Ukraine To Represent The New Generation Passenger Jet At 49th Le Bourget Air Show

KIEV, Ukraine -- Ukraine is going to showcase a new generation passenger regional jet An-158 at the 49th International Paris Air Show Le Bourget on June 20-26, 2011.

The key features of the new exhibit include the ability to land on the various types of ground under zero visibility conditions.

The main Ukrainian exhibit to participate in the demonstration flights at Le Bourget Air Show will be the An-158 passenger regional jet (previously referred to as An-148-200).

The aircraft with a range of 2,5-3,1 thousand km is an upgraded version of An-148 with stretched fuselage that may accommodate 99 passengers.

Also, compared to the previous models, this one received additional wingtip fences.

The machine is equipped with D-436-148 engine designed by the state owned Ivchenko Progress and produced by Ukrainian JSC Motor-Sich.

The key features of the plane's design include the placing of the craft's engines high, making it possible to land even in the snowdrifts and on the ground if there is no runway.

The participating companies from Ukraine are the state-owned AntonovAeronautical Scientist/Technical Complex, Ivchenko Progress, JSC Motor-Sich, PA Yuzhmash, Yuzhnoe SDO, the State Space Agency of Ukraine, State Corporation Vector, state company Ukrspecexport.

An-158 is certified by International Civil Aviation Organization to land under zero visibility conditions (ICAO category III approach).

The plane also acquired an Interstate Aviation Committee certificate.

The first flight of the plane was successfully completed on April 28, 2010.

About 20 units of the new plane have already been preordered by a number of international companies.

Currently, AntonovAeronautical Scientist/Technical Complex is launching a serial production of An-158, with an aim to hit the market by the end of the year and build over 100 planes by 2020.

The Paris Air Show, officially titled Salon International de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace, Paris-Le Bourget, is considered to be the biggest world air show while being the oldest one (established in 1909) at the same time.

It is held at the Le Bourget Airport in Paris every odd year in June and is dedicated to aeronautics and space conquest.

Every other year hundreds of thousands (estimated 390 thousand visitors in 2009) attend the show where the latest achievements in the aircraft industry are displayed.

Yanukovych congratulated Sarkozy on national day of France

President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych congratulated President of the French Republic Nicolas Sarkozy on occasion of national day – Bastille Day.

As stated in the congratulation, the text of which is available on the official website of the President “Ukraine appreciate the constructive position of French Republic for support of Ukraine on its way to the European integration”. Yanukovych wished Sarkozy “new success in the implementation of high state mission, and the friendly French people – peace and prosperity”.

Russia-France 2010 gains momentum

The Bolshoi Theatre will be co-producing Mozart’s opera “Don Giovanni” in collaboration with the Aix-en-Provence festival (France), Teatro Real Madrid (Spain) and Canadian Opera Theatre (Toronto).

The producer is to be Dmitry Chernyakov, already an established figure in Russian theatre circles despite his young age.

The opera will be premiered in France at the Aix-en-Provence festival from June 1-20 and will then be brought to Moscow. The Moscow premier is to take place on Oct. 29 and it will remain in the Bolshoi theatre’s repertoire until February 2013, after which the sets will travel to Madrid, then Toronto.

French fancies, Russian style

Bonjour! The French invasion of Russia of 1812 was a turning point in the Napoleonic Wars - and it also affected Russia's varied fascination with the European cultural melting pot.

France was and indeed still is a great influence on Russian society and lifestyle. But what exactly does Russian culture gain from the French? On RT's culture show this week, Martyn Andrews, beret in hand, takes a look at French-Russian architecture, art, dance, food and clothing. Ooh la la!

Friday April 23 at 0:30 am, 2:30 am, 4:30 am, 6:30 am, 8:30 am, 10:30 am, 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 4:30 pm, 6:30 pm, 8:30 pm, 10:30 pm

Saturday April 24 at 0:30 am, 2:30 am, 4:30 am, 6:30 am, 8:30 am, 10:30 am, 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 4:30 pm, 6:30 pm, 8:30 pm, 10:30 pm

Sarkozy supports Medvedev’s modernization programme

Nicolas Sarkozy vowed support for Medvedev's course for modernization and talked about selling Russia four Mistral ships.

After Medvedev's official visit the French president said that Russia might buy not one, but four Mistral helicopter-carrying ships. At the press conference after the meeting Sarkozy said that "exclusive talks" on the purchase were taking place and that two of the ships were to be built in the French Saint-Nazaire and two in Russia under license. The deal could be worth as much as $3 billion.

It is seen as a turnaround in the French-Russian relations.After Sarkozy was elected in 2007 he distances himself from Russia, criticizing its poor human rights record and actions in Chechnya, yet in 2008 he negotiated ceasefire in the conflict with Georgia. The Russian President's visit "marked a shift from hostility to warm embrace."

During the dinner that closed Medvedev's visit to Paris Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his support for Medvedev's modernization initiative. "Mr President, I am aware of your personal contribution to the reinforcement of the relationship between France and Russia. I am also aware of your desire to modernize Russian society and we would like to help you with it up to the completion of the modernization and the implementation of your plans aimed against corruption and towards the development of legal state," Sarkozy said at the beginning of the dinner.

During the business forum that was part of the visit Medvedev invited the French businessmen to the economic forum in St Petersburg in June. President Sarkozy said that he would be happy to visit the forum with a delegation of French companies that trust Russia and want to invest in it. He underlined that at the moment French investments in Russia exceeded those of their American friends.

The two presidents stressed that the relationship between the two countries was deeply historic and that Russian and French cultures had a lot in common.

Sarkozy offers to sell 4 warships

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said France was in talks to sell not one, but four Mistral class warships to Russia, as President Dmitry Medvedev seeks to clinch a strategic alliance with the NATO member during his three-day visit this week.

France agreed to a $1 billion purchase of 14 Soyuz rockets from Russia while Russia reiterated its stance that new treaties against Iran were a possibility.

The Mistral deal has sparked international worry, with Eastern European neighbours concerned Russia could use the 230,000-tonne warships, which can carry 16 helicopters and other weapons and troops.

But NATO has sought to dispel those fears.

"I understand very well the concerns raised by a number of allies and I think it's understandable taking into consideration history as well as recent events, but I take it for granted that Russia will not use or misuse such military equipment against any neighbour," NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen was quoted by Bloomberg as saying on Wednesday.

Russia is seeking the Mistral ships to improve its manoeuvring capabilities in the Black Sea, which it tried to secure control over during its conflict with Georgia in August 2008. Georgia as well as the Baltic States have raised concerns over the sale since talks were reported involving the purchase on one warship, after Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit to France in November.

Then, asked specifically if he could guarantee the ship would not be used against Georgia, Putin said, "I can only promise that if we buy anything, we will use the weapons wherever we deem necessary," Itar-Tass quoted him as saying.

Ariel Cohen, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, wrote in his blog that France was "seemingly oblivious to NATO members' objections and Russia's continued violation of the August 2008 ceasefire agreement in Georgia (brokered by President Sarkozy)," and that the sale of the Mistral ships "should concern the US as well as Europe."

Medvedev pledged an increasingly tough line towards Iran during the meeting, saying he could back new sanctions.

"We are optimists and we are not losing the feeling that we may achieve success," Reuters quoted Medvedev as saying. "Nonetheless, if it doesn't work out ... Russia is ready to consider with our other partners the question of introducing sanctions.

The three-day visit yielded a number of key business deals, with Medvedev lauding 35 years of gas corporation and noting advances in the Nord Stream and South Stream pipeline projects.
Gaz de France agreed to take a 9 per cent stake in Gazprom's Nord Stream project, with construction set to begin in April. The deal will allow GDF Suez to increase its gas supplies by 10 per cent, Reuters reported, citing an industry source.

Meanwhile, talks were ongoing for Electricite de France to acquire shares in the South Stream gas pipeline. Under a preliminary agreement with Gazprom last year, the electricity company could get up to 20 per cent in the project, translating into 6 billion cubic meters of gas to power the plants it will set up in Europe, Bloomberg reported.

French satellite launch firm Arianespace has said it ordered 14 Soyuz carrier rockets from Russia for about $1 billion, and confirmed plans for a launch in the second quarter of this year, RIA Novosti reported.

Sarkozy also encouraged Medvedev on his internal reforms, urging him to pursue modernisation and the fight against corruption.

The meeting appeared to enhance increasingly warm relations between France and Russia since Sarkozy became president in 2007 and sought to boost the partnership.