Russia resolutely condemns grenade explosion in northern Mitrovica.

UNITED NATIONS, July 7 (Itar-Tass) - Russia's Ambassador to the United
Nations Vitaly Churkin told an extraordinary meeting of the U.N. Security
Council on Tuesday that Russia resolutely condemns the recent terrorist
act in northern Mitrovica, in the north of Kosovo, on July 2 when the
local Serbs were demonstrating against the actions of the Kosovo
authorities.
"The Russian delegation actively supported Serbia's initiative to
convene an extraordinary meeting of the Council in connection with the
worsening situation in Kosovo, " Churkin emphasized. He recalled that a
grenade explosion in the midst of protesting Serbs killed one and injured
eleven people. The Russian diplomat presented condolences to the family of
the dead protester and to all the injured.
Churkin noted that in May this year the Russian delegation drew the
world community's attention to the unstable situation in Kosovo when the
U.N. Security Council was discussing a report of the United Nations
Secretary General on the United Nations Mission in Kosovo. The Russian
side was particularly concerned with a desire of the authorities in
Pristina to implement the so-called 'strategy for Northern Kosovo' at any
cost. The strategy grossly violates Resolution 1244 of the United Nations
Security Council that remains to be the main international legal platform
for the Kosovo settlement.
"Right after our Serbian colleagues we warned that any unilateral
steps in this direction may explode the already difficult inter-ethnic
situation in the province, especially against the background of growing
discontent with the socio-economic situation, high crime rate and
corruption. Unfortunately, our warnings went unheeded," Churkin added.
The Russian diplomat described as provocation a decision to open an office
of Kosovo's provisional institutions in northern Mitrovica. Such actions
"are aimed at undermining stability in the Serb-populated areas of the
province," Churkin went on to say.
"We are receiving information that more similar destabilizing steps
are being planned. All measures to prevent such provocations should be
taken," the Russian ambassador to U.N. emphasized.
"We are convinced that not only the perpetrators of this inhumane
crime but also those whose stubborn actions to advance 'the strategy for
northern Kosovo' had practically provoked that crime should be brought to
justice. We are waiting information from the United Nations Mission in
Kosovo on investigation into this incident," the Russian diplomat
emphasized.

.Modern tourists to walk the paths of ancient Uyghurs.

GORNO-ALTAISK, the Altai territory, July 7 (Itar-Tass) - Russia's
Autonomous Republic of Tuva and the Krasnoyarsk territory are launching a
joint ecological tourism project. The Pax Nomadica kicks off in Tuva in
July, the Tuva government press service told Itar-Tass.
The new tourist route combines the elements of ecological and
cognitive tourism. It is linked with the history of an ancient Uyghur
fortress of Por-Bazhyn. Historians suggest that the fortress could be a
summer residence of Eltemish Bilgeqaghan, a ruler of the medieval Uyghur
qaghanate, who used to come here from Mongolia. Natural beauty and
excellent hunting were not the only things that attracted the ancient
ruler. Tuva is famous with its unique thermal spas, which helped Eltemish
Bilgeqaghan and his warriors to heal their wounds in ancient times but are
no less popular nowadays. Up to three thousand people spend their summer
vacation at the Tuva thermal spas every year.
An ancient legend had prompted some other interesting details to
the tour's organizers. They add the flavor of adventure and extreme to the
whole trip. The ruins of the Por-Bazhyn fortress stand in the middle of
Lake Tere-Khol. Modern tourists will have to reach the place on horseback.
Like ancient Uyghurs they'll have to ride short Mongolian horses. Then,
the horse route will run through a deep mountain canyon. It's difficult to
get there even by modern land rovers because this place has been untouched
by modern civilization. The mode of life of local shepherders, their
customs, rituals, a nomadic tent and its interior decoration have been
preserved unchanged for several centuries.
The organizers of this ecological tour are the administration of
the Tere-Khol district of Tuva, the republic's government and the
Discovery tourist company from Krasnoyarsk.
The Uyghurs are an ancient Turkic-language people. There are 10
million Uyghurs in the world, of which more than nine million people live
in China.


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