tass--2020-12-02--Russia’s Soyuz-ST-A rocket with UAE satellite blasts off from Kourou — Arianespace

PARIS , December 2 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Soyuz-ST-A rocket with the Falcon Eye 2 satellite of the United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) lifted off from the Kourou space center in French Guiana on Wednesday , according to a live broadcast by Arianespace .
In line with the telemetry data , released during the broadcast , Falcon Eye 2 and the Fregat booster separated from the rocket approximately nine minutes into the flight .
The UAE spacecraft is scheduled to separate from the Fregat booster and reach the designated orbit about 58 minutes and 45 seconds after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the geosynchronous orbit at the average altitude of about 611 kilometers .
According to Arianespace , FalconEye is `` a high performance optical Earth observation satellite system for the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates ( UAEAF ) manufactured by the consortium of Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space . ''
It will also be used for imaging the Earth surface for commercial projects .
The launch was earlier scheduled for November 29 , but was postponed until November 30 and then to December 1 .
The launch did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , due to problems with transmitting telemetry data .
Director General of Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin said on his Facebook page that the yet another delay could have been caused by ground infrastructure glitches , and no problems related to the technical condition of the rocket and the Fregat booster were reported .
The Soyuz-ST-A carrier rocket was developed and is manufactured by Russia ’ s Progress Space Rocket Center under the Soyuz program at the Guiana Space Center .
The launch vehicle is a modification of the Soyuz-2 carrier rocket of stage 1a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Guiana Space Center in terms of safety ( receipt of telecommands from Earth to terminate the flight ) , the telemetry system ( transmitters operating in the decimeter band with the European telemetry frame structure ) and the conditions of operation ( increased humidity , transportation by sea and others ) .

PARIS, December 2. /TASS/. Russia’s Soyuz-ST-A rocket with the Falcon Eye 2 satellite of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) lifted off from the Kourou space center in French Guiana on Wednesday, according to a live broadcast by Arianespace.
In line with the telemetry data, released during the broadcast, Falcon Eye 2 and the Fregat booster separated from the rocket approximately nine minutes into the flight.
The satellite was put into its designated geosynchronous orbit at the average altitude of about 611 kilometers. The entire mission lasted about one hour.
According to Arianespace, FalconEye is "a high performance optical Earth observation satellite system for the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates (UAEAF) manufactured by the consortium of Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space." It will also be used for imaging the Earth surface for commercial projects.
The launch was earlier scheduled for November 29, but was postponed until November 30 and then to December 1. The launch did not take place on Tuesday as well, due to problems with transmitting telemetry data.
Director General of Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin said on his Facebook page that the yet another delay could have been caused by ground infrastructure glitches, and no problems related to the technical condition of the rocket and the Fregat booster were reported.
The Soyuz-ST-A carrier rocket was developed and is manufactured by Russia’s Progress Space Rocket Center under the Soyuz program at the Guiana Space Center.
The launch vehicle is a modification of the Soyuz-2 carrier rocket of stage 1a adapted to the requirements of operation at the Guiana Space Center in terms of safety (receipt of telecommands from Earth to terminate the flight), the telemetry system (transmitters operating in the decimeter band with the European telemetry frame structure) and the conditions of operation (increased humidity, transportation by sea and others).


tass--2020-12-02--Russia’s UN envoy urges to prevent humanity from plunging into another war

UN , December 2 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Vassily Nebenzia urged the humanity to stay vigilant and prevent re-emergence of all forms of the Nazi ideology .
`` The main responsibility to prevent and combat the spread of neo-Nazism lies on States .
Meantime the international community must stand alert and united to suppress any embryo of Nazi ideology , '' he said at the special solemn meeting of the UN General Assembly in commemoration of all victims of the Second World War .
`` We must prevent the recurrence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it for the memory of those , who gave up their lives in the Second World War , '' the Russian envoy continued .
He went on to say that Russia , Armenia , Azerbaijan , Belarus , China , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan annually submit to the UN General Assembly a draft resolution , entitled `` Combating glorification of Nazism , neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism , racial discrimination , xenophobia and related intolerance . ''
`` We are thankful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this initiative , '' Nebenzia added .

UN, December 2. /TASS/. Russia’s Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Vassily Nebenzia urged the humanity to stay vigilant and prevent re-emergence of all forms of the Nazi ideology.
"The main responsibility to prevent and combat the spread of neo-Nazism lies on States. Meantime the international community must stand alert and united to suppress any embryo of Nazi ideology," he said at the special solemn meeting of the UN General Assembly in commemoration of all victims of the Second World War.
"We must prevent the recurrence of massacres of war. We must do it for the memory of those, who gave up their lives in the Second World War," the Russian envoy continued.
He went on to say that Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan annually submit to the UN General Assembly a draft resolution, entitled "Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance."
"We are thankful to the international community for overwhelming support of this initiative," Nebenzia added.


tass--2020-12-02--Maduro says ready to step down if opposition wins parliamentary polls

BOGOTA , December 2 .
/TASS/ .
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said he was ready to step down if the @ @ @ @ @ win the December 6 parliamentary elections .
`` If the opposition wins , I will @ @ @ @ @ of the president , '' Maduro said in a televised speech on Tuesday .
He @ @ @ @ @ up to the Venezuelan people to decide .

BOGOTA, December 2. /TASS/. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said he was ready to step down if the country’s opposition forces win the December 6 parliamentary elections.
"If the opposition wins, I will step down from the post of the president," Maduro said in a televised speech on Tuesday.
He added that his fate was up to the Venezuelan people to decide.


tass--2020-12-02--Turkish army shells Ayn Issa district in Syria’s Raqqa governorate — paper

BEIRUT , December 2 .
/TASS/ .
The Turkish artillery is shelling the town of Ayn Issa and its outskirts in Syria ’ s Raqqa governorate , where Kurdish units of the Syria Democratic Forces ( SDF ) are active , Lebanon ’ s Al Akhbar newspaper reported .
According to the newspaper , incessant shelling forced civilians to flee Ayn Issa and move southward to the region ’ s administrative capital Raqqa , which is 55 km away .
Intense hostilities in the area resumed after the November 24 incident .
On that day , SDF forces ambushed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing more than 30 militants .
According to Kurdish sources , the Turkish military command and the armed opposition are now discussing an operation to seize Ayn Issa .
To that end , Turkey has already started to redeploy personnel , weapons and armored vehicles to its military base in Mardud .
According to Al Akhbar , Ankara is planning to launch the second stage of its Operation Peace Spring , aiming to expand the buffer security zone in northern Syria from Kobani to Manbijj .
SDF official spokesman Kino Gabriel said Kurdish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia and the United States in a bid to stop Turkish shelling and defend the civilian population . ''
On October 9 , 2019 , Turkey announced Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria with the aim to create a 30-km buffer zone where Syrian refugees would return from Turkey .
Kurds withdrew their units from these areas but carry out armed sallies from time to time .
In March 2018 , Turkish troops occupied the Afrin Region populated by Kurds and located 65 km away from Aleppo .

BEIRUT, December 2. /TASS/. The Turkish artillery is shelling the town of Ayn Issa and its outskirts in Syria’s Raqqa governorate, where Kurdish units of the Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) are active, Lebanon’s Al Akhbar newspaper reported.
According to the newspaper, incessant shelling forced civilians to flee Ayn Issa and move southward to the region’s administrative capital Raqqa, which is 55 km away.
Intense hostilities in the area resumed after the November 24 incident. On that day, SDF forces ambushed a convoy of Ankara-backed Syrian opposition groups, killing more than 30 militants.
According to Kurdish sources, the Turkish military command and the armed opposition are now discussing an operation to seize Ayn Issa. To that end, Turkey has already started to redeploy personnel, weapons and armored vehicles to its military base in Mardud.
According to Al Akhbar, Ankara is planning to launch the second stage of its Operation Peace Spring, aiming to expand the buffer security zone in northern Syria from Kobani to Manbijj. SDF official spokesman Kino Gabriel said Kurdish groups "have sought urgent contacts with Russia and the United States in a bid to stop Turkish shelling and defend the civilian population."
On October 9, 2019, Turkey announced Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria with the aim to create a 30-km buffer zone where Syrian refugees would return from Turkey. Kurds withdrew their units from these areas but carry out armed sallies from time to time. In March 2018, Turkish troops occupied the Afrin Region populated by Kurds and located 65 km away from Aleppo.


tass--2020-12-02--Russia favors developing independent payment mechanisms — Lavrov

MOSCOW , December 1 .
/TASS/ .
Russia advocated developing its own settlement systems that will not depend on Western payment mechanisms , Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference following an online meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the countries participating in the Collective Security Treaty Organization ( CSTO ) .
When asked what steps Russia and Belarus will take if they are disconnected from the SWIFT system he said : `` The conclusion is very simple .
We need to develop our own mechanisms that will not preserve the dependence of our countries on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has repeatedly proved its unreliability as a partner . ''
`` Of course , relying on multilateral instruments that are entirely in the hands of the West , under the control of Western entities , is no longer quite reliable , '' the minister stressed .
`` I would like to note that discussions about the transition to our own settlement systems have been going on not only in theory , but also in the practical terms both in the Russian Federation , and within the Eurasian Economic Union , within the Shanghai @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting of the Prime Ministers took place just a few days ago .
The topic is quite relevant , and we will definitely strive for its implementation , regardless of how the SWIFT issue is resolved and what next steps our Western colleagues will take , if I may say so , `` Lavrov added .
The Russian top diplomat noted that the topic of the SWIFT payment system is being used to aggravate the situation , to issue ultimatums and threats .
`` This attention is paid to SWIFT primarily because this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans and their allies , serves financial flows to ensure normal trade , trade in services , investment and virtually all other aspects of economic life , '' he explained .

MOSCOW, December 1. /TASS/. Russia advocated developing its own settlement systems that will not depend on Western payment mechanisms, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference following an online meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the countries participating in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
When asked what steps Russia and Belarus will take if they are disconnected from the SWIFT system he said: "The conclusion is very simple. We need to develop our own mechanisms that will not preserve the dependence of our countries on the West, especially since the West has repeatedly proved its unreliability as a partner."
"Of course, relying on multilateral instruments that are entirely in the hands of the West, under the control of Western entities, is no longer quite reliable," the minister stressed.
"I would like to note that discussions about the transition to our own settlement systems have been going on not only in theory, but also in the practical terms both in the Russian Federation, and within the Eurasian Economic Union, within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a meeting of the Prime Ministers took place just a few days ago. The topic is quite relevant, and we will definitely strive for its implementation, regardless of how the SWIFT issue is resolved and what next steps our Western colleagues will take, if I may say so, "Lavrov added.
The Russian top diplomat noted that the topic of the SWIFT payment system is being used to aggravate the situation, to issue ultimatums and threats.
"This attention is paid to SWIFT primarily because this system, which was created by the Americans and their allies, serves financial flows to ensure normal trade, trade in services, investment and virtually all other aspects of economic life," he explained.


tass--2020-12-02--Over 27,000 refugees return to Nagorno-Karabakh — Russian defense ministry

MOSCOW , December 1 .
/TASS/ .
Russian peacekeepers have helped more than 27,000 refugees to return to Nagorno-Karabakh , including more than 1,100 during the past day , the Russian defense ministry said on Tuesday .
`` On December 1 , 2020 , Russian peacekeepers escorted another convoy of buses with refugees returning to Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenia .
As many as 1,168 people arrived in Stepanakert from Yerevan , '' the ministry said .
According to the ministry , more than 27,000 refugees have returned to their homes since November 14 , 2020 .
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014 , in April 2016 and this past July .
On November 9 , Russian President Vladimir Putin , Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10 .
Under the document , the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides stopped at the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers were deployed to the region .
The Russian peacekeeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 15th separate motor rifle ( peacekeeping ) brigade of the Central Military District .
The Russian peacekeepers have set up observation posts along the engagement line in Nagorno-Karabakh and along the Lachinsky corridor that connects Armenia with the enclave to exercise control of the ceasefire observance .
The peacekeeping mission ’ s command is stationed in Stepanakert in Nagorno-Karabakh .
The situation in the area is monitored round-the-clock .

MOSCOW, December 1. /TASS/. Russian peacekeepers have helped more than 27,000 refugees to return to Nagorno-Karabakh, including more than 1,100 during the past day, the Russian defense ministry said on Tuesday.
"On December 1, 2020, Russian peacekeepers escorted another convoy of buses with refugees returning to Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenia. As many as 1,168 people arrived in Stepanakert from Yerevan," the ministry said.
According to the ministry, more than 27,000 refugees have returned to their homes since November 14, 2020.
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014, in April 2016 and this past July.
On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10. Under the document, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides stopped at the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers were deployed to the region. The Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh basically comprises units of the 15th separate motor rifle (peacekeeping) brigade of the Central Military District.
The Russian peacekeepers have set up observation posts along the engagement line in Nagorno-Karabakh and along the Lachinsky corridor that connects Armenia with the enclave to exercise control of the ceasefire observance. The peacekeeping mission’s command is stationed in Stepanakert in Nagorno-Karabakh. The situation in the area is monitored round-the-clock.


tass--2020-12-02--Hundreds of coronavirus mutations registered worldwide, their effects unknown — expert

MOSCOW , December 1 .
/TASS/ .
More than a hundred of various novel coronavirus mutations have already been registered worldwide , but their effects have not been sufficiently studied yet , a prominent Russian virologist told the Rossiya-24 TV channel on Tuesday .
`` The virus is changing .
We know that it is accumulating mutations , and has already accumulated hundreds of different ones all over the world .
Research evidence on how those mutations affect the virus ’ s behavior is scarce .
One study was carried out in the United States , and it revealed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the original strain .
So , it might be a step toward reduced virulence < … > , in the process of adapting itself to a new host .
But we can not say for sure whether mortality will decline , '' said Director of the Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology , Tropical and Vector-Borne Diseases at the Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University Alexander Lukashev .
The expert attributed the present-day decline in COVID-19 mortality to widespread testing .
`` The mortality that we observe today does not reflect the performance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its prevalence , it merely demonstrates how many mild cases were registered .
When we compare mortality rates observed in Europe this spring and this fall , we can see that it decreased fivefold , even tenfold in some areas .
However , this happened not because treatment has become ten times more effective , or the virus has become ten times weaker - this is because mild cases were simply not registered in spring .
There were practically no tests during that period , and when testing eventually became widespread , leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposed , the overall share of lethal cases started to decline , '' Lukashev said .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe , including Russia .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mln people have been infected worldwide and more than 1.4 mln deaths have been reported .
According to Russia ’ s anti-coronavirus crisis center , 2,322,056 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the country so far , with 1,803,467 patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 40,464 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, December 1. /TASS/. More than a hundred of various novel coronavirus mutations have already been registered worldwide, but their effects have not been sufficiently studied yet, a prominent Russian virologist told the Rossiya-24 TV channel on Tuesday.
"The virus is changing. We know that it is accumulating mutations, and has already accumulated hundreds of different ones all over the world. Research evidence on how those mutations affect the virus’s behavior is scarce. One study was carried out in the United States, and it revealed that the virus is replicating ten times slower than the original strain. So, it might be a step toward reduced virulence <…>, in the process of adapting itself to a new host. But we cannot say for sure whether mortality will decline," said Director of the Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector-Borne Diseases at the Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University Alexander Lukashev.
The expert attributed the present-day decline in COVID-19 mortality to widespread testing.
"The mortality that we observe today does not reflect the performance of the virus, does not reflect its prevalence, it merely demonstrates how many mild cases were registered. When we compare mortality rates observed in Europe this spring and this fall, we can see that it decreased fivefold, even tenfold in some areas. However, this happened not because treatment has become ten times more effective, or the virus has become ten times weaker - this is because mild cases were simply not registered in spring. There were practically no tests during that period, and when testing eventually became widespread, leading to more and more mild cases being exposed, the overall share of lethal cases started to decline," Lukashev said.
Coronavirus pandemic
In late December 2019, Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.
According to the latest statistics, about 63.3 mln people have been infected worldwide and more than 1.4 mln deaths have been reported.
According to Russia’s anti-coronavirus crisis center, 2,322,056 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the country so far, with 1,803,467 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 40,464 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-12-02--NATO welcomes Russia-US dialogue on New START extension — secretary general

BRUSSELS , December 1 .
/TASS/ .
NATO welcomes dialogue between Russia and the United States on the extension of the New START Treaty , NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday after a videoconference between NATO foreign ministers .
`` We welcome the dialogue between US and Russia to find a way forward , because we should not want to find ourselves in a situation where there is no agreement regulating the number of nuclear warheads , '' he said , adding that NATO supports the idea of a `` more comprehensive arms control regime . ''
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miss the chance to once again accuse Russia of `` violating and undermining treaties and deploying new weapons . ''
The United States is insisting a new multilateral treaty , involving China , be signed to replace the New START .
Washington however has ignored Russia ’ s initiative to unconditionally extend the treaty until a new one is agreed .
Commenting on Stoltenberg ’ s earlier pronouncements on this topic , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova suggested he ’ d better call on the United States to extend the New START @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strengthen strategic stability .
Apart from that , Zakharova drew attention to Russia ’ s initiative to declare mutual moratorium on the deployment of intermediate-and shorter-range missiles in Europe that would boost security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic region .
The Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms ( the New START Treaty ) was signed in 2010 and entered into force on February 5 , 2011 .
The document stipulates that seven years after its entry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than a total of 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles ( ICBM ) , submarine-launched ballistic missiles ( SLBM ) and strategic bombers , as well as no more than 1,550 warheads on deployed ICBMs , deployed SLBMs and strategic bombers , and a total of 800 deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers , SLBM launchers and strategic bombers .
The New START Treaty will remain in force for 10 years , until 2021 , unless it is replaced before that date by a subsequent agreement on the reduction and limitation of strategic offensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for no longer than 5 years ( that is , until 2026 ) upon the parties ’ mutual consent .
Moscow has repeatedly called on Washington not to delay prolongation of the treaty it describes as the gold standards in the area of disarmament .
In an interview with the Financial Times in late June 2019 Russian President Vladimir Putin said that once this treaty ceased to exist , `` then there would be no instrument in the world to curtail the arms race . ''
On October 16 , the Russian president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the treaty unconditionally for at least one year .
He said this time could be used to hold meaningful talks .
The Russian foreign ministry said that in case the New START was extended , the Russian side was ready to freeze its nuclear arsenals , together with the US side , for that period if the US advanced no extra conditions .

BRUSSELS, December 1. /TASS/. NATO welcomes dialogue between Russia and the United States on the extension of the New START Treaty, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday after a videoconference between NATO foreign ministers.
"We welcome the dialogue between US and Russia to find a way forward, because we should not want to find ourselves in a situation where there is no agreement regulating the number of nuclear warheads," he said, adding that NATO supports the idea of a "more comprehensive arms control regime."
At the same time, he did not miss the chance to once again accuse Russia of "violating and undermining treaties and deploying new weapons."
The United States is insisting a new multilateral treaty, involving China, be signed to replace the New START. Washington however has ignored Russia’s initiative to unconditionally extend the treaty until a new one is agreed.
Moscow’s reaction
Commenting on Stoltenberg’s earlier pronouncements on this topic, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova suggested he’d better call on the United States to extend the New START treaty and engage in constructive work to strengthen strategic stability.
Apart from that, Zakharova drew attention to Russia’s initiative to declare mutual moratorium on the deployment of intermediate-and shorter-range missiles in Europe that would boost security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic region.
New START
The Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (the New START Treaty) was signed in 2010 and entered into force on February 5, 2011. The document stipulates that seven years after its entry into effect each party should have no more than a total of 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) and strategic bombers, as well as no more than 1,550 warheads on deployed ICBMs, deployed SLBMs and strategic bombers, and a total of 800 deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers, SLBM launchers and strategic bombers.
The New START Treaty will remain in force for 10 years, until 2021, unless it is replaced before that date by a subsequent agreement on the reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms. It can also be extended for no longer than 5 years (that is, until 2026) upon the parties’ mutual consent.
Moscow has repeatedly called on Washington not to delay prolongation of the treaty it describes as the gold standards in the area of disarmament.
In an interview with the Financial Times in late June 2019 Russian President Vladimir Putin said that once this treaty ceased to exist, "then there would be no instrument in the world to curtail the arms race."
On October 16, the Russian president came out with an initiative to extend the treaty unconditionally for at least one year. He said this time could be used to hold meaningful talks. The Russian foreign ministry said that in case the New START was extended, the Russian side was ready to freeze its nuclear arsenals, together with the US side, for that period if the US advanced no extra conditions.


tass--2020-12-02--75 more coronavirus patients die in Moscow in past day — crisis center

MOSCOW , December 1 .
/TASS/ .
Seventy-five more coronavirus patients died in Moscow during the past day , with @ @ @ @ @ exceeding 9,000 , the city ’ s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Tuesday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ pneumonia have died in Moscow , '' it said , adding the overall number of @ @ @ @ @ reached 9,053 .
The center once again warned that in case of any symptoms of @ @ @ @ @ necessary to stay at home , call a doctor and not indulge in self-treatment .
@ @ @ @ @ Russian regions in terms of confirmed coronavirus cases .
As of today , Moscow has @ @ @ @ @ , including 6,524 during the past day , and 458,409 recoveries .

MOSCOW, December 1. /TASS/. Seventy-five more coronavirus patients died in Moscow during the past day, with the overall number of fatalities exceeding 9,000, the city’s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Tuesday.
"Seventy-five coronavirus-positive patients diagnosed with pneumonia have died in Moscow," it said, adding the overall number of coronavirus-related deaths in Moscow has reached 9,053.
The center once again warned that in case of any symptoms of a respiratory disease it is necessary to stay at home, call a doctor and not indulge in self-treatment.
Moscow tops the list of Russian regions in terms of confirmed coronavirus cases. As of today, Moscow has reported 612,248 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 6,524 during the past day, and 458,409 recoveries.


tass--2020-12-02--NATO foreign ministers confirm plans to pursue dialogue with Russia — secretary general

BRUSSELS , December 1./TASS/ .
A meeting of the NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs taking place via videoconference confirmed the @ @ @ @ @ with Russia , while continuing the policy to deter it , NATO Secretary General Jens @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday following the consultations .
`` We all agree that we must continue to @ @ @ @ @ , '' Stoltenberg said .
However , `` We are adapting NATO deterrence posture to @ @ @ @ @ , '' he stressed .
The foreign ministers `` discussed Russian continued build-up in our @ @ @ @ @ general said after the last for this year meeting .
`` We see how Russia @ @ @ @ @ of the wishes of the different governments in our close neighborhood , '' including `` @ @ @ @ @ NATO does not recognize independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia declared after Georgia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ to see them as part of Georgia - TASS ) and Eastern Ukraine and also @ @ @ @ @ '' Stoltenberg said .

BRUSSELS, December 1./TASS/. A meeting of the NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs taking place via videoconference confirmed the importance of pursuing a dialogue with Russia, while continuing the policy to deter it, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference on Tuesday following the consultations.
"We all agree that we must continue to pursue the dialogue with Russia," Stoltenberg said. However, "We are adapting NATO deterrence posture to address Russia's destabilizing actions," he stressed.
The foreign ministers "discussed Russian continued build-up in our neighborhood," the secretary general said after the last for this year meeting.
"We see how Russia has deployed troops in violation of the wishes of the different governments in our close neighborhood," including "in part of Georgia (NATO does not recognize independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia declared after Georgia’s aggression in 2008, continuing to see them as part of Georgia - TASS) and Eastern Ukraine and also in Moldova and Transnistria," Stoltenberg said.


tass--2020-12-02--Number of COVID-2019 cases across globe up by over 453,000 in past day — WHO

GENEVA , December 1 .
/TASS/ .
More than 453,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection were registered worldwide in the past day , with the overall number of such cases exceeding 62.84 million , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) said in its daily bulletin on Tuesday .
As of 21:08 Moscow time on December 1 as many as 62,844,837 novel coronavirus cases and 1,465,144 coronavirus-associated deaths were registered across the globe .
The number of confirmed cases grew by 453,170 in the past 24 hours and the number of fatalities increased by 7,837 .
The highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) was reported on November 14 and the highest daily death toll ( 12,432 ) was reported on April 17 .
The WHO statistics is based on officially confirmed data from the countries .
North and South America account for more than 46 % of the COVID-19 daily tally ( 211,548 cases ) .
Next are Europe ( 154,516 cases ) , and Southeast Asia ( 41,791 cases ) .
The biggest number of coronavirus cases was reported from the United States ( 13,234,551 ) , India ( 9,462,809 ) , Brazil ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , France ( 2,183,275 ) , Spain ( 1,648,187 ) , the United Kingdom ( 1,629,661 ) , Italy ( 1,601,554 ) , Argentina ( 1,418,807 ) , Colombia ( 1,308,376 ) , Mexico ( 1,107,071 ) , and Germany ( 1,067,473 ) .

GENEVA, December 1. /TASS/. More than 453,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection were registered worldwide in the past day, with the overall number of such cases exceeding 62.84 million, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its daily bulletin on Tuesday.
As of 21:08 Moscow time on December 1 as many as 62,844,837 novel coronavirus cases and 1,465,144 coronavirus-associated deaths were registered across the globe. The number of confirmed cases grew by 453,170 in the past 24 hours and the number of fatalities increased by 7,837.
The highest daily tally of coronavirus cases (667,164) was reported on November 14 and the highest daily death toll (12,432) was reported on April 17.
The WHO statistics is based on officially confirmed data from the countries.
North and South America account for more than 46% of the COVID-19 daily tally (211,548 cases). Next are Europe (154,516 cases), and Southeast Asia (41,791 cases).
The biggest number of coronavirus cases was reported from the United States (13,234,551), India (9,462,809), Brazil (6,314,740), Russia (2,322,056), France (2,183,275), Spain (1,648,187), the United Kingdom (1,629,661), Italy (1,601,554), Argentina (1,418,807), Colombia (1,308,376), Mexico (1,107,071), and Germany (1,067,473).


tass--2020-12-02--Russian space agency congratulates China on lunar mission’s ‘historic’ landing

MOSCOW , December 1 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian State Space Corporation Roscosmos congratulated China on the successful landing of the Chang ' e-5 robotic Moon mission , Roscosmos Deputy Director General for International Cooperation Sergey Savelyev said on Tuesday .
`` This is a truly historic event for China ’ s space program : for the first time in the country ’ s space research history , China National Space Administration performed a landing of a robotic sample-return mission to the Moon , '' Savelyev said .
He wished the mission to fulfill its scientific program in full by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Earth .
The Roscosmos deputy director general said that lunar research remains a priority in all national space programs .
`` Russia and China regularly discuss developing cooperation in this domain , '' he said .
The China National Space Administration announced earlier in the day that the Chang ' e-5 lander-ascender module touched down the lunar surface near the peak of Mons Rumker , a mountain in the Oceanus Procellarum ( Ocean of Storms ) region of the moon .
According to Chinese scientists , the area ’ s soil is several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of samples retrieved from this zone will help scientists to gain a better understanding of how the Earth ’ s natural satellite was formed .

MOSCOW, December 1. /TASS/. The Russian State Space Corporation Roscosmos congratulated China on the successful landing of the Chang'e-5 robotic Moon mission, Roscosmos Deputy Director General for International Cooperation Sergey Savelyev said on Tuesday.
"This is a truly historic event for China’s space program: for the first time in the country’s space research history, China National Space Administration performed a landing of a robotic sample-return mission to the Moon," Savelyev said.
He wished the mission to fulfill its scientific program in full by delivering samples of moon soil to the Earth.
The Roscosmos deputy director general said that lunar research remains a priority in all national space programs.
"Russia and China regularly discuss developing cooperation in this domain," he said.
The China National Space Administration announced earlier in the day that the Chang'e-5 lander-ascender module touched down the lunar surface near the peak of Mons Rumker, a mountain in the Oceanus Procellarum (Ocean of Storms) region of the moon. According to Chinese scientists, the area’s soil is several billion years old, and the study of samples retrieved from this zone will help scientists to gain a better understanding of how the Earth’s natural satellite was formed.


tass--2020-12-02--Russian peacekeepers must stay in Transnistria until conflict is settled — Moldova’s Dodon

CHISINAU , December 1./TASS .
Russian peacekeepers must stay in Transnistria until the conflict is settled , says incumbent President of Moldova Igor Dodon , the informal leader of the biggest in the country Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova .
`` The peacekeeping operation on the Dniester has the international mandate , it involves not only Russians .
There are also Moldovans there , as well as residents of Transnistria and Ukrainians , '' the outgoing president told Moldova 1 television on Tuesday .
`` Owing to this mission there is no bloodshed .
It must stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conflict is found , '' Dodon stressed .
Commenting on statements from President-elect Maia Sandu , Dodon pledged that he would not allow destabilization .
`` I strongly hope that there are no major geopolitical players behind these declarations , who manage this and pursue the aim to destabilize the situation in Moldova , '' he stressed .
At a news conference on Monday , Maia Sandu called for the withdrawal of Russian troops and ammunition from Transnistria and the deployment of an OSCE civilian monitoring mission in place of the Russian peacekeepers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Vitaly Ignatyev , castigated her statement on Tuesday , reiterating that the Russian peacekeepers helped the sides to cease fire back in 1992 and sit down to talk .
The Transnistrian conflict erupted in March 1992 , when initial clashes occurred between Moldovan police and Transnistrian militia near the city of Dubossary .
They were followed by an outbreak of armed hostilities .
By the summer , it had morphed into a large-scale conflict in Bendery , where about 1,000 people were killed and tens of thousands were wounded and ended up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought to an end following a peace agreement signed in Moscow in July 1992 and Russian peacekeepers were brought into the conflict zone .
Negotiations on peacefully settling the conflict known as the 5+2 format talks had started after that .

CHISINAU, December 1./TASS. Russian peacekeepers must stay in Transnistria until the conflict is settled, says incumbent President of Moldova Igor Dodon, the informal leader of the biggest in the country Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova.
"The peacekeeping operation on the Dniester has the international mandate, it involves not only Russians. There are also Moldovans there, as well as residents of Transnistria and Ukrainians," the outgoing president told Moldova 1 television on Tuesday.
"Owing to this mission there is no bloodshed. It must stay until a political solution to the Transnistrian conflict is found," Dodon stressed. Commenting on statements from President-elect Maia Sandu, Dodon pledged that he would not allow destabilization. "I strongly hope that there are no major geopolitical players behind these declarations, who manage this and pursue the aim to destabilize the situation in Moldova," he stressed.
At a news conference on Monday, Maia Sandu called for the withdrawal of Russian troops and ammunition from Transnistria and the deployment of an OSCE civilian monitoring mission in place of the Russian peacekeepers. The foreign minister of unrecognized Transnistria, Vitaly Ignatyev, castigated her statement on Tuesday, reiterating that the Russian peacekeepers helped the sides to cease fire back in 1992 and sit down to talk.
Moldova’s Transnistrian quagmire
The Transnistrian conflict erupted in March 1992, when initial clashes occurred between Moldovan police and Transnistrian militia near the city of Dubossary. They were followed by an outbreak of armed hostilities. By the summer, it had morphed into a large-scale conflict in Bendery, where about 1,000 people were killed and tens of thousands were wounded and ended up as refugees.
The civil war was brought to an end following a peace agreement signed in Moscow in July 1992 and Russian peacekeepers were brought into the conflict zone. Negotiations on peacefully settling the conflict known as the 5+2 format talks had started after that.


tass--2020-12-02--UN Security Council to hold meeting on Ukraine with DPR, LPR envoys — source

UNITED NATIONS , December 2 .
/TASS/ .
The UN Security Council will hold an informal meeting on the situation in Ukraine with the participation of envoys from the self-proclaimed people ’ s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk ( DPR and LPR ) on Wednesday , a spokesman for Russia ’ s UN mission told TASS .
`` A meeting with the participation of the LPR envoy Vladislav Deinego and DPR envoy Natalya NIkanorova will be held tomorrow ( on December 2 ) at 10:00 ( local time , 18:00 Moscow time ) , '' said Fyodor Strzhizhovsky , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United Nations .
He added that the event will be an `` Arria-formula meeting , '' i.e .
an informal one .
It will be held on Russia 's initiative .
`` The meeting was organized to provide parties to the Minsk agreements , Normandy Four members and all interested members of the Council with an opportunity to discuss difficulties in implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2202 [ on implementation of the `` Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements '' ] , '' he added .
The Normandy Quartet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on December 9 , 2019 .
The list of urgent measures it identified included a comprehensive ceasefire , disengagement of forces , all-for-all exchange of prisoners of war and an agreement to open more checkpoints on the disengagement line .
A special clause in the communique was devoted to the political part of the Donbass settlement .
It addressed the issue of establishing in the Ukrainian legislation on the permanent basis a set of a special rules of self-government in some districts of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions , and including in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way it was agreed on by the Normandy Quartet and the Contact Group .

UNITED NATIONS, December 2. /TASS/. The UN Security Council will hold an informal meeting on the situation in Ukraine with the participation of envoys from the self-proclaimed people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk (DPR and LPR) on Wednesday, a spokesman for Russia’s UN mission told TASS.
"A meeting with the participation of the LPR envoy Vladislav Deinego and DPR envoy Natalya NIkanorova will be held tomorrow (on December 2) at 10:00 (local time, 18:00 Moscow time)," said Fyodor Strzhizhovsky, a spokesman for the Russian mission to the United Nations.
He added that the event will be an "Arria-formula meeting," i.e. an informal one. It will be held on Russia's initiative.
"The meeting was organized to provide parties to the Minsk agreements, Normandy Four members and all interested members of the Council with an opportunity to discuss difficulties in implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2202 [on implementation of the "Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements"]," he added.
The Normandy Quartet’s summit was held in Paris on December 9, 2019. The list of urgent measures it identified included a comprehensive ceasefire, disengagement of forces, all-for-all exchange of prisoners of war and an agreement to open more checkpoints on the disengagement line. A special clause in the communique was devoted to the political part of the Donbass settlement. It addressed the issue of establishing in the Ukrainian legislation on the permanent basis a set of a special rules of self-government in some districts of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, and including in the legislation the "Steinmeier formula" the way it was agreed on by the Normandy Quartet and the Contact Group.


tass--2020-12-02--G20 summit to be held in Rome on October 30-31, 2021

ROME , December 2 .
/TASS/ .
The next year ’ s summit of the Group of Twenty ( G20 ) will be held in the Italian capital Rome on October 30-31 , Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said as his country assumed the group ’ s rotating presidency on December 1 .
`` The leaders ’ final summit will be held on October 30031 , here , in Rome , '' he said in a Twitter post .
In a brief statement , Conte outlined the priorities of his country ’ s presidency in 2021 , including sustainable development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new challenges .
According to the schedule of G20 ministerial meeting , released by the government ’ s administration , the following major events will be held under Italy ’ s presidency next year : G20 ministers of culture and tourism will convene on May 3-4 in Rome , foreign ministers - on June 28-30 in Matera , economic ministers - on July 9-10 in Venice , ministers of environment and energy - on July 22-23 in Naples , health ministers - on September 5-6 in Rome , agriculture ministers - on September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopes it would have a chance to organize all those events with personal attendance .
Italy assumed the rotating G20 presidency from Saudi Arabia on December 1 .

ROME, December 2. /TASS/. The next year’s summit of the Group of Twenty (G20) will be held in the Italian capital Rome on October 30-31, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said as his country assumed the group’s rotating presidency on December 1.
"The leaders’ final summit will be held on October 30031, here, in Rome," he said in a Twitter post.
In a brief statement, Conte outlined the priorities of his country’s presidency in 2021, including sustainable development, environmental protection and ways to counter new challenges.
The Italian presidency’s slogan is ‘People, Planet, Prosperity.’
According to the schedule of G20 ministerial meeting, released by the government’s administration, the following major events will be held under Italy’s presidency next year: G20 ministers of culture and tourism will convene on May 3-4 in Rome, foreign ministers - on June 28-30 in Matera, economic ministers - on July 9-10 in Venice, ministers of environment and energy - on July 22-23 in Naples, health ministers - on September 5-6 in Rome, agriculture ministers - on September 19-20 in Florence.
The Italian government hopes it would have a chance to organize all those events with personal attendance.
Italy assumed the rotating G20 presidency from Saudi Arabia on December 1.


tass--2020-12-01--Moscow and Montevideo see eye-to-eye on broad range of issues: Uruguay’s top diplomat

MOSCOW , December 1./TASS/ .
Russia and Uruguay see eye-to-eye on a broad number of issues and enjoy close and @ @ @ @ @ Minister Francisco Bustillo said at a joint news conference following talks with Russia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ meeting was very successful , '' the top diplomat said .
`` Our positions are @ @ @ @ @ matters .
Relations between our countries have a long history .
These are brotherly ties @ @ @ @ @ for new forms of cooperation and deepening of bilateral cooperation , '' Francisco Bustillo said @ @ @ @ @ that he had warm and friendly feelings towards Russia , adding that he had good @ @ @ @ @ Petersburg .
The Uruguayan diplomat said he had active contacts with Russians back at home @ @ @ @ @ large Russian diaspora in Uruguay , almost 20,000 people in San Javier .
These are @ @ @ @ @ great contribution to the development of production in Uruguay , '' Francisco Bustillo stressed .

MOSCOW, December 1./TASS/. Russia and Uruguay see eye-to-eye on a broad number of issues and enjoy close and brotherly ties, Uruguayan Foreign Minister Francisco Bustillo said at a joint news conference following talks with Russia’s Sergey Lavrov.
"The meeting was very successful," the top diplomat said. "Our positions are the same practically on all matters. Relations between our countries have a long history. These are brotherly ties, and we are looking for new forms of cooperation and deepening of bilateral cooperation," Francisco Bustillo said.
The top diplomat stressed that he had warm and friendly feelings towards Russia, adding that he had good friends in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
The Uruguayan diplomat said he had active contacts with Russians back at home. "We have a large Russian diaspora in Uruguay, almost 20,000 people in San Javier. These are the people who make a great contribution to the development of production in Uruguay," Francisco Bustillo stressed.


tass--2020-12-01--Pushkin Museum’s president Irina Antonova - a legend in her lifetime

Earlier on Tuesday , the Pushkin Museum ’ s director , Marina Loshak , told TASS that Antonova passed away on November 30 .
Sources at the museum later said that her death was due to the coronavirus infection in combination with cardiovascular diseases .
The date of the funeral will be announced later .
MOSCOW , December 1 .
/TASS/ .
The president of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts , Irina Antonova , has died at 98 .
She was a legend and a pillar of the museum industry and national culture in general , appreciated in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely takes the credit for the Pushkin Museum ’ s current world renown .
With her death a whole era came to an end , say her friends and colleagues .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered deep condolences to Antonova ’ s relatives and dear ones .
Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media Putin had known Antonova very well , repeatedly visited her museum and appreciated her deep knowledge of fine arts .
Deputy chief of Russia ’ s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev , too , has offered condolences to Antonova @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a remarkable connoisseur of fine arts and an outstanding representative of the national and world museum community .
`` It is an irreparable loss for her relatives and friends , for Russian culture and for all of us , '' Medvedev said .
`` Antonova won acclaim as an outstanding public figure and authored and promoted projects that invariably met with tremendous interest from all fine arts devotees . ''
An example to follow The museum community has lost a great teacher and an example to follow , says the general director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gagarina .
`` It is a tremendous loss for the whole Russian culture .
Antonova dedicated her whole life to a cause that she believed in and that was her source of energy and strength to carry on in the most dramatic moments in life .
Her professionalism , exceptional artistic taste , self-sacrifice and willpower accomplished the impossible : she turned a museum that had been originally conceived as a museum of replicas into an organization of renown respected around the world .
During the Iron Curtain years she arranged for some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will mange to cope with these days , '' Gagarina is quoted by the press-service of the Moscow Kremlin ’ s Museums as saying .
Antonova was one of those people who embody Russian culture .
She possessed remarkable sophistication and willpower , said the president of the Russian Academy of Fine Arts , Zurab Tsereteli .
`` Today we all feel deeply aggrieved .
The genius of Irina Antonova has left us .
She was one of the great personalities in the world of art and science who are an embodiment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combination of aristocratism , intellect , sophistication and remarkably strong character .
Some people are said to be worthy of the era of Renaissance in scale .
Irina Antonova ’ s personality fully matches this definition , '' he stressed .
Tzereteli said he would always remember Antonova as a `` unique person strongly dedicated to art and beautiful in all respects . ''
`` I ’ m unable to say aloud Irina Antonova ’ s life is over , because her life was the life of her museum .
And not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all other museums in Russia and around the world .
She was well-known at all museums .
She was an integral part of this life .
She has been , still is and will always be part and parcel of the history of Russia ’ s life , Russian culture and Russian museums .
Her life is an example for all or us , an example of energy that is derived from the love of what you do , '' said the Russian Museum ’ s director Vladimir Gusev .
The Victory Museum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has told TASS that Antonova ’ s tremendous contribution to the museum culture is yet to be grasped and appreciated .
`` She was an example of the highest professional and moral principles in her attitude to art .
Today it is impossible to imagine not only the Pushkin Museum , but the whole Russian and world culture and the world of art without Irina Antonova .
She was one of those people who have can have no substitutes , '' he said .
Irina Antonova boasted a rare combination of knowledge and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the fundamental reconsideration of the mission of museums as cultural and social institutions , the Moscow State University ’ s rector , Dmitry Sadovnichy , told TASS .
Antonova was one of the best graduates of the Moscow State University and during her whole life she served the ideals of beauty and harmony , he said .
`` Irina Antonova had a unique combination of fundamental knowledge and intuition .
She was an art manager of genius , long before this profession emerged in this country .
Until her last days she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling and her principles .
She invariably remained a very bright and talented lady .
We will keep lasting memories of this outstanding scholar , a person of unique fate in science and the arts and of her tremendous services to national and world culture , '' Sadovnichy said .
The president of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts Irina Antonova was keen to create conditions for the freedom of artists ’ creative endeavor .
She managed to surmount seemingly insurmountable obstacles , said the president of the Federation of Jewish Communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jewish Museum and Center of Tolerance , Rabbi Alexander Boroda .
`` She shared the firm , unshakable and absolutely unbiased belief that for the arts ’ development there must be a free dialogue , that if we wish to have ‘ outstanding ’ artists , then the country ’ s museums must enjoy a ‘ visa-free ’ regime .
This penetration of seemingly unbreakable borders became possible for all of her compatriots thanks to her work , '' Boroda ’ s press-service said .
Boroda believes that such personalities as Antonova are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-sacrifice and dedication to the cause she served all her life regardless of volatile and adverse external circumstances .
`` We are proud we awarded to Irina Antonova the prize of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia called Fiddler on the Roof in the nomination Living Legend .
Antonova was a legend whose professionalism and civil responsibility were dedicated entirely to the museum business .
She was a great authority outside Russia , in the world museum community , said Russia ’ s Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova .
In the capacity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Antonova displayed `` extraordinary qualities of an organizer . ''
`` Under her guidance the museum hosted the legendary exhibitions Moscow-Paris , Moscow-Berlin , Russia-Italy and large expositions featuring works by Picasso , Modigliani , Turner , Caravaggio and other great artists , '' Lyubimova recalled .
Until just recently Antonova was an active participant in museum work , making preparations for exhibitions and educational programs .
The minister of culture said Antonova ’ s death was an irrecoverable loss for national culture and offered condolences to Antonova ’ s relatives and dear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian presidential aide , chairman of the Russian Military-Historical Society Vladimir Medinsky , too , stressed that Antonova ’ s contribution to the emergence and development of the national museum industry was enormous .
`` Antonova was a true citizen of her country , who proved her allegiance and faithfulness to Russia with her life and work .
She had no equals .
No words can speak the deepness of our grief over this great loss , '' the press-service of the Russian Military-Historical Society quoted Medinsky as saying .
`` It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Antonova , who has become part of its image and its symbol , '' the museum ’ s press service quoted Loshak as saying .
Antonova has worked at the Pushkin Museum for 75 years .
`` In 1945 , she took her first job here and from that moment on , except for several months of this year during the coronavirus lockdown she came to the museum every day .
We got accustomed to the feeling she is somewhere near any minute .
Even when we did not talk business , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or the sound of her voice behind the door other office .
We were always aware that she is around .
We felt her presence , the presence of a very emotional , very open , very loving person and very strict in all aspects of her attitude to life , '' Loshak said .
`` Irina was an absolutely fearless person .
She was fearless as a professional and as a personality .
Throughout her professional career she took very bold steps towards the new .
Those were steps taken by someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no means casual steps and actions .
She was a person who understood that her cause and her principles were most important that anything else , '' Loshak said .
In 1974 , Antonova and her team reorganized the museum exposition .
In that same year Leonardo da Vinci ’ s La Gioconda was displayed at the Pushkin Museum .
A number of important expositions followed .
`` All that happened during rather dramatic years for Antonova .
Many things that are quite ordinary today were under a ban .
This makes her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first exhibition in 1956 , Moscow-Paris , Moscow-Berlin , exhibitions of the world ’ s greatest artists and the display of Mona Lisa , '' Loshak said .
Antonova ’ s museum career began when the Pushkin Museum demonstrated masterpieces from the Dresden Gallery .
`` Every moment of Irina ’ s life is tightly linked with the museum ’ s history , victorious and unique .
We , museum staffers , will greatly miss her and her uncompromising attitude to life , her honest opinion , her defiance of risks and her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unimportant and to demonstrate courage .
We will be missing this person , who is surely part of each of us and our own lives , '' Loshak said .
Antonova was an embodiment of the era of Soviet and Russian cultural life .
She managed to steer the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts into the top division of the world museum community , Russia ’ s special presidential representative for international cultural cooperation , Mikhail Shvydkoi , told TASS .
`` Irina Antonova is a whole era of Soviet and Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pushkin Museum lasted an eon - 75 years .
She turned the Pushkin Museum into a member of the top division of the world museum community , '' Shvydkoi said .
`` Back in the Soviet years Antonova realized that a museum is not just a place where exhibits of this or that level are kept , but an institution vested with a mission of education , upbringing and research . ''
`` True , many will say : `` She passed away when she was very advanced in years.
’ People like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incredibly bitter , '' Shvydkoi said .
Antonova ’ s efforts turned the Pushkin Museum into a modern educational center and a treasury of world masterpieces , the speaker of Russia ’ s Federation Council , Valentina Matviyenko said in a message of condolences .
She described Antonova as a true museum enthusiast , an excellent art connoisseur and a wonderful person , who was keen to safeguard and promote national culture .
`` Together with her country Antonova struggled through the turmoil of war and postwar years , which molded her character @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with any hardships , '' Matviyenko said .
On a par with the greats Antonova possessed elegance and firmness , qualities that are both essential for anyone who governs a museum , said the general director of the Hermitage Museum , President of the Union of Museums of Russia Mikhail Piotrovovsky .
`` She was always very ladylike and elegant .
But at the same time , she was very firm and tough and practical as well , for she always knew what she was doing .
All these qualities are crucial to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ build life brick by brick and she built it in a very decent way , '' Piotrovsky said during the annual Internet meeting within the framework of the Days of Hermitage festival .
Antonova was well acquainted with outstanding cultural personalities and Russian and European politicians of the 20th century and enjoyed great influence , says a message of condolences uploaded to the website of the Union of Museums of Russia .
`` Irina Antonova has left us forever .
Some might disagree with her .
Others even found her a little bit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legendary director of the Pushkin Museum , a firm crusader for its interests , its development and glory .
She was the one who helped our audiences discover world art masterpieces .
She was a great connoisseur of music and she taught us the skill of enjoying a blend of music and fine arts .
She was on a par with the 20th century greats in culture and the powers that be in Russia and in Europe , '' the message says .
The Union of Museums called the State Pushkin Museum of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades , as her `` favorite child . ''
Irina Antonova ’ s activity in the capacity of president of the Pushkin Museum had a tremendous impact on the museum business in Russia and in sense caused a revolution and her contribution to Russia culture is impossible to overestimate , the director of the State History Museum , Alexei Levykin , told TASS .
`` What words can properly describe the accomplishments of a great person , who has influenced not only the museum industry in Russia , the country ’ s culture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life was tightly linked with museums and the Pushkin Museum in particular .
I am proud I was fortunate enough to meet with her , talk to her and even argue with her in some situations .
I was fortunate to be Antonova ’ s contemporary .
Her contribution to the development of Russian culture is invaluable .
Researchers and specialists will keep looking back on it again and again , '' Levykin said .
He said Antonova invariably produced an unforgettable impression on people who chanced to meet her .
She was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Russia , but abroad , too .
Antonova ’ s distinguishing features were her boldness and certainty what she was doing was right and proper .
`` All of her undertakings concerning the Pushkin Museum left a lasting imprint on the operation of each museum in the country .
To a certain extent she made a revolution in the museum business with her persistency , knowledge and the awareness she was on the right side of life .
She managed to push through and resolve many issues no other person would ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always right . ''
The director of the Dal State Museum of the History of Russian Literature , Dmitry Bak , too , noted Irina Antonova ’ s gigantic contribution to the museum business .
`` She was great , because she surpassed any individual period in the country ’ s history .
Antonova was able to work during the thaw years and when the internal climate in society was frigid .
She was never distracted by second-rate details and always ‘ took care of her own garden ’ in defiance of external @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Irina Antonova was younger than all of us in some respects .
In the last years of her long life she sensed the changes that had already happened or were happening in modern art and modern culture .
She always postulated that nothing can substitute for real works of art .
Many of her predictions forestalled the era that has set in .
Irina Antonova ’ s death was a symbolic event in a sense .
The Antonova age is over , but she managed to brief on and warn us of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us , '' he concluded .
And the general director of the State Vladimir-Suzdal Museum Preserve , member of the presidential council for culture and the arts , Svetlana Melnikova , told TASS she agreed that Irina Antonova ’ s death put an end to a whole era .
`` I was immensely lucky to meet with her and talk with her quite often .
I found her viewpoint invariably respectable , whatever subject we might touch upon .
Her professional qualities are not a subject matter for a discussion .
They are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Irina Antonova as an embodiment of professional dignity and the highest professionalism , '' she added .

Earlier on Tuesday, the Pushkin Museum’s director, Marina Loshak, told TASS that Antonova passed away on November 30. Sources at the museum later said that her death was due to the coronavirus infection in combination with cardiovascular diseases. The date of the funeral will be announced later.
MOSCOW, December 1. /TASS/. The president of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Irina Antonova, has died at 98. She was a legend and a pillar of the museum industry and national culture in general, appreciated in Russia and the world over. She largely takes the credit for the Pushkin Museum’s current world renown. With her death a whole era came to an end, say her friends and colleagues.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered deep condolences to Antonova’s relatives and dear ones. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media Putin had known Antonova very well, repeatedly visited her museum and appreciated her deep knowledge of fine arts.
Deputy chief of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, too, has offered condolences to Antonova’s dear ones and described her as a remarkable connoisseur of fine arts and an outstanding representative of the national and world museum community.
"It is an irreparable loss for her relatives and friends, for Russian culture and for all of us," Medvedev said. "Antonova won acclaim as an outstanding public figure and authored and promoted projects that invariably met with tremendous interest from all fine arts devotees."
An example to follow
The museum community has lost a great teacher and an example to follow, says the general director of the Moscow Kremlin Museums, Yelena Gagarina.
"It is a tremendous loss for the whole Russian culture. Antonova dedicated her whole life to a cause that she believed in and that was her source of energy and strength to carry on in the most dramatic moments in life. Her professionalism, exceptional artistic taste, self-sacrifice and willpower accomplished the impossible: she turned a museum that had been originally conceived as a museum of replicas into an organization of renown respected around the world. During the Iron Curtain years she arranged for some exhibition projects that far from every museum will mange to cope with these days," Gagarina is quoted by the press-service of the Moscow Kremlin’s Museums as saying.
Antonova was one of those people who embody Russian culture. She possessed remarkable sophistication and willpower, said the president of the Russian Academy of Fine Arts, Zurab Tsereteli.
"Today we all feel deeply aggrieved. The genius of Irina Antonova has left us. She was one of the great personalities in the world of art and science who are an embodiment of Russian culture. She possessed a unique combination of aristocratism, intellect, sophistication and remarkably strong character. Some people are said to be worthy of the era of Renaissance in scale. Irina Antonova’s personality fully matches this definition," he stressed.
Tzereteli said he would always remember Antonova as a "unique person strongly dedicated to art and beautiful in all respects."
"I’m unable to say aloud Irina Antonova’s life is over, because her life was the life of her museum. And not only of the Pushkin Museum, but of all other museums in Russia and around the world. She was well-known at all museums. She was an integral part of this life. She has been, still is and will always be part and parcel of the history of Russia’s life, Russian culture and Russian museums. Her life is an example for all or us, an example of energy that is derived from the love of what you do," said the Russian Museum’s director Vladimir Gusev.
The Victory Museum’s director, Alexander Shkolnik, has told TASS that Antonova’s tremendous contribution to the museum culture is yet to be grasped and appreciated.
"She was an example of the highest professional and moral principles in her attitude to art. Today it is impossible to imagine not only the Pushkin Museum, but the whole Russian and world culture and the world of art without Irina Antonova. She was one of those people who have can have no substitutes," he said.
Rare combination of knowledge and intuition
Irina Antonova boasted a rare combination of knowledge and intuition. She largely takes the credit for the fundamental reconsideration of the mission of museums as cultural and social institutions, the Moscow State University’s rector, Dmitry Sadovnichy, told TASS.
Antonova was one of the best graduates of the Moscow State University and during her whole life she served the ideals of beauty and harmony, he said.
"Irina Antonova had a unique combination of fundamental knowledge and intuition. She was an art manager of genius, long before this profession emerged in this country. Until her last days she remained amazingly industrious and committed to her calling and her principles. She invariably remained a very bright and talented lady. We will keep lasting memories of this outstanding scholar, a person of unique fate in science and the arts and of her tremendous services to national and world culture," Sadovnichy said.
Legend in her lifetime
The president of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts Irina Antonova was keen to create conditions for the freedom of artists’ creative endeavor. She managed to surmount seemingly insurmountable obstacles, said the president of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, General Director of the Jewish Museum and Center of Tolerance, Rabbi Alexander Boroda.
"She shared the firm, unshakable and absolutely unbiased belief that for the arts’ development there must be a free dialogue, that if we wish to have ‘outstanding’ artists, then the country’s museums must enjoy a ‘visa-free’ regime. This penetration of seemingly unbreakable borders became possible for all of her compatriots thanks to her work," Boroda’s press-service said.
Boroda believes that such personalities as Antonova are unique. He noted her talent, self-sacrifice and dedication to the cause she served all her life regardless of volatile and adverse external circumstances.
"We are proud we awarded to Irina Antonova the prize of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia called Fiddler on the Roof in the nomination Living Legend.
Antonova was a legend whose professionalism and civil responsibility were dedicated entirely to the museum business. She was a great authority outside Russia, in the world museum community, said Russia’s Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova. In the capacity of the Pushkin Museum’s director Antonova displayed "extraordinary qualities of an organizer."
"Under her guidance the museum hosted the legendary exhibitions Moscow-Paris, Moscow-Berlin, Russia-Italy and large expositions featuring works by Picasso, Modigliani, Turner, Caravaggio and other great artists," Lyubimova recalled. Until just recently Antonova was an active participant in museum work, making preparations for exhibitions and educational programs. The minister of culture said Antonova’s death was an irrecoverable loss for national culture and offered condolences to Antonova’s relatives and dear ones and the whole museum community.
Russian presidential aide, chairman of the Russian Military-Historical Society Vladimir Medinsky, too, stressed that Antonova’s contribution to the emergence and development of the national museum industry was enormous.
"Antonova was a true citizen of her country, who proved her allegiance and faithfulness to Russia with her life and work. She had no equals. No words can speak the deepness of our grief over this great loss," the press-service of the Russian Military-Historical Society quoted Medinsky as saying.
Symbol of the Pushkin Museum
"It is hard to imagine the Pushkin Museum without Antonova, who has become part of its image and its symbol," the museum’s press service quoted Loshak as saying.
Antonova has worked at the Pushkin Museum for 75 years.
"In 1945, she took her first job here and from that moment on, except for several months of this year during the coronavirus lockdown she came to the museum every day. We got accustomed to the feeling she is somewhere near any minute. Even when we did not talk business, even we just heard the rustle of papers or the sound of her voice behind the door other office. We were always aware that she is around. We felt her presence, the presence of a very emotional, very open, very loving person and very strict in all aspects of her attitude to life," Loshak said. "Irina was an absolutely fearless person. She was fearless as a professional and as a personality. Throughout her professional career she took very bold steps towards the new. Those were steps taken by someone prepared to take risks. And by no means casual steps and actions. She was a person who understood that her cause and her principles were most important that anything else," Loshak said.
Antonova’s accomplishments
In 1974, Antonova and her team reorganized the museum exposition. In that same year Leonardo da Vinci’s La Gioconda was displayed at the Pushkin Museum. A number of important expositions followed.
"All that happened during rather dramatic years for Antonova. Many things that are quite ordinary today were under a ban. This makes her achievements most valuable - Picasso’s first exhibition in 1956, Moscow-Paris, Moscow-Berlin, exhibitions of the world’s greatest artists and the display of Mona Lisa," Loshak said.
Antonova’s museum career began when the Pushkin Museum demonstrated masterpieces from the Dresden Gallery.
"Every moment of Irina’s life is tightly linked with the museum’s history, victorious and unique. We, museum staffers, will greatly miss her and her uncompromising attitude to life, her honest opinion, her defiance of risks and her ability to brush aside everything fleeting and unimportant and to demonstrate courage. We will be missing this person, who is surely part of each of us and our own lives," Loshak said.
Top museum league
Antonova was an embodiment of the era of Soviet and Russian cultural life. She managed to steer the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts into the top division of the world museum community, Russia’s special presidential representative for international cultural cooperation, Mikhail Shvydkoi, told TASS.
"Irina Antonova is a whole era of Soviet and Russian cultural life. Her service at the Pushkin Museum lasted an eon - 75 years. She turned the Pushkin Museum into a member of the top division of the world museum community," Shvydkoi said.
"Back in the Soviet years Antonova realized that a museum is not just a place where exhibits of this or that level are kept, but an institution vested with a mission of education, upbringing and research."
"True, many will say: "She passed away when she was very advanced in years.’ People like her are ageless and her loss is incredibly bitter," Shvydkoi said.
Antonova’s efforts turned the Pushkin Museum into a modern educational center and a treasury of world masterpieces, the speaker of Russia’s Federation Council, Valentina Matviyenko said in a message of condolences. She described Antonova as a true museum enthusiast, an excellent art connoisseur and a wonderful person, who was keen to safeguard and promote national culture. "Together with her country Antonova struggled through the turmoil of war and postwar years, which molded her character and made it strong enough to cope with any hardships," Matviyenko said.
On a par with the greats
Antonova possessed elegance and firmness, qualities that are both essential for anyone who governs a museum, said the general director of the Hermitage Museum, President of the Union of Museums of Russia Mikhail Piotrovovsky.
"She was always very ladylike and elegant. But at the same time, she was very firm and tough and practical as well, for she always knew what she was doing. All these qualities are crucial to a museum. She knew how to build life brick by brick and she built it in a very decent way," Piotrovsky said during the annual Internet meeting within the framework of the Days of Hermitage festival.
Antonova was well acquainted with outstanding cultural personalities and Russian and European politicians of the 20th century and enjoyed great influence, says a message of condolences uploaded to the website of the Union of Museums of Russia.
"Irina Antonova has left us forever. Some might disagree with her. Others even found her a little bit frightful. She was ANTONOVA. A legendary director of the Pushkin Museum, a firm crusader for its interests, its development and glory. She was the one who helped our audiences discover world art masterpieces. She was a great connoisseur of music and she taught us the skill of enjoying a blend of music and fine arts. She was on a par with the 20th century greats in culture and the powers that be in Russia and in Europe," the message says.
The Union of Museums called the State Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, which Antonova governed for decades, as her "favorite child."
Antonova’s era
Irina Antonova’s activity in the capacity of president of the Pushkin Museum had a tremendous impact on the museum business in Russia and in sense caused a revolution and her contribution to Russia culture is impossible to overestimate, the director of the State History Museum, Alexei Levykin, told TASS.
"What words can properly describe the accomplishments of a great person, who has influenced not only the museum industry in Russia, the country’s culture as such? Irina Antonova’s life was tightly linked with museums and the Pushkin Museum in particular. I am proud I was fortunate enough to meet with her, talk to her and even argue with her in some situations. I was fortunate to be Antonova’s contemporary. Her contribution to the development of Russian culture is invaluable. Researchers and specialists will keep looking back on it again and again," Levykin said.
He said Antonova invariably produced an unforgettable impression on people who chanced to meet her. She was considered a great museum director not only in Russia, but abroad, too. Antonova’s distinguishing features were her boldness and certainty what she was doing was right and proper.
"All of her undertakings concerning the Pushkin Museum left a lasting imprint on the operation of each museum in the country. To a certain extent she made a revolution in the museum business with her persistency, knowledge and the awareness she was on the right side of life. She managed to push through and resolve many issues no other person would’ve dared to approach. She was always right."
The director of the Dal State Museum of the History of Russian Literature, Dmitry Bak, too, noted Irina Antonova’s gigantic contribution to the museum business.
"She was great, because she surpassed any individual period in the country’s history. Antonova was able to work during the thaw years and when the internal climate in society was frigid. She was never distracted by second-rate details and always ‘took care of her own garden’ in defiance of external obstacles," Bak told TASS.
"Irina Antonova was younger than all of us in some respects. In the last years of her long life she sensed the changes that had already happened or were happening in modern art and modern culture. She always postulated that nothing can substitute for real works of art. Many of her predictions forestalled the era that has set in. Irina Antonova’s death was a symbolic event in a sense. The Antonova age is over, but she managed to brief on and warn us of many things that are in store for us," he concluded.
And the general director of the State Vladimir-Suzdal Museum Preserve, member of the presidential council for culture and the arts, Svetlana Melnikova, told TASS she agreed that Irina Antonova’s death put an end to a whole era.
"I was immensely lucky to meet with her and talk with her quite often. I found her viewpoint invariably respectable, whatever subject we might touch upon. Her professional qualities are not a subject matter for a discussion. They are widely known. I will always remember Irina Antonova as an embodiment of professional dignity and the highest professionalism," she added.


tass--2020-12-01--Russia to create good conditions for investments in petrochemical industry, Putin says

TOBOLSK /Tyumen region/ , December 1 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian authorities will continue to create comfortable conditions for attracting investments in the development of the country 's petrochemical industry , President Vladimir Putin said .
He was opening a meeting on the strategic development of the petrochemical industry .
`` In general , we will certainly continue to create comfortable conditions for the development of oil refining capacities , for the activities of investors in this area .
The government is already closely engaged in this , '' Putin said .
According to the President , the efficiency of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cost of work are key factors in the success of such projects .
He noted that with this in mind , the authorities are now canceling outdated construction regulations , simplifying sanitary standards and requirements .
Also the use of advanced building materials and digital technologies is being promoted .
`` This work , of course , needs to be continued in the future in order to create an optimal environment for further investment activities , '' the head of state said .
He invited the participants of the meeting to discuss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capital costs for the construction of petrochemical facilities without compromising the safety of their operation , in particular from an environmental point of view .

TOBOLSK /Tyumen region/, December 1. /TASS/. The Russian authorities will continue to create comfortable conditions for attracting investments in the development of the country's petrochemical industry, President Vladimir Putin said. He was opening a meeting on the strategic development of the petrochemical industry.
"In general, we will certainly continue to create comfortable conditions for the development of oil refining capacities, for the activities of investors in this area. The government is already closely engaged in this," Putin said.
According to the President, the efficiency of construction of petrochemical facilities, optimal timing and cost of work are key factors in the success of such projects.
He noted that with this in mind, the authorities are now canceling outdated construction regulations, simplifying sanitary standards and requirements. Also the use of advanced building materials and digital technologies is being promoted.
"This work, of course, needs to be continued in the future in order to create an optimal environment for further investment activities," the head of state said. He invited the participants of the meeting to discuss measures that can be taken to optimize capital costs for the construction of petrochemical facilities without compromising the safety of their operation, in particular from an environmental point of view.


tass--2020-12-01--Driver of car that hit pedestrians in Germany’s Trier did it on purpose, officials say

BERLIN , December 1 .
/TASS/ .
The driver of the car that plowed into pedestrians in Germany ’ s @ @ @ @ @ on purpose , the city ’ s mayor Wolfram Liebe told the SWR TV channel @ @ @ @ @ informed that the crash in the city ’ s center was intentional .
He added @ @ @ @ @ dead , and 15 are injured , some of them in a grave condition .
@ @ @ @ @ Twitter that a 51-year-old local resident is behind the attack .
`` As for the @ @ @ @ @ 51-year-old man from the Trier-Saarburg district , '' the law enforcement informed .
German Government @ @ @ @ @ the incident on Twitter .
`` What happened in Trier is shocking .
Our thoughts @ @ @ @ @ those killed and of many injured , as well as with everyone who is currently @ @ @ @ @ , '' he wrote on Twitter .

BERLIN, December 1. /TASS/. The driver of the car that plowed into pedestrians in Germany’s Trier may have done this on purpose, the city’s mayor Wolfram Liebe told the SWR TV channel on Tuesday.
The mayor informed that the crash in the city’s center was intentional. He added that two people are confirmed dead, and 15 are injured, some of them in a grave condition.
The Trier police informed on Twitter that a 51-year-old local resident is behind the attack. "As for the detained, it is a 51-year-old man from the Trier-Saarburg district," the law enforcement informed.
German Government Spokesman Steffen Seibert commented on the incident on Twitter. "What happened in Trier is shocking. Our thoughts are with the relatives of those killed and of many injured, as well as with everyone who is currently providing aid to the injured," he wrote on Twitter.


tass--2020-12-01--Makeshift bomb causes explosion of Russian embassy car in Kabul, Moscow says

MOSCOW , December 1 .
/TASS/ .
A Russian embassy car exploded in Kabul on Tuesday , the embassy workers received a slight concussion , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement published on Tuesday .
The explosion was caused by a makeshift bomb .
`` On December 1 , a makeshift bomb exploded near the Russian embassy complex in Kabul along the route of the vehicle belonging to the Russian diplomatic mission .
Embassy workers in the car received a slight concussion , '' the diplomat informed .
The statement notes that according to preliminary estimations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security forces with military officers on board was planned to be the target of the attack , `` however , it can ’ t be ruled out that the terrorist attack was aimed against Russian citizens . ''
`` The Russian Embassy in Kabul is taking additional measures aimed to increase security of the embassy personnel and facilities , '' the diplomat informed .
Zakharova stressed that Russia demands that Afghanistan `` hold a thorough investigation of the incident and take comprehensive measures to ensure the security of Russian diplomatic mission workers in @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, December 1. /TASS/. A Russian embassy car exploded in Kabul on Tuesday, the embassy workers received a slight concussion, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement published on Tuesday. The explosion was caused by a makeshift bomb.
"On December 1, a makeshift bomb exploded near the Russian embassy complex in Kabul along the route of the vehicle belonging to the Russian diplomatic mission. Embassy workers in the car received a slight concussion," the diplomat informed.
The statement notes that according to preliminary estimations, a vehicle belonging to the Afghan security forces with military officers on board was planned to be the target of the attack, "however, it can’t be ruled out that the terrorist attack was aimed against Russian citizens."
"The Russian Embassy in Kabul is taking additional measures aimed to increase security of the embassy personnel and facilities," the diplomat informed.
Zakharova stressed that Russia demands that Afghanistan "hold a thorough investigation of the incident and take comprehensive measures to ensure the security of Russian diplomatic mission workers in Afghanistan.".


tass--2020-12-01--Global demand for petrochemical products seen at almost 4% annually, says Putin

TOBOLSK /Tyumen region/ , December 1 .
/TASS/ .
Global demand for petrochemical products is expected to grow by about 4 % annually , while the demand for oil will grow only by 1 % , Russian President Vladimir Putin This announced on Tuesday .
He was speaking at a meeting for the strategic development of the petrochemical industry .
`` By the way , this is very promising .
The expected average annual growth rate of world demand [ for petrochemical products ] is somewhere under 4 % .
Over the next five years , the demand for oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and then there will be a general decline , to 0.1 , '' the Russian leader said .
Putin noted that the Russian petrochemical industry has `` huge growth potential '' and urged promotion of Russian petrochemical products domestically and abroad .
`` For this purpose , large-scale projects with a total investment of about 5 trillion rubles ( $ 66 bln ) must be implemented in the industry , '' the President said .
Putin noted that a total of 14 such projects should be implemented in Russia .
Touching upon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ petrochemical industry the President said that the rate of import substitution in low-tonnage petrochemical industry is insufficient .
The share of imports remains at a high level , so efforts must be made to change the existing proportion , he said .
`` Domestic demand in this area , of course , significantly exceeds what we are currently producing , and is covered by imports .
For some items , dependence on foreign suppliers reaches 100 % .
Of course , this situation needs to be changed , '' the President noted .

TOBOLSK /Tyumen region/, December 1. /TASS/. Global demand for petrochemical products is expected to grow by about 4% annually, while the demand for oil will grow only by 1%, Russian President Vladimir Putin This announced on Tuesday. He was speaking at a meeting for the strategic development of the petrochemical industry.
"By the way, this is very promising. The expected average annual growth rate of world demand [for petrochemical products] is somewhere under 4%. Over the next five years, the demand for oil will be growing by only 1%, and then there will be a general decline, to 0.1," the Russian leader said.
Putin noted that the Russian petrochemical industry has "huge growth potential" and urged promotion of Russian petrochemical products domestically and abroad.
"For this purpose, large-scale projects with a total investment of about 5 trillion rubles ($66 bln) must be implemented in the industry," the President said.
Putin noted that a total of 14 such projects should be implemented in Russia.
Touching upon the topic of import substitution in the petrochemical industry the President said that the rate of import substitution in low-tonnage petrochemical industry is insufficient. The share of imports remains at a high level, so efforts must be made to change the existing proportion, he said.
"Domestic demand in this area, of course, significantly exceeds what we are currently producing, and is covered by imports. For some items, dependence on foreign suppliers reaches 100%. Of course, this situation needs to be changed," the President noted.


tass--2020-12-01--No signs of intentional delay of exchange of prisoners, bodies in Karabakh, says Lavrov

`` It is difficult to speak about any intentional steps towards intentional delay of this process , we do not see any .
But it is a fact , that objective complications exist , which , I hope , will be resolved faster now , '' Lavrov said at a press-conference after the CSTO Foreign Ministers Council online meeting .
MOSCOW , December 1 .
/TASS/ .
Russia sees no signs of intentional delay of the exchange of the prisoners of war and the bodies of the fallen between the sides of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict , however , objective complications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday .
According to the Foreign Minister , `` it was very difficult to work on these issues , '' considering the terrain and the specifics of the combat , as well as the lack of precise lists of missing people .
`` In order to successfully exchange the prisoners an the bodies , the situation in this field must be accounted .
And , of course , military commanders on both sides must have very precise lists of missing people , so that we can work on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He added that assisting with prisoners and bodies exchange has become one of the main goals of the Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh .
They have taken a number of specific steps that extent , the Minister said .
`` We are interested in solving this humanitarian problem as soon as possible , '' Lavrov underscored .
`` I would note that our peacekeepers paid special attention to these problems at the time when the key international institution - the International Red Cross Committee - evacuated its employees from Nagorno-Karabakh .
So the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lean on is very important from a practical standpoint , '' the top diplomat said .
He noted that the Red Cross Committee employees have already returned to Stepanakert and plan to increase its presence in the region to 400 people , and increase its funding request for activities in Nagorno-Karabakh to 45 million Swiss francs .
`` So we will hope that , with the involvement of specialists from this international organization , it will go faster .
Our peacekeepers will , of course , assist , as much as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

"It is difficult to speak about any intentional steps towards intentional delay of this process, we do not see any. But it is a fact, that objective complications exist, which, I hope, will be resolved faster now," Lavrov said at a press-conference after the CSTO Foreign Ministers Council online meeting.
MOSCOW, December 1. /TASS/. Russia sees no signs of intentional delay of the exchange of the prisoners of war and the bodies of the fallen between the sides of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, however, objective complications for this process do exist, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday.
According to the Foreign Minister, "it was very difficult to work on these issues," considering the terrain and the specifics of the combat, as well as the lack of precise lists of missing people.
"In order to successfully exchange the prisoners an the bodies, the situation in this field must be accounted. And, of course, military commanders on both sides must have very precise lists of missing people, so that we can work on it substantially," the Minister noted.
He added that assisting with prisoners and bodies exchange has become one of the main goals of the Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh. They have taken a number of specific steps that extent, the Minister said.
"We are interested in solving this humanitarian problem as soon as possible," Lavrov underscored.
"I would note that our peacekeepers paid special attention to these problems at the time when the key international institution - the International Red Cross Committee - evacuated its employees from Nagorno-Karabakh. So the fact that our peacekeepers provided a shoulder to lean on is very important from a practical standpoint," the top diplomat said.
He noted that the Red Cross Committee employees have already returned to Stepanakert and plan to increase its presence in the region to 400 people, and increase its funding request for activities in Nagorno-Karabakh to 45 million Swiss francs.
"So we will hope that, with the involvement of specialists from this international organization, it will go faster. Our peacekeepers will, of course, assist, as much as they can," the top diplomat concluded.


tass--2020-12-01--Russian, Irish diplomats discuss European security

MOSCOW , December 1./TASS/ .
Russia ’ s First Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov and Irish Department of Foreign Affairs @ @ @ @ @ discussed on Tuesday Russian-Irish relations as well as ways to ensure stability and security in @ @ @ @ @ discussed front-and-center issues in Russian-Irish relations , putting an emphasis on mutual interest in maintaining @ @ @ @ @ foreign ministries , '' the Russian Foreign Ministry said .
`` The sides confirmed a @ @ @ @ @ the trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian tracks , noting substantial progress achieved in cooperation between the two @ @ @ @ @ years , '' the ministry went on to say .
They also `` touched upon @ @ @ @ @ security and stability on the European continent and the settlement of acute regional conflicts within @ @ @ @ @ s upcoming activity as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2021-2022 , '' @ @ @ @ @ Irish diplomat was in Moscow for consultations on bilateral and international issues with the directors @ @ @ @ @ Russian Foreign Ministry .

MOSCOW, December 1./TASS/. Russia’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov and Irish Department of Foreign Affairs’ Political Director Sonja Hyland discussed on Tuesday Russian-Irish relations as well as ways to ensure stability and security in Europe.
The diplomats "discussed front-and-center issues in Russian-Irish relations, putting an emphasis on mutual interest in maintaining a regular dialogue between the foreign ministries," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "The sides confirmed a bid to strengthen relations on the trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian tracks, noting substantial progress achieved in cooperation between the two parliaments in the past few years," the ministry went on to say.
They also "touched upon a number of issues regarding security and stability on the European continent and the settlement of acute regional conflicts within the context of Ireland’s upcoming activity as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2021-2022," the ministry said.
The Irish diplomat was in Moscow for consultations on bilateral and international issues with the directors of relevant departments at the Russian Foreign Ministry.