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Izvestia
www.izvestia.ru
The State Duma on Wednesday postponed for a month a second reading of amendments to the draft bill on the status of the Central Bank. The conflicts between the lower house of parliament and the government has already continued for several years. An article outlines the bill, focusing on major controversial amendments. Also covered in Kommersant Daily, Rossiiskaya Gazeta and Gazeta.
Legendary German actress Marlene Dietrich would have turned 100 Thursday. An article outlines her brilliant artistic career. Also covered in Kommersant Daily, Vremya MN, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Rossiiskaya Gazeta and Gazeta.
A new customs tariff will take effect Jan. 1. In an interview Andrei Kudryashev, chief of the nain tariff and non-tariff regulation board of the State Customs Committee answers questions about the new tariff.
The State Duma on Wednesday passed in the second and third readings a draft bill concerning introduction of an amendment to Article 80 of the first part of the Tax Code. Its essence is that tax declarations may be sent by e-mail.
The Stavropol public on Thursday sent food for a militia detachment stationed in the Kursk District to guard a 114-kilometer-long administrative border with Chechnya. The act is the public response to the local authorities' statement that the Interior Ministry refused to finance the upkeep of the detachment. Regional Security Council official Yury Umrikhin commented on the measure.
Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Khristenko and Vladimir Yelagin, Minister of Chechnya's Social and Economic Development, on Wednesday held an annual concluding session of the government commission responsible for Chechnya's rehabilitation. An article examines results of the annual program aimed at Chechnya's economic revival. Also covered in Kommersant Daily, Vremya Novostei and Vremya MN.
The Cabinet at its Thursday session, the last of this outgoing year, will assess results of its work and how it has affected the country's social and economic development.
An article examines three new programs and their popular hosts that will appear on ORT and TV6 in January.
President Vladimir Putin held a regular session of the Security Council on Wednesday to discuss an issue concerning state support of military and technical cooperation with foreign countries. Also covered in Kommersant Daily, Rossiiskaya Gazeta and Vremya Novostei.
Mayor Yury Luzhkov on Wednesday signed a program aimed at cracking down on crime in the city in 2002. A brief notes its specific features. Also covered in Komsomolskaya Pravda.
Moscow chief architect Alexander Kuzmin stated Wednesday that the famous sculpture "Worker and Female Farmer" will undergo major renovation next year. A brief looks at the project. Also covered in Noviye Izvestia, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, Vremya Novostei and Komsomolskaya Pravda.
A methane blast Wednesday in the Voroshilov coal mine in Prokopyevsk, Kemerovo region, left four miners dead. An article gives details. Also covered in Kommersant Daily, Vremya Novostei, Gazeta and Rossiiskaya Gazeta.
The Third International Festival "Ploshchad Iskusstv" (Arts Square) was scheduled to open in St. Petersburg on Thursday. In an interview, Yury Temirkanov, the festival's artistic director, talks about the program and its participants and sponsors.
The chariot on top of the Main Headquarters Arch was festively opened to the public in St. Petersburg on Wednesday after a major renovation that took two years and was financed by the Culture Ministry and the Interros holding company. An article examines the restored "Chariot of Glory," Also covered in Kommersant Daily, Vremya MN and Vremya Novostei.
The Tula Aist Print firm Wednesday exported to Germany 40 tons of its Ryzhnik gingerbread honey cakes that have become very popular among German housewives. An article features the firm and its cakes.
First Russian President Boris Yeltsin is expected to give a New Year Eve's interview to one of the country's television channels. An article looks at his extensive plans for 2002. Also covered in Komsomolskaya Pravda and Gazeta.
The Federation Council's session Wednesday adopted the 2002 Law on the Federal Budget and the Labor Code and elected Vice Speaker Valery Goreglyad, head of the Federatsia faction. An article features the future plans of the upper house of parliament. Also covered in Kommersant Daily, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, Vremya Novostei, Vremya MN and Gazeta.
The Supreme State Council of the Belarus-Russia Union held a regular session Wednesday. An article describes major issues discussed at the session and during a meeting between the Russian and Belarussian presidents. Also covered in Vremya Novostei, Vremya MN, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Gazeta and Rossiiskaya Gazeta Soyuz Supplement.
Land Troops Supreme Commander Colonel General Nikolai Kormiltsev stated Wednesday that his troops will be able to put into effect the 2001-2005 plan for reforming the armed forces that is to be adopted by President Vladimir Putin in 2002. An article comments on his statement.
An article offers results of voting at the Baltika brewery shareholders' extraordinary meeting Dec. 15.
The United Energy Systems board of directors early this month adopted a treaty that, starting next year, will be signed with all existing managing companies. This new form of governing the weak energy systems has been initiated by UES head Anatoly Chubais. An article describes how the managing companies have worked this year.
The Moscow Railway intends to introduce two new classes of train compartments, economy and business, similar to the practice used in passenger aircraft. An article describes the aim of the project.
Fifty percent minus 1 percent of stock of Rosgosstrakh has gone into private possession. An article looks at its new owners. Also covered in Kommersant Daily, Vremya MN and Gazeta.
An article examines major results of this outgoing year in literature, theater, cinema, fine arts and music.
In an interview, Eugene Lowson, head of the America-Russian Business Council, comments on the latter's report devoted to prospects of U.S.-Russia trade and economic relations.
Kommersant
www.kommersant.ru
Ingushetia's Supreme Court on Wednesday canceled the republican parliament's November decision on scheduling presidential elections for March 2002. As a result, President Ruslan Aushev will have to keep up his presidential post for another year, up to March 2003. An article comments on the decision. Also covered in Vremya Novostei.
The Federation Council on Wednesday approved a draft bill altering the procedure of levying the single social tax. The changes are necessary, because, starting Jan. 1, an accumulative pension system will be introduced. An article looks at the draft, describing what both the State Duma and the Federation Council have failed to notice in the document.
The Federation Council on Wednesday introduced amendments to the law concerning state regulation of the production and turnover of alcohol and vodka. Also covered in Vremya MN.
Krasnoyarsk businessman Pavel Struganov, also known as Pasha Tsvetomuzyka), was detained Wednesday but spent only several hours in the Prosecutor's Office and was released on the condition that he not leave the city. Meanwhile, he is suspected of murder and intentional destruction of property. An article details his case.
Deputy Interior Minister Colonel General Alexander Chekalin at a news conference Wednesday told journalists about his agency's plans for 2002.
Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Khristenko on Wednesday discussed the conditions of Russian gas transit via Ukraine to the West in 2002. The transit will be done on Kiev's conditions. An article explains why Khristenko failed to raise the price of Russian gas.
The NORSI-Oil company ceased to exist Wednesday. Its shareholders at their extraordinary meeting decided to change the company's name and structure. It is now called LUKoil-Volgonefteprodukt.
Bashneft general director Nur Saifullin has tendered his resignation, saying that he intends to concentrate on his job in Bashkirenergo.
The Federal Securities Commission has decided to make public its own rating of active performance of market participants. An article examines some of them.
An article examines pluses and minuses of the new European currency that will be put into circulation Jan. 1.
The lawyers of Grigory Pasko, whom the Pacific Military Court declared guilty of high treason, lodged an appeal to the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court. An article examines the verdict and the appeal.
Vedomosti
www.vedomosti.ru
Saudi and Kuwaiti oil ministers stated Wednesday that on Dec. 28, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will make the decision to lower the volume of oil extraction by 1.5 million barrels per day. It means that the oil price of $20 per barrel will likely hold throughout the first quarter of next year.
An article examines the situation on the domestic automobile market, with the number of imported used autos having increased four-fold this year.
The Rosneft company will have to hold 26 meetings of its shareholders in the next two months to rename its 26 daughter companies. Otherwise, they will all have to pay every quarter 0.5 percent of the proceeds for using a derivative of the word "Rossiya" (Russia ) in their names. Rosneft-Purneftegaz alone would have to pay approximately 50 million rubles ($1.65 million) a year.
Russia earned $4.4 billion on the export of military technologies in 2001. This was stated by President Vladimir Putin at the Security Council session Wednesday.
The Federation Council has adopted the 2002 federal budget with expenditures standing at 1,947,386.3 million rubles and revenues at 2,125,718.2 million rubles. The gross domestic product is forecast to stand at 10.95 trillion rubles and inflation at 12 percent. A brief gives several other positive figures on the 2002 budget.
Economic analyst Olga Romanova describes Russia's new improved image in the world economy saying that other countries now have to reckon with Russia.
Five experts share their viewpoints on the best possible way of stimulating an economic growth in Russia.
As Russia joins the World Trade Organization, it needs to resolve a complicated issue: what model of regulation ?€” European or American ?€” will better suit its economy? This issue is at the same time political, economic and judicial.
Alexander Vinogradov in November was appointed head and chief manager of the international Golden Telecom telecommunications company, the shares of which are rated on the U.S. NASDAQ exchange. In an interview Vinogradov, talks about the upcoming merger between his company and Sovintel and the plans of the united company.
Vedomosti. Companies and Markets
MDM-Bank main owner Andrei Melnichenko, who quit his post as management board head three months ago, has at last found a person with whom he can trust his bank, financier Vladimir Rashevsky.
An article examines results of the first independent investigation conducted by Troika Dialog to see how railway tariffs affect the structure of spending in different economic sectors.
Troika-Dialog head Ruben Vardanyan on Wednesday revealed several details of a purchase of 49 percent of stock in Rosgosstrakh. As it turned out, Troika's partners in these deals were a foreign investor, a domestic insurance company and the Megatrastoil company close to the Slavneft leadership.
The Permskiye Motory shareholders' extraordinary meeting on Wednesday re-elected the board of directors earlier than planned. A brief looks at the board's new members.
The Norsi-Oil shareholders' extraordinary meeting on Wednesday re-elected the company's board of directors, in which eight of the nine seats were taken by LUKoil representatives, according to Norsi-Oil head Vadim Vorobyov.
A tender commission that has been formed to analyze the bids of companies claiming the role of an operator of the passenger airport Sheremetyevo-3 will determine a tender winner within one to two months, according to a statement Wednesday by Transport Minister Sergei Frank.
Stroitransgaz, the United Metals Company and the NEGAS company intend to merge their intellectual and production resources to implement big projects in oil and gas construction in Russia and abroad. A brief mentions their extensive program.
Surgutneftegaz has bought out the assets of the Surgut gas-processing plant that was a property of Sibur-Tyumen. Analysts say that the deal cost several million dollars.
The All-Russia Automobile Alliance on Dec. 31 will stop its settlements with citizens, on whose money at its time it could buy up 32 percent of AvtoVAZ shares.
Nezavisimaya Gazeta
www.ng.ru
World developments and changing internal political acts are ever more worrying to Russian regional leaders, making them look at domestic political problems in a different way. In an interview, Bashkortostan's President Murtaza Rakhimov shares his viewpoint on several events that followed the Sept.11 tragedy in Washington and New York, focusing on President Vladimir Putin's policy in this context.
Member of the Foreign and Defense Policies Council Presidium Alexei Pushkov, author and host of the TV-Tsentr analytical program "Postskriptum," examines the U.S. Administration's decision to unilaterally withdraw from the 1972 ABM Treaty and its consequences for bilateral relationships.
The Russian leadership has again to make a difficult choice ?€” either to confirm its new pro-Western orientation and remain in the Washington-built international coalition or to try to defend its long-standing partner Iraq from U.S. attacks. It is Iraq that, according to recent reports by leading U.S. policy-makers and mass media, will become the next target after Afghanistan in the current anti-terrorist campaign.
An article focuses on the part of President Vladimir Putin's televised dialogue with the nation Monday that was devoted to summing up results of the outgoing year.
In an interview, Sergei Reshulsky, State Duma faction coordinator of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, talks about his faction and left-wing forces' negative assessment of the work of the lower house of parliament.
This outgoing year is far from being easy for State Duma Budget Committee head Alexander Zhukov, whose committee discussed significant draft bills on tax reform. In an interview, Zhukov says how strongly the 2002 budget depends on world oil prices. He also explains why the division of tax revenues to the budget between the federal authorities and the regions has become a point of heated debate.
Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev has completed his visit to the United States and his successful negotiations with U.S. President George W. Bush. Both presidents focused on expanding bilateral cooperation in the sphere of energy. An article examines results of the negotiations.
The Nezavisimaya Gazeta book review supplement examines the best books published this year in different spheres.
Noviye Izvestia
The recent Krasnodar Regional Court trial of three convicts lasted only one hour, after which the court's verdict took a legal effect ?€” the convicts were sentenced to 20, 17 and 15 years in prison, respectively. Supreme Court Chairman Vyacheslav Lebedev once proudly stated that the cancellation of verdicts by higher legal agencies is only 2.3 percent. This fact has allowed legal authorities to draw the conclusion that the domestic legal system is of high quality. However, in reality, it is quite the opposite ?€” the appeal and inspectorate agencies in the domestic judicial system are practically inactive. An article gives concrete facts to illustrate the point.
The Constitutional Court is to decide whether or not the existing norm of keeping servicemen in the guard house is legal. One hundred and twenty State Duma deputies decided to change this old procedure, and with this aim in view, they sent an inquiry to the court. An article examines the origin of this army punishment.
An article reports on how the recent elections to the Krasnoyarsk Legislative Assembly have changed the political career of governor Alexander Lebed overnight.
An article is devoted to homeless children, whose number today exceeds the number of homeless children following World War II. An article focuses on major reasons behind this tragedy.
Rossiiskaya Gazeta
www.rg.ru
Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday predicted emergency situations such as earthquakes, floods and changing weather in 2002. In an interview, he names several expected natural catastrophes and their locations.
In an interview, Perm Regional Governor Yury Trutnev talks about his region's economic achievements this year as well as several remaining problems.
The Audit Chamber and the Belarussian State Control Committee on Dec. 21 signed an agreement on cooperation. Audit Chamber head Sergei Stepashin comments on the document, focusing on its expediency.
Belarussian and Russian specialists have developed a unique supercomputer. An article describes its unique technical specifications.
Komomolskaya Pravda
www.kp.ru
An emergency situation has been declared in many schools due to the lack of heating. An article gives concrete facts to illustrate the point.
In an interview, President Vladimir Putin's wife Lyudmila explains what it means to her to be the First Lady.
Dec. 27 marks the Day of the Rescuer. Emergency Situations workers last year saved more than 12,000 people. An article is devoted to them and their professional holiday.
The Interior Ministry has made the decision to change the structure of its traffic police department. An article examines several planned measures and factors that have influenced them.
An article gives concrete facts showing how corruption is flourishing in the sphere of higher education. Future students or post-graduate students have to pay $12,000 to $15,000 to enroll in an institute of higher education.
Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov has signed a decree introducing awards to the best Moscow journalists. On Jan. 13 ?€” the Day of the Russian Press ?€” the best city newspaper, radio and television correspondents will be awarded prizes and diplomas. An article describes the city government decree.
An article reports on how and where several government and State Duma officials will celebrate New Year's Eve.
The Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia this week sponsored a conference "Soviet Jewry: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow" that was attended by public, religious and political figures from several countries. An article describes the event and its significance.
The Moscow city government has decided to build a new international airport, Sheremetyevo-3. Experts say that the project will cost hundreds of millions of dollars. An article describes two major winners of a tender for the right to be a company-operator in the project.
An article examines major developments that have happened this year on the insurance market.
Mayor Yury Luzhkov this week has signed a decree concerning the priority trends in reforming the housing and utilities sector. City authorities have determined the rates of voluntary (for the wealthy) and obligatory (for the poor) payments for several housing and utility services that will take effect starting Jan. 1, 2002. An article comments on the decree, focusing on how much the wealthy and the poor will pay for their housing and utilities.