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Devastated conditions in major part of the Arab world as the result of the so cooled ''Arabs spring'' cound not but influensed upon capability and effectiveness of the Arab diplomacy, which was disorientated by new discourse among Arab frontline countries and lost of its former assertiveness and strength in defending Arab interest as the whole.

Ecologo-geographical differentiation and dynamics of spring migration of water and semiaquatic birds of the Putorana Plateau are analyzed. Eight points were surveyed in the northern, southern, western and eastern parts of the region on the total area of 250 000 km², applying the method of route census. The water and semiaquatic avifauna of the Putorana Plateau during the spring migration period includes 68 species. The birds fly in north, east and west directions. They make stops at the river deltas that thaw out early. Bird population density at stops is from 15 to 227, on average (n = 8) 94 ind./1 km of coastline. The population of birds on lakes is always much smaller than on the adjacent river sections. The entire spring migration of water and semiaquatic birds on the Putorana Plateau takes place from May 19 to June 27 and lasts on average (n = 10) 23 days. The main passage runs from May 25 to June 17 and lasts on average (n = 8) 7 days. Spring migration is most intense in the west of the Putorana Plateau, where at least 20 000-30 000 individuals of water and semiaquatic birds fly through the surveyed points. There are 19 species among the dominants of water and semiaquatic habitats, including Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal, Greytaild Tattler, Northern Pintail and Little Stint.

In his latest book, historian Avi Shlaim describes the three worlds that helped to shape him-Iraq, Israel, and Britain.

Der Autor plädiert für eine angemessene regelmäßige Finanzierung der strategischen Nuklearstreitkräfte Rußlands, um im Jahre 2010 über ein zwar quantitativ reduziertes, qualitativ jedoch ausreichendes Arsenal an Nuklearwaffen zu verfügen, das weiterhin die Abschreckung potentieller atomarer Gegener garantiert. Er spricht sich in diesem Zusammenhang für die strikte Befolgung des START II-Vertrags und der darin festgelegten Obergrenzen für atomare Gefechtsköpfe aus. Gleichzeitig skizziert er ein entsprechendes Modernisierungsprogramm der russischen strategischen Raketenstreitkräfte. Gerade von einem solchen Programm verspricht er sich die Freisetzung von für die Wiederbelebung der russischen Wirtschaft dringend benötigten ökonomischen Reserven, da ein nichtnukleares Programmm seiner Ansicht nach zu viele Ressourcen binden würde. (BIOst-Mrk)

In this debate, Sada features two authors to discuss the roles that Arab Gulf states have played in shaping the conflict between Israel and Hamas, both in the diplomatic arena and at the level of public discourse.

Der Verfasser konstatiert drei grundlegende negative Tendenzen der US-amerikanischen Entwicklung, die seiner Ansicht nach zum Zusammenbruch des Landes im Jahre 2010 führen könnten. Diese betreffen a) die katastrophale psychologische Entwicklung der US-Gesellschaft (Streß, Kriminalität, Gewalt, Mafia u.ä.), b) die wirtschaftliche Krise (Finanzkrise, Konkurrenz für den Dollar durch den Euro etc.) sowie c) den wachsenden Widerstand in der Welt gegen die globalen Dominanzbestrebungen der USA (Aufstieg Chinas u.ä.). (BIOst-Mrk)

P0litisch gewürdigt wird das Treffen zwischen Generalsekretär des ZK der KPdSU M. S. Gorbacev und dem US-Präsidenten R. Reagan in Washington 1987, in dessen Verlauf ein Vertrag über den Abbau von Mittelstrecken- und Kurzstreckenwaffen unterzeichnet werden konnte. Trotz unterschiedlicher Reaktionen der US-Politiker auf diesen Vertrag bedeutet seine Unterzeichnung eine Wende zur Verbesserung der sowjetisch-amerikanischen Beziehungen. (BIOst-Ldg)

The results of long-term studies of several generations of scientists at the Novosilskaya zonal agroforestry and reclamation experimental station named after A.S. Kozmenko (a branch of the Federal Research Center of Agroecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences), initiated by Professor G.P. Surmach, were summarized and analyzed. The task was to assess the nature of the spring slope runoff formation and show the role of natural factors and agricultural activities. The methodological basis of the research was the method of runoff sites. As a result of a long (64 year long) study, a number of important dependencies and features of the runoff formation under different natural and climatic conditions were identified, as well as the influence of natural factors and agricultural activities on it (structure of sown areas, cultivation history, tillage methods, etc.). Scientific materials on the elements of the spring water balance give an idea of their patterns. It has been established that only three natural factors out of a large number of them have a significant impact on the slope spring runoff, i. e. the depth of soil freezing, snow reserves and humidity of the upper soil layer (down to 30 cm). Other factors almost do not affect the amount of runoff and they could be ignored in the process of calculation. The limiting levels of these three factors have been established, under which no runoff is formed. During 64 years of study, runoff was absent for 33 years, ranging from 1 to 146 mm in other years. Among anthropogenic factors, tillage methods and the state of agricultural backgrounds have a profound influence. The runoff regulatory importance of finching and the runoff forming role of perennial grasses and winter crops are discussed. On average, runoff from compacted arable land was 10 mm higher compared to loose chick; in some years the difference was significantly greater. The results of the study are necessary for the design of erosion-control adaptive landscape farming system.

Despite a long history of hostilities, Kurdish and Arab tribal forces in the region may be forced to pursue a political settlement with the Syrian regime.