
Douma chemical incident
A number of non-governmental organizations, including the White Helmets, alleged that chemical weapons were used in Douma, Eastern Ghouta, on April 7, 2018. According to a statement on the organization’s website, chlorine bombs had been dropped on the city, which caused dozens of fatalities. Many other civilians were rumored to have been taken to hospital. Representatives of the Russian Centre for the Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria investigated Douma but did not find any traces of chemical weapons.
On April 14, 2018, the US, the UK and France delivered massive missile strikes at targets in Syria without the UN Security Council’s mandate. The scientific and research center in Damascus, the Syrian Republican Guard headquarters, an air defense base, a few military airfields and army warehouses came under attack. According to the Russian Defense Ministry information, Syria managed to shoot down 71 cruise missiles out of 103 that were launched on April 14 to hit targets in Syria. Washington, London and Paris claimed the strikes had come as a response to an alleged use of chemical weapons in Douma.
The OPCW Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) issued a 100-page final report on March 1, concluding that chlorine was used during the attack in Syria’s Douma on April 7, 2018. The report was submitted to the United Nations Security Council through the UN secretary general and specifically states that the cylinders containing chemicals that were found at the incident site were airdropped.
However, a new report signed by OPCW expert Ian Henderson emerged on the Internet in May, stating that both cylinders were likely to be placed at the incident site rather than airdropped. These conclusions support Russia and Syria’s version that the incident was staged, however, they were not included in the final report of the organization.


tass--2020-01-14--Fighting resumes in Tripoli as Haftar leaves Moscow without signing ceasefire deal — TV

CAIRO , January 14 .
/TASS/ .
Armed clashes resumed early on Tuesday in the south of the Libyan capital Tripoli as commander of the Libyan National Army ( LNA ) Khalifa Haftar left Moscow without signing a ceasefire agreement , the Al Arabiya TV channel reported .
Meanwhile , the Al-Wasat news portal said , citing eyewitnesses , that artillery fire is heard in Tripoli ’ s southern neighborhoods of Salah Al-Deen and Ain Zara .
According to local media reports , Haftar and President of the Tobruk-based House of Representatives Aguila Saleh Issa have left Moscow without signing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of National Accord ( GNA ) led by Fayez al-Sarraj .
`` The speaker of the House of Representatives and the commander-in-chief of the Libyan Arab armed forces left the Russian capital of Moscow and departed for Libya , without signing any agreements with the head of the unconstitutional Government of National Accord , Fayez al-Sarraj , regarding ceasefire or troop pullback from areas controlled by the army in the country ’ s capital Tripoli , '' the Libyan News Agency ( LANA ) , active in the east of the country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resumed in the south of Tripoli .
In a statement , cited by the Al Hadath TV channel , the Libyan army has declared its `` readiness and determination to win . ''
A ceasefire took effect in Libya at midnight on January 12 within the framework of a joint initiative proposed by the Russian and Turkish presidents .
Delegations of the sides arrived in Moscow on January 13 for talks , after which Chairman of Libya ’ s Government of National Accord Mr. Sarraj and Chairman of the High Council of State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the settlement in the country , while Haftar has taken a pause until Tuesday morning .
Sky News Arabia earlier reported that during the indirect talks in Moscow , Haftar insisted on allowing his troops to enter Tripoli and on forming a national unity government that would receive a vote of confidence from the Tobruk-based parliament .
The field marshal also called for international monitoring of ceasefire without Turkey ’ s participation and demanded immediate withdrawal of mercenaries `` who arrived from Syria and Turkey . ''
At the same time , Sarraj @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to positions they had occupied before April 4 , 2019 , when LNA announced it was advancing towards the country ’ s capital city .
He also insisted on retaining the post of the supreme commander-in-chief of the Libyan armed forces .
According to the channel ’ s sources , those demands became the main bone of contention for the sides during their talks in Moscow .
Commenting on the Moscow talks , Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said al-Sarraj and al-Mishri had signed a draft document on the settlement in the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this document in a positive light and asked for extra time until next morning to decide on signing . ''
However , according to Abdulhamid al-Safi , a media adviser to the Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives affiliated with LNA , no accord has so far been reached in Moscow , except for agreements on humanitarian aid .
In his opinion , talks on other issues are also planned , but may not take place .
Currently , Libya has two parallel bodies of executive power : the internationally recognized GNA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operating in the country ’ s east together with parliament and supported by Haftar ’ s Libyan National Army .
After a standoff near Tripoli since April 4 , Haftar on December 12 declared the beginning of a decisive offensive to seize the capital .

CAIRO, January 14. /TASS/. Armed clashes resumed early on Tuesday in the south of the Libyan capital Tripoli as commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalifa Haftar left Moscow without signing a ceasefire agreement, the Al Arabiya TV channel reported.
Meanwhile, the Al-Wasat news portal said, citing eyewitnesses, that artillery fire is heard in Tripoli’s southern neighborhoods of Salah Al-Deen and Ain Zara.
According to local media reports, Haftar and President of the Tobruk-based House of Representatives Aguila Saleh Issa have left Moscow without signing a ceasefire deal with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) led by Fayez al-Sarraj.
"The speaker of the House of Representatives and the commander-in-chief of the Libyan Arab armed forces left the Russian capital of Moscow and departed for Libya, without signing any agreements with the head of the unconstitutional Government of National Accord, Fayez al-Sarraj, regarding ceasefire or troop pullback from areas controlled by the army in the country’s capital Tripoli," the Libyan News Agency (LANA), active in the east of the country, said.
The news came as hostilities resumed in the south of Tripoli. In a statement, cited by the Al Hadath TV channel, the Libyan army has declared its "readiness and determination to win."
A ceasefire took effect in Libya at midnight on January 12 within the framework of a joint initiative proposed by the Russian and Turkish presidents. Delegations of the sides arrived in Moscow on January 13 for talks, after which Chairman of Libya’s Government of National Accord Mr. Sarraj and Chairman of the High Council of State Khaled al-Mishri signed a draft document on the settlement in the country, while Haftar has taken a pause until Tuesday morning.
Moscow meeting
Sky News Arabia earlier reported that during the indirect talks in Moscow, Haftar insisted on allowing his troops to enter Tripoli and on forming a national unity government that would receive a vote of confidence from the Tobruk-based parliament. The field marshal also called for international monitoring of ceasefire without Turkey’s participation and demanded immediate withdrawal of mercenaries "who arrived from Syria and Turkey."
At the same time, Sarraj wanted Haftar’s forces to retreat to positions they had occupied before April 4, 2019, when LNA announced it was advancing towards the country’s capital city. He also insisted on retaining the post of the supreme commander-in-chief of the Libyan armed forces. According to the channel’s sources, those demands became the main bone of contention for the sides during their talks in Moscow.
Commenting on the Moscow talks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said al-Sarraj and al-Mishri had signed a draft document on the settlement in the country, while Haftar and Issa "view this document in a positive light and asked for extra time until next morning to decide on signing."
However, according to Abdulhamid al-Safi, a media adviser to the Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives affiliated with LNA, no accord has so far been reached in Moscow, except for agreements on humanitarian aid. In his opinion, talks on other issues are also planned, but may not take place.
Currently, Libya has two parallel bodies of executive power: the internationally recognized GNA and Abdullah al-Thani’s interim government operating in the country’s east together with parliament and supported by Haftar’s Libyan National Army. After a standoff near Tripoli since April 4, Haftar on December 12 declared the beginning of a decisive offensive to seize the capital.


tass--2020-01-14--UN calls for transparent investigation into fatal plane crash near Tehran

UNITED NATIONS , January 14 .
/TASS/ .
An investigation into a Ukrainian plane ’ s recent crash near the Iranian capital Tehran should be transparent and involve all affected nations , the UN Secretary-General ’ s official spokesman , Stephane Dujarric , told reporters on Monday .
`` We 've taken note of the announcement by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran that the Ukrainian Air charter was ‘ unintentionally ’ shot down by the Iranian armed forces , '' Dujarric said .
`` For our part , I think it 's very important that the authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what happened , into this tragic incident , and that the investigation - and this is very important - be done in accordance with annex 13 on the Convention on International Civil Aviation , with the involvement of the relevant countries impacted , '' he added .
The UN official said that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has so far not been approached by the Ukrainian Mission to play any role in the investigation .
On January 8 , Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 travelling from Tehran to Kiev crashed near the Iranian capital shortly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Airport .
All people onboard , 167 passengers and 9 crewmembers , were killed .
Most victims were Canadian and Iranian citizens .
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 .

UNITED NATIONS, January 14. /TASS/. An investigation into a Ukrainian plane’s recent crash near the Iranian capital Tehran should be transparent and involve all affected nations, the UN Secretary-General’s official spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, told reporters on Monday.
"We've taken note of the announcement by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran that the Ukrainian Air charter was ‘unintentionally’ shot down by the Iranian armed forces," Dujarric said.
"For our part, I think it's very important that the authorities ensure a thorough and transparent investigation into what happened, into this tragic incident, and that the investigation - and this is very important - be done in accordance with annex 13 on the Convention on International Civil Aviation, with the involvement of the relevant countries impacted," he added.
The UN official said that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has so far not been approached by the Ukrainian Mission to play any role in the investigation.
On January 8, Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 travelling from Tehran to Kiev crashed near the Iranian capital shortly after takeoff from the Imam Khomeini International Airport. All people onboard, 167 passengers and 9 crewmembers, were killed. Most victims were Canadian and Iranian citizens.
On January 11, Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff released a statement admitting the plane had been mistakenly shot down. According to Iranian Brigadier-General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, the plane was misidentified as a cruise missile by the air defense force.


tass--2020-01-14--Russia, India to sign first contract with third state for BrahMos cruise missile in spring

NEW DELHI , January 14 .
/TASS/ .
The first contract to supply Russian-Indian BrahMos cruise missiles to a third nation is planned to be signed in spring , said Praveen Pathak , the chief general manager for marketing and export of the Russian-Indian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace .
`` We expect [ signing the agreement ] sometime in April or May , '' he told reporters on Monday , without elaborating what country plans to acquire the Russian-Indian cruise missile .
According to Pathak , BrahMos Aerospace is currently discussing possible contracts with a number of other nations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia ’ s Research and Production Association of Machine-Building ( the town of Reutov near Moscow ) and India ’ s Defense Research and Development Organization ( DRDO ) .
The missile ’ s name comes from the names of two rivers : the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva of Russia .
The missile ’ s first launch took place on June 12 , 2001 from a coastal launcher .
The missile ’ s production has been arranged at enterprises in Russia and India .
Its various versions are operational in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The OneIndia news portal earlier wrote citing own anonymous sources that the planned agreement on BrahMos is expected to be signed with the Philippines .

NEW DELHI, January 14. /TASS/. The first contract to supply Russian-Indian BrahMos cruise missiles to a third nation is planned to be signed in spring, said Praveen Pathak, the chief general manager for marketing and export of the Russian-Indian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace.
"We expect [signing the agreement] sometime in April or May," he told reporters on Monday, without elaborating what country plans to acquire the Russian-Indian cruise missile.
According to Pathak, BrahMos Aerospace is currently discussing possible contracts with a number of other nations.
The BrahMos missile has been developed by Russia’s Research and Production Association of Machine-Building (the town of Reutov near Moscow) and India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
The missile’s name comes from the names of two rivers: the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva of Russia. The missile’s first launch took place on June 12, 2001 from a coastal launcher. The missile’s production has been arranged at enterprises in Russia and India. Its various versions are operational in the Indian Air Force, Army and Navy.
The OneIndia news portal earlier wrote citing own anonymous sources that the planned agreement on BrahMos is expected to be signed with the Philippines.


tass--2020-01-14--Russia hails Sri Lanka’s plans to become major trade, financial center in Asia — Lavrov

MOSCOW , January 13 .
/TASS/ .
Russia welcomes Sri Lanka ’ s plans to develop into a major trade and financial center in Asia as it would be beneficial for both that country and the entire region , Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Sri Lanka ’ s The Daily News newspaper .
`` It is known that Sri Lanka is located at the crossing of transit routes through the Indian Ocean , '' he noted .
`` In this context , its significance can hardly be overemphasized .
We welcome the plans of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to transform the island into a major commercial and financial center of Asia with focus on developing transport infrastructure , modernizing the agricultural sector and attracting high-tech investments . ''
`` We believe that the execution of these plans would benefit both Sri Lanka and its foreign partners in the region and beyond , '' he stressed .
Relations between Russia and Sri Lanka have always been intrinsically valuable and have never depended on international developments , Lavrov said .
`` The relations between our states have always been intrinsically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They have always been and continue to be based on the principles of equality , trust , mutual respect and consideration of one another 's interests , '' he said .
According to the Russian top diplomat , nuances of this or that period in history `` are of marginal significance , since they do not affect the inviolability of the bonds of friendship uniting our peoples . ''
`` The only thing to have undergone major changes over the past 25-30 years is probably the model of our trade and economic cooperation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public sector to the private sector , primarily due to the market transformations in the national economy , '' he noted .
Russia wants to offer its aircraft industry products and other goods to Sri Lanka , Lavrov said .
`` Russia is willing to offer Sri Lanka the products of its domestic industries , particularly the air-craft industry .
Collaboration in the energy sector , as well as cooperation in agriculture and in the introduction of advanced information and communication technologies look quite promising .
Tourism remains another important area of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become a popular tourist destination among Russians , '' he said .
`` I expect these and other issues related to practical interaction to be substantively discussed during my visit to your country , '' Lavrov added .
In the foreign minister ’ s words , the Sri Lankan-Russian trade turnover has been floating around $ 400 million , which `` clearly does not reflect the existing potential . ''
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Russian President Vladimir Putin set a target of increasing the turnover to $ 700 million during their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` In this respect , the Sri Lankan-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission on trade , economic , scientific and technical cooperation is instrumental .
It is its prerogative to elaborate concrete measures , '' he went on .
`` However , it can already be said that one of such measures could be diversifying the Sri Lankan export .
It is dominated by just two items , tea and textile , accounting for about 90 % of the country 's trade , '' Russia ’ s top diplomat added .

MOSCOW, January 13. /TASS/. Russia welcomes Sri Lanka’s plans to develop into a major trade and financial center in Asia as it would be beneficial for both that country and the entire region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Sri Lanka’s The Daily News newspaper.
"It is known that Sri Lanka is located at the crossing of transit routes through the Indian Ocean," he noted. "In this context, its significance can hardly be overemphasized. We welcome the plans of the new leadership of the state headed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to transform the island into a major commercial and financial center of Asia with focus on developing transport infrastructure, modernizing the agricultural sector and attracting high-tech investments."
"We believe that the execution of these plans would benefit both Sri Lanka and its foreign partners in the region and beyond," he stressed.
Relations with Russia
Relations between Russia and Sri Lanka have always been intrinsically valuable and have never depended on international developments, Lavrov said.
"The relations between our states have always been intrinsically valuable and independent from international developments. They have always been and continue to be based on the principles of equality, trust, mutual respect and consideration of one another's interests," he said.
According to the Russian top diplomat, nuances of this or that period in history "are of marginal significance, since they do not affect the inviolability of the bonds of friendship uniting our peoples."
"The only thing to have undergone major changes over the past 25-30 years is probably the model of our trade and economic cooperation: the leading role has shifted from the public sector to the private sector, primarily due to the market transformations in the national economy," he noted.
Economic cooperation
Russia wants to offer its aircraft industry products and other goods to Sri Lanka, Lavrov said.
"Russia is willing to offer Sri Lanka the products of its domestic industries, particularly the air-craft industry. Collaboration in the energy sector, as well as cooperation in agriculture and in the introduction of advanced information and communication technologies look quite promising. Tourism remains another important area of joint action, since Sri Lanka has become a popular tourist destination among Russians," he said.
"I expect these and other issues related to practical interaction to be substantively discussed during my visit to your country," Lavrov added.
In the foreign minister’s words, the Sri Lankan-Russian trade turnover has been floating around $400 million, which "clearly does not reflect the existing potential."
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Russian President Vladimir Putin set a target of increasing the turnover to $700 million during their talks in Moscow in 2017, Lavrov said.
"In this respect, the Sri Lankan-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation is instrumental. It is its prerogative to elaborate concrete measures," he went on.
"However, it can already be said that one of such measures could be diversifying the Sri Lankan export. It is dominated by just two items, tea and textile, accounting for about 90% of the country's trade," Russia’s top diplomat added.


tass--2020-01-14--About 1,000 people leave militants-controlled areas in Syria’s Idlib

MOSCOW , January 13 .
/TASS/ .
About 1,000 people and 59 vehicles have left militants-controlled areas of the Idlib de-escalation zone via the al-Hader and Habit humanitarian corridors , Major General Yuri Borenkov , chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria , said on Monday .
`` Over the past day , as many as 464 people and 26 cars and agricultural vehicles left the area via the al-Hader checkpoint in the Aleppo governorate .
A total of 519 people and 33 vehicles left via the Habit checkpoint in the Hama governorate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anu al-Duhur checkpoint in the Idlib governorate , '' he told journalists .
The three checkpoints for people willing to leaver the Idlb zone started to operate on Monday morning .
The Russian reconciliation center continues to fulfill assigned tasks after the completion of the military campaign in Syria .
The center ’ s officers regularly travel around the country 's liberated areas to assess the humanitarian situation .
The main efforts of the Russian military are now focused on assistance to the refugees returning to their homes and evacuation of civilians from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Idlib de-escalation zone in northern Syria entered into force on January 12 .
The Syrian government forces however stopped fighting at 14.00 p.m. on January 9 .
Syria ’ s government army on Sunday repelled a militants ’ attack on its positions in the Idlib governorate where a ceasefire had been declared , chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria , Borenkov said .
`` On January 12 , militants attempted an attack from the Maar Shamsha area on government troops ’ positions near the settlement of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 militants and five pickup cars armed with heavy machineguns .
The attack was repelled by the Syrian army with the help of tanks and firearms , '' he said .
In all , in his words , twenty-seven shelling attacks by illegal armed groups were reported during the day in the Aleppo , Latakia , Idlib and Hama governorates .
Turkey ’ s ministry of national defense said on January 10 that Ankara and Moscow had reached an agreement on a ceasefire in the Syria ’ s Idlib de-escalation zone starting from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on January 9 that a ceasefire would be imposed in the Idlib de-escalation zone starting from 14:00 Moscow time on the same day .
Idlib is the only large Syrian region that is still controlled by illegal armed groups .
A norther de-escalation zone was set up in Idlib in 2017 to give shelter to militants and their families who were reluctant to voluntarily surrender arms in Eastern Ghouta and in Syria ’ s southern regions .
Twelve Turkish observation stations are operating in the Idlib governorate .

MOSCOW, January 13. /TASS/. About 1,000 people and 59 vehicles have left militants-controlled areas of the Idlib de-escalation zone via the al-Hader and Habit humanitarian corridors, Major General Yuri Borenkov, chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, said on Monday.
"Over the past day, as many as 464 people and 26 cars and agricultural vehicles left the area via the al-Hader checkpoint in the Aleppo governorate. A total of 519 people and 33 vehicles left via the Habit checkpoint in the Hama governorate. No one left the area via the Anu al-Duhur checkpoint in the Idlib governorate," he told journalists.
The three checkpoints for people willing to leaver the Idlb zone started to operate on Monday morning.
The Russian reconciliation center continues to fulfill assigned tasks after the completion of the military campaign in Syria. The center’s officers regularly travel around the country's liberated areas to assess the humanitarian situation. The main efforts of the Russian military are now focused on assistance to the refugees returning to their homes and evacuation of civilians from de-escalation zones.
Idlib ceasefire
The ceasefire in the Idlib de-escalation zone in northern Syria entered into force on January 12. The Syrian government forces however stopped fighting at 14.00 p.m. on January 9.
Syria’s government army on Sunday repelled a militants’ attack on its positions in the Idlib governorate where a ceasefire had been declared, chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, Borenkov said.
"On January 12, militants attempted an attack from the Maar Shamsha area on government troops’ positions near the settlement of Jarjanaz. The attack involved up to 100 militants and five pickup cars armed with heavy machineguns. The attack was repelled by the Syrian army with the help of tanks and firearms," he said.
In all, in his words, twenty-seven shelling attacks by illegal armed groups were reported during the day in the Aleppo, Latakia, Idlib and Hama governorates.
Turkey’s ministry of national defense said on January 10 that Ankara and Moscow had reached an agreement on a ceasefire in the Syria’s Idlib de-escalation zone starting from January 12. Meanwhile, Borenkov said on January 9 that a ceasefire would be imposed in the Idlib de-escalation zone starting from 14:00 Moscow time on the same day.
Idlib is the only large Syrian region that is still controlled by illegal armed groups. A norther de-escalation zone was set up in Idlib in 2017 to give shelter to militants and their families who were reluctant to voluntarily surrender arms in Eastern Ghouta and in Syria’s southern regions. Twelve Turkish observation stations are operating in the Idlib governorate.


tass--2020-01-14--US’ Indo-Pacific strategy destructive for that region — Lavrov

MOSCOW , January 13 .
/TASS/ .
The United States ’ Indo-Pacific strategy is destructive as it is geared to divide the countries of that region into `` interest groups , '' Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Sri Lanka ’ s The Daily News newspaper .
He stressed that the Indian Ocean should not be `` a cockpit of rivalry but an area of cooperation between costal and island nations jointly creating the conditions for sustainable social and economic development '' within various regional entities .
`` This would also benefit Russia , given that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ territory of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization ( SCO ) .
For example , Sri Lanka is a SCO dialogue partner , '' he noted .
`` Unfortunately , we have recently been witnessing persistent attempts of extra-regional powers to reshape the established order to serve their narrow interests .
The concept of a `` free and open Indo-Pacific region '' promoted by the United States has not a unifying but a destructive potential , '' Lavrov said .
`` Its true objective is to divide the regional states into `` interest groups '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inter-state relations to assert dominance . ''
According to the Russian top diplomat , any new ideas concerning the region ’ s strategic development should help establish a common space of cooperation .
`` The regional architecture should be built in a concerted effort based on the principles of indivisible security , rule of international law , non-interference in the internal affairs , peaceful settlement of disputes and non-use of force or the threat of force , '' he added .
The US President Donald Trump administration ’ s `` Free and Open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an instrument to contain China and curtail its influences in that region .

MOSCOW, January 13. /TASS/. The United States’ Indo-Pacific strategy is destructive as it is geared to divide the countries of that region into "interest groups," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Sri Lanka’s The Daily News newspaper.
He stressed that the Indian Ocean should not be "a cockpit of rivalry but an area of cooperation between costal and island nations jointly creating the conditions for sustainable social and economic development" within various regional entities. "This would also benefit Russia, given that the Indian Ocean region partly covers the territory of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). For example, Sri Lanka is a SCO dialogue partner," he noted.
"Unfortunately, we have recently been witnessing persistent attempts of extra-regional powers to reshape the established order to serve their narrow interests. The concept of a "free and open Indo-Pacific region" promoted by the United States has not a unifying but a destructive potential," Lavrov said. "Its true objective is to divide the regional states into "interest groups", weakening the newly-established regional system of inter-state relations to assert dominance."
According to the Russian top diplomat, any new ideas concerning the region’s strategic development should help establish a common space of cooperation. "The regional architecture should be built in a concerted effort based on the principles of indivisible security, rule of international law, non-interference in the internal affairs, peaceful settlement of disputes and non-use of force or the threat of force," he added.
The US President Donald Trump administration’s "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" is seen by experts as an instrument to contain China and curtail its influences in that region.


tass--2020-01-14--Putin, Merkel discuss preparations for Berlin international conference on Libya — Kremlin

MOSCOW , January 14 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have had a phone conversation to discuss preparations for the upcoming international conference on Libyan reconciliation in Berlin , the Kremlin press service said on Monday .
The conversation was held on the German side ’ s initiative .
`` The process of preparing for the international conference on Libyan settlement in Berlin was discussed , '' the press service said in a statement .
Besides , Putin briefed Merkel about the latest meeting of forces involved in the Libyan conflict , which convened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference , Prime Minister of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord ( GNA ) Fayez al-Sarraj and head of Libya ’ s High Council of State Khaled al-Mishri have signed the draft document on the settlement in the country , while commander of the Libyan National Army ( LNA ) Khalifa Haftar has taken a pause until Tuesday morning , Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday .
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Merkel on January 11 , Putin described Germany ’ s initiative to hold an international conference on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Berlin conference needs to ensure attendance of those states that are truly determined to help resolve the Libya crisis so that it could bring about tangible results .
What is more important is that its decisions should be negotiated in a preliminary plan with the Libyan parties , '' he added .
Earlier , the German government initiated a series of international consultations on the situation in Libya with high-ranking officials from a number of states , including Russia .
The initiative was later became known as the Berlin Process .
Its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts of UN Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya Ghassan Salame .
First consultations were held in Berlin on September 17 .
Russian Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov represented Russia during the talks .
Also taking part in the meeting were representatives of the US , France , the UK , Italy , Egypt , the United Arab Emirates , Turkey , the Arab League , the African Union and the European Union .
Reuters earlier reported that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Libyan reconciliation on January 19 .
The Kremlin said it would later announce whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would take part .
Currently , Libya has two parallel bodies of executive power : the internationally recognized Government of National Accord ( GNA ) headed by al-Sarraj , and Abdullah Abdurrahman al-Thani ’ s interim government , operating in the country ’ s east together with parliament and supported by Haftar ’ s LNA .
After a prolonged standoff that has engulfed the area near Tripoli since April 4 , Haftar on December @ @ @ @ @ @ @ push towards the capital .
The ceasefire proposed by Russian and Turkish Presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan as part of a larger initiative to achieve peace in Libya entered into force at midnight on January 12 .
The ceasefire ’ s objective is to stop hostilities between the LNA and the GNA .

MOSCOW, January 14. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have had a phone conversation to discuss preparations for the upcoming international conference on Libyan reconciliation in Berlin, the Kremlin press service said on Monday.
The conversation was held on the German side’s initiative.
"The process of preparing for the international conference on Libyan settlement in Berlin was discussed," the press service said in a statement.
Besides, Putin briefed Merkel about the latest meeting of forces involved in the Libyan conflict, which convened in Moscow on Monday.
During the conference, Prime Minister of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Sarraj and head of Libya’s High Council of State Khaled al-Mishri have signed the draft document on the settlement in the country, while commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalifa Haftar has taken a pause until Tuesday morning, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday.
Berlin conference
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Merkel on January 11, Putin described Germany’s initiative to hold an international conference on Libya as "timely." "The Berlin conference needs to ensure attendance of those states that are truly determined to help resolve the Libya crisis so that it could bring about tangible results. What is more important is that its decisions should be negotiated in a preliminary plan with the Libyan parties," he added.
Earlier, the German government initiated a series of international consultations on the situation in Libya with high-ranking officials from a number of states, including Russia. The initiative was later became known as the Berlin Process. Its declared goal was to provide support to efforts of UN Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya Ghassan Salame.
First consultations were held in Berlin on September 17. Russian Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov represented Russia during the talks. Also taking part in the meeting were representatives of the US, France, the UK, Italy, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, the Arab League, the African Union and the European Union.
Reuters earlier reported that Germany plans to hold an international conference on Libyan reconciliation on January 19. The Kremlin said it would later announce whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would take part.
Currently, Libya has two parallel bodies of executive power: the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) headed by al-Sarraj, and Abdullah Abdurrahman al-Thani’s interim government, operating in the country’s east together with parliament and supported by Haftar’s LNA. After a prolonged standoff that has engulfed the area near Tripoli since April 4, Haftar on December 12 declared the beginning of a decisive push towards the capital.
The ceasefire proposed by Russian and Turkish Presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan as part of a larger initiative to achieve peace in Libya entered into force at midnight on January 12. The ceasefire’s objective is to stop hostilities between the LNA and the GNA.


tass--2020-01-14--UN hopes Moscow talks to help organize Berlin conference on Libya

UN , January 14 .
/TASS/ .
The United Nations hopes that Libyan reconciliation talks in Moscow would become a step toward organizing an international conference on Libya in Berlin , the UN Secretary-General ’ s official spokesman , Stephane Dujarric , told reporters on Monday .
According to earlier announcements , an international conference on Libyan reconciliation is to take place in the German capital on January 19 .
`` We 're , obviously , following the developments in Moscow and are hopeful that these positive steps… that these are possible steps that will lead to the convening of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is in line with the three steps that Mr. Salame [ Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya Ghassan Salame ] had outlined , and we continue to stress that all international efforts to support Libya should be complementary and in support of the Berlin process , '' he said during a daily briefing .
Prime Minister of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord ( GNA ) Fayez al-Sarraj and commander of the Libyan National Army ( LNA ) Khalifa Haftar took part in negotiations in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aegis of the foreign and defense ministries of Russia and Turkey .
According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov , the GNA delegation signed a draft deal on conflict settlement in the country , while Haftar has taken a pause until Tuesday morning to study the document .
Currently , Libya has two parallel bodies of executive power : the internationally recognized GNA and Abdullah al-Thani ’ s interim government operating in the country ’ s east together with parliament and supported by Haftar ’ s Libyan National Army .
After a standoff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on December 12 declared the beginning of a decisive offensive to seize the capital .
A ceasefire took effect in Libya at midnight on January 12 between Libya ’ s conflicting parties within the framework of a joint initiative proposed by the Russian and Turkish presidents .

UN, January 14. /TASS/. The United Nations hopes that Libyan reconciliation talks in Moscow would become a step toward organizing an international conference on Libya in Berlin, the UN Secretary-General’s official spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, told reporters on Monday.
According to earlier announcements, an international conference on Libyan reconciliation is to take place in the German capital on January 19.
"We're, obviously, following the developments in Moscow and are hopeful that these positive steps… that these are possible steps that will lead to the convening of the International Conference on Libya in Berlin, which is in line with the three steps that Mr. Salame [Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya Ghassan Salame] had outlined, and we continue to stress that all international efforts to support Libya should be complementary and in support of the Berlin process," he said during a daily briefing.
Prime Minister of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Sarraj and commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalifa Haftar took part in negotiations in Moscow that began on Monday under the aegis of the foreign and defense ministries of Russia and Turkey. According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the GNA delegation signed a draft deal on conflict settlement in the country, while Haftar has taken a pause until Tuesday morning to study the document.
Currently, Libya has two parallel bodies of executive power: the internationally recognized GNA and Abdullah al-Thani’s interim government operating in the country’s east together with parliament and supported by Haftar’s Libyan National Army. After a standoff near Tripoli since April 4, Haftar on December 12 declared the beginning of a decisive offensive to seize the capital.
A ceasefire took effect in Libya at midnight on January 12 between Libya’s conflicting parties within the framework of a joint initiative proposed by the Russian and Turkish presidents.


tass--2020-01-13--Iran’s head of investigation of Tehran plane crash to visit Ukraine

KIEV , January 13 .
/TASS/ .
Iran ’ s head of investigation of the Ukraine International Airlines plane crash @ @ @ @ @ , Ukraine ’ s Secretary of National Security and Defense Council Alexey Danilov said on @ @ @ @ @ US Charge d ’ Affaires in Ukraine Kristina Kvien .
`` According to Alexey Danilov @ @ @ @ @ expecting the arrival of a representative of the Iranian investigation , '' the message published @ @ @ @ @ website informs .

KIEV, January 13. /TASS/. Iran’s head of investigation of the Ukraine International Airlines plane crash in Tehran will visit Ukraine, Ukraine’s Secretary of National Security and Defense Council Alexey Danilov said on Monday during the meeting with US Charge d’Affaires in Ukraine Kristina Kvien.
"According to Alexey Danilov, the Ukrainian side is expecting the arrival of a representative of the Iranian investigation," the message published on the council’s website informs.


tass--2020-01-13--Some Polish media trying to discredit Holocaust forum in Israel, Moscow says

MOSCOW , January 13 .
/TASS/ .
The dissemination of false information on the World Holocaust Forum by some Polish media outlets looks like an attempt to justify Polish President Andrzej Duda ’ s refusal to take part in the event , the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its Facebook page on Monday .
`` False information on the Fifth World Holocaust Forum , which will be held in Israel on January 23 , is being spread in Poland ’ s media landscape .
According to Polish media , this event is organized by some private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities , '' the ministry noted .
`` The campaign aimed at discrediting the Fifth World Holocaust Forum looks like an awkward attempt to justify the decision by Polish President Andrzej Duda who refused to take part in that forum under a far-fetched politically motivated pretext . ''
The Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that the forum was not a private initiative , but a major international event held under the auspices of Israel ’ s president .
`` Heads of state and government from more than 40 countries , including the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italy and Ukraine , will arrive at the forum .
`` Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready to come to Israel to take part in the forum at the talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Sochi on September 12 , 2019 . ''
The Polish leader earlier said he would not attend the World Holocaust Forum , because the organizers refused to allow him to address the event alongside the representatives of Russia , Germany , France , the United Kingdom and the United States .

MOSCOW, January 13. /TASS/. The dissemination of false information on the World Holocaust Forum by some Polish media outlets looks like an attempt to justify Polish President Andrzej Duda’s refusal to take part in the event, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its Facebook page on Monday.
"False information on the Fifth World Holocaust Forum, which will be held in Israel on January 23, is being spread in Poland’s media landscape. According to Polish media, this event is organized by some private foundation rather than Israel’s official authorities," the ministry noted. "The campaign aimed at discrediting the Fifth World Holocaust Forum looks like an awkward attempt to justify the decision by Polish President Andrzej Duda who refused to take part in that forum under a far-fetched politically motivated pretext."
The Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that the forum was not a private initiative, but a major international event held under the auspices of Israel’s president. "Heads of state and government from more than 40 countries, including the United States, France, Austria, Greece, Italy and Ukraine, will arrive at the forum. "Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready to come to Israel to take part in the forum at the talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Sochi on September 12, 2019."
The Polish leader earlier said he would not attend the World Holocaust Forum, because the organizers refused to allow him to address the event alongside the representatives of Russia, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the United States.