Chavez highly appreciates Abkhazia, S Ossetia presidential visit

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MEXICO, July 24 (Itar-Tass) -- Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez
highly appreciated the results of the working visit to Venezuela of
Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's presidents - Sergei Bagapsh and Eduard
Kokoity.
The three countries will develop cooperation fruitfully, he said.
The first visit to Venezuela of Bagapsh and Kokoity "has the aim to
unite efforts in fighting for multi-polar world, for peace and balance on
the planet"- Chavez said. "Today, we welcome two leaders who represent the
peoples who we believe are our friends despite the distance between us."
Over the talks, which lasted for two hours, the presidents discussed
further development of bilateral relations.
"I am sure that together with Abkhazia and South Ossetia we shall be
able to establish intensive connections with Latin America, with countries
like Paraguay, Uruguay, Cuba, Bolivia, Ecuador, Brazil and Argentina,"
Chavez said.
Bagapsh and Kokoity thanked Chavez for the brave commitment to
recognise the independence of their countries.
"Time will go by, but we shall always remember Venezuela's brave
decision," Bagapsh said.
Kokoity decorated Chavez with South Ossetia's highest order.
Over the visit, Bagapsh and Kokoity were announced "guests of honour"
in Caracas.
On September 2009, Venezuela made a decision to establish full-fledged
diplomatic relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.


.One miner missing in methane explosion in Kemerovo Region mine.

KEMEROVO, July 24 (Itar-Tass) -- Following the methane explosion in
the Krasnogorskaya mine in Russia's Kemerovo Region, 66 miners were taken
to the surface, one is missing, the emergency commission said on Saturday.
Two miners with medium burns were taken to hospital.
Russia's technology watchdog, Rostechnadzor, and the Ministry of
Emergency Situations and Disaster Relief /EMERCOM/ inspected the mine
shortly before the explosion. Over the inspection, the level of methane
was normal, and the technical requirements were observed properly. The
mine uses the hydraulicking method, which is considered to be one of the
safest in the world.
The Kemerovo Region's Governor Aman Tuleyev ordered to organise a
commission to investigate the reasons of the accident, including the
reasons how methane might appear unexpectedly in the mine.


.Four miners suffer in blast in Kemerovo Region mine.
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MOSCOW, July 24 (Itar-Tass) -- Four miners suffered over the explosion
in the Kemerovo Region's mine, and one is missing, head of press service
of the Siberian regional branch of Russia's Ministry of Emergency
Situations and Disaster Relief /EMERCOM/ Olesya Kukuyeva said on Saturday.
At 02:00 Moscow time, an explosion occurred in the 7th drift of the
Krasnogorskaya mine in Prokopievsk. There were 66 miners there, two of
them got burnt and two got poisoned with carbon monoxide.
"56 people were brought to the surface, and 10 more get from the mine
themselves, we have set communication with nine of them, and could not
contact one miner," Kukuyeva said.
Earlier information reported that 66 miners had been taken to the
surface.
Russia's technology watchdog, Rostechnadzor, and the Ministry of
Emergency Situations and Disaster Relief /EMERCOM/ inspected the mine
shortly before the explosion. Over the inspection, the level of methane
was normal, and the technical requirements were observed properly. The
mine uses the hydraulicking method, which is considered to be one of the
safest in the world.
The Kemerovo Region's Governor Aman Tuleyev ordered to organise a
commission to investigate the reasons of the accident, including the
reasons how methane might appear unexpectedly in the mine.


.Lifesavers spot missing miner in Krasnogorskaya mine.

MOSCOW, July 24 (Itar-Tass) -- Lifesavers have spotted the miner, with
whom they could not set connection following the explosion at the
Krasnogorskaya mine in Russia's Kemerovo Region, head of press service of
the Siberian regional branch of Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations
and Disaster Relief /EMERCOM/ Olesya Kukuyeva said on Saturday.
"The miner was located, he is under a rock fall," she said.
"Lifesavers are working there now."
The regional EMERCOM branch said that over the accident two miners had
got burnt.
"Another five miners addressed for medical assistance," Kukuyeva said.
Four miners were taken to hospital - two of them with burns, and
another two got poisoned with carbon monoxide.
"The mine was not damaged much," the source said.


.DPRK threatens with n-revenge for Sea of Japan military exercises.

TOKYO, July 24 (Itar-Tass) -- The DPRK threatens with a "nuclear
revenge" in response to the joint military exercises of the USA and South
Korea, which are due on Sunday in the Sea of Japan, a statement published
by the KCNA /Korean Central News Agency/ said.
"In response to the military exercises we shall have to launch a holy
war with nuclear weapon," the statement read.
Earlier, the DPRK criticised Washington and Seoul's plans to have
long-term military exercises near its borders, which "undermine peace and
security in the region."

-0-kar