Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang’s Regular Press Conference on April 14, 2017

Q: It is reported that all necessary materials for the deployment of THAAD have been delivered to the golf course in Seongju region in the southeast of the ROK. The ROK military suggested that THAAD would be deployed soon to counter the threat posed by DPRK’s nuclear and missile programs. What’s China’s comment on this?

A: China has been consistent and clear in opposing THAAD. The deployment of THAAD by the US and the ROK in the ROK is not conducive to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula nor peace and stability on the Peninsula. It seriously undermines the strategic and security interests of China and other countries in the region and breaks the strategic balance of the region.

It is obvious to all that since the US and the ROK decided to deploy THAAD, the situation on the Peninsula, instead of cooling down, has become more intense; the ROK, instead of becoming more secure, has been faced with greater threat and challenge.

We strongly urge the US and the ROK to put an end to relevant process of deployment. And I want to reiterate that China is prepared to take necessary measures to preserve its national security interests and regional strategic balance.

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If true confirms Putin cited Intel of another CW false flag planned near Damascus

from  The ‘Nimr’ Tiger: Saudi-backed rebels in Ghouta hand out gas masks to their fighters. Possibly confirming Russian Intel on possible 2nd false flag attack.

Saudi-backed rebels in Ghouta hand out gas masks to their fighters. Possibly confirming Russian Intel on possible 2nd false flag attack

Thanks the Kulak for update

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13 April 201710:36

Joint Communiqué on the Meeting of BRICS Special Envoys on Middle East, Visakhapatnam, April 12, 2017

736-13-04-2017

BRICS Special Envoys on Middle East expressed their concern about internal crises that have emerged in a number of states in the region in recent years. They firmly advocated that these crises should be resolved in accordance with the international law and UN Charter, without resorting to force or external interference and through establishing broad national dialogue with due respect for independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the countries of the region. The participants emphasized the legitimacy of the aspirations of the peoples of the region to enjoy full political and social freedoms and for respect to human rights.

They strongly condemned recent several attacks, against some BRICS countries, including that in the Russian Federation. BRICS members stand for consolidating international efforts to combat the global threat of terrorism. They stressed that counter-terrorism measures should be undertaken on the firm basis of international law under the aegis of the UN and its Security Council.

In the course of the meeting, the role of the UN Security Council as the international body bearing the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security was underlined. It was also stressed that military interventions that have not been authorized by the Security Council are incompatible with the UN Charter and unacceptable.

BRICS Special Envoys expressed their deep concern with regard to the continuing violence in Syria, deterioration of humanitarian situation and growing threat of international terrorism and extremism in that country.

The participants confirmed their strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and the need for a peaceful solution, led by the Syrians, to the conflict. They supported all efforts towards a political and diplomatic solution in Syria through talks based on Resolution 2254 of the United Nations Security Council. They welcomed the three rounds of talks held in Astana and the outcome of fifth round of talks in Geneva. They acknowledged that Astana talks paved the way for resumption of Geneva talks. They expressed resolve for renewed and committed efforts to find a political and diplomatic solution in Syria. In this regard, the efforts of the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General Staffan de Mistura aimed at resumption of Geneva process were welcomed. The efforts of BRICS countries in providing humanitarian aid to Syria were welcomed. They called for continuing humanitarian assistance to Syria by BRICS countries and collaborating in the reconstruction of Syria.

While strongly condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, they called upon all Syrians to join hands in the face of this dangerous threat and urged the international community to strictly abide by all the obligations pursuant to various relevant UNSC resolutions.

While strongly condemning the use of chemical weapons by anyone under any circumstances, they called upon the international community to remain united while addressing any use or threat of use of chemical weapons and stressed the importance of continued cooperation between OPCW Technical Secretariat, OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism with the Syrian authorities.

They expressed serious concern about the political and security situation and escalation of the armed conflict in Libya, highlighting its extremely negative consequences for the Middle East (West Asia) and North Africa and the Sahel region. It was noted that the military intervention into this country in 2011 led to the collapse of integrated state institutions, which in turn resulted in the rise of activities of terrorist and extremist groups.

They stressed their commitment to the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Libya. They expressed their support for the steps undertaken by Libyan authorities in combating the terrorist threats. They reaffirmed the need to overcome the dissensions between Libyan political forces and to achieve consensus in functioning of the Government by all stakeholders in pursuance of the Libya Political Agreement (LPA), In this context, they expressed their support for the efforts by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Libya Martin Kobler, neighboring countries and by the African Union. The global efforts to defeat Islamic State (IS) in Sirte, Libya were welcomed.

They expressed concern over the continuing presence of terrorist formations including ISIS in other regions of the country and they supported the UN-sponsored international efforts aimed at inter-Libyan dialogue destined to achieve creation of unified authorities based on the recognition of interests of Libyan political forces, regions and tribal groups.

BRICS Special Envoys expressed their full respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq. They supported the efforts by the Iraqi government to combat terrorism and restore control over the territories taken by the so called Islamic State of Iraq and Levant. They stressed their concern for the humanitarian impact of the ongoing military operation for the liberation of Mosul. The participants of the meeting expressed hope that all ethnic and confessional parties in Iraq enhance national reconciliation as the only way to overcome ongoing turmoil, bring long-awaited peace and economic recovery for the Iraqi people. In this regard they called on all parties to support all-inclusive national reconciliation process in Iraq taking into account the interests of all segments of the Iraqi society. They referred to the importance of an Iraqi-led national dialogue able to strengthen the country’s stability, territorial integrity and democratic institutions. They also urged the International community to provide continued assistance and humanitarian support for Iraqi refugees and internally displaced people.

They expressed their concern over the continuing armed conflict in the Yemen Republic which led to the killing of thousands of civilians, including women and children, and to the destruction of a significant part of vital civilian infrastructure, bringing the situation in Yemen to a humanitarian catastrophe. They called for urgent measures by the international community in order to ease social and economic situation in this country, unlimited access to humanitarian aid to all parts of the Yemen Republic.

In this regard the Special Envoys called for immediate ceasefire in Yemen, urging all parties to the conflict to resume the nation-wide dialogue in which representatives of Yemeni political forces and different groups of Yemeni population could participate in discussing the future of their country. The participants supported efforts taken by Mr. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed in this regard.

BRICS members declared their readiness to provide relevant humanitarian aid and diplomatic assistance in resolving the situation in Yemen.

They were unanimous that the period of the fundamental transformations that is taking place in the Middle East (West Asia) and North African states should not be used as pretext to delaying resolution of long-standing conflicts, in particular the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. In this regard they confirmed their commitment to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the universally recognized international legal framework including respective UN Security Council resolutions, the Madrid principles and the Arab Peace Initiative.

They called for an early resumption of the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations aiming at establishing an independent, viable and territorially contiguous Palestinian State within the borders based on June 4, 1967 lines and with East Jerusalem as its capital. They supported the Russian role in the Middle East Quartet aimed at achieving these ends as soon as possible. They expressed their readiness to contribute on a bigger scale towards a just and lasting resolution of the Middle East conflict.

The participants of the meeting appealed to the Palestinians and Israelis to undertake positive steps towards each other to restore mutual trust and create favorable conditions for restarting talks, avoiding unilateral steps, that endanger the two-state solution, in particular illegal Israeli settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. They stood for overcoming the inter-Palestinian split based on the PLO political platform and the Arab Peace Initiative.

They expressed the intention to convene next consultations at the level of Deputy Foreign Ministers of BRICS countries in China in 2017.

The participants of the meeting also agreed on the advisability of holding regular consultations on the Middle East (West Asia) and North Africa topics at various venues, including the UN, and confirmed their support for holding informal meetings of their representatives.

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Recent footage shows a lot of Chinese military vehicles deploying toward North Korea border (prob. AirDef systems)

 

Deputy Defense Minister General of the Army of Russia, Dmitry Bulgakov has arrived in Khabarovsk Krai near North Korea to inspect troops.

Bulgakov’s Inspection Run: He is now about to enter Svobodny Town to inspect the 50th Railway Troops Brigade. Bulgakov is to inspect logistics support as well as combat and mobilization conditions.

He will also inspect logistics support condition of the Pacific Fleet troops on Kamchatka and in Vladivostok (Last major city before NK).

 

Russia reportedly moved military vehicles (Air Def) toward Vladivostok not far from the border with North Korea

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NATO troops in Orzysz, Poland

 

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After bombing the CIA facilities in Afghanistan, Pentagon has started their usual anti-Russia propaganda trying to poison relations between Russia and Afghanistan by lying about Russian military advisers in Afghanistan. VOA reporting Urdu/Pashtun hearsay that female Russians are vacationing alongside Russian generals in Taliban territory, because why not? [from the Kulak]

Would be interesting to look at their photos. Why didn’t they take picture to prove?

Remember that from Russia’s point of view there are two Talibans, good and bad.

Ramzan Kadyrov, who is a guardian of Prophet Muhammad’s relic and a respectable voice in the Islamic world, is working with good Taliban and with the government of Afghanistan. They recently asked Russia to rebuilt infrastructure and 170 objects built by the Soviet Union, a power station, a university, schools, and some manufacturing plans.
When former vice president of Afghanistan Rashid Dostum came to visit Chechnya in 2015 he was so impressed by the high standards of living there, that he started crying in public. He said that would want the same for his people who were in war for the past 40 years and lost at least 2 million dead.

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For the background and history of the current conflict see An Escalation of the Korean Conflict – 2014 Expert Report by Gleb Toropchin, professor of the Novosibirsk State Technical University

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Washington is a no-show at the consultations on reconciliation in Afghanistan that took place in Moscow on Friday.

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US NAVY

On Friday, the US Navy press released announced that the Arleigh Burke-class, guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63) is “conducting routine operations” in the South China Sea.

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Maaloula is the only village where people still speak Aramaic the language of Jesus Christ.

3 years have passed since the liberation of Maaloula by SAA and allies, a small Christian village in rural Damascus. Look at it today

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The evacuation of the militants and their families from Madaya in rural Damascus + settling the legal status of those who wish to stay

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iSIS running low on virgin supply. Jews offer to help them out

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Putin offered to Israel to move its capital to the West Jerusalem

6 April 201710:40

Foreign Ministry statement regarding Palestinian-Israeli settlement

“We reaffirm our commitment to the UN-approved principles for a Palestinian-Israeli settlement, which include the status of East Jerusalem as the capital of the future Palestinian state. At the same time, we must state that in this context we view West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.”

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Why and how American intelligence services create terrorist networks,  by Valeriy Korovin

For now only Russia is fighting terrorism, while the rest are merely looking at us puzzled, not understanding, as if wondering: “Are they simply out of the loop or do they in fact want to destroy American terrorism? What’s going on?” And Donald Trump, captured by the neocons is like all the rest trying to understand what’s going on. His question is, first of all, what to do with the terrorist networks created by Washington with the support of American intelligence; secondly, what to do with Russia, who is fighting terrorism, really destroying it, and not just for fun like all the “normal” civilized countries;

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Russia delivered to Syria 10 upgraded Su-24M2 bombers

“The Syrian Arab Armed Forces are receiving 10 examples of the Sukhoi Su-24M2 ‘Fencer-D’ attack aircraft from Russia, augmenting an unknown number of existing ‘Fencers’.

The upgrade will bring the aircraft up to the same standard as Russian ‘Fencers’ that have been modernized under the ‘Gefest’ and ‘Sukhoi’ programmes, which began in 1999 and 2000, and completed in 2009.

The upgrade will significantly enhance the capabilities of the Syrian Su-24s, and promises to improve availability and maintainability, as well as combat effectiveness.

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Ramzan Kadyrov dances Lezginka with his daughter Aishat and with Tatiana Navka, Dmitry Peskov’s wife, at the Chechnya fashion week celebration

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Great and Holy Friday Lamentations in English

 

The Essential Saker IV: Messianic Narcissism's Agony by a Thousand Cuts
The Essential Saker III: Chronicling The Tragedy, Farce And Collapse of the Empire in the Era of Mr MAGA