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St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2016

Moscow considers US pressure on Swiss business regarding visit to SPIEF unacceptable

According to media, the US embassy in Bern recommended Switzerland’s Eeconomy Ministry dissuade Swiss businessmen from visiting the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova

© Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS

MOSCOW, May 6. /TASS/. Moscow believes pressure applied by the US authorities against Switzerland’s economy ministry and business circles to prevent them from visiting the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) is not acceptable, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday.

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The fact of such pressure was reported earlier by Swiss mass media. According to them, representatives of the US embassy in Bern recommended Switzerland’s Eeconomy Ministry dissuade Swiss businessmen from visiting the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

"This occurs against the background of statements, ongoing reviews and reports, including those of the Department of State, about violations of human rights and inadmissibility of applying pressure on the business," Zakharova said.

"At the same time, putting pressure on a sovereign state in making decisions and putting pressure on the business is an absolute norm for Washington," the spokeswoman added.

The twentieth St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) will be held on June 16-18 on a new site near St. Petersburg. The new economic reality and the search for new growth drivers will be key topics for discussions at the Forum.

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Foreign policy SPIEF 2016

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Russia’s national jurisdiction must be competitive for business — Putin

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GDP growth is 6% in average over the first two months, the Russian leader noted

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Ivan Tertel said various methods were being considered, up to "instigating a forceful seizure by illegal armed groups" being trained in the West and Ukraine

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Hungary sees Ukraine conflict entering new phase, NATO involvement rising

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The Houthis also confirmed that the movement will "continue its military operations, impeding the navigation of Israeli vessels in the Red Sea, the Arab Sea and the Indian Ocean"

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Russia’s international reserves are highly liquid foreign assets available with the Bank of Russia and the Russian government

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"ALBA can be among the founders of a new world, a new international multipolar order," the Venezuelan president stressed

West again tried to obstruct international security meeting in Russia — security official

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TASS, SMI2 to launch positive content aggregator on Internet

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US nuclear facilities in Northern Europe to become targets in Russia-NATO clash — MFA

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Konstantin Gavrilov also noted that the "manic efforts" of some Western OSCE member countries to isolate Russia "are futile and will backfire on their initiators"

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US nukes in Poland to become target for Russia should confrontation with NATO occur — MFA

"The impression is that Warsaw is maniacally seeking to attract even more attention from military planners in the Russian General Staff," Maria Zakharova added

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The date and location will be announced later

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Andrey Babenko said that after a crash course in Britain he had been sent to the frontline near Liman

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Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani called for a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza

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The number of operational and combat training activities in Poland and the Baltic states increases every year, the Belarusian President noted

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Putin vows maximal predictability for doing business in Russia

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There is confirmed evidence of his connections with French secret services

Kremlin vows to resolve situation with Turkish Airlines refusing service to Russians

Russia has "very constructive and friendly relations" with Turkey, Dmitry Peskov stressed

Russia says its battlegroup West seized better positions

The Russian forces also foiled a counterattack of an assault group of the Ukrainian 80th mechanized brigade in the vicinity of the Krasnoye settlement in the Donetsk People’s Republic

West’s unwillingness to give up hegemony escalates tensions in world — security official

According to Nikolay Patrushev, this creates conditions for the devaluation of international law and its institutions and the erosion of the UN's central role in resolving global and regional conflicts

Moscow slams NATO drills near Russian borders as inflammatory

"It is obvious that the upcoming combat training on the territory of Finland is part of a hybrid war against our country," Maria Zakharova said

Reinforced Ukrainian battlegroup fails to break through Russian defenses in DPR — expert

Andrey Marochko added that the Ukrainians have also intensified artillery and drone attacks at Russian positions

US government prepares to sign $6-bln contract for arms deliveries to Ukraine — Politico

According to the article, the United States "is putting the finishing touches" on one of its largest Ukraine military aid packages to date, which may be announced on Friday

Kremlin announces creation of blockchain-based payment system in BRICS

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Cosmonauts complete spacewalk two hours ahead of schedule

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Houthi leader says group attacked more than 100 ships in Red, Arabian seas so far

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IAEA chief to have working contacts with Rosatom, no meeting with Putin is planned

Rafael Grossi may visit Russia in late May

Russia needs to boost production of goods based on domestic technologies — Putin

The President undescored that Russia did not plan to produce absolutely everything domestically

US effectively dooms Ukraine by its new decisions, Russian envoy says

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Industrial Development Fund will get additional capitalization of 300 bln rubles — Putin

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Swiss conference on Ukraine undermines European security — Russian diplomat

In Maxim Buyakevich words, neither the talks nor their outcome can change the existing political and territorial realities

First-ever South Korean citizen arrested for espionage in Russia

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West bends sanctions rules when it suits them — Kremlin

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Ukraine had to negotiate agreements with Russia with ‘three masters’ — Russian envoy

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Blinken’s visit to China meant to shatter Russian-Chinese ties — senior Russian diplomat

"I think that Beijing understands this perfectly well and will not even pretend being ready to reach any agreements with the Americans to the detriment of Russia’s interests," Sergey Ryabkov said

Potential nuclear facilities in Poland to be military target for Russia — senior diplomat

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Cosmonauts complete spacewalk two hours ahead of schedule

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All-Belarusian People's Assembly adopts new military doctrine, security concept

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Russian court arrests in absentia four foreign agents charged with terrorism

"The court has selected a measure of restraint for Garry Kasparov, Gennady Gudkov, Yevgenia Chirikova and Ivan Tyutrin, charged with establishing and heading a terrorist society, funding terrorist activity and justifying it publicly," the court said

Press review: US tries to strong-arm China and Zelensky's bid to bring men home

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, April 25th

Casualties reported after Ukrainian strike on residential house in Zaporozhye Region city

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US military advisers, if sent to Ukraine, won’t come close to frontlines — Pentagon

"United States has no intent of conducting combat operations inside of Ukraine, nor are these forces going to be anywhere near the frontlines," Patrick Ryder said

Russia ready to cooperate with all interested partners to ensure security — Putin

The Russian leader expressed confidence that the the 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues "will bolster cooperation for the mutual benefit of our countries and peoples"

Europe should be prepared to build relations with Russia post-Ukraine conflict — Macron

According to the French leader, when building relations with Russia, Europe needs to rely upon its own strong security system

ATACMS shipment proves ‘Zelensky’s formula’ needed in US as ‘smoke and mirrors’ — diplomat

"Washington’s plan is sickeningly simple, as it means dragging everyone under the pretext of ‘peace intentions’ to an empty gathering, while bolstering Zelensky’s terrorist potential," Maria Zakharova said

Dardanelles temporarily closed due to fire on board of dry cargo carrier

Rescue craft were promptly sent to the ship, fire extinguishing started, the crew was evacuated

Ukraine to cease to exist unless it enters into talks, Belarusian president warns

Alexander Lukashenko stressed that his Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Zelensky should have realistic expectations