Russian News From Russia: May 22nd, 2009!

Russia News Source – RIA: May 22nd, 2009!

Russia says ‘no’ to Energy Charter, urges new agreement:
“We have reaffirmed that we are not going to ratify the Energy Charter, and we are not implementing the Energy Charter Treaty, either,” Russian presidential aide Arkady Dvorkovich said at a news conference after the summit.

Medvedev says EU should give Ukraine loan to ensure gas transit:
Russia’s president said on Friday the EU should consider giving Kiev a loan to ensure that natural gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine are uninterrupted.

Russian monetary base up $750 mln in week to $123 bln:
Russia’s Central Bank said Friday the country’s narrowly defined money supply (M1) was 3 trillion 871.7 billion rubles ($123.4 billion at the current exchange rate) as of May 18, up 23.5 billion rubles ($750 million) since May 12.

Russia launches military satellite into orbit:
A Soyuz-2 carrier rocket, which was launched early Friday from the Plesetsk space center in north Russia, has put an advanced Meridian 2 military satellite into orbit, an aide to the Russian Space Forces commander said.

Medvedev opens EU-Russia summit in Far East:
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev opened an EU-Russia summit on Friday in the Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk, inviting participants to discuss the economic crisis, energy cooperation and European security.

Belarus set to boost ties with Abkhazia, South Ossetia:
Belarus is set to boost economic, social and cultural ties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, a spokesman for the country’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

Gazprom prepays Ukraine for 2009 gas transit to Europe:
Russian energy giant Gazprom has paid Ukraine in advance for gas transit to Europe for the rest of 2009, a source in a Russian business delegation on a visit to Kazakhstan said on Thursday.