Ukraine, Russia must re-start mechanism of cooperation-Yanukovich.

.
DONETSK, October 9 (Itar-Tass) -- Ukraine and Russia should re-start
the mechanism of cooperation, destroyed in recent years, and do so as soon
as possible, President Viktor Yanukovich said in an interview to the
Ukraina television channel on Friday.
He said the economic crisis had hit all countries in the world very
hard, and now each of them was looking for a way out on its own. The
Ukrainian president believes, though, that this goal will be easier to
achieve through concerted action. He recalled that the trade turnover
between Ukraine and Russia, which in 2004 reached 40 billion, shrank by
two-thirds over the years of 'orange rule.'
"We have almost managed to pull this parameter up again. But the most
important thing now is to start the mechanism of cooperation," said
Yanukovich.
He admitted that there was a risk of the Ukrainian economy's takeover
by Russia.
"But Ukraine is already integrated into the global economy. And Russia
knows it. I always say: you are so big - well, will you make a concession
to us on some issue or another. The Russian side is not always eager to
agree, but we are trying to convince partners with facts and examples it
will be beneficial for Russia. They will certainly gain much, if Ukraine
develops, because it is a huge market. An it will be good for us, if
Russia develops, because we have 40-billion-dollar trade with it,"
Yanukovich said.
He declared that he maintained permanent contact with the Russian
leadership.
"We have very little sweet talk. We have a lot of fundamental
discussions and, of course, either side is protecting its own national
interests," he said.

.Rhodes forum to promote convergence of cultures, peoples - Lavrov.

MOSCOW, October 9 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov believes that the forum Dialogue of Civilizations will contribute
to the efforts for the sake of convergence of cultures and peoples. He
expressed this opinion of his in the message to the on-going annual
session of the world public forum Dialogue of Civilizations on the Greek
island of Rhodes.
As the Foreign Ministry's department of the press and information
said, the message from the Russian Foreign Minister was read out by his
deputy, Alexander Saltanov, who is participating in the forum.
"Understanding world development prospects at this dramatic, crucial
stage today is a problem of literally global importance," the message
says. "Search for approaches to solving it is being carried out in various
formats, including the world policy forum in Yaroslavl, where the latest
session was devoted, in particular, to developing common standards for
democratic development."
According to Lavrov, "over the eight years since it was founded the
Rhodes forum has become an authoritative discussion floor for
consideration of urgent problems of evolution and interaction of
civilizations."
"The open nature of discussions and a long and impressive list of
participants contributed to its consolidation as one of the important
events in the calendar of informal international meetings, where responses
to the challenges facing humanity today are looked for," Lavrov said.
This year the Rhodes Forum has brought together representatives from
the intellectual elites of more than 50 countries. On the agenda there is
a wide range of issues, including the establishment of institutions of
public control over the choice of post-crisis development models, the
deepening of the intercultural and inter-religious dialogue, and the
presentation of the Latin American civilization.
"I am confident that the Forum will contribute to achieving a
rapprochement of cultures and peoples, to strengthening
inter-civilizational understanding and harmony, and to promoting a
positive, unifying agenda in international relations in favor of a new,
more secure and fair polycentric world order," Lavrov said in his message.
The Dialogue of Civilizations was founded in 2002. Russia's
co-founders were the Fund of St. Andrew the First Called and the Center of
National Glory of Russia.

.CIS court for freeze on taxes on RF oil products shipped to Belarus.

MINSK, October 9 (Itar-Tass) -- The CIS Economic Court has advised the
governments of Belarus and Russia to consider out of court the possibility
of a temporary freeze on the export duties on Russian oil supplied to
Belarusian consumers until the dispute has been "settled on the merits."
The decision followed Friday's meeting of the court, which considered
Belarus's suit against what it argued was illegally introduced duties on
petroleum products.
The position taken by the CIS Economic Court was received with
appreciation by the Belarusian side. As the Ministry of Justice of Belarus
stated, in accordance with this decision, "the countries will have to use
the time identified by the court - three months - to intensify efforts for
the sake of finding an amicable solution to the problem of supplies of
Russian oil products to Belarus in different formats, something the
Belarussian sides has always advocated." The Justice Ministry is certain
that "now the two parties will certainly consider the Belarusian proposal
for making oil products or their certain categories, supplied from Russia
to Belarus, exempt from export customs duties until the dispute has been
settled on the merits."
Minsk believes that Friday's decision by the Economic Court "will
contribute to enhancing conciliatory procedures and make them fast and
constructive."
Belarus filed the suit at the Economic Court of the Commonwealth on
March 25 this year. Minsk argues that when at the beginning of 2010 it set
export duties on oil products shipped to Belarus, Russia allegedly
violated bilateral and international agreements within the framework of
the CIS and EurAsEC, which "provide for duty-free trade under the free
trade regimen."
The Belarusian side interpreted Russia's introduction of duties on oil
products and petrochemical raw materials as a wrongful action.

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