Russian patriarch plans no visit to Vatican.

MOSCOW, February 18 (Itar-Tass) -- The Russian Orthodox Church said on
Thursday it welcomed the meeting of President Dmitry Medvedev with Pope
Benedict XVI, but said no visit of Russian Patriarch Kirill to the Vatican
is planned.
"No. There are currently no preparations for such a trip," deputy head
of the foreign relations department of the Moscow Patriarchate Nikolai
Balashov told Tass.
"We welcome the relations between the Russian Federation and the
Vatican aimed at strengthening peace and mutual understanding in
international ties, in particular, in the sphere of countering terrorism
and extremism. The meeting of the heads of state has no direct relation to
inter-church ties that are arranged by authorized representatives of the
Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church," he said.
Balashov added the Thursday meeting between Medvedev and Benedict XVI
"took place on the background of positive dynamic in inter-church
contacts." The Russian church stressed the significance of "Orthodox-
Catholic cooperation in the protection of traditional moral values and in
drawing the attention of the public to Christian roots of European
civilization."
Meetings between Russian leaders and the Pope have been regular since
post-Soviet times after Pope John Paul the Second met Soviet President
Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990.
First Russian President Boris Yeltsin twice visited the Vatican in
1991 and in 1998. President Vladimir Putin twice met Pope John Paul the
Second in 2000 and 2003 and once with Benedict XVI in 2006.
On Thursday Medvedev visited the Vatican for the second time. In 2009
it was decided to raise the status of the Russian diplomatic mission to
the Holy See to that of an embassy.
The Vatican said both sides "expressed their pleasure at the good
state of bilateral relations and highlighted their desire to strengthen
them." It noted cooperation "in the promotion of specifically human and
Christian values, and in the cultural and social field."
The Holy See did not mention in its statement the tensions between
Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, including over property
issues, and Orthodox claims that the Catholics are trying to poach
converts from the Orthodox's ranks. Instead the Vatican stressed the
"positive contribution inter-religious dialogue can make to society."

.Hundred people injured in Yemen clashes.

KUWAIT CITY, February 18 (Itar-Tass) -- A third protester was killed
and a hundred people wounded as opponents and supporters of Yemen's
President Ali Abdullah Saleh clashed on Thursday in the streets during the
seventh straight day of protests.
Arab TV channels said at least 80 opponents and 15 supporters were
injured. The conflicting parties use knives, stones and sticks. Police try
to pacify the people with tear gas and by shooting in the air.
In Sanaa protesters inspired by revolts in Egypt and Tunisia demand an
end to Saleh's 32-year rule.
However in southern Aden protesters demand a split from the north of
the country.
Saleh's promise to quit in 2013 did not suit the opposition which
wants him to step down immediately.
Saleh ordered to investigate developments in Aden where one person was
killed and a dozen wounded on Thursday. Numerous cars and buildings were
set on fire.
The SABA news agency said Vice President Abdu Rabu Mansoor left for
Aden.
In Sanaa 50 people were injured, according to official reports, while
the opposiion said the figure is twice as much.
The opposition plans to continue protests on Friday and take up to a
million people to the streets in the south of the country.

.Russia successfully test fires S-400 missiles.

KAPUSTIN YAR, February 18 (Itar-Tass) -- The Russian military
successfully test fired the new air defense S-400 Triumph missiles at
Kapustin Yar range, Aerospace Defense Commander Valery Ivanov told
reporters on Thursday adding the first stage of the tests attacked a
hypersonic target flying at a speed of 550 meters per second.
"The fire by two squadrons destroyed the high-speed target and even
its fragments," he said adding "it was a simple target for us, but it was
important to see that all automatic control cycles properly operate and we
can fire at more difficult targets imitating a cruise missile."
Head of the air defense missile troops Sergei Popov said "live fire
results will be assessed by objective control means after which a decision
will made about fire at another target."
"The first stage of the tests was successful. The target has been hit.
All equipment operated normally. Now we can get ready for the second
stage," he said.
The second stage will have to destroy Strizh cruise missile target and
Kaban operational-strategic ballistic missile.
-0-nec


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