Russia and the USA. Arms control

1 Nagorno-Karabakh

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Russian military doctors have deployed additional first aid points in Stepanakert, Khojaly, and at the observation post of Russian peacekeepers in the Lachin corridor, in Nagorno-Karabakh. It was noted that doctors of various specialties, including psychologists, treat the local patients. The ministry underlined that the additional medical centers are equipped with modern medical equipment. The ministry added that over the past 24 hours, the Russian military doctors from the special medical unit have treated almost 40 patients.

2 Iraq

The ’Al Sumaria’ TV reported while citing a source from the Iraqi Security Service that 2 explosions took place on the Khabaz oil field, in the Kirkuk province. It was reported that 2 IEDs were detonated near 2 oil wells. The explosions caused fires. The news website ’SHAFAQ’ reported that the incident was made by the ISIS terrorists.

3 India

’The Times of India’ reported while citing their Indian government sources that China is building military camps along the entire control line, which serves as a border line with India. Supposedly, those actions were taken «to increase the combat readiness of troops during military conflicts. Construction work is underway in 20 military camps — it takes place during the tensions in the eastern Ladakh» — the newspaper quoted their source. It was noted that the Chinese army, deployed near the control line, built new bases for surface-to-air missiles. China has deployed additional squadrons of military UAVs and military transport aircraft at the military airfields of Kashgar, Hotan, and Lhasa, in Tibet. The construction of the deployment sites for the personnel, and rear bases of military-technical support units continues. China deployed an electronic warfare center 60 km away from the border of the state of Arunachal-Pradesh. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying stated on Tuesday that the consultations with India on a consensus in Ladakh are still on-going.

4 The USA

During a speech at the National Institute of the Public Policy, the US Presidential Special Representative for the Arms Control, Marshall Billingsley, stated that the condition for an extension of the NEW START with Russia is a suspension of the nuclear arsenal, and a development of a nuclear verification method — the TASS news agency quoted his words. In his opinion, an agreement in this matter should also include China. Marshall Billingsley added that the US administration believes that no future American president should confirm the inadmissibility of a nuclear war with Russia.

5 Russia

The Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, Sergei Ryabkov, commented on the statement of the US Presidential Special Representative for the Arms Control — Marshall Billingsley. «In our opinion, right now it would be extremely important, correct, and from all points of view, timely to confirm the inadmissibility of a nuclear war, and the impossibility of winning it in the first place» — Ryabkov stated and added that Moscow isn’t surprised by the statement of Billingsley that no future American president should sign the Russian-proposed declaration on the inadmissibility of a nuclear war.

6 The Golan Heights

The ’Al Mayadeen’ TV reported that the Israeli police used tear gas and rubber bullets during the dispersal of a protest by the locals on the Golan Heights. 20 protesters were injured and taken to a local hospital. 2 people were detained by the police. Earlier the leaders of the Syrian community of Druze mountaineers called on the population of the villages of Majdal-Shams, Sahita, Bakaata, and Masaada to hold a protest against the intentions of the Israeli occupation authorities to install wind generators on their territory. After the use of special equipment by the police, the protesters retreated deep into their villages. The ’Al Mayadeen’ reported that the local protests prompted the Israeli authorities to delay the installation of the wind generators, and pull back the construction equipment from the Druze areas. Constantine Reztsov, specially for ANNA NEWS.