Zubkov to discuss Bulgaria-RF energy coop'n in Sofia Tue.

SOFIA, July 6 (Itar-Tass) - Russia's First Vice-Premier Viktor Zubkov will discuss key matters concerning cooperation between Bulgaria and Russia in the field of energy here on Tuesday.

The programme for Zubkov's one-day visit provides for his talks with
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov and Traicho Traikov, Minister of
Economics, Energy, and Tourism.
The Bulgarian Head of Government pointed out on the eve of Zubkov's
visit that if he succeeds in reaching agreement with the Russians the way
he wants it, he is prepared to evaluate the government's work over the
first year as excellent.
"We work under contracts for the deliveries of gas. I think that the
prices of those deliveries to Bulgaria are incorrect. We must lower them,"
Borisov said. He emphasized that he had developed "a good dialogue" with
his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. "He understands me better than
oppositional Bulgarian politicians. This is precisely why energy projects
will be discussed by the governments of the two countries. If we come to
terms, that would not be at the expense of either side," the Prime
Minister pointed out, specifying that details of future gas agreements
and the future of joint energy projects will be discussed during the
upcoming talks with Viktor Zubkov.

.Duma to hold parliamentary hearings on new START treaty.

MOSCOW, July 6 (Itar-Tass) - The State Duma lower house of the Russian
parliament is to hold parliamentary hearings here on Tuesday on the new
Russian-American treaty on measures for reduction and limitation of
strategic offensive arms (START).
Apart from MPs, high-level officials of the Russian Ministries of
Foreign Affairs and Defense will also take part in the discussion of the
subject.
Konstantin Kosachyov, chairman of the House committee on international
affairs, referred to the START treaty as a highly qualitative document.
"The House members bear no grudges against it," Kosachyov emphasized.
"However, during the previous discussions we got some questions that
require answers. We requested certain documents and we were given a
promise that those will be provided".
At the end of May, President Dmitry Medvedev referred the new START
treaty to the State Duma for (consideration and subsequent) ratification.
The President called on the House members "to treat the document
attentively" and "carry out a synchronous ratification". "The Treaty is a
combination of political forces and will. Therefore it is essential to
ratify it synchronously so as to achieve greater mutual trust," the Head
of State said.
The new START treaty was signed by the leaders of Russia and the
United States, Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama, in Prague on April 8. The
document envisions a reduction of the nuclear arsenals of the two
countries by about one-third and replaces the START -1 dated July 31,
1991, which had expired in December 2009. The validity of the new Treaty
is ten years.
The new START treaty is expected to be brought up for ratification at
the beginning of the autumn session of the State Duma. "The US Senate may
begin to examine this question (of ratification) not earlier than
September. We, for sure, shall not forestall (the event)," Kosachyov said.
Leonid Slutsky, first deputy chairman of the House committee on
international affairs, has pointed out that the first public discussion of
the new Treaty will be held in the State Duma on Tuesday. "The MPs started
analyzing the new Treaty immediately after it was officially presented. It
was examined at a closed-door session of the relevant committees of the
House. It was also considered at a meeting of the so-called Wise Men's
group which includes former Ambassadors of the Russian Federation and the
Soviet Union who had participated in the drafting of the previous
disarmament agreements," Slutsky recalled. "The series of those
closed-door meetings resulted in an unambiguous understanding -- the new
START treaty fully conforms to Russia's strategic foreign and defense
interests."
Most of Duma factions, with the exception of that of the Communist
Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) so far declare in favor of
ratifying the START-2 treaty.

.Car run from French Brest finishes in Vladivostok Tue.

VLADIVOSTOK, July 6 (Itar-Tass) - A car run that set out from the
French city of Brest on May 29 finished here on Tuesday.
The participants in the motor vehicle run -- two Russian journalists
and two French ones -- dedicated their car run from the Atlantic coast to
the Pacific Ocean one to the current Year of France in Russia and the Year
of Russia in France.
There were no serious breakdowns or mishaps along the 14,000 km route
which the motorists covered in two Landrover vehicles.
Sergei Ukolov, a participant in and official interpreter of the
expedition, said the motor vehicles rode at a speed of 160 km an hour
along some sections of the high-speed roads in Germany and Russia.
In Vladivostok the expedition was greeted by Brest Mayor Francois
Cuillandre, who is currently here within the scope of the celebration of
the 150th jubilee of Vladivostok.
Towards Tuesday evening, the participants in the car run are to ride
up to the city council where, after a brief presentation, they will meet
with city mayor Igor Pushkaryov.