We are quoting a lot from Iran and Russia sources lately. Can you blame us, as the Western media has become so embedded with the powers that be that they have mostly become irrelevant mouthpieces of the governments they are supposed to keep in check? Lou
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The Russian authorities are grateful to China for its support of Moscow’s position concerning the situation in Crimea, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Chang Wanquan on Tuesday. ”We have been paying great attention to the implementation of our agreements reached at the highest level. We are grateful to the leadership of the People’s Republic of China for their support of Russia’s stance in relation to Crimea. Thank you for your understanding of our steps in the current situation,” Shoigu said.
Russia and China are strategic partners, whose bilateral relations have been friendly and constructive for decades, he said.
“I believe that our meetings will also help make this mutually beneficial partnership stronger,” Shoigu said.
The Chinese defense minister, for his part, said he was troubled by “the replication of color revolutions in individual regions of the world.” Contacts between the Chinese and Russian Defense Ministries have been sustainable and trusting, Chang said, reaffirming the sides’ readiness to promote them further, Interfax reports.
‘Arab Spring’ scenario used in Ukraine – Russian Defense Minister
A scenario similar to the “Arab Spring” was used in Ukraine, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday. “With great sorrow, I noted that the scenario similar to the ‘Arab Spring’ was used in that country,” Shoigu said during a meeting with the heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Policies of current authorities threaten collapse of Ukraine – Russian Defense Minister
Short-term actions by the current authorities in Ukraine are threatening the collapse of the country, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday.
“The games by the Kiev leadership with neo-nazis and the expansion of Russophobic tendencies may turn into a tragedy not only for Ukraine, but also for all of Europe,” Shoigu said during a meeting with the heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, RIA Novosti reports.
Shoigu said the most complex situation now is developing in the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, where “nationalists are attempting to suppress the Russian-speaking population, including using force.”
Russia not threatening Ukrainian statehood – Defense Minister
Russia is posing no threat to Ukraine’s statehood, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday.
“The threat to Ukraine’s statehood is in the deep domestic political and economic crisis and not from Russia,” Shoigu said during a meeting with the heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
The Middle East, North Africa and Afghanistan will be high on the agenda of the annual security conference that the Russian Defense Ministry will host in Moscow this May, Russian Defense Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu said.
“The Moscow International Security Conference will be a good floor for the additional exchange of opinions about global security issues and regional crises,” he said at a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Defense Ministers.
The event organized by the Russian Defense Ministry concentrates on military-political problems essential for security, Shoigu indicated.
“We propose to focus on the situation in the Middle East, North Africa and around Afghanistan,” the Russian minister continued.
He thanked everyone who had expressed their readiness to visit Moscow and address the conference audience, Interfax reports.
“We hope that your attendance will make a serious contribution to the discussion of pressing international security issues,” the minister told the meeting participants.
Russia fears terrorist activity in Afghanistan near Russian border may intensify – Russia’s Defense Minister
The Russian Defense Ministry does not share Western countries’ optimism concerning the future situation in Afghanistan and fears a possible upsurge in terrorist activity in the vicinity of the Russia’s border, Russian Defense Minister Gen. Sergei Shoigu said.
“We do not share Western countries’ optimistic assessments concerning the prospects for stabilizing the situation in Afghanistan. The level of activity of international terrorist and Islamic extremist organizations in this country remains high,” Shoigu said at a meeting with his counterparts from other Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states on Tuesday.
The armed opposition has already intensified its activities in Afghan districts, where security functions have been transferred to the national security services, the Russian minister said.
“We anticipate an intensification of terrorist activity in the vicinity of Russia’s borders,” Shoigu said.
The way the situation may evolve in Afghanistan after the International Security Assistance Force leaves the country is greatly troubling for Russia, he said.
“Kabul will hardly be able to tackle the tasks of countering Islamic extremism acting on its own,” the Russian minister said. Uncertainty still remains over further cooperation between the authorities in Kabul and the United States, he said.
“Washington continues to put pressure on Kabul with the aim of concluding a bilateral security and defense agreement on US terms as soon as possible,” Shoigu said.
The Russian defense minister also reiterated the need to continue joint efforts in combating the Afghan drug threat.
“We regard this as a serious contribution to the fight against terrorism funded by drug trafficking,” Shoigu said.
