Main news of September 20

WORLD

* U.S. President Barack Obama praised Russia's readiness for deeper missile defense cooperation but said the U.S. decision to adjust its European missile shield plan was not caused by Russia's attitude

* Unemployment rates in the United States are still high despite certain signs that the country's economy is reviving, President Barack Obama said

* Israel will not strike Iran, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said

* Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has confirmed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret visit to Moscow

* U.S. President Barack Obama's proposed shift in America's missile-defense plans in Europe is no concession to Russia, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in an article published in The New York Times on Sunday

* The Georgian Interior Ministry has denied media reports that fugitive Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky possibly visited Georgia last week

* Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said it is too early to draw any conclusions regarding U.S. statement on scrapping its missile shield plans in Europe

RUSSIA

* Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Sunday the chances to reach agreements with the United States on a new strategic arms reduction treaty by the end of 2009 are "high enough"

* A Muslim cleric has died of wounds after an assassination attempt on his life in Russia's North Caucasus Republic of Karachayevo-Circassia, the Coordination Center of North Caucasus Muslims said

* Russia will continue to give its full support to the former Georgian republic of South Ossetia, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said

BUSINESS

* Ukraine's president blamed the government for signing a gas contract with Russia that he deems inappropriate and reiterated that it could be revised at any time