Russia 111215 Basic Political Developments

Former Dutch pilot jailed for spying for Russia

http://en.rian.ru/world/20111215/170259779.html
10:04 15/12/2011

MOSCOW, December 15 (RIA Novosti)

A Dutch pilot has been sentenced to five years in prison for attempting to sell confidential documents to a Russian diplomat in the Netherlands.

A district court in The Hague said former F-16 pilot Chris Vaneker made preparatory steps to contact the military attaché at the Russian Embassy, Radio Netherlands Worldwide reported on Wednesday. He wanted $670,000 for the information.

The 13-year veteran of the Dutch air force has been in custody since March. He resigned in 2010 after serving in Afghanistan.

Russia has yet to comment on the situation.

12:15 15/12/2011ALL NEWS

Russian aid convoy remains blocked on Kosovo border

http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c154/297972.html

ARINJE, Serbia, December 15 (Itar-Tass) — A Russian EMERCOM convoy with humanitarian aid cargoes for Kosovo Serbs remains blocked on the border between Central Serbia and Kosovo.

No new agreements have been reached to allow the convoy to continue the trip.

Some Russian media reported on Wednesday that a decision to solve the problem was found at the Russia-EU summit in Brussels. However, Russian diplomats and EMERCOM representatives at the Jarinje check point did not confirm the information. According to them, the European side continues to insist on their position that the Russian convoy may continue the trip only accompanied by an escort of the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo.

The convoy left the 179th rescue centre based in Noginsk near Moscow for Serbia on December 7. It consists of 25 trucks that carry 284 tonnes of aid cargoes -- electric stations, blankets, food products, kitchen ware and field furniture for Kosovo Serbs.

The convoy is delayed at the Jarinje check point for a third day, as EU mission representatives do not let it go to the territory.

Russia forces Azerbaijan to choose Nabucco for gas export to Europe

http://abc.az/eng/news/main/60546.html

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The European Commission has achieved its goal - Russia joined to the pressure upon Azerbaijan to make the latter to choose Nabucco gas pipeline for its gas supplies to Europe.

Yesterday, Reuters, citing sources in Gazprom, informed of a change in the proposed South Stream gas pipeline route.

"There will not be transit via South Stream through Austria. It will be built only a pipe branch line for consumption," a Gazprom source said.

Besides, construction of a branch pipe from the South Stream through Greece to southern Italy is under discussion as well. As a result, the South Stream will run through Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary and Slovenia, but the final destination of the pipeline will be not Austria, as it was supposed previously, but the north of Italy, where a distribution point will be located.

Gazprom does not give an official comment, but new South Stream, designed for supply of 63 bn cu m of gas per year, automatically kills the economic attractiveness of pipelines ITGI and TAP, which were originally considered by Azerbaijan more attractive for its gas supply to Europe through Turkey.

Now Gazprom is actually forcing Azerbaijan to give preference to gas pipeline Nabucco. According to Russian sources, such actions of the monopoly are linked with European Commission’s pressure. On the one hand, the European Commission has started the totally antitrust investigation against Gazprom and on the other hand, blocks sanctioning of purchase of assets in Austria by the Russian monopoly. Under these conditions, Gazprom wants to receive a special status for South Stream to take it out of action of the third energy package of the EU.

Precisely for this reason the monopoly organized "leakage of information” about its readiness to refuse from hindrance to Nabucco (enfant terrible of the European Commission). This was done the day before the starting today Russian-European summit on the third energy package.

At the same time Gazprom risks nothing. Azerbaijan will have to make its choice before 1 April 2012. If Baumgarten is the final destination for Azeri gas, then Azerbaijan will have to become a supplier of natural gas on spot prices, and South Stream will go to the north of Italy. If Azerbaijan chooses TAP and ITGI, then Gazprom will become “a friend of the offended" in Austria and Central Europe.

In any case, the investment decision on South Stream is expected by the end of 2012. By its cost (10-15 billion euro) it has not lost to competitors. If circumstances do not allow to implement the project, then losses will be covered by partners - Eni (project stake: 20%), EDF and Wintershall (by 15%). Gazprom itself will continue using existing gas pipelines in Ukraine.

15.12.2011 09:27

Business (15.12.2011)

Russian Grain Producers Union: There’s no full consent of CU members on technical regulations for grain

http://caspionet.kz/eng/general/Russian_Grain_Producers_Union__Theres_no_full_consent_of_CU_members_on_technical_regulations_for_grain_1323924670.html

«The most heated debates broke out while coordinating technical regulations, oddly enough, with colleagues from Belarus, who insisted on very strict requirements to the grain quality, Pavel Skurikhin said at a press conference at the central office of «Interfax» news agency in Moscow.

There is no full consent of the Customs Union member countries on technical regulations for grain yet, the «Interfax» new agency reported with a reference to the president of Russian National Grain Producers’ Union, Pavel Skurikhin. According to him, there is enough time for further negotiations and substantiation of Russia and Kazakhstan’s positions. He also believes that the Agribusiness Association of the Customs Union, whose first meeting will be held on Friday in Belarus, will be the main venue for the talks.