Putin to celebrate New Year with his family.

.

MOSCOW, December 31 (Itar-Tass) - Most Russians will spend Friday in a
pleasant pre-holiday bustle, and at midnight, raising a glass of
champagne, they will wish health, happiness and good luck to their kith
and kin. The Russian prime minister is not an exception, although he plans
several working meetings on December 31.
The RF government head told journalists that he will see the New Year
in "traditionally at home with my family." He noted that he intended to
think that night "only about the good." "I hope nothing bad will happen,"
he said.
Putin stressed that "it is necessary to quit bad habits and
traditions," hinting to the prevailing trend in recent years to enter the
new year with an "energy war."
The prime minister did not confess to journalists what gift he would
like to get in the new year. In order not to spoil the surprise for his
family and friends, he did not say what he planned to present to the
family. However, he admitted that Mr Putin prefers to give gifts rather
than to receive. So, he explains this feeling that is familiar to many, as
always, in his own way: "Let's honestly say: it's nice to feel like a
decent person. Self-esteem rises: Good for me! So you should be thankful
to those who accept our gifts."
Traditionally, the prime minister works during the 10-day winter
vacation. On January 2, 2009, he was trying to settle the energy dispute
with Ukraine, and on January 4, 2010, he was monitoring the country's
passing winter from the Central energy point of the Unified Energy Systems
(UES) of Russia.
According to the Buddhist calendar, the coming Year of the Rabbit,
"will be quieter than the current Year of the Tiger." It means that there
is hope that there will be no terrible incidents for the Russian
government in the new year.
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.Russia against UNSC interference in Cote d'Ivoire settlement.

MOSCOW, December 31 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian Foreign Minister is
against interference of the UN Security Council in resolving internal
problems in Cote d'Ivoire, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an
interview with the Rossiya 24 news television channel.
He explained that the conflict in Cote d'Ivoire emerged due to the
fact that "each of the presidential election participants declared himself
the winner and does not recognise the results declared by the other side:
some results were supported by the Central Election Commission, but the
Constitutional Court decided differently."
Lavrov noted that this situation in Cote d'Ivoire, although is
happening far from the borders of Russia, "but there are processes there
that can have repercussions far beyond the country - on the African
continent as a whole."
"Our position is very simple: we are categorically opposed to the UN
Security Council's involvement in the settlement of problems relating to
internal affairs, including the process of national elections in a
particular UN member state," the RF foreign minister said.
"We want African countries to get together and based on their
experience, based on their knowledge of the situation (and their knowledge
is better than of anyone else), draft agreements that will first of all
would be aimed at transferring the situation in the political,
constitutional channel, avoiding any manifestations of violence," Lavrov
said.
A presidential election was held in two rounds in Cote d'Ivoire. The
first round was held on 31 October 2010 and a second round, in which
President Laurent Gbagbo faced opposition leader Alassane Ouattara, was
held on 28 November 2010. Originally scheduled to be held in 2005, the
vote was delayed several times due to the Ivorian Civil War and
difficulties involved in the organisation and preparation of the election.
A peace agreement between the government and the former rebel New Forces
was signed in March 2007, and in late April 2009, it was announced that
the election would be held by 6 December 2009, and that the date would be
announced shortly. On 15 May 2009, the date was announced to be 29
November 2009. On 11 November, the election was postponed again due to
delays in the electoral roll. It was announced on 3 December 2009 to be
held in late February or early March 2010.
The international community, including the United Nations, the African
Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the
European Union, the United States, and still-influential former colonial
power France have affirmed their support for Ouattara, who is "almost
universally acknowledged to have defeated [Gbagbo] at the ballot box," and
have called for Gbagbo to step down. On 18 December, Gbagbo ordered all UN
peacekeepers to leave the country. However, the UN has refused, and the
Security Council has extended the mandate of the UN Mission in Cote
d'Ivoire until June 30, 2011. International powers have been in talks to
enlarge the UN force in the Ivory Coast. The World Bank has halted loans
to the country and travel restrictions have been placed on Gbagbo and his
political allies. The rising political tensions have resulted in a sharp
jump in cocoa prices, up to an increase of 10 percent. The Ivory Coast is
the world's largest producer of the crop.
-0-ezh


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