Chechen leader tells security forces to shoot if Russian police intrude

MOSCOW

Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov walks before a meeting of the state council at the Kremlin in Moscow, September 18, 2014.

REUTERS/MAXIM SHEMETOV

(Reuters) - The leader of the Russia's southern region of Chechnya has ordered his police to "shoot to kill" if servicemen from other parts of the country encroach on their territory.

Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov gave the order after a man was killed in his capital, Grozny, in an operation by police from the neighboring region of Stavropol. Kadyrov said on Instagram this week he had ordered an investigation into the death.

"I declare to you that if anyone appears on your territory without your knowledge, it doesn't matter whether they're from Moscow or Stavropol, then shoot to kill. People need to reckon with us," Kadyrov told a meeting of his Interior Ministry in televised comments posted on YouTube.

They provided further evidence of tensions that surfaced between the Chechen leader and Russian authorities after leading opposition politician Boris Nemtsov was shot dead in Moscow in February and a former Chechen policeman was arrested as a suspect.

The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs issued a statement calling Kadyrov's statement "unacceptable". It also said that the Stavropol police had informed their Chechen colleagues about the Grozny operation.

Kadyrov professes loyalty to President Vladimir Putin but enjoys a large degree of autonomy to run his mainly Muslim region as he chooses, having put down an anti-Moscow insurgency that gave rise to two wars in Chechnya after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Turkey recalls envoy to Austria as 'genocide' condemned

Ambassador returns from Vienna as Austrian parliament becomes latest entity to call massacre of Armenians a "genocide".

22 Apr 2015 21:49 GMT | Politics, Turkey, Armenia, Austria, Europe

The six parties in Austria's parliament issued a joint declaration on Wednesday calling the massacre a genocide [AFP]

Turkey has recalled its ambassador to Austria in protest over the Austrian parliament's condemnation of the massacre of Armenians by Ottoman Turk forces 100 years ago as "genocide".

Turkey said on Wednesday that the Austrian parliamentary declaration would permanently damage the two countries' relations.

"This declaration... has caused outrage for us," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "We reject this biased attitude of the Austrian parliament, trying to lecture others on history, which has no room in today's world.

"It is clear that this declaration...will have permanent negative effects on Turkey-Austria relations."

Migrant Deaths: EU leaders to triple funding of rescue operations

Britain, Germany,and France offer ships and aircraft for Mediterranean mission at emergency summit in Brussels 

European leaders have pledged to triple funding of EU maritime operations in the Mediterranean in an attempt to get to grips with the epidemic of migrant drownings at sea, while 15 of 28 EU countries also promised more naval assets for the mission.

At an emergency summit in Brussels staged under intense pressure to respond more humanely to the soaring death toll, Britain was the first to pledge ships and helicopters.

The Royal Navy flagship HMS Bulwark was ordered to Malta to join search-and-rescue operations after the deaths of up to 800 people last weekend in the worst single tragedy in two years in the Mediterranean.

David Cameron also said two smaller cutters or patrol vessels would be sent as well as three Merlin helicopters fitted with advanced radar systems capable of spotting small craft at sea from a range of 100 miles.

Germany offered one frigate and 10 ships while France was said to have committed a plane for a fortnight in September and a patrol boat for the month of November.

Despite previous British government opposition to saving lives at sea, Cameron’s U-turn on search and rescue came with conditions attached. He said any migrants picked up at sea would not necessarily qualify for claiming asylum in Britain, but would be taken to the nearest EU country, probably Italy. Matteo Renzi, the Italian prime minister, was said not to have objected when he met Cameron just before the summit.

The Bulwark, currently taking part in first world war commemorations at Gallipoli in Turkey, is expected to be operational on search-and-rescue duties in the Mediterranean in around a week and will be based at Malta, UK government sources said.

“Our immediate priority is to prevent more people from dying at sea,” said a summit statement.While leaders stressed that the paramount aim was to save lives, Thursday’s summit focused mainly on security in what looked like a vain attempt to stem the flow of refugees from north Africa.

Refugee charities and immigration professionals, highly critical of the EU effort before the summit, were guardedly hopeful.

Turkish President Seeks Closer Economic Ties on State Visit to Iran

Visit takes place as historic rivals compete to influence conflicts in Yemen, Syria and Iraq

 

Turkey’s president sought deeper economic ties and common ground on Middle East conflicts during a visit to Iran on Tuesday, even as the longtime rivals compete to influence the outcome of wars in Yemen, Syria and Iraq.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s meeting with Iranian President Hasan Rouhani, on the heels of Tehran’s framework nuclear agreement with six world powers, marks Turkey’s push to reap a trade windfall if a final deal is reached that would lift sanctions on Iran.
It was an indication of how the prospect of an end to Iran’s isolation is already starting to recalibrate regional balances, spooking rivals led by Saudi Arabia and enemies such as Israel, while beckoning businesses from China to the West.
The two leaders tried to play down their foreign policy differences at a news conference where no questions were allowed.
They stressed their determination to fight terrorism, pledged to boost trade, and unveiled agreements to bolster cooperation in areas ranging from health-care to the environment and small business.
Mr. Rouhani said the neighboring countries were on the same page about ending the war in Yemen, where Turkey supports a Saudi-led Sunni coalition against Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels.

Ukrainian Leader Is Open to a Vote on Regional Power

By DAVID M. HERSZENHORNAPRIL 6, 2015

 

MOSCOW — President Petro O. Poroshenko of Ukraine on Monday denounced calls for “federalization” of the country, which Russia has endorsed as a way of granting political autonomy to the areas of eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian separatists.

 

Establishing greater local autonomy and governmental authority is widely viewed as crucial to settling the nearly yearlong war in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, and it was a central plank in a cease-fire accord signed in February. But there are fierce disagreements over how to shape those powers, and how far they would extend.

 

Speaking at the first meeting of a commission charged with developing amendments to the Ukrainian Constitution, Mr. Poroshenko described federalization as tantamount to breaking apart the country, and said he was so certain Ukrainians would reject the idea that he was willing to put it to a national referendum.

 

“Why do I dwell in great detail on the idea of federalization?” Mr. Poroshenko said. “Because it is like an infection, a biological weapon, which is being imposed on Ukraine from abroad. Its bacteria are trying to infect Ukraine and destroy our unity.”

Alexis Tsipras flies to Moscow amid speculation of bailout from Putin

Greek prime minister to sign accords with Russia, including gas price discount and possible loans in return for Greek assets, which would alarm EU creditors

Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras has condemned EU sanctions on Russia as a ‘road to nowhere’. Photograph: Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images

The Greek prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, has begun a controversial visit to Moscow as his debt-stricken country races to meet Thursday’s deadline for the repayment of a €450m loan to the International Monetary Fund.
With Greece suffering its worst credit crisis in modern times, the defiant leader flew into Russia on Tuesday amid speculation that president Vladimir Putin might make an offer of financial help he would find hard to resist.

As Tsipras departed Athens, officials said the Kremlin talks should be seen through the prism of Athens’ leftist-led government doing “what is best for Greece”.
They described the visit as being both “politically friendly and economically promising”.
The two leaders, who hold formal talks and a working lunch on Wednesday, are expected to sign an array of accords, including a three-year plan to strengthen economic and commercial ties.

The Kremlin meeting is also expected to focus on EU sanctions against Russia, which Tsipras has condemned as a “road to nowhere”. On Tuesday, Russia’s Kommersant business daily reported that a discount on gas deliveries was likely to be top of the agenda. Cash-strapped Greece imports 57% of its gas supplies from Russia.