Putin's ship stops - not insured
I have no special insight into the workings of the Russian state, but I simply cannot believe this ship will stop and return home. This ship can be insured by a non-EU insurer, a Russian insurer or gain a Russian state certificate of cover / indemnity.
On a different, related theme - prompted by the possible despatch of troops to the Russian naval facility in Syria.
How many Russians are working in Syria, excluding diplomats? I would expect until recently families accompanied them, so are there signs of families leaving, or not returning after holidays?
Russian & other ethnic groups in Syria
I asked three days ago:
Quote:
On a different, related theme - prompted by the possible despatch of troops to the Russian naval facility in Syria.
How many Russians are working in Syria, excluding diplomats? I would expect until recently families accompanied them, so are there signs of families leaving, or not returning after holidays?
Nicholas Redman off IISS has the answer, edited to key points:
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Yet sending ships and marines to the coast of Syria also points to an interest that sets Russia aside from all other permanent members of the UN Security Council – it has people on the ground. Rather a lot of people, in fact.
In the first instance, these are the Russian armed services personnel working in Tartous and supporting the use of Russian military equipment by the Syrian armed forces.
Secondly, there are perhaps 30,000 Russians who are married to Syrian citizens and are resident in the country...If the opposition were to win power, the nationals of a country which had backed Assad to the hilt, over many years, would face an uncertain future.
Thirdly, Syria is home to between 50,000 and 100,000 Circassians who originally hail from Russian lands around the Black Sea and the Caucasus.... They are one of a number of Syrian minorities who support the Assad government, and most reside in and around Homs, Damascus and Aleppo. A few hundred Syrian Circassians have already emigrated to Russia but this trickle could become a stream if violence persists in Syria.
Link:http://iissvoicesblog.wordpress.com/...more-in-syria/
Don't you love "kith & kin" turning in places you may now prefer were at home or somewhere safer. Almost shades of the US medical students in Grenada.
How vital is Syria's Tartus port to Russia?
With all the headlines about Russian support for the regime in Syria and the frequents references to a 'base' at Tartus - at last some clarity in a BBC report, which appears to rely mainly on Russian sources:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18616191
Close to Damascus: Air Force in action
Last night an ITN reported:
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In total there have been 60 deaths in Douma - a suburb of the capital Damascus. It's the scene of fierce fighting, and Syrian army troops have told ITV News they've lost many men in a bitter two-day battle with rebels.
The summary does not reflect a small portion of his report, although the headline did:
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Syrian war planes: The view from Douma
Yes, the Syrian Air Force was bombing Douma. Apparently the first time fixed wing aircraft had been seen in use, as distinct from helicopter gunships; flying high too, so presumably not accurate bombing.
More evidence of atrocities, with children and an entire family killed.
Link:http://www.itv.com/news/2012-06-29/t...pulated-areas/