EVENT

Iran appeals to Russia

Tehran may file a lawsuit if Russia does not fulfill a contract to supply the Islamic Republic with S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems, stated the chairman of the parliamentary commission on national security and foreign policy Alaeddin Boroujerdi. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev issued a decree banning the sale of S-300s to Iran. According to Boroujerdi, if the contract’s fulfillment is disrupted, Iran will take legal action against Russia and demand compensation. The MP said he hoped the situation will be a repeat of the Bushehr nuclear power plant construction, which was repeatedly postponed for various reasons, but was finally fulfilled. A contract for the supply of five S-300s worth about 800 million dollars was signed between Tehran and Moscow in 2007. Due to delays in delivery, in February 2010 Iran announced the commencement of work on its own systems. In June the UN Security Council adopted a resolution on new sanctions against Iran that was endorsed by Russia. Specifically, the resolution concerned limits on arms supplies to Iran.

Moscow and Beijing unable to determine gas price

Russia plans to begin selling gas to China in 2015, with a supply contract to be signed by mid-2011, said Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin, who accompanied President Dmitry Medvedev on his visit to China. “We conducted, are conducting, and will conduct negotiations with Chinese partners; we are now trying to agree on certain parameters,” said Sechin. He added that Russia is ready “to provide all the natural gas that China needs.” The deputy prime minister did not disclose further details of the negotiations though. According to another senior official, head of Energy Ministry Sergei Shmatko, the parties have agreed on all terms of supplies barring the prices. Experts remark that namely the price of gas prevented Russians from entering the Chinese market for many years.

Three Reikartz hotels to be opened in Ukraine this year

The Kyiv-based Reikartz Hotel Management, from the Reikartz Hotels&Resorts brand company, is to open three new hotels in Dnipropetrovsk, Pochaiv (Ternopil oblast), and Lviv before the end 2010, thus increasing their chain to nine with a total accommodation capacity of over 600 rooms. According to the company’s press release, the hotel Reikartz Dnipropetrovsk on Chervona St., Reikartz Pochaiv, located next to the Pochaiv Holy Assumption Lavra, and Reikartz Center Lviv, next to the Market Square, will have 80, 70, and 23 rooms, respectively (the latter to be further increased to 70). It will be recalled that Reikartz Hotel Management is planning to extend the chain of its three- and four-star hotels in Ukraine to 20-25 by 2015. Total investments in the chain’s development and extension are expected to exceed 20 million dollars in 2009 and 2010.

Human rights activists against repatriation of Roma to Kosovo

The human rights organization Amnesty International says that EU countries should stop the forcible return of Roma and representatives of other ethnic minorities to Kosovo. In their report “Not welcome anywhere: Stop the forcible return of Roma to Kosovo” Amnesty International activists explained how exactly Roma people are being returned to the country: “Quite often at night, with nothing but the clothes they are wearing.” Sian Jones, Amnesty International’s expert says that EU countries risk violating international law by sending back people to places where they are at risk of persecution, or other serious harm. The report also says that after returning to Kosovo Roma face problems in obtaining access to education, healthcare, housing and social benefits. Very few Roma are able to find work, with unemployment levels reaching 97 percent.