Flu may require state of emergency-Ukrainian Security Council chief.

KIEV, November 7 (Itar-Tass) -- In view of the ongoing flu epidemic in
Ukraine there is every constitutional reason to introduce a state of
emergency, the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council,
Raisa Bogatyryova, said on Thursday.

She believes that the number of flu-related fatalities speaks for
itself.
"In order to save the others a state of emergency must be introduced.
There are sufficient constitutional reasons for that," she said.
Earlier, the deputy chief of the presidential secretariat, Igor Popov,
speculated that the flu epidemic may delay Ukraine's presidential
election, originally scheduled for January 17, till May 30, 2010.
"If the government fails to put the flu epidemic situation under
control, the introduction of a state of emergency in the country and the
postponement of the election till May 30 should not be ruled out," he
warned.

.Israeli PM has no doubts Russia wants to see peace in MidEast.

JERUSALEM, November 7 (Itar-Tass) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu has said he has no doubts about Russia's peace policy and hopes
that its efforts will help bring the Middle East closer to peace.
He was speaking in an exclusive interview to Itar-Tass.
Asked about Russia's likely role in promoting a settlement in the
Middle East, Netanyahu said, "First and foremost, we have a very good
relationship. We are faced with common tasks. When I contact Russian
leaders, I have the feeling that they understand me very well. The reason
is your problems and ours have very much in common."
"Also, there is a certain sympathy between the two cultures, based on
our background, mentalities and many other things," the Israeli prime
minister said, adding that Israel was a home for over a million
Russian-speaking citizens.
"I believe there is a great difference between relations with today's
Russia and Russia of the Communist era. They are very difficult to
compare. It's like day and night," he said. "I believe that the best
assistance Russian can provide is assistance in the struggle with
terrorism, and this is precisely what it already does."
"One would very much like to see Russia succeed in efforts to
encourage the Palestinian people to come to the negotiating table. And, of
course, there are global international tasks Russia can help resolve,"
Netanyahu said. "I have no doubts about Russia's striving for peace and I
am certain that in cooperation with Russia we shall be able to bring it
closer."
The full version of the interview with Israel's prime minister will be
televised in the latest installment of the documentary series Formula on
Power - a joint project of Itar-Tass and television channel Rossiya - on
Saturday, November 7.

.Israel's Netanyahu urges hard work for sake of peace.

JERUSALEM, November 7 (Itar-Tass) -- Although the chances of starting
talks with the Palestinians right away look rather slim, if at all, every
effort must be exerted for the sake of achieving accord, Israel's Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Itar-Tass in an exclusive interview.
About the outlook for resuming full-scale Palestinian-Israeli talks
the Israeli prime minister said "every effort must be exerted for the sake
of achieving accord."
"At this moment in time there is no realistic opportunity for starting
such talks, but a greater share of society I represent does have certain
determination to achieve accord, and, in the final count, to achieve
peace. I would like to see the same desire on the opposite side."
"Firstly, I would brush off prejudice, take a seat and start talking,"
Netanyahu said. "Secondly, since we are asked to recognize the existence
of the Palestinian state, I am addressing the Palestinian leaders in the
first place with a request to recognize Israel as the native land of the
Jewish people. I believe it would be wrong to call Israel just a Jewish
state. Every Jew has the right to return to the home country, and,
alongside this, every Palestinian has the right to return there, too."
The Israeli prime minister voiced the hope that "some Palestinian
leaders will be able to speak about their own people in the same way I
have talked about my own for the past few months."
"You are asking me what is it that makes the difference between my
current premiership and the previous one? The distinctions are tremendous.
There is far more analysis and patience, when it comes to matters of
importance: But the main quality of a leader today should be the
resolution of one's heart. Not for the sake of security, but for the sake
of peace. I do hope that my supporters and I do have this sort of
resolution," Netanyahu said.
"I would very much like to see the same determination on the
Palestinian side - the determination to say - everything is a bygone. We
are asking for the recognition of our sovereignty, but at the same time we
recognize the state of Israel. We say good-bye to our conflict. I am
looking forward to the emergence of the Palestinians' own equivalent of
Sadat, of a new King Hussein who will put an end to the conflict," he
remarked in conclusion.
The full version of the interview with Israel's prime minister will be
televised in the latest installment of the documentary series Formula on
Power - a joint project of Itar-Tass and television channel Rossiya - on
Saturday, November 7.

-0-str