* Russia's Foreign Ministry said it hoped a UN Security Council decision to deploy peacekeepers to Sudan's western Darfur region would be supported by the African country's leadership
* Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said:
- He is concerned over attempts to introduce ideology into foreign policy and forcibly spread freedom and democracy around the world
- Russia is not planning to change its foreign policy, but may correct some areas of its diplomatic activity in the near future
- Russia is concerned over the buildup of arms in the world and will take measures to ensure its security
- Russia is ready to face tough competition in the post-Soviet space if other countries respect its interests and are transparent in their intentions
* Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will pay routine visits to Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Palestinian territories September 7 through 8, the ministry said
* Mikhail Kamynin, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said:
- Russia will decide on the nature of its peacekeepers' involvement in Lebanon in a few days
- Russia regrets Iran's refusal to comply with a UN resolution to stop its uranium enrichment program
* Ukraine's fuel and energy minister said:
- The country was stepping up its nuclear power program
- A final decision on a consortium to manage and develop Ukraine's gas pipeline system, a joint project with Russia, would be made in October
* Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said a decision on whether to build a nuclear power plant in Belarus would be made with account for public opinion
* Ukraine and Azerbaijan have initialed an agreement on cooperation between their national oil and gas companies, Ukraine's Naftogaz said
* Russian shipbuilder Almaz said it planned to conclude a contract with China next year on supplying six heavy air cushioned landing craft
* The parliament of South Ossetia, a self-proclaimed republic in Georgia, fixed the date of presidential elections for November 12
* Russia is entering a period of electric power deficit because of delayed reform in the sector, Anatoly Chubais, the head of Unified Energy System electricity monopoly, said
* Russia's government has decided to sign an agreement to join a multi-billion-euro international nuclear fusion reactor project, the Cabinet press service said
* The pro-presidential Our Ukraine bloc has decided to create a new parliamentary coalition, the party's press service said
* Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said his country would not pay more for Russian gas than Germany does
* The foreign ministers of the UN Security Council's five permanent members and Germany will meet September 6 to discuss Iran's controversial nuclear program, Sergei Ivanov, deputy Russian prime minister said
* Abkhazia may quit peace talks with Tbilisi if Georgia does not withdraw its troops from the Kodori Gorge, Sergei Bagapsh the leader of the breakaway region said
* Russia and Venezuela have agreed to cooperate in handling emergencies, Yevgeny Serebrennikov, a Russian deputy emergencies minister, said
* Russia's oil export duty will grow by $21.2 per metric ton and will reach a record of $237.6 as of October 1, 2006, a senior Finance Ministry official said
* Up to 900,000 foreign cars annually will be assembled in Russia by 2010, with investment hitting $2 billion, Andrei Reus, the acting industry and energy minister, said
* Madonna will sing in Moscow September 12, the organizers of the American diva's show said, dismissing earlier media reports that the show would be cancelled
* Mobile TeleSystems (RTS: MTSS) has acquired 100% in the Dutch-based Mobile TeleSystems, Russia's No.1 mobile operator said
* The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia may meet in mid-September to outline principles for resolving a long-running territorial dispute, the Azeri media said
