NATO, Russia agree to resume military cooperation.

CORFU, June 28 (Itar-Tass) - Russia-NATO military cooperation will
include struggle against pirates, Operation Active Endeavour and field
cooperation, according to Dmitry Rogozin, Russia's envoy to NATO, said in
an interview with Itar-Tass on Saturday.
"A political will to resume military cooperation was expressed today,"
Rogozin emphasized, commenting on the outcome of a ministerial meeting of
the Russian-NATO Council that was held in Corfu. That was the first
ministerial meeting since last year's events in South Ossetia.
"Now the forms of this cooperation will have to be agreed. It may be
struggle against pirates, the resumption of Russia's participation in
anti-terror Operation Active Endeavour in the Mediterranean or various
forms of field cooperation, " Rogozin went on to say.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will present his conclusions
and ideas to Russia's political leadership.
Rogozin also noted that despite chilly relations over the past 11
months Russia and NATO continued cooperation on Afghanistan. That,
according to Rogozin, proves that Russia and NATO understand that they are
facing common secuity challenges.

.Russia wants honest discussion on crisis in South Ossetia.

CORFU, June 28 (Itar-Tass) - Russia hopes to hold a profound
discussion on last August events in South Ossetia with NATO.
"Let's hope that after some time the Russia-NATO Council will hold a
discussion on the events in Southern Caucasus because this conversation is
absolutely necessary. It's vitally important to get rid of all double
standards," Dmitry Rogozin, Russia's envoy to NATO, told Itar-Tass on
Saturday.
Rogozin has been urging to hold a special meeting of the Russia-NATO
Council on the last August crisis in South Ossetia ever since the Council
resumed its work at the ambassador level on April 29, 2009. He believes
that top military experts from Russia and NATO should get together to have
a detailed analysis of the last August crisis in South Ossetia.
Rogozin has stressed many times that NATO is shrinking away from any
debates proven by facts and arguments and is confining itself to "rubber-
stamp" replies about "disproportionate use of force by the Russian side."
In the meantime, Russia and NATO have agreed to resume military and
political contacts.
"A political will to resume military cooperation was expressed
today," Rogozin emphasized, commenting on the outcome of a ministerial
meeting of the Russian-NATO Council that was held in Corfu. That was the
first ministerial meeting since last year's events in South Ossetia.
"Now the forms of this cooperation will have to be agreed. It may be
struggle against pirates, the resumption of Russia's participation in
anti-terror Operation Active Endeavour in the Mediterranean or various
forms of field cooperation, " Rogozin went on to say.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will present his conclusions
and ideas to Russia's political leadership.
Rogozin also noted that despite chilly relations over the past 11
months Russia and NATO continued cooperation on Afghanistan. That,
according to Rogozin, proves that Russia and NATO understand that they are
facing common security challenges.

.Turkmen president publishes second volume of his works.
28/6 Tass A-1

ASHGABAD, June 28 (Itar-Tass) - A second volume of selected works of
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has been published in
Turkmenistan. The publication is timed to coincide with president's
birthday. He will turn 52 on Monday, June 29.
The book titled "To New Heights of Progress" comprises speeches,
interviews, greetings, addresses and photographs that recreate the
chronology of the main events in the state life of Turkmenistan in 2008.
Turkmenistan's Main Archive Service is also planning to publish the second
edition of Berdymukhamedov's book "The Chronicle of Great Accomplishments"
and a broadsheet "The President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov
-the founder of the epoch of great Renaissance."
President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov published his first book in
2008, a year after he took office. It was on the development of public
health in Turkmenistan. A doctor by education, Berdymukhamedov headed the
Turkmen Public Health Ministry for ten years.
Two more of his books were published last year. They include
"Turkmenistan - a Land of Healthy and Highly Spiritual People" and "The
Akhal-Teke Horse -is Our Pride and Glory." It tells about racehorses of
the famous Akhal-Teke breed that have been raised in Turkmenistan since
ancient times.
In 2009, the Turkmen president plans to publish an encyclopedia of
medicinal plants of Turkmenistan. It's going to be a well-illustrated
publication in the Turkmen, English and Russian languages.

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