Press Review

		Izvestia Kommersant Nezavisimaya Gazeta Rossiiskaya Gazeta Krasnaya Zvezda Trud Komsomolskaya Pravda Moskovsky Komsomolets

Izvestia
www.izvestia.ru

At the Moscow session of the World Economic Forum on Oct. 3, President Vladimir Putin set forth new economic tasks -- to stop relying so much on oil revenue and to boost domestic industry and the high-tech sector. A story focuses on key tasks of government economic policy. (1, Kommersant, 5, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 4, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, 3, Trud, 1, Komsomolskaya Pravda, 6)

In an interview, journalist Nikolai Svanidze, host of "Zerkalo" on Rossiya, talks about his new weekly documentary series "Historical Chronicles." (1, Komsomolskaya Pravda, 22)

The North Ossetian Supreme Court convicted 26-year-old Sergei Chochiyev on Friday for his role in kidnapping UN official Vincent Cochetel, in Vladikavkaz on Jan. 29,1998. Cochetel, the North Ossetia chief of operations for the UN High Commission for Refugees at the time of his kidnapping, was released on Dec. 12, 1998 after an Interior Ministry special operation. In an interview, Cochetel tells of his abduction and release, and gives his opinion of the verdict. (1,2)

The National Arts and Science Academy has decided to submit Andrei Zvyagintsev's "The Return" as the Russian candidate for the best foreign film Oscar. A story comments on the choice. (1, Kommersant, 8,Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 30, MK, 2)

An editorial addresses the marketing program of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, widely viewed as the most popular in Russia. The concept of the program was discussed at the Culture Ministry meeting on Friday. (2, Kommersant, 9)

The Prosecutor General's Office resumed its raids of Yukos's facilities Friday. Criminal investigators conducted searches in the Yukos-funded Koralovo Lyceum Boarding House and in the Yukos Business Club in Zhukovka. Documents were confiscated from both facilities. (2, Kommersant, 1,3, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 3, Komsomolskaya Pravda, 6, MK, 1)

President Vladimir Putin arrived in the Krasnodar region Friday to meet with regional administrators to discuss problems relating to the agro-industrial complex. A story examines several issues discussed at the meeting and its decision. (3, Kommersant, 2, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 4, Trud, 2, Komsomolskaya Pravda, 7)

European Union heads of government were to attend a session in Rome on Saturday to discuss the draft of the EU Constitution. A story examines EU member states' proposals for the document. (3)

Central Election Commission head Alexander Veshnyakov shared his positive impressions about the first month of the official election campaign at the exhibition dedicated to the 300th anniversary of Russian journalism on Friday. (3)

The Central Election Commission Friday signed the lists of candidates from the federal and one-mandate districts that were submitted by 11 political parties. They were the last contenders for participation in the State Duma elections on Dec. 7. Twenty-six parties and five blocs will take part in the elections. (3, Kommersant, 3, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 6, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, 1,2)

After Friday's meeting of four centrist leaders with Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, State Duma Budget Committee head Alexander Zhukov said that the Duma will pass the 2004 budget in its second reading on Oct. 15. Brief. (3, Kommersant, 2, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 6)

Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov will leave Oct. 5 to visit Canada, the United States and Brazil to discuss Iraq, Afghanistan and North Korea. Brief. (3)

Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov expressed his displeasure with the courts. At a meeting with former criminal investigators on Friday, he said that the courts often bring inadequate indictments. Brief. (3, MK, 2)

The number of accidents involving fixed-route taxis over the past several months has pushed the Transport Ministry to work for tougher state control over public transportation. The ministry's stance has been opposed by the Economic Development and Trade Ministry and Duma deputies, who believe that state regulation will make private carriers dependent on state bureaucrats. A story comments on the issue, citing views by three experts. (4, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 2)

The volume of direct foreign investments in Russia this year may reach $6.5 billion, Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref said at the Moscow session of the World Economic Forum on Friday. Brief. (4, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 4)

Small business' contribution to gross domestic product amounts to about 21 percent today, Anti-Monopoly Minister Ilya Yuzhanov said. He said that the government's meeting on Oct. 16 will be specially devoted to boosting small business. Brief. (4, Kommersant, 6, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, 3)

The RTS index rose above 600 points on Friday afternoon due to the continuing active growth of prices of liquidity securities. Brief. (4, Kommersant, 1)

The Audit Chamber discussed the results of the audit of proceeds from international loans on Friday. A brief looks at some results. (4, Kommersant, 6)

Yukos head Mikhail Khodorkovsky has rejected rumors about a deal with ExxonMobil. Brief. (4)

Malaysia could strike a deal on the purchase of another 39 Russian helicopters, said Leonid Belykh, director general of the Ulan-Ude aviation plant. Brief. (4)

The Izvestia Supplement is devoted to science. (5-8)

A story explores several issues relating to the Kyoto Protocol, focusing on whether or not Russia will gain from signing it. Economists and policy-makers speak out. (5, Kommersant, 5, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 7, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, 10, Trud, 2)

Kazakh and Chinese historians are disputing the ethnicity of Genghis Khan, whom UNESCO has called the great military leader of the past 2,000 years. Kazakhstan has announced an upcoming conference, "Genghis Khan and Kazakh Statehood," to be attended by leading scholars from many countries, including Russia. A story talks about the dispute. (5)

Specialists at the Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics have concluded that forest fires in the Moscow region emit many poisonous substances into the air. Brief. (6)

Oct. 5 is Teachers' Day in Russia. The winners of the annual "Teacher of the Year" competition will make recommendations to the education minister about the single state examination, about education reform and about problems in schools. (7,Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 21,Komsomolskaya Pravda, 15, Trud, 2, MK, 1,2)

A story describes the secret drug called RU-21 that was once developed for KGB agents and has now become a sensation in the United States and Europe. Dmitry Myasnikov, president of the company selling it in the United States, talks about RU-21 and its unprecedented properties. (8, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 25)

The first city psychological clinic will open in Moscow on Oct. 6. More than 20 psychologists will provide free psychological help to Muscovites. The Moscow Family and Youth Committee of the Moscow government plans to open clinics in all city districts in January 2004. (9)

Bus and trolleybus stops equipped with pay phones will appear in Moscow soon on a trial basis. Brief. (9)

Kommersant
www.kommersant.ru

Oleg Deripaska's Bazovy Element announced on Friday the purchase of 25 percent of Russian Aluminum stock from Millhouse Capital, the asset manager for Chukotka governor Roman Abramovich. Abramovich has sold 25 percent of the RusAl stake for almost $2 million. A story examines the deal, focusing on analysts' views. (1,5)

A double-blow was struck against U.S. President George W. Bush on Friday: President Vladimir Putin said that the American draft resolution on Iraq does not suit Moscow. David Kay, the head of the group of American inspectors, said that they failed to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. (1,4)

The organizers of the TEFI awards ceremony acknowledged Friday that technical mistakes were made during the voting procedure for the awards. Brief. (1)

The state-controlled broadcasting company Pskov, part of the VGTRK structure, suspended the news programs of two local independent television companies -- MKTV and TV-com, on Friday. A story gives Pskov's explanation of the suspensions. (3)

A story highlights events held by different groups in Moscow to mark the 10th anniversary of "Black October." (3,Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 2,)

Paradigma, supported by the International Union KVN, seized the movie theater "Pravda" on Lyusinovskaya Ulitsa Friday. (4)

The World Conference on Global Climate Change completed its work in Moscow on Friday. A story comments on its results, focusing on presidential economic aide Andrei Illarionov's negative view. (5)

Aeroflot held a tender for the first time on Friday to sell bulk charter flights. A story describes the event and how tourist firms regard it. (5)

Mechel completed a deal on Friday to purchase Uralskaya Kuznitsa, or the Chebarkulsky Metals Plant, in the Sverdlovsk region. Mechel now owns 90 percent of the plant. Brief. (6)

Donskoi Tabak has sold its major asset in meat processing, the Rostov sausage plant Tavr, to Primery Don. The brief looks at past sales by Donskoi Tabak. (6)

Maxim Medvedkov, the first deputy economic development and trade minister, said on Friday that Russia still opposes allowing affiliates of foreign credit organizations to participate in the Russian market. Brief. (6)

The Audit Chamber believes that federal executive agencies responsible for implementing international loan proceeds between 1992 and 2000 failed to take practical measures for their effective use. The chamber discussed the results of the audit of the proceeds on Friday. A brief looks at some results. (6)

Nezavisimaya Gazeta
www.ng.ru

Chukotka's deputy governor on economic and financial issues, Irina Panchenko, has been elected to represent the region in the next State Duma. Panchenko has been working under the guidance of governor Roman Abramovich since 1997 and occupies a special position in his team. A story examines her role. (1,2)

Nearly three months since his state of the nation address, President Vladimir Putin has submitted a list of instructions that addresses the major provisions of his presidential program. A story examines these particular issues and includes the full text of the document. (2)

The first container terminal became operational in the Astrakhan port of Olya a couple of days ago, making it possible to transport cargo along the international "North-South" corridor and to consolidate Russian positions in the Caspian Sea. A story describes the new terminal and its significance for Russia. (3)

On Friday, the government endorsed a package of proposals submitted by the Finance and Tax ministries aimed at improving the methods of collecting VAT tax. As a result, the government expected to collect hundreds of billions of rubles in additional revenue. A story examines the proposal in detail. (3)

Rossiiskaya Gazeta
www.rg.ru

Three years after charging Red Army partisan Vasily Konovalov of military crimes committed in 1944, Latvia's Latgalsky District Court pardoned him Friday. A story describes the reasons for the official pardon. (4)

A new VIP hall for official delegations was opened in Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport on Friday. A story describes the hall, its clients and European-style services. (6)

The Hungarian Yeural Trans Gaz company has replaced well-known Itera as supplier of Turkmen natural gas to Ukraine. In an interview, Itera's director Andrash Knopp explains how his company has gained this significant economic role. (12)

Krasnaya Zvezda

The second annual Day of the Space Troops was celebrated on Thursday. In an interview, Space Troops Commander Anatoly Perminov talks about the ongoing process of building this corps of troops, focusing on their complicated tasks. (1,2)

The State Duma on Thursday plans to consider a draft of a bill concerning servicemen's unions. In a far-ranging interview, union head Oleg Shvedkov talks about why the military needs its own unions. (1,3)

Trud
www.trud.ru

A Moscow State University-based commission for population studies has revealed several alarming facts, including a 25 percent decrease of the country's birthrate since 1990. A story comments on the institute's findings, which includes an appeal to the government to take active measures to reverse this trend. (1,3)

According to Deputy Defense Minister Mikhail Dmitriyev, Russia exports nearly 25 percent more in armaments, as compared to 2002. A story examines reasons behind this trend. (1)

Moscow State University's faculty of law has opened a department in Geneva. A story describes its aims and tasks. (1)

In an interview, General Yury Toropin, head of Moscow's central criminal militia department, analyzes the city's current crime situation, providing figures and comparing the situation with that over the past several years. (3)

The new service, "A Husband for One Hour," has already appeared in five cities. A feature story describes the service and includes comments by an employee. (6)

Komsomolskaya Pravda
www.kp.ru

A story provides the names of major participants in the uprising in the October, 1993 uprising in Moscow, focusing on the fate of some of these key figures. (2,3)

In an interview, Dmitry Rogozin, State Duma International Affairs Committee head and participant in the events of October 1993, explains why those historical developments were predetermined. (5)

At a Defense Ministry session on Friday, President Vladimir Putin detailed a plan to increase the armed forces over the next 30 years. A story provides a list of proposed military weaponry and includes a report by Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov. (4) (Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 8), (Krasnaya Zvezda, 1,3), (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, 1,2), (Trud, 1,2)

State Customs Committee head Mikhail Vanin recently visited the Lesnoi customs terminal, where several provisions of the new Customs Code are being tested. A story reports on Vanin's positive findings. (6)

Federation Council Speaker Sergei Mironov was slightly injured during a recent earthquake in the Altai Mountains, where he was vacationing. A story provides details. (7)

In an interview, Moscow region governor Boris Gromov reflects on the four years of his gubernatorial term, providing figures to demonstrate positive economic developments during that period. (8,9)

President Vladimir Putin awarded Khazret Sovmen, president of the Republic of Adygeya, with a national order for his sufficient contribution to Russian statehood and cooperation among nations. A story examines what he has done for his republic and its people. (11)

The Megafon company intends to launch a project to put up bay stations in the form of fake palm trees around Moscow, and the first one is to appear in a couple of days near the Savyolovsky Railway Terminal. A story describes the project, focusing on its origin. (16)

Moskovsky Komsomolets
www.mk.ru

At Wednesday's session of the Physical Culture and Sports Council, President Vladimir Putin singled out the increase of children's athletics as a priority task. Yet, a number of local sports schools have been closed recently. A story tries to make sense of the contradiction. (1)

During the renovation of the Interior Ministry's investigative headquarters, workers on Thursday found several planted eavesdropping devices. A story provides details. (1)

Lobbyists are pressing with a campaign to legalize genetically-modified foods. A story examines how they intend to do it, and includes an assessment of such foods. (1,4)

Chechen administration head Akhmad Kadyrov's grandson has been recently hospitalized with a case of measles. A story comments on the child's state of health. (1)

A 33-year-old man from the Tambov region attempted suicide on Friday. A story looks at possible reasons for the attempt. (1)

Specialists from the Moscow Nature Department have begun to register the country's 49 natural springs as national monuments. A story examines the aim of city environmentalists' work. (1)

Three teenagers attacked two Uzbeks on Wednesday in the north of Moscow and seriously injured them. The Uzbeks were hospitalized and the teenagers detained. A story provides details. (1) (Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 6)

Moscow authorities in the Chistiye Prudy district have decided to undergo the construction of an underground multi-story parking garage. A story describes the project. (1)

Despite assurances made by many leftists, journalist Sergei Dorenko has joined the Communist Party. A story says why KPRF leader Gennady Zyuganov did not want to meet with him. (2)

Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov has been awarded the Order For Military Merits for his contribution to providing local servicemen with housing. A story describes the award. (2)

During President Vladimir Putin's visit to the United States in late September, a U.S. journalist asked him why Yukos co-owner Platon Lebedev had already been kept in jail for several months without proof of his guilt. A story focuses on the president's response. (2)

The Federal Security Service has launched state border reform with the creation of the State Border Commission under Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov. A story examines the nature of the reform. (2)

A feature story describes the sale of exotic animals in Moscow, saying which of them are the most popular. (5)

Six Russian authors on Friday were announced winners of the best Russian novel of the year. A story provides their names and a description of their books. (5)

The legendary Soviet-era statue, "The Worker and Collective Farm Woman," is undergoing major renovation. A story describes the project. (8) (Komsomolskaya Pravda, 1,17)

A story features dacha owner Fyodor Poroshin, who grows mushrooms with the help of music. (8)