Afghan police officers start anti-drug training in Domodedovo.

VIENNA, March 3 (Itar-Tass) - A group of eleven police officers from Afghanistan will be trained on how to effectively combat drug trafficking during a two-week OSCE-organized course that begins on Wednesday in Domodedovo, outside Moscow, according to the OSCE press service.

The course is organized by the OSCE Strategic Police Matters Unit in
cooperation with the Russian Interior Ministry's Academy.
Course participants will take part in practical exercises to learn how
to plan and organize drug trafficking searches and investigations. They
will examine the entire process of prosecuting drugs-related criminal
cases from the police investigation to court trials.
"There is a serious problem with drugs in Afghanistan and the menace
of drugs goes far beyond the country's borders," said Maj. Nezamuddin
Nezam, the team leader. "Drug trafficking fuels insurgency, hampers peace
building and undermines the rule of law through violence and corruption in
all countries along the trafficking routes."
Kevin Carty, Senior Police Adviser to the OSCE Secretary General,
noted that "the illegal trafficking of narcotics constitutes a major
threat to international security and stability."
"The OSCE is happy to facilitate this training course for Afghan
officers at the Academy in Domodedovo as part of its ongoing support to
Afghanistan," he said.



.Russia offers long-term power supply contracts to Mongolia.

MOSCOW, March 3 (Itar-Tass) - Russia's energy export and import
monopoly Inter RAO UES says it is ready to switch to long-term contracts
on power supplies with Mongolia.
On Tuesday, Moscow hosted the talks that brought together
representatives of Inter RAO UES, Mongolia's state-run power companies and
Ministry of Mineral Resource and Energy.
"At present, Inter RAO and Mongolia's state-run power companies have
contracts until 2012 that envision annual adjustment of price parameters
and supply terms," a source at Inter RAO UES told Itar-Tass. "Inter RAO
offered state-run power companies of Mongolia responsible for exports and
imports to switch to long-term fifteen-year contracts on power supplies."
"The Mongolian side plans to study these proposals and make a response
until the middle of March. If a positive decision is taken, the parties
will also hold consultations engaging responsible ministries and
infrastructure companies," the source said.
The proposals of Inter RAO are developed with participation of the
Russian Energy Ministry and are aimed at long-term and mutually
advantageous cooperation in energy.
If Mongolia agrees to switch to long-term contracts, the price formula
on the supply of power will be adjusted once in three years. Thus,
Mongolia will have an opportunity to plan its budget and draft a long-term
strategy for social and economic development. Moreover, Mongolia will be
able to use long-term contracts as a pledge of funding for its projects,
including those on the construction of power generating facilities.
Inter RAO, in turn, will get an opportunity for the long-term planning
of the revenue side of its budget on one of its major export activities.



.UN GA to hold session to remember all victims of WWII.

UNITED NATIONS, March 3 (Itar-Tass) - The UN General Assembly voted
for holding a special session to remember all victims of World War II.
On Tuesday, the Assembly adopted a resolution on the 65th anniversary
of the end of WWII that had been initiated by Russia.
Russia's UN envoy Vitaly Churkin told journalists that over 70
member-states of the UN were co-authors of the document.
The resolution contains a proposal for all member-states,
organizations of the UN system, non-governmental organizations and
individuals to mark the Memorial Day to honour all victims of World War II.
The Russian delegation offers "to hold this event on May 6," Churkin
said.
"Delegates of eleven CIS states, the UN Secretary General, the chair
of the 64th session of the UN General Assembly and representatives of some
member-states of the UN will report at this session," the Russian diplomat
said.
Permanent envoys of eleven CIS states will give a special reception in
New York devoted to the victory in WWII.
On May 7, the CIS Youth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Vladimir
Spivakov will present a concert at the General Assembly Hall to remember
all those who died in the war. World famous Russian pianist Denis Matsuev
will play at the concert.

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