Press Review

		Izvestia Kommersant Vedomosti Vedomosti. Companies and Markets Nezavisimaya Gazeta Rossiiskaya Gazeta Komsomolskaya Pravda Novaya Gazeta

Izvestia
www.izvestia.ru

Arnold Schwarzenegger has been elected governor of California, surprising politicians and ordinary people alike. Among the replacement candidates, Schwarzenegger was ahead in the poll with almost 50 percent of the vote. Gray Davis, who was 11 months into his second terms, failed to win even second place. (1,2, Kommersant 10)

Meteorologists Wednesday promised Muscovites that a strong hurricane would hit the capital in the next few days. Muscovites will face heavy rain and wind strong enough to destroy apartment buildings. A story comments on the forecasts. (1, Kommersant 7)

Vitaly Ginzburg, a physicist at the Academy of Sciences' Lebedev Physics Institute, took the Nobel Prize for Physics Tuesday. In an interview he talks about how it feels to be a Nobel Prize winner. (1, 12, Kommersant 8)

In September the government approved new amendments to traffic regulation to be introduced from January 1. Deputy Transportation Minister Alexander Kolik explained the new regulations Wednesday at a press conference. One stipulates that mini-vans will only be allowed to change lanes to the right. A story comments on other details of the regulations. (2)

President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder arrived Wednesday in Yekaterinburg. The two leaders are planning to hold top level consultations and to take part in a round-table meeting with businessmen from Russia and Germany (3)

Atamans (elected Cossack officials) belonging to the state register of Cossack troops discussed new regulations on Cossacks' state military service with presidential advisor Gennady Troshev Wednesday. The issue had previously been discussed in the State Duma with Gennady Raikov, leader of the Folk Deputy group. He said the Duma could feasibly approve a new decree upon its first reading, by the end of the session. (3)

Turkey is sending military forces to Iraq. The terms of 10 thousand Turkish troops crossing the border have not yet been announced. Turkish authorities are under pressure from both American and Iraqi sides. As many as 64.4 percent of Turkish people are against the operation. A story comments on details of the case. (4, Kommersant 9)

Gazprom is planning a small revolution in their European export policy. Gazprom and the ENI Italinstate energy concern are re-considering the terms of sending Russian gas supplies to Italy in order to make the cooperative system more flexible. This may contribute to Russia's chances of gaining admittance to the World Trade Organization. (5)

The Cabinet of Ministers is planning to consider the initial results of the governmental commission on administrative reforms, headed by Vice Prime Minister Boris Alyoshin. The commission has finished an analysis of the first five thousand officials' functions. A story comments on the work. (5, Kommersant 2)

Moody's investor's service has granted Russia Baa3 status in their investment rating list. Russian politicians had been trying to get this status since 1996. A story comments on what has been done to achieve this success. (6, Kommersant 14)

Renaissance Capital investment group organized a conference of top management from the world's leading investment funds in New York on Wednesday. UES Russia chairman Anatoly Chubais explained to potential American investors the stages and prospects of UES Russia's re-structuring. A story comments on the discussion. (6, Kommersant 15)

French food giant Danone is close to buying a controlling stake in leading juice and dairy company Wimm-Bill-Dann after more than a year of talks. The Financial Times said Danone, which already owns 7 percent of WBD, might close a deal by the end of the month to acquire the 68 percent of the company, currently held by top Wimm-Bill-Dann executives. (7, Kommersant 17)

Russian state property abroad is facing impoundment due to a lawsuit by Swiss company Noga. The chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of Russia has initiated negotiations between Russia and Noga to solve the problem. (7)

The aviation business is going through an integration process. Experts estimate that not more than 17 percent of aviation will remain unconsolidated by 2005. Russian aviation companies are following the world's example. (7)

Moscow students, who suffer from hunger and lack of money have organized a "Timurovtsy" group to help people in all fields for 140 rubles per hour. In the near future, young people are going to register their business officially. A story comments on students' activities. (9)

The Autocomplex 2003 exhibition is taking place in the Expocenter on Krasnopresnenskaya, Moscow. The city authorities have conducted a competition to find the capital's best car cleaning and repairing services. The names of the best 18 repairing services as well as of 24 cleaning services are given. (9)

1970s New York came to Moscow 2003 Wednesday at a presentation of Iceberg's rebellious collection. A story comments on details of the presentation, focusing on the fact, that "freak" culture is becoming popular in Moscow. (9)

A group headed by Vladimir Spivakov and associated with Moscow's international house of music and the Russian National Orchestra has been brought to court. Spivakov left the Russian National Orchestra a year ago, creating a scandal. The Russian National Orchestra immediately faced a problem of lack of finances. The Orchestra's directors consider that Spivakov is responsible to a certain extent for these problems. A story comments on details of the case. (10)

The Moscow Khoroshovsky district court is finishing the processing of the case of the director of the Kinovector Agency movie company, Ruben Oganov, who is accused of tax evasion. The Interior Ministry has announced that the case is the first successful investigation in a series of cases where big corporations earn billions of rubles and evade taxes by claiming that they are contributing financially to Russian movie production. (10)

Practically the entire male population of Boksitogorodsky district, Leningrad region is involved in the wood-stealing business. As much as 12 percent of the local territory is occupied by villages, towns and fields, the rest of the land is covered with forests. Stolen wood amounts have reached the levels of legally produced wood in the district. A story investigates the reasons behind the problem and comments on details of the local business. (11)

Kommersant
www.kommersant.ru

National Savings Bank president Alexander Lebedev informed the Moscow election committee Wednesday of his intention to compete in the Moscow city mayoral elections with Yury Luzhkov. Elections are scheduled for December 7. A story gives details of his biography. (1, 4)

The State Duma Wednesday approved a new chapter to the Tax Code, relating to a property tax for organizations. It will be instated by January 1, 2004. Before that the regional legislative assemblies must approve new tax tariffs, otherwise the new regulations won't work. A story comments on details of the tax reform. (2)

In an interview, National Savings Bank president Alexander Lebedev speaks on his reasons for participating in the upcoming Moscow mayoral elections. (3)

Vladivostok regional elections committee No. 52 not approved the registration of ex-mayor and acting State Duma Deputy Viktor Cherepkov. Vladivostok regional elections committee said its decision was based on a lack of all required documents. However, Cherepkov claims that the actions of the Vladivostok regional elections committee are not legitimate. (4)

Moscow regional governor Boris Gromov and State Duma Deputy Alexei Mitrofanov informed the regional election committee Wednesday of their intention to participate in the Moscow regional governor's elections on December 7. A story comments on the candidates' views and biographies. (4)

Latvian National Bolshevik Party leader Vladimir Linderman, who has been missing in Moscow for two weeks, sent a letter to his party's comrades from the Lefortovo isolation unit. The Prosecutor General's office failed to inform anyone of his arrest. A story comments on the case

European Council commissar on trade Pascal Lami told Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref that the break-up of Russia's gas monopoly will be a condition of Russia's entering the World Trade Organization. Gazprom now is considering the issue. A story comments on details of negotiations in Brussels. (13)

Vedomosti
www.vedomosti.ru

Moody's rating agency has given Russia BAA3 status. Russian politicians have been trying to get this status since 1996. A story comments on what has been done to achieve the success. (A1)

Russia has become extremely attractive for foreign investments since it received its BAA3 status. A story gives analyses of the financial situation in Russia. (A1)

Arnold Schwarzenegger has been elected governor of California. Gray Davis, who was 11 months into his second term, failed even to take second place. (A2)

The World Bank has rated Russia's judicial system as efficient. Russia is ahead of Slovenia and Poland in this regard. Russian experts say the business climate may be improved by the doing away with of bureaucratic barriers. A story comments on the judicial system in Russia. (A3)

Ecologists have convinced State Duma deputies to postpone the approval of the Forest code. Officials consider that the Forest code will coincide with the land code. However, ecologists insist that Forest code reforms will lead to the destruction of forests in reserve areas. (A3)

The Cabinet is planning to consider preliminary results of the work of the governmental commission on administrative reforms. Headed by Deputy Prime Minister Boris Alyoshin, the commission has finished analyzing the functions of a thousand officials. (A3)

Telecommunications is one of the most promising and profitable businesses in the Russian Federation. In an interview Alexander Izosimov, newly appointed Vimpelcom director speaks about his plans and recent developments at Vimpelcom as he shares his view of the telecommunications market in Russia. (A5)

Vedomosti. Companies and Markets

IPOC International Growth Fund explained in public the reasons for its claims to Alfa-Eco company. A story is devoted to explaining why IPOC International Growth Fund is protesting against Alfa-Eco's right to a blocking share in Megafon. (B1)

French food giant Danone is close to buying a controlling stake in leading juice and diary company Wimm-Bill-Dann after more than a year of talks. The Financial Times said Danone, which already owns 7 percent of WBD, might close a deal by the end of the month to acquire the 68 percent of the company currently held by top Wimm-Bill-Dann executives. (B1)

SUAL aluminum and VSMPO titanium have ended their recent dispute. Victor Vekselberg and Vladislav Tetyukhin, the companies' owners, have agreed that SUAL will stop purchasing VSMPO's shares and will place its representatives on the board of directors at VSMPO and Avisma. Once these changes are made the companies will embark on joint projects for aluminum production. (B2)

Leaders of Russia's pension fund have signed contracts with 54 management companies three days before the deadline to do so. The managing companies are starting advertising campaigns. Citizens are facing the difficult choice of where to put their pensions savings. A story comments on the pension fund's recent activities. (B5)

Rosgosstrakh has finished restructuring branches in its network. Almost all regional companies have become a part of 10 inter-regional centers of Rosgosstrakh. A private investor's consortium headed by Troika Dialog owns 75 percent minus one of Rosgosstrakh's shares. (B5)

Russia's Citroen dealers have started to place orders for the B-class ?2 new model. A story describes the features of the new automobile. (B6)

Ford Focus has replaced Daewoo Nexia in the lead position on the Russian market for foreign cars. Ford Motors Corp. is now producing the Ford Focus in Russia. Experts say Ford looks likely to be a consistent leader in the market. (B7)

General Electric and France's Vivendi Universal media conglomerate are wrapping up the details on the merger of the NBC broadcasting company into NBC Universal. The deal is worth $43 billion. A story gives details of the deal. (B7)

Nezavisimaya Gazeta
www.ng.ru

Council of Federations member Sergei Pugachyov has filed a lawsuit against Presidential Administration Adviser Gleb Pavlovsky for publishing unconfirmed information on Pugachyov's use of support from the Russian Orthodox Church. The case will open in Solntsevo District Court on October 17. (1, 7)

Arnold Schwarzenegger has been elected governor of California. Politicians and ordinary people said it was a surprise. Among the replacement candidates, Schwarzenegger was ahead with almost 50 percent of the vote. Gray Davis, who was 11 month into his second terms failed to win even second place. (1,2, Novaya Gazeta 5, Gazeta 1)

Moody's rating agency has given Russia Baa3 status in the countries' investments rating list. Russian politicians had been trying to get this status since 1996. A story comments on what has been done to achieve this success (1, 3, Rossiiskaya Gazeta 1, 2)

French food giant Danone is close to buying a controlling stake in leading juice and dairy company Wimm-Bill-Dann after more than a year of talks. The Financial Times said Danone, which already owns 7 percent of WBD, might close a deal by the end of the month to acquire the 68 percent of the company held by top Wimm-Bill-Dann executives (1, 3)

IPOC International Growth Fund publicly explained the reasons for its claims to Alpha-Echo company. A story is devoted to explanations of why IPOC International Growth Fund protests Alpha-Echo's rights to Megafon shares blocking package. (3)

The conflict between ballerina Anastasia Volochkova and the Bolshoi Theater continues. The Labor Ministry announced that she had been illegally dismissed. A short-term contract was a reason for her dismissal, as well as her weight and height proportions. (6)

Latvian National Bolshevik Party leader Vladimir Linderman, who has been missing in Moscow for two weeks, sent a letter to his party's comrades from the Lefortovo prison isolation unit. The Prosecutor General's office hasn't informed anyone of his arrest. A story comments on details of this case. (7)

Rossiiskaya Gazeta
www.rg.ru

Vice Premier Boris Alyoshin is going to report to the Cabinet of Ministers on the first results of the work of the governmental commission on administrative reforms. The commission has finished analyzing of the first 5,000 administrative functions. A story comments on the analyses. (1, 3)

Ukraine is not accepting Russian dam construction on the Kerchinsky Strait. The Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry on September 30 forwarded a note of protest against Russian construction on the Kerchinsky Strait to the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry. The Russian-Ukrainian dam will connect Tuzla island in Ukraine with Russia's Taman' peninsula. The sides had achieved a principle agreement on the issue in 1998 Yeltsin-Kuchma negotiations the status of the Azov Sea. The current problem is to define the border between the two sides: Ukraine insists that the border be made directly in the middle, Russia insists that the border should be made on the crossways of traverse and a vessels' movement division line. (1, 5)

As many as 200 people are going to visit a book fair in Frankfurt, according to surveys. A ceremony opening the Russian national book fair took place Wednesday. A story comments on what authors are presenting in the exposition. (1, 8)

Russian Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref seemed to fail to fulfill his mission in Brussels. He hasn't achieved a definite agreement on including Russia in the World Trade Organization in spite of the fact that Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov promised to pay $40 million in debts to the Paris Club in an extremely short time. A story comments on details of Gref's negotiations with European Council Trade Commissar Pascal Lami. (1, 2)

Komsomolskaya Pravda
www.kp.ru

President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder arrived Wednesday in Yekaterinburg. The two leaders are planning to hold top level consultations and to take part in a round-table discussion with businessmen from Russia and Germany. (4)

Masha, a 5th year student of Dnepropetrovsk University earned $4000 in the United States and bought travel checks for the entire amount. The money was stolen during her trip to New York and she arrived in Moscow after American Express declined to help her. She climbed a bridge and sat there until a crowd of journalists gathered around. She appeared to be well-prepared for a press-conference, as she distributed press-releases among journalists after she came down from the bridge. (6)

Novaya Gazeta
www.novayagazeta.ru

The London Magistrates Court announced Tuesday a verdict of no extradition of former LogoVAZ director Yuly Dubov. A story comments on the details of how Dubov was granted political asylum following Berezovsky's experience. (4)

Vitaly Ginzburg, a physicist of the academy of Sciences' Lebedev Physics Institute, took Tuesday a Nobel Prize for Physics. He has won the $1.3 million award for work on superconductivity and superfluidity jointly with Russian scientist Alexei Abrikosov, who works at the Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois, and British scientist Anthony Leggett from the University of Illinois, who are both now U.S. citizens (5)

Yukos founder Mikhail Khodorkovsky said Monday he would rather go to jail than leave the country as a political refugee and abandon the bitter fight with state authorities that began in July. At a news conference at Yukos headquarters, he decried a raid by prosecutors Friday on a Yukos-funded children's home outside Moscow (6)