If Minsk recognizes the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, then the participation of Belarus in the new program of the Eastern partnership of the European Union will be in question, says Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, presiding at a meeting of the EU Council.

US President Barack Obama instructed Vice President Joseph Biden to control the implementation of an anti-crisis plan adopted by the US Congress. Obama said this on Monday at a meeting of governors, RIA Novosti reports. According to the president, Baiden will be obliged to ensure that $ 787 billion allocated to support the economy serve as a right goal and go where it is required, quite promptly.

Until the end of February, North Korea can launch a medium-range ballistic missile, ITAR-TASS reports with reference to the American-British military weekly Jane's Defense Weekly. His experts came to this conclusion on the basis of analysis of the images of the Musudan launch landfill in the province of Hamgen-Pooms received from the commercial satellites of Digitalglobe on February 18.

The new US Prosecutor Eric Holder flew on February 23 to the US Navy base in Guantanamo (Cuba) to inspect the infamous prison for people accused by Washington of terrorism. He refused to take journalists with him, ITAR-TASS reports. According to Holder's assistants, the Prosecutor General intends to personally get acquainted with the conditions for the maintenance of prisoners, to talk with the guards. It was he who was instructed to close this special President Barack Obama during the year.

In Russia, on February 23, the defender of the Fatherland is celebrated. The celebrations began with Vladivostok - there the holiday was opened by the ceremony of laying wreaths and flowers to the eternal fire of the Memorial "The Battle Glory of the Pacific Fleet".

Sri Lanka authorities abandoned the proposal of the separatist group "Tigers of the Liberation of Tamil Ilama" (Toti) to conclude a truce and demanded a complete surrender from them.

The famous Russian figure skater Evgeny Plushenko confirmed 23 Fevoal in the Czech capital intention to return to big sport soon, ITAR-TASS reports. The 2006 Olympic champion, three -time world and five -time European champion in men's solitary skating with the beginning of the next season will again take part in competitions. "I also want to fight for medals at the upcoming Olympics in the Canadian Vancouver," he said. “I’m training at full strength,” Plushenko said.

The pursuit of originality often leads to complete absurdity. This conclusion is made by the British newspaper Independent , which has published a list of the most useless inventions presented to the Consumer court over the past several years. In the first place of the rating, ITAR -TASS reports, the creation of an exceptionally lazy inventor is located - a device that twisting ice cream.

The United States had another ally in Europe on the placement of OP elements in Europe - Albania announced her readiness to provide its territory for this if Washington appeals to such a request, RIA Novosti reports. “So far, a specific proposal from the United States has not been received on this issue.

The head of the operational-search part No. 2 through the criminal investigation department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Tatarstan, Damir Vakhitov, was killed on Sunday evening in the suburbs of Kazan, RIA Novosti reports with reference to a source in the republic’s law enforcement agencies. "Damir Vakhitov was shot dead yesterday at about 22:30 in the village of Sukhaya River in a suburbs of Kazan.

The emergency regime was introduced in the Buresky district of the Amur Region in connection with a massive disease of cattle brucellosis in the Alekseevsky agricultural cooperative, ITAR-TASS reports with reference to the regional prosecutor's office. According to the investigation, the measures binding in this situation are not fully implemented.

On Monday, the Hungarian parliament voted twice against self -development. This issue was included on the agenda of the meeting of the Hungarian Civil Fund for Democracy, as well as on a public initiative, in whose favor the collection of signatures was organized. In both cases, 170 deputies out of 385 voted for self -sampling, and ITAR -TASS reports against - 204 and 205, respectively.

The Russian Ambassador to Kiev Viktor Chernomyrdin congratulated the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko on the 55th anniversary, RIA Novosti reports with reference to the press service of the Russian embassy. "On this day, I want to emphasize your desire to expand and deepen fruitful international cooperation, real support for the development of multifaceted trade, economic, scientific, cultural ties of Ukraine and the international community," the Chernomyrdin's congratulation says.

Former US Secretary of State Kondoliza Rice signed a contract with the publishing house Srown Publishers to issue a three -volume of her memoirs. This is stated in the press release of the publisher, which was widespread here on Sunday, ITAR-TASS reports. Earlier, Srown Publishers published a book of then a senator, and now US President Barack Obama "Apistivity of Hope." As expected, in books, Rice will tell about his work in the administration of former president George Bush.

The head of the UN Supreme Commissariat, US citizen John Solneski, who was previously stolen by extremists of the "Front of Liberation of Belujistan" (FOS), was killed. This was announced on Monday by the local media a representative of FOS. The abductors promised to release the soys in exchange for the release of 140 militants from local prisons, as well as the provision by the authorities of information about another 6 thousand missing residents of the province.