Syria: Vladimir Putin contemplates sending CSTO peacekeeping force  http://www.voltairenet.org/Syria-Vladimir-Putin-contemplates

The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir V. Putin, plans to deploy a peacekeeping force to Syria to prevent a possible slide towards civil war [1]

Putin asked the Secretary General of the Organization of Collective Security Treaty (CSTO), Nikolai Bordyuzha, to make a proposal to this effect. This peaceful initiative is antithetical to the NATO military intervention envisaged by the West.

Mr. Bordyuzha immediately made it known that the CSTO is capable of deploying in Syria without delay a force of 20,000 well-trained "blue fur hats." The CSTO is made up by Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

This force would be tasked to mediate between the national army and the armed opposition ... and to detain foreign fighters. The U.S. Permanent Representative to the Security Council, Susan Rice, raised the possibility for NATO to intervene militarily in Syria without a UN mandate. Vladimir Putin has not indicated whether the CSTO peacekeeping force would act with or without a Security Council mandate.

Syria: Vladimir Putin intends to create free trade zone with Russia  http://www.voltairenet.org/Syria-Vladimir-Putin-intends-to

The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir V. Putin, is considering the establishment of a free trade zone between Syria and the Customs Union [1]

The Customs Union brings together Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Preliminary studies on the creation of the free trade zone began on May 25, 2012.

A free trade agreement between the UD and Syria would neutralize the impact of Western sanctions against Syria.