Russia, Syria to ink several deals to boost cooperation.

MOSCOW, May 10 (Itar-Tass) -- During a forthcoming first official
visit to Syria of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev the countries will
sign several documents to boost bilateral cooperation in various fields,
Russian presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko told reporters on Sunday.
The countries are expected to sign an agreement on the air traffic, an
agreement between the Russian Ministry of Telecommunications and Mass
Communications and the Syrian Ministry of Telecommunications and
Technology on cooperation in information technologies, an agreement
between the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and the Syrian Ministry
of Local Administration and Environment on cooperation in environmental
protection. Alongside, the countries are expected to sign an
intergovernmental agreement on scientific-technical cooperation, a joint
action program for 2010-2012 under the intergovernmental agreement on
cooperation in the tourism industry.
Prikhodko also recalled that the Russian-Syrian business council
operates currently bringing together businessmen of the countries. "The
council held nine meetings, a tenth anniversary meeting will be held in
Damascus during the summit. The Russian consortium Intourist-Sinara and
the Real Estate Bank of Syria will sign a credit agreement at the council
meeting to allocate 32 million dollars to build a joint tourist project
Jol Jammal on the Mediterranean coast," the Russian presidential aide
said. During Medvedev's visit the countries will also sign a memorandum on
cooperation between the Russian Commerce and Industry Chamber, the
Russian-Syrian business council and the Federation of the Syrian Chambers
of Commerce.
Speaking on the tourism industry Prikhodko regretted that the number
of Russian tourists in Syria is few now. "Syria has a huge potential for
development of the tourism industry, many tourist attractions and a rich
historical heritage. But just 4,000 Russian tourists visit the country
annually, while more than two million Russian tourists visit Egypt," he
underlined. "We will encourage our Syrian counterparts to provide a better
service for our tourists and good conditions for vacations," the Russian
presidential aide added.

.Gazprom may involve in Syria oil and gas projects.

MOSCOW, May 10 (Itar-Tass) -- The Russian gas giant Gazprom is ready
to consider an opportunity to involve in the projects to develop the
Syrian oil and gas sector, Russian presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko told
reporters on Sunday.
However, he noted that this scenario is possible if "the projects are
quite feasible in economic terms."
"If they consider us as their partners, we extend a helping hand. We
are ready to study a possible project of gas supplies from Syria, for
instance, in Lebanon along the Pan-Arab Natural Gas Pipeline," Prikhodko
noted.
Georesource, which is a Gazprom subsidiary company, operates alone on
the Syrian market. "This company holds presentations, selects partners and
intends to participate in the tenders for geological surveys of several
oil wells," the Russian presidential aide said.

.EU stabilization fund to reach EUR 750 bln.

BRUSSELS, May 10 (Itar-Tass) -- The EU stabilization fund, including
the IMF assets, will reach 750 billion euros, Spanish Minister of Economy
and Finance Elena Salgado said after a meeting of the EU council at the
level of the finance ministers here on Monday. Spain is currently
presiding in the European Union.

.Two more miners found dead at Kemerovo coalmine(adds).

MEZHDURECHENSK, May 10 (Itar-Tass) -- Two more miners were found dead
at the Raspadskaya coalmine in the Kemerovo Region, the chief of the
rescue task force told Itar-Tass.
"The search through the fifth shaft of the coalmine is underway. Two
rescuers were found injured in the shaft," he said.
"The gas situation in the coalmine makes it possible to go forward,"
he said.
The rescue task force combating the blast aftermath is being
reinforced. "According to the latest reports at 06.00 Moscow time on
Monday the rescue task force reached 68 people and is going to be beefed
up to 80 people," the chief of the rescue task force reported to Minister
of Emergency Situations Sergei Shoigu.
More than 560 emergency workers are already involved in the efforts to
fight the blast aftermath.
-0-baz


Delete & Prev | Delete & Next