[Mb-civic] Russia Keeping Busy in Affairs of the Mideast

Wed Feb 2 10:43:06 PST 2005

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Russia Keeping Busy in Affairs of the Mideast 
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The Kremlin attempts to balance American influence in the region by quietly launching its own initiatives with Iran and Syria.

By Kim Murphy
Times Staff Writer

February 2 2005

MOSCOW &#8212; Russia had grudging congratulations this week for the election in Iraq, but President Vladimir V. Putin is making it increasingly clear that the Kremlin does not intend to let the U.S. dictate the future landscape of the Middle East. 

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-russia2feb02,0,5342125.story 

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