Israel issues threat to Russia: No S-300s for Syria

Updated: May 31st, 2013

Russian S-300 air-defense system

Source: Press TV

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/05/29/305986/no-s300s-for-syria-israel-tells-russia/

Israel has issued a veiled threat to Russia over its plan to sell S-300 air-defense missiles to Syria, implying that it is ready to use force to prevent the delivery of the missiles.

On Tuesday, Russia said that it would go ahead with the delivery of S-300 missiles to Syria, noting that the deal would help deter foreign intervention in the country.

Later in the day, Israeli Minister for Military Affairs Moshe Ya'alon commented on the plan, saying, "Clearly this move is a threat to us."

"At this stage I can't say there is an escalation. The shipments have not been sent on their way yet. And I hope that they will not be sent," he said. But "if God forbid they do reach Syria, we will know what to do."

The S-300 anti-aircraft system is designed to defend large industrial and administrative centers, army bases, and similar facilities and is capable of destroying ballistic missiles. The most recent modifications of the system can shoot down hostile missiles or aircraft up to 200 kilometers (125 miles) away.

Israel has repeatedly asked Russia to scrap the contract to sell Syria the truck-mounted S-300 missile system.

However, Russia has insisted that it will deliver the S-300 missile system to Syria.

Earlier this month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to Russia to try to dissuade Moscow from delivering the S-300s to Syria.

In Moscow, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov insisted that Russia would not cancel the deal despite strong Western and Israeli opposition.

"We understand the concerns and signals sent to us from different capitals. We realize that many of our partners are concerned about the issue," Ryabkov said. "We have no reason to revise our stance."

"We believe that such steps to a large extent help restrain some hotheads considering a scenario to give an international dimension to this conflict," he added .

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Update: May 29th - 2013 - 4:45 PM

S-300s stabilizing factor for Syria

Source Video: Press TV

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5QU7IVdfRw

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Update: May 30th, 2013

Syria already in possession of Russia's S-300 system: President Assad

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

Source: Press TV

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/05/30/306191/syria-receives-1st-s300-shipment/

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says Damascus is already in possession of the first batch of S-300 missile defense systems from Russia.

During an interview with Lebanon’s Al-Manar TV, President Assad also said that the second shipment of the Russian systems will be delivered to Syria soon.

He added that his country would respond to any Israeli aggression against his country.

The complete interview is expected to be aired later on Thursday.

Earlier on May 28, Moscow had said it would go ahead with the delivery of S-300 systems to Damascus, following which the Israeli regime hinted it would take action to prevent the delivery of the systems to Damascus.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem later reiterated that Damascus would give an “immediate” response to any act of aggression by Israel.

“Syria will not let any Israeli aggression go unanswered without retaliation. The retaliation will be the same size as the aggression, and the same type of weapons will be used,” the Syrian foreign minister stated.

In a separate development, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on May 29 that Moscow may reconsider its commitments to restrictions on the delivery of arms to the Syrian government, following a recent decision by the European Union to end an arms embargo on the militants in Syria.

Russia says that the shipment of the S-300 missile defense system is aimed at deterring foreign intervention in Syria.

Syria has been gripped by turmoil since March 2011 and the foreign-sponsored militancy has taken its toll on the lives of many people, including large numbers of Syrian soldiers and security personnel.
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Update: 2013 May 31^st

Russian missiles put Israel at risk: US, Germany

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry (R) and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle

Source: Press TV

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/06/01/306512/russian-missiles-endanger-israel-kerry/

US Secretary of State John Kerry and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle say Russia’s delivery of S-300 missiles to Syria will hamper efforts at planned peace talks in Geneva and put Israel at risk.

"It is not helpful to have the S-300 transferred to the region while we are trying to organize this peace [conference] and create peace," Kerry said at a joint news conference with his German counterpart in Washington on Friday.

"We ask them again not to upset the balance within the region with respect to Israel," he said. "The weaponry that is being provided Assad whether it is an old contract or not, has a profoundly negative impact on the balance of interests and the stability of the region and it does put Israel at risk."

Westerwelle also said the Russian missiles would “endanger” the Geneva talks and put Israel’s security at risk.

The two top diplomats were referring to the joint US-Russian bid to hold an international conference on the crisis in Syria that will probably be held in mid-June in the Swiss city of Geneva.

Russia said on Tuesday that it would provide Syria with its S-300 air defense system in accordance with a previous contract. The announcement came a day after the European Union decided to end its arms embargo on Syria to lay the ground for arming militants against the Syrian government.

The warnings to Russia are made by two Western countries that provide the Israeli regime with the most advanced weaponry. In late April, Israel received its fifth Dolfin-class submarine, capable of launching missiles with nuclear warheads, from Germany.

The first two nuclear submarines were donated for free while the third was given at a 50-percent discount. Germany also paid for a third of the fourth and fifth submarines, according to International Defense News.

Berlin will also give another nuclear submarine to Israel in several years and will pay about 135 million euro of the total 600-million-euro cost of the submarine.

In March, President Barack Obama said the US would support Israel with military aid through 2017 and even beyond. This year’s agreement would increase the current aid from $2.4 to $3.1 billion every year.

Obama also said his team would work with the Congress about another $600 million over the next two years for the development of Israel’s Iron Dome missile system.


 

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Russia to propose UN resolution on Gaza crisis

 

Russian ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin.(Reuters / Allison Joyce)

Source: Russia Today

http://rt.com/news/russia-un-gaza-conflict-111/

Russia is ready to propose a full resolution aimed at stopping the violence between Israel and Gaza if the West continues to “filibuster” the UN Security Council statement on the crisis.

“Russia is ready… to submit a draft resolution focusing on three key components,” Russia’s envoy to the UN, Vitaly Churkin told the UN Security Council during consultations on the Gaza conflict arranged at Russia’s initiative.

Morocco proposed a statement calling for a halt to the hostilities last Thursday and since then diplomats have had enough time to present their amendments in writing, Churkin said. “The fact that they introduced these amendments orally… after three days of having the Moroccan text at their disposal, they could, at least, have prepared their amendments in writing,” he said. “To me it unfortunately looks like a little bit of a filibuster attempt.”

Churkin did not name any one country that has been hampering progress and indicated “quite transparently that they will not be prepared to go along with any reaction of the Security Council.”

“Maybe it’s just a laid back attitude in a situation where we cannot afford procrastination,” he added.

According to Churkin the key components of Russia’s resolution would be the following: An end to the violence by a negotiated a ceasefire, support for international and regional efforts to settle the crisis peacefully and a call for the resumption of talks between Palestinians and Israelis on a wider range of problems.

Russia is also calling for an emergency ministerial meeting of the Quartet on the Middle East – the United States, Russia, the United Nations and the European Union. “We believe the quartet should also actively play its role in trying to prevent further aggravation of the extremely dangerous situation,” Churkin said.

In the meantime, the text of what appears to be a draft document has been leaked on the internet.

One article of the six-point document urges all parties to address the serious humanitarian and economic needs in Gaza, and to allow for the safe and unhindered access of humanitarian assistance and personnel to the Palestinian people and to ensure the unimpeded provision of humanitarian supplies throughout Gaza.

Some 110 Palestinians, including at least 24 children and toddlers and 13 women have been killed since Israel launched its Operation Pillar of Defense against Gaza. Meanwhile three Israelis were killed in rocket fire on Thursday, a day after the IDF assassinated the head of the Hamas military wing, Ahmed Jabari.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon is visiting Cairo in a bid to broker a peace deal between the two sides as the threat of a ground invasion looms. On Monday, Israel warned Hamas it will step up its offensive in the Gaza Strip in 36 hours if it does not cease rocket fire.

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Big army reshuffle: Head of the General Staff replaced

 

(From right) Russian President Vladimir Putin, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Colonel-General Valery Gerasimov nominated for the post of Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces meet in the Kremlin, November 9, 2012 (RIA Novosti / Alexsey Druginyn)

Source: Russia Today

http://rt.com/politics/chief-staff-makarov-army-306/

President Vladimir Putin has appointed Colonel General Valery Gerasimov to be the new Chief of the General Staff, replacing the resigned Nikolay Makarov.

Makarov handed in his resignation after the Defense Minister Anatoly Seryukov was sackedearlier this week over a property scandal involving the ministry.

Russia's newly-appointed Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu nominated 57-year old Colonel General Gerasimov who has been commander of the Central Military District to take over the top post.

“He is a military man from head to toe, a man who has served for a long time in the Armed Forces and is respected there. He has enormous experience of work both in the General Staff and on the battlefield," Shoigu said at a meeting with President and Commander-in-Chief Putin.

Under the decree signed by the President, from now on Gerasimov is also Russia’s First deputy Defense Minister.

Straight to business, Putin outlined tasks for the new head of the General Staff: to build stable partnership with leading defense industry plants, to continue rearmament of the Army and Fleet and to improve the structure and command of troops.

Gerasimov is known to be a critic of the reforms pushed through by Serdyukov which were unpopular among the Russian military.

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Russia warns of Western anti Syria move

 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

Source: Press TV

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/11/05/270498/russia-warns-of-western-antisyria-move/

Russia has warned that Western countries are seeking a UN Security Council resolution that will aggravate the situation in Syria in order to pave the way for regime change in the country.

“If the priority is the change of the regime, then there will be more blood, but if the priority is to save lives, then there is no need for any type of resolutions. We have not yet tried to implement Geneva accords,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Sunday.

He made the remarks at a joint press conference with Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi and UN-Arab League Special Representative for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi in Cairo.

On November 2, the Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement saying the United States was giving “direct orders” to the “Syrian opposition.”

“We heard direct orders (from the United States) about what the Syrian opposition should do to form a ‘government in exile’, and about who should join such a government,” the statement read.

“US representatives are saying that they do not intend to wait for a change in Russia and China’s position. So they are bluntly making clear that they see the Syria conflict being settled exclusively on their terms,” the statement further read.

Syria has been the scene of unrest since March 2011 and many people, including large numbers of army and security personnel, have been killed in the turmoil.

The anti-Syria Western states have been calling for President Bashar al-Assad to step down, but Russia and China oppose the Western drive to oust the Syrian president.

 

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West looking to ‘reanimate’ Russia's adversary image - Lavrov

 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. (AFP Photo / Aamir Qureshi)

By: Robert Bridge

Source: Russia Today

http://rt.com/politics/west-russia-lavrov-nato-image-087/

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov blames the “bloc thinking” of Western countries for failing to adjust to the present realities.

"Unfortunately, the Euro-Atlantic military-political processes are lagging behind the rapidly changing realities,” Lavrov said at the Federation Council on Wednesday. “The political elites of a number of Western countries are still obviously backsliding into bloc thinking."

"Certain politicians wish to reanimate the image of a geopolitical adversary in the person of our country,” the minister said, adding that such scare tactics helps to preserve “a strong military-political bond between the United States and European NATO members."

Although Lavrov did not mention Republican challenger for the White House, Mitt Romney, by name, the comments seem too well-timed to be a mere coincidence.

In March, Romney demonstrated the chasm that separates Democrat and Republican thinking on foreign policy when he called Russia the “number one geopolitical foe” of the United States. The comment recalled antiquated Cold War rhetoric and showed that the so-called Russia-US reset is just one presidential campaign away from irrelevancy.

"Cold War black-and-white thinking looks increasingly absurd against the backdrop of profound and, I would even say, tectonic shifts we are witnessing," Lavrov said.

The Russian minister suggested that the increase in rhetoric being directed at Russia may have a lot to do with the “process of division of power and influence…taking place on the global landscape,” which sees the role of the Asia Pacific region increasing as it becomes a “major driving force of economic development.”

Unfortunately, instead of western leaders looking to the booming eastern economies as a means for escaping from the clutches of a deepening economic recession, they are ratcheting up the rhetoric and spreading fear.

Thus, it should come as no surprise that given the frostiness in relations, the West is unwilling to sign a European security treaty together with Russia.

"Alas, our Western partners are not prepared as yet to accept the logic of implementing an indivisible security principle put forth in fundamental documents from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Russia-NATO Council," he noted.

Lavrov revealed that despite opposition on the part of some foreign leaders, the Russian initiative “has triggered rather energetic discussions on the possibilities and ways to upgrade the Euro-Atlantic security model.”

The idea of bringing all European territory under one security umbrella was first mentioned in 2008 by former Russia President Dmitry Medvedev.

"I'm convinced that Europe's problems won't be solved until its unity is established, an organic wholeness of all its integral parts, including Russia," Medvedev said.

Indeed, it seems that until Europe frees itself from the scourge of Cold War thinking, an atmosphere of mistrust will dominate the region, with the United States able to manipulate the situation for strategic gain.

The most blatant example of Washington stepping into the void left by the Cold War is witnessed by efforts to build a US missile defense system in Eastern Europe, which threatens to destabilize the balance of forces between the two former Cold War foes. Moscow has even warned that the system threatens to spark another arms race.

Denied participation in the project, Russia insists on receiving guarantees from NATO that the system will not be targeted against its nuclear forces.

"Reliable guarantees based on clear and impartial military-technical and geographic criteria that this system will not be targeted against Russian nuclear deterrent forces are fundamentally important for us," Lavrov stressed.

The minister said it was essential that Moscow is assured that the purpose of the system is to defend against “missile threats emanating from outside of the Euro-Atlantic region, that is, not from Russia."

Lavrov acknowledged that thus far the parties failed to find a solution to this problem, but Russia is willing to continue dialogue.

The minister also mentioned Russia’s concern over NATO’s increased military activity near Russia’s borders.

It is natural that we have questions concerning “increased military activity near Russian borders, the modernization and approaching of NATO's defence infrastructure and more frequent military exercises," Lavrov said.

The purpose of these exercises is unclear, he added.

Finally, on the question of resolving global hotspots, specifically in Syria and Iran, Russia will uphold the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Lavrov mentioned in his report.

"We will continue to resolutely insist on the supremacy of law in international affairs," Lavrov pledged. "This is how we will move forward in our efforts to address the situation in Syria, the Iranian nuclear program and other crisis situations.”

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Calls for Assad capitulation, not dialogue, encourages Syria terror - Lavrov

Russia Foreign Affair Minister Sergey V. Lavrov speaks at a United Nations Security Council meeting on peace and security in Middle East on September 26, 2012 in New York City. (Michael Nagle/Getty Images/AFP

Source: Russia Today

http://rt.com/news/un-security-council-muslim-world-074/

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov blamed the ongoing violence in Syria on “some states,” which encourage Syrian rebel terrorism and their refusal to negotiate. Lavrov made his remarks during a UN Security Council session.

­In a high-level meeting of the Security Council on Middle East security, two world powers – Russia and the United States – clashed over interpretations of the ongoing violence in Syria, and how to end the bloodshed.

"The states that encourage the opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to give up on the ceasefire and dialogue and to demand that the regime capitulate, bear responsibility for the continuing bloodshed," Lavrov said. "Such an approach is unrealistic and encourages terrorism, which is used by the opposition."

Lavrov reiterated Russia’s longstanding position that “stable settlement of the crisis can only be achieved through negotiation and compromise, taking into account the interests of all the faiths and ethnic groups of Syrian society." The Russian FM argued that the groundwork for a peaceful resolution should follow the Kofi Annan peace plan and the Geneva communique, and related Security Council resolutions.

"We see that the initiative put forth by Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has potential,” he said. In August, during a summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Mecca, Morsi called for the creation of "a quartet" to resolve the Syrian crisis. The group would include Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Iran, the latter two being understood to have strong influence in the region.

Washington accused the UN's decision-making body of paralysis, and the Syrian leader of “murdering of his own people.”

“The atrocities mount while the Security Council remains paralyzed, and I would urge that we try once again to find a path forward,” US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the Council, referring to Russia and China’s previous vetoes of Western-backed resolutions. Clinton was not present for Lavrov's remarks to the Security Council, citing a previous engagement.

As permanent members of the Security Council, Russia and China blocked three resolutions that would have imposed further sanctions on the Syrian government. Both countries argued that the only way to solve the crisis is through negotiations.

Other states of the 15-member council also called for action. “As the international community, we must be united to stop the violence and help initiate a process of political transition. We must find a common response. We owe it to the people,” German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said.

UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon said that “there is no military solution to this crisis” in Syria, and urged a political solution.

Punishing blasphemy

Another topic that dominated the Security Council's discussion was the Islamophobic, US-made amateurm film that sparked massive protests across the Muslim world.

Arab League representative Nabil Elaraby demanded that the Security Council criminalize acts that insult or cause offense to religions, arguing that unless blasphemy laws are enacted and enforced, similar violence could once again erupt.

"If the international community has criminalized bodily harm, it must just as well criminalize psychological and spiritual harm," Elaraby said.

The League of Arab States "calls for the development of an international legal framework which is binding … in order to confront insulting religions and ensure that religious faith and its symbols are respected."

 

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Russia, Kyrgyzstan seal military base agreement

 

Kyrgyz "Scorpion" special forces soldiers at the Russian air base in Kant, about 20km outside Bishkek (AFP Photo / V. Oseledko)

Source: Russia Today

http://rt.com/politics/common-help-operation-afghanistan-545/

Russia will maintain a joint military base in Kyrgyzstan for 15 years starting 2017, reads an agreement signed in the presence of the two countries’ leaders during a summit in Bishkek.

The freshly-signed agreement details the status and conditions of the military base’s stay and includes a protocol on military cooperation over the period before the base is opened. The agreement also regulates the rental price.

President Vladimir Putin told the press after the talks with Kyrgyz leader Almazbek Atambayev that the joint Russian-Kyrgyz military base would be a significant factor adding to the stability in the country and the whole region.

Putin stressed that the initiative to create the base came from the Kyrgyz side. He said that those who intend to rock the region’s stability must realize that there are forces that can be used in the fight against extremism, drug trafficking and terrorism.

The president also told reporters that in his view the situation in the neighboring Afghanistan will not change for the better in the nearest future, but Russian military presence in the region, both in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, is a serious factor of stability.

Atambayev told the press that he and Putin did not discuss the US military presence on Kyrgyz territory or the US air base at Bishkek Airport during the summit.

As for Kyrgyzstan’s own position, Atambayev said he had repeatedly supported the idea of conversion of the Bishkek base into a civilian air transport hub, and starting from 2014, when the rent agreement with the US expires, it will not be prolonged.

“A civilian airport must be a civilian site,” the president said adding, that he had repeatedly informed the US authorities about these plans.

Putin confirmed that he and his Kyrgyz colleague “not only didn’t discuss the US air base, but didn’t even mention it” and stressed that the question of foreign military presence in the country was Kyrgyzstan’s own sovereign right

 

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Russian Air Force to receive 180 new fighter jets, copters

File photo shows a Russian-made Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback warplane.

Source: Press TV

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/08/11/255671/russia-air-force-to-get-180-new-aircraft/

Russia’s Air Force Commander in Chief Major General Viktor Bondarev has announced that the country’s aerial warfare service branch will get some 180 brand-new fighter jets and military helicopters by the end of the current year.

“The country’s air force has already received several new Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback warplanes and will get another 12, along with Kamov Ka-52 Alligator and Mil Mi-28 Havoc helicopters, as well as trainer jets including 15 Yakovlev Yak-130 Mitten aircraft,” Bondarev said in an interview with the Ekho Moskvy radio station on Friday.

The aircraft to be supplied to the air forces will carry advanced navigation and other equipment and weapons “of significantly higher quality,” he said.

Bondarev noted that some 120 new aircraft joined the Russian air force last year.

The Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback is a twin-seat Russian fighter bomber. It is intended to replace the Sukhoi Su-24 attack aircraft. It made its first flight on April 13, 1990.The Russian Defense Ministry expects to have 124 Su-34s in service by 2020.

Kamov Ka-52 Alligator is a single-seat Russian attack helicopter with the distinctive coaxial rotor system of the Kamov design bureau.

It was designed in the 1980s and adopted for service in the Russian army in 1995. It is currently manufactured by the Progress company in the eastern city of Arsenyev.

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