Ruben Safrastyan: Russia Project is a fairytaleSeptember 16, 2009 - 19:11 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - That Russia intensifies its geopolitical role on global level, trying to recover its positions in CIS are real. The country's attempts to make CSTO an active system are real too. But as regards Russia Project, that's a fairytale, NAS Oriental Studies Institute Director Ruben Safrastyan told a PanARMENIAN reporter. If Russian President and Premier had such plans, no foreign newspaper would be aware of it, Armenian expert finds.Italian Limes magazine disseminated information on the so called Russia Project allegedly elaborated by Mr. Putin and Medvedev. A periodical specialized in geopolitics, the magazine reported that the project aimed at re-annexing Transdniestria, South-Eastern Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan to Russian Federation. The project proposes the idea of creating a "Russian Union" with the involvement of Belarus, Central Ukraine, Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. It also envisages an agreement on a military union with Uzbekistan. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Armenia border residents dissatisfied with delimitation Residents Kirants are dissatisfied with the results of the delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “Great success”: Pashinyan pleased with new border protocol Pashinyan has described the signing by Armenia and Azerbaijan of a protocol on delimitation in Tavush as “a great success”. Armenia, Azerbaijan sign protocol on demarcation coordinates Armenia’s government took on May 15 another step towards handing over four border areas to Azerbaijan. Power of One Dram sums up two-year program with Teach for Armenia Idram Junior also joined the companies during the visit, bringing with it a fascinating intellectual game for children |