EU open for discussion of Russian security initiative.

MUNICH, February 7 (Itar-Tass) - The European Union is open for
discussion of Russian proposals on the conclusion of a new European
Security Treaty and believes that the OSCE should be the platform for this
discussion, according to Catherine Ashton, the EU High Representative for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
She told the 46th Munich Conference on Security Policy on Saturday
that the European Union was open for discussion of any idea, which may
help strengthening European security.
In the meantime, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle has called
for meaningful discussion of European security initiatives proposed by
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
"Strategic partnership with Russia is an inseparable part not only of
European security, it's also important for the solution of global
problems," Mr. Westerwelle told the 46th Munich Conference on Security
Policy on Saturday.
"We want this partnership and we want to develop it in areas where we
have common interests. This is also true of meaningful discussion on
president Medvedev's proposals on European security," the German foreign
minister went on to say.
He also supported the development of trans-Atlantic friendship and
partnership.
"The American and European positions have seldom been closer than they
are today," Guido Westerwelle said. He noted common interest in fighting
terrorism and in the solution of regional conflicts.
"All our societies have suffered from the financial and economic
crisis," the German diplomat said, adding that everybody was facing common
challenges and that created favourable conditions for renewed
trans-Atlantic partnership.

.European diplomacy chief to visit Moscow in February.

MUNICH, February 7 (Itar-Tass) - Catherine Ashton, the EU High
Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, told the 46th
Munich Conference on Security Policy on Saturday that she would continue
her dialogue with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow later
this month. The European diplomacy chief is to visit Moscow in February.
The talks with Lavrov will dwell on bilateral interaction between
Russia and the European Union, the strengthening of cooperation within the
framework of the Russia-NATO Council, the OSCE reform and global European
security.
Ashton stressed the importance of the European Union's cooperation
with Russia in the international arena and added it could be strengthened
in many spheres.
As for the Euro-Atlantic security treaty, she said she still had to
become convinced in the need to change the existing European security
architecture.
However, she said that the European Union was open for discussion of
Russian proposals on the conclusion of a new European Security Treaty and
that the OSCE should be the platform for that discussion.

.Russian company participates in SAT Expo Europe 2010.

ROME, February 7 (Itar-Tass) - Russia's Information Satellite Systems
Company took part in the SAT Expo Europe 2010 of space technologies. The
exhibition closed in Rome on Saturday.
The Information Satellite Systems is a leading Russian space company.
Its exposition featured miniature models of satellites meant for
communication, navigation and TV re-broadcasting.
Satellites of the second generation were also put on view. The
Glonass-M satellite is a segment of the GLONASS federal program. Ten such
satellites will be sent to orbit this year. Concurrently, the company is
working on the next generation of satellites, Glonass K. It was also
shown to the visitors who included representatives of the Italian and
European Space Agencies, NASA and other leading enterprises of space
technologies.
A company spokesman told Itar-Tass that important business
negotiations on cooperation with foreign partners had been held in Rome.
Russia's Information Satellite Systems has already fulfilled
international orders. Participation in SAT Expo Europe 2010 has
strengthened the Russian company's positions as a leader in the production
of space communication and navigation appliances.
Representatives of 20 European and Asian countries as well as the
United States participated in the SAT Expo Europe 2010. More than 4,000
experts visited the exhibition in three days and more than 2,000 business
meetings were held within its framework.

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