on its way from to go to the grand northern slope the helicopter passes by and mount fished the highest point of the western ridge. it's so. after an hour's trip by end dimitri and his son kirill walk about the northern sector of the caucuses reserve in the company of ranges the jugo weather station is now schools of coleman says away. people and animals share the only path there is in this area let's go live to the bison let humans approach them but most of the people travelling around the reserve granges in horseback last short while ago patrol duty in a different area of focus for the short distance from here they can see man his show over there came across the line bison. the lettuce come quite close to them.

were only fifteen metres away. bison moving the coaxes reserve have no enemies sometimes humans can come very close to them provided they are on horseback buses a range of dismount the bison instantly make it clear they're poised for attack. the. horses are the most reliable and indispensable companions when people go on long trips in the mountains only horses with good training eligible for the job with this one is called chetan ish. he's my favorite. but we became first friends.

riding him is no problem he does what he's told to do. but this one is still a young stallion. so that it will let anybody touch him. the bloke. is scared of everybody. chill never a chair on his one of the remotest areas of eastern sector of the caucuses reserve several reserve staff and their families live here on

a permanent basis. even if the weather is warm it's only possible to reach this place with an off road vehicle schoolchildren from a nearby village upset by often visit reserve ranges they have organized an eco movement called the little bison. hello hello glad to see you. dear our guests. that no. that doesn't but that's the machine we are. churning malaysia is the starting point of a circular route for hikers only visitors with a permit and a map are allowed to enter the reserve they gear is inspected and ranges teach them the elementary rules for surviving in the mountains children from the little bison zero is welcome here they already have experience walking cross come. three of the

children from the little bison often cross the river in that way but it's risky in winter time so today we're going to take a detour we'll cross the bridge and forest warden will take care of all stuff. pikas can choose between several popular routes in different areas of the coax is reserved. close to the trail stands an oval table used by ranges it's meant for hikers passing by wanting to rest for a moment children from the little bison club gather here on the bank of the stream to discuss major ecological actions suggestion as we all know that on the eve of new year's celebrations many local people pick up axis and go to the forest to cut down our green beauties it's a bird save the green beauty is the name of

a movement organized by the children so they make leaf let's bear in the image of a food tree. that got their i taxed on the leaf lands and display them prominently in the village of. the children hope their peaceful actions will help prevent further trees from being cut down illegally. preserve ranges however take more radical measures against lawbreakers their main task is finding and attaining poachers. one of the most challenging jobs takes rangers to mount yet. each time they go under a veil of secrecy regardless of day or night or the conditions they're painstaking job requires special knowledge and staying power they need to be skilled horseman as well as able to discern telltale signs showing the presence of trespassers and

have no difficulty finding their bearings. new voters will always be tempted to enter the reserve because beasts are easy prey here the reporters up there are not as much afraid of humans as they are elsewhere because they're under constant protection. such cultures see them as enticing tidbits because hunting for them is so easy. as the path reaches higher altitudes one climatic zone in the mountains gives way to another here the fog that envelop the forests in the foothills is now a distant memory there is snow on the slopes and it is much colder the caucasian mountains gradually come into view. of. the feet.

after several attempts to find the best point for filming the landscape dimitri suddenly comes face to face with a brown bear one of the rarest and largest animals of the caucuses reserve. ranges did find fresh tracks they were close to the heart where the rangers put up for the night they reported the find over walkie talkie that he would use there all

threats here the other store all he got from a wolf yes. keep still the workers let me see them what initially go in the trucks no just those holding. bases here they are. two three three four thirty eight calling one zero four eight calling one of four everything's ok tracks only some left by animals the latest tracks are those of wolves three of them over and out. different people visiting the coaxes nature reserve are often different things some seek shelter from the hustle and bustle of big cities others around the thrills

only a few are able to blend in with this wonderful place and become possibly. just invested by old and yet i feel i'm an integral part of this world yet i do you well know crazy romantic. i'm nearly drowned almost frozen to death and full of cliffs already. nature is wiser than we are given her ingenuity is all pervasive. she is the creator that gave birth to us about enough but i do that and they bring us to ruin unless we come to our senses. and they only have them i think does what people should devote their lives to. let's go get the book i don't know if i can cope with the task but i'm going to try.

syria has an arab league plan to solve the country's crisis requiring president assad to step down calling it quote a flagrant interference in its internal affairs also. the e.u. formally adopt an oil embargo against iran a spart of un president is sanctions against the country but there are fears that the sanctions may backfire join me for the details in a few moments. croatia votes in favor of joining the debt stricken but a low turnout for the national referendum and violent protests don't expose deep

divisions within the country. worldwide news flying from moscow's city center this is our with me rule received by syria has rejected an arab league proposal to resolve the country's crisis the plan requiring president assad to give up power was slammed by damascus as interference in its internal affairs and quote an attack on its sovereignty so if earth now has details from the syrian capital. the arab league called president bashar al assad to step down and to hand power his deputy they also called for the formation of a national unity government and that would be if we leave early parliamentary and presidential elections now those calls have been vehemently rejected by the syrian

government here flagrant interference with the internal affairs really the sense here from damascus is that the government here are working on their own reforms they want the arab league mission to focus on their job of course the problem is you've got countries in the arab league like saudi arabia like kids are now seeing the sense that they're preaching democracy to syria when of course they themselves don't have democracy. russia's stance is once again that this should be seeking resolution with our foreign intervention i've actually spoken to the national coordinator council which is the opposition within the country they welcomed the maven again reiterated their felt that as long as there is no move towards foreign military intervention they're very pleased with the response from the arab league mission because you still got observers on the ground it's expected that the mission is actually now going to continue possibly for another month and

possibly with the extension of their powers and their numbers as well of course what you don't want to see happen now is that the arab league mission which is really the only route there remains a teacher seeing dialogue in the country to now have blocks put in its way so the question really is how to make the mission the observer mission more effective because as we've been witnessing in the past couple of weeks really at the moment in the country what you want to be thing is the sightedness and not further division but it's not for civilization it's for the gov. to holmes the conflict has moved ever closer to the country's capital and now many damascus suburbs are also embroiled in the conflicts between government forces and the armed opposition. well this is all that's left of many of the houses now inside just absolutely gutted it's broken glass you've got bullet holes lining the walls you've got clothes staying around the house where people have left them behind

fleeing very quickly you can really see here the devastating consequences that this conflict has hurt the picking up the pieces prove easy amongst the opposition themselves there are worrying divisions and as the conflicts become increasingly violent there are now areas of the country where it's unclear exactly who's in control what do the people here. think the syrian army having control on or if you see. that. a lot of. the number of surface of your heart is in charge and so. quickly the issue of the coordination the diversion up with the stuff arab league observers look set to remain in the country for another month trying to build the basis for multi-party elections even seen by the international community or that you or your sources to where you are into your position you have to put in your mind that you have to work

with the other side working with the other side uses their look. of fighting with thousands killed bringing the different factions to the negotiating table is going to be a major task sara for. damascus syria and i mean time the e.u. has imposed fresh travel bans and asset freezes on the syrian regime as punishment for the ongoing violence but america based political analyst doctor. says that responsibility for the bloodshed should be shared by the syrian opposition and it's time now to ultimately engage in dialogue. the opposition or what the so-called syrian free army or the desert there is from the syrian army have been also using heavy gunfire against civilians they have been using explosives apparently they have been using and the armored. rockets and you know some weapons that cannot usually be used in civilian areas and against civilians there

is a president said also enjoys. popular support. one cannot deny this not even the institute in qatar denied this when they did the research last month and they found that fifty five percent of the city and population oppose the downfall or didn't move for president. it's time for the dialogue has tried. somebody form some democratic reforms there is a constitutional council now in syria trying to rewrite the constitution there will be elections in the coming months there are some of the forums i think that the opposition shows face because it is the interest of no one of no one's interests that need to or steps in they would be destruction and they would be chaos as was the case in libya. turn our attention from syria to egypt now the latter

being one of the countries where people are now seeing the consequences of the democracy they fought so hard to achieve as a newly elected parliament holds its first post revolution session many egyptians feel they've been betrayed by the muslim brotherhood and its march to a majority. you nations have formally adopted an unprecedented set of sanctions against iran including a wide one iranian oil the move talk its nuclear program which the islamic republic insists is purely for peaceful purposes is to australia reports from brussels it's essential a total oil embargo it will have immediate effect on new contracts but that existing contract will be allowed to run for another six months they've also agreed on a ban on the gold and gold trade and other precious metals with the iranian central bank all of these of course aiming to financially and economically cripple iran over its controversial nuclear program with western leaders still insisting iran is

trying to build nuclear weapons while terror on denies this now the e.u. embargo follow strict new way u.s. sanctions that were passed into law by president obama in january so as far as the e.u. is concerned by july it will be a full and total implementation of these new sanctions this is unprecedented in terms of the scope and the desired a potential effects on iran but it is also one president in terms of its potential economic impact on the european union itself let's not forget the e.u. imports up to twenty percent of rain in all its second biggest buyer and one of the twenty seven the biggest buyers within that are elite spain and greece the very same countries that are now struggling to deal with that sovereign debt crisis greece in particular heavily dependent on the radio with up to one third of its total imports from iran also it's relying on terror for easier credit terms so they will definitely have to find alternatives for these countries these are what their leaders will have to talk about how to cushion the potential economic impacts on

the several member states and of course because of all the uncertainty oil markets have already reacted pushing oil prices up and higher oil prices will just mean higher prices of goods. he says are sillier reporting right there well let's discuss the implications of fresh sanctions against iran let's not talk to richard haidar in a foreign affairs analyst the specialist in international security are joining us live from the philippines our thanks for coming on r t today a senior iranian official has already said that if this oil embargo affects to iran's world oil trade it will go ahead with its threat to block the vital strait of hormuz that are vital waterway the oil transit route this comes at a time when one u.s. aircraft carrier is replacing another that is also being tailed by a british frigate where do you see this situation going to in the next few days if not the next fortnight. well let's look at the nuance of the issue so far the statement on closing on or most came from an iranian lawmaker so we have to wait and see what the defense ministry is going to say about this point i think in

military terms. iran has the conventional capability to close the strait of hormuz but for a very limited point of a symmetrical terms it can create problems but i think the main message that iran is sending here is political because it knows that if it's going to close of the strait of hormuz of course it's going to. it's. already warning against iran closing of the street before him with what they're trying to do here is to just draw the red light and say to america and the european union that they're willing to retaliate in any way possible and gets what they perceive as a clear economic warfare against iran and everyone knows that your. trade and its ability to really. and according to even make it more difficult for you when you talk about issues over here for example before we get into the implications of china and china being the third largest consumer export oil in terms of retaliation

we've got a u.s. aircraft carrier in the region in the gulf pritish frigate as well just days ago during that big naval test picture show of strength as well who is provoking who. of course i mean it always takes two to tango so i think on the part of iran they feel that this is a legitimate military threat in response to what they see as a total siege of the arena and economy but as they say they feel this is more of a political message rather than very clear indication of iran's military or defense policy of course as i said before. before that. iran was small skirmish with america and it really lost warships and it easily lost the battle and i don't think iran is in a position right now to take on the united states at least by the british and french warships i'm sure. will try to prop up the u.s. presence in the strait of hormuz so i think political military terms i don't think

that iran at this point in time is really eager to take on the united states of america but no one knows if the situation gets really really desperate for iran. which is already under a lot of pressure with according to see he think it's record and forty percent depreciation since last december iran might contemplate on some sort of retaliation and creating some sort of. some sort of a. head on take head on that type of trouble as you said british french american ships israel and involved in there are some point or another but as you were saying the oil trade is a significant lifeline for iran and europe is a second largest oil consumer is there any way at all that can circumvent these sanctions to reduce the hit taken by its economy and moments ago you alluded to the big china. moments ago you alluded to the possible role china could happen but some of the economic stress put on iran.

sanctions could you give us more on that. i mean iran is really taking a big hit i mean the korean sea has already depreciated by forty percent and since last year iran has already had a lot of problems with making. china and right now you already have both the united states and european. maybe in the short term. to make some sort of deal with the chinese with the turks and other countries who are still presuming. what differently the koreans to market. iran has already problems economic growth because the subsidies. so even the euro will be able to somehow a million in the european and american sanctions by trading with india and china have a lot of short term. money markets. which is a bit right now so i think that the sanctions will eventually push you really can

see there. we did. by the way undergoing right now i mean a process of contemplating in. iraq and ultimately in the wake of these embargoes could ultimately. to india and china as the e.u. sanctions mean that a couple of european countries will have to stop pumping out more of vera and crude but also putting pressure on saudi arabia to make up the shortfall richard and i wish we had more time foreign affairs analyst a lot from the philippines thank you thank you very much. well coming up for you later in the program here in the twists and turns of russian politics as the electoral campaign intensifies presidential hopeful a lot of my putin that want to get tough on immigration. now a quarter past the hour here in moscow and e.u. entry ticket has been approved by the people of croatia the us wasn't as solid as expected and with more than half of simply ignoring the national referendum the country will become the union's twenty eight state by july next year but only after

all the other members are ratify the move croatia was split on the issue with those in opposition saying there's nothing to gain from a bloc currently experiencing its worst ever crisis and i thought his time bot reports the divisions are here to stay even after the yes vote. violent scenes in the croatian capital it's the country's e.u. referendum but setting no. risk to being made the right move the peace to the protesters away as they take criticism over a situation in. the creation capital and fighting has been going on. these protesters say the government is trying to suppress the dissenting voices

they are joining with surrender croatia's independence to brussels. yes i believe that couple in another street nearby the foreign minister is trying to convince people that accession is vital to the craft economy actually without the stability the scale can lead it into the credit rating of creation. that is translated into membership of the european union gracious budget would be in serious trouble everywhere you turn in croatia the e.u. is being discussed but whereas most of the political class no longer question the europhiles stance public views differ widely this is the italians will come into our sea and catch all our fish and that's our biggest problem you know if you think of their affiliates though they told us we have to obey the e.u. has regulations those that don't want to obey must stop trading here in memphis even if we have two sons hire an employee and maybe because of that i would be

prying a secret to most of the symbols were don't you know there are legitimate worries about sovereignty local industry and economic well being a former state and there are still some voices in parliament that think the benefits of well joining. the coast is that we were not going with our heads high up we're going on our knees because our economy. non-existing our exporting is pretty bad our b.b.b. is very low so we don't really have anything to offer to go back out on the streets the arguments quality will not continue with ferocity with such strong emotions it seems unlikely this referendum will result the nation's division over european and russian tongue bottom. far from the business news here on our table for our with russia's presidential election just around.