Free Republic

MOSCOW -- President Vladimir Putin warned yesterday that the U.S.-Russian arms race is not over and called for a strengthening of his nation's nuclear and conventional forces so Moscow can better resist foreign pressure.     The remarks, in his seventh state of the nation address since taking power in 2000, follow increasingly sharp criticism of Russia's democratic and foreign policy directions from the United States, including a harsh rebuke by Vice President Dick Cheney last week in Lithuania.     "It is premature to speak of the end of the arms race," said Mr. Putin, who pointed out in the nationally televised address...

Iran is eager to join SCO... ...To fight against 3 evilsDefense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states and representatives of the SCO observer states met in regular session in Beijing yesterday. The SCO tends to become a military bloc, judging by the resolutions it adopted. The participants scheduled joint military exercises on Russian territory for summer 2007. Iran too intends to take part in the exercises, according to Kommersant’s information. This observer state counts on becoming a rightful SCO member state soon. The 3 evils Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov took the limelight...

National PR-ity // Moscow drafts a plan to influence the United States The Kremlin has taken up the promotion of Russian interests in the United States head-on. The key role will be given to the Russian-U.S. Council for Business Cooperation (RUCBC) whose supervisory board will include high-ranking officials from the Russian president’s administration, ministers and prominent public figures. The Russian government asked the Finance Ministry to find sources to finance the NGO. However, it has already been suggested that big business contribute for the council’s activities. The first donation is expected to amount to $50 million. Work has in progress...