June 19, 2007 (LPAC)--Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is making an official visit to Russia, and will meet President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin today to discuss world issues, Itar-Tass reported. Prime Minister Badawi is also now chairman of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). The two nations marked the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations in April (Malaysia only became independent from the British Empire in 1957). Putin had visited Malaysia in 2003, and also met Badawi at the Russia-ASEAN summit in 2005. Their discussions will focus on a settlement for the Southwest Asia crisis, Iraq, Iran, and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. "The coincidence of Russia's and Malaysia's approaches create a favorable foundation for effective coordinating efforts on the global and regional levels," Itar-Tass quoted a high-ranking Kremlin official. They will discuss "inter-civilization and inter-religious dialogue," and cooperation with ASEAN and other Asia-Pacific cooperation associations on economic issues, including space, energy and trade.
The state-owned Russian Railways has set up a joint venture with Germany, Poland and Belarus to improve rail services and cargo traffic between Russia and western Europe, Russian Information Services reported. "The main goal in setting up the joint venture is to streamline the transportation process, improve the quality of services, and increase the volume of freight shipments along International Transport Corridor No. 2 linking Berlin, Warsaw, Minsk, Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod," Russian Railways announced yesterday. The venture is worth some $65.3 million. It will coordinate different rail gauges, customs regulations, and other matters to cut travel time. Germany, Poland, Belarus, and Russia are considering extending the route to Yekaterinburg, in the Urals, and eventually linking it to the Siberian rail network, which would create another Europe-Pacific trade route.
Russia is also strengthening relations with the nations around the inland Caspian Sea, which- except for Ira were formerly part of the Soviet Union. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will to to the session of the Council of the Caspian Sea States in Tehran tomorrow. The aim is to discuss the status of the region around the Sea, which is bordered by Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, as well as Iran. Recently, Russia has signed agreements with Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to build infrastructure and increase other cooperation in the area. Iran's nuclear program will not be discussed. In 2003, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan signed an agreement to divide 64% of the northern sea territories, which are very rich in oil and gas reserves, but many issues remain to be settled.
At the same time, the GUAM group, the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova, opened in Baku today. This group explicitly excludes Russia from its deliberations, and is promoting alternate ties and infrastructure connections to Europe. Leaders of Poland, Romania, Lithuania, and Bulgaria are also attending the Baku meeting.
