Russia 101007
Basic Political Developments
· Belarusian parliament to discuss relationship with Russia
· Belarus President sends birthday greetings to Vladimir Putin
· Latest anti-Lukashenko report to be aired by Russian TV on Oct. 8 - The fourth installment of Godfather, a documentary film produced by Russian NTV, is scheduled to be aired on Friday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Minsk time.
Russia against any outside interference in Cyprus settlement – Medvedev
· Medvedev slams interference in Cyprus settlement
- Dual tax agreement highlight of Russia visit
- Medvedev thanks Cyprus for attitude to new treaty idea
- Medvedev arrives in Cyprus on first official visit
- Medvedev arrives in Cyprus
- Medvedev to discuss cooperation, taxation in Cyprus
- Cyprus Prospers Thanks To Russian ‘Occupation’ - By Valentin Prussakov
- President Medvedev addressed readers of Cypriot newspaper Phileleftheros - We are unswerving in affirming that the Cyprus issue cannot be resolved by pressure from outside, but only with the agreement of the parties themselves. It is clear to us that attempts to impose readymade ‘recipes’ or artificial timetables of inter-communal talks, and all the more setting deadlines for their completion or bringing in arbiters from outside are counterproductive.
- The future of tax havens in Cyprus after Medvedev's visit – BBC Anna Rynda
· Russian, Algerian Presidents sign issue joint statement
- Russia, Algeria urge resumption of Mideast peace process
- Russia, Algeria agree to open investment bureaus
- Algeria signs 6 Russia deals during Medvedev visit
· Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko Meets with Finnish Foreign Ministry Under-Secretary of State Jaakko Laajava - There was a thorough exchange of views on the reformation of the European security architecture, including the initiative of President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev for a European Security Treaty. The parties also discussed the state of affairs in Russia-EU cooperation in different areas, and the progress of preparations for the OSCE summit in Astana.
· German president says he glad to make first visit to Moscow - German Ambassador in Moscow Ulrich Brandenburg said Christian Wulff would make the first state visit to Russia on October 11-15.
· Berlusconi Seeks Russian Investment in Mediaset, Corriere Says - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi may discuss Mediaset SpA when he is in Russia to meet Prime Minister Vladimir Putin tomorrow, daily Corriere della Sera reported, without saying where it got the information.
· India says to jointly make 250-300 stealth fighters
- India to buy 250-300 fighter jets from Russia: Antony
- Russian DM to discuss military-technical cooperation with India
- India, Russia to hold anti-terror military drills
- India to conduct joint anti-terror exercise with Russia
· Angolan and Russian parliaments seek to strengthen cooperation
· Russia's troubled Bulava missile to be test launched - The 13th test launch of Russia's troubled Bulava ballistic missile will be held in the White Sea on Thursday, a source in the administration of the northern Russian town of Severodvinsk said.
· Ukraine pays for Russia Sept gas import in full - Naftogaz said in a statement it paid Russia's state-owned energy giant, Gazprom (GAZP.MM: Quote, Profile, Research), around $715 million. The August bill totalled $711 million.
· State nuclear fuel company takes shares in Russian-based center - Ukrainian state company Nuclear Fuel (Kyiv) has completed the acquisition of 10% shares in the International Uranium Enrichment Center in Angarsk (Irkutsk region, Russia) and became its shareholder on October 5, the Ukrainian company said on Wednesday.
· Russia thanks Lithuania for sending aid to fight forest fires - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov has thanked Lithuania for helping Russia to fight forest fires, reported BC the press service of the Foreign Ministry.
· Russian pilots freed in southern Sudan
· U.S. calls on Russia to end "occupation" of Georgian territory
· Georgia is not going to support Russia's WTO accession
· Georgian PM outlines position on Russian WTO bid
· U.S. welcomes Russia's plans to review cases of attacks on journalists
· Anniversary Of Russian Journalist Politkovskaya's Slaying
· Four years on: Anna Politkovskaya’s murder still unsolved
· Russian-Kazakhstan Nanotechnology Venture Fund Moves Closer to Founding
· KazSat-2 completes acoustic tests
· Soyuz spacecraft container damaged in transit to Baikonur
· Russia to make record number of space launches in 2010 - Regardless of the incident with the Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft, which was damaged while being transported by train to the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Russia will fulfill all 12 projected space flights by the end of the year.
· DIFC says Moscow financial centre will be welcome in global network - Moscow Dubai has world-class financial regulation at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the experience and ability to put all components in place, a senior executive said yesterday.
· Russian drug enforcement officers seize 136 kg of marijuana
· Icebreaker simulator centre - A simulator centre for nuclear-powered ships has been inaugurated by Atomflot, the subsidiary of Russian state nuclear energy company Rosatom responsible for the operation and maintenance of the country's fleet of nuclear icebreakers.
· Putin to celebrate his birthday in St Petersburg - Animals have been a traditional present for Putin. His living “presents” include his favourite Labrador Koni (presented by Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu), a chestnut stallion) from former Bashkortostan President Murtaza Rakhimov), a pony (from former Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiyev), and even a crocodile although made of crystal glass (presented by former Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin), and a little Ussuri tiger from an unknown guest.
· Putin turns 58
· Acting Moscow mayor to stay in post for next two years - paper
· Moscow to allocate almost 600M roubles for tourism over 2011
· Ex-Moscow Mayor Luzhkov Approved Hotels Sale, Kommersant Says
· Luzhkov links dismissal to 2012 presidential election
· Moscow Fun - Since Yuri Luzhkov was ousted in a dramatic coup last week, Moscow’s public life has been in flux, and this week the reshuffling of the political order continued apace. This weekend a tiny gay rights protest outside the offices of Swiss airlines was protected by police, rather than broken up. On Monday Acting Mayor Vladimir Resin floated the idea of moving the gargantuan statue of Peter the Great by Luzhkov’s long-time favorite artist Zurab Tsereteli. And on Tuesday he unceremoniously fired Oleg Mitvol, the prefect of Moscow’s Northern Administrative District and a staunch Luzhkov ally. After a meeting with Putin and his decision to join the ruling party United Russia, is Resin in the running for the top job?
· PRESS DIGEST - Russia - Oct 7
- LUKOIL (LKOH.MM) Vice President Leonid Fedun wants to raise his stake in the company to 10 percent from 9.3 percent. But he did not clarify how he would acquire more shares, the daily reports.
- Germany's Douglas Holding seems to be leaving Russia's market as the company is considering selling its Douglas-Rivoli network of 30 retailers in Moscow and regions.
- Russia's TNK-BP (TNBPI.RTS) is prepared to spend $3 billion to buy BP's assets in Algeria.
- The price for newspapers and magazines could rise 5 percent as Russia's Customs Service has cancelled tax benefits for chalk overlay paper from Oct. 1.
- Swedish furniture retailer IKEA [IKEA.UL] is freezing its new investment projects in Russia for the next 3-5 years.
- Russia is ready to sell some assets of shipping group Sovcomflot, which is involved in oil shipments, according to Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov.
- Vladimir Resin is one of the main candidates for the post of Moscow's Mayor whose main task will be to ensure the victory of United Russia ruling party in the capital in elections, the daily says.
- Russia is planning to restore its permanent military presence Southeast Asia, the daily reports referring to the discussions of building of a naval base in Vietnam.
- Russian prosecutors claim they have discovered new suspects who may have been involved in the murder of Anna Politkovskaya four years ago.
· RIA Novosti Press Review for Thursday, October 7, 2010
· Nezavisimaya/Russia Today: A nautical déjà vu - Moscow gets ready to renew its permanent military presence in South-East Asia
Vremya Novostei/Russia Today: Environmental revenge - Georgia lays the groundwork to boycott the Sochi Olympics
· CORRUPTION WATCH: Russia amongst the world's most transparent on natural resources
· Russian Church to open its own site at YouTube
· International Congress of Russian Compatriots opens in Moscow
National Economic Trends
· Russian International Reserves Rise $6.7 Billion to 2-Year High
· Rouble hit 5-mth peak vs dlr of 29.62
· Russia: United Grain Company to increase grain processing volumes
· Russia's macroeconomic policy: balancing growth versus stability
Business, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussions
· Legislation tightens corporate disclosure - but slashes companies exposed
· Electricity Consumption up a Moderate 4.2% YoY in September
· Rosneft, Gazprom, Magnitogorsk: Russian Equity Market Preview
· Regulator: No major violations in Norilsk Nickel's shareholders' meeting
· Russia’s small businesses – dying breed, statistics show
· IKEA delays construction of Europe's largest mall near Moscow
· IKEA Will Focus on Existing Investments
· Sberbank develops remote client-servicing channels
· VTB May Purchase a Stake in TCB BNP Paribas IP
· Polyus starts Natalka construction
· Rusnano and Kazakhstan’s National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna agreed to invest $25 million each in a nano fund for both countries to be managed by I2BF Capital Management and VTB Capital, the companies said Wednesday.(Bloomberg)
· Advertising beer with alcohol content in excess of 5 percent, which accounts for 40 percent of the market, may be banned, Kommersant reported Wednesday, citing draft amendments to a bill from the Health and Social Development Ministry. (Bloomberg)
· Norilsk Nickel said Wednesday that the Soviet stockpiles of copper it expects to buy from the state would boost its output of the metal by 50,000 tons a year for five years. (Bloomberg)
· Electronics retailer M.Video said Wednesday that it opened 20 outlets in the third quarter and sales jumped 37 percent, to 22.2 billion rubles ($743 million). (Bloomberg)
· VTB Group will be the only major state asset to be sold by the end of 2010, Economic Development Minister Elvira Nabiullina said Wednesday, adding that a list of assets for sale will be finalized in November. (Bloomberg)
· Polyus chief executive Yevgeny Ivanov said Wednesday that the company will probably increase this year’s production of 1.5 million ounces by up to 20 percent in 2011. (Bloomberg)
· Sberbank is seeking to borrow up to $2 billion from a group of banks, Interfax reported Wednesday, citing an undisclosed source. (Bloomberg)
· Natural Resources a Blessing or a Curse - Mining
Activity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory)
· Natural Resources a Blessing or a Curse? - Yesterday, there was a panel discussion entitled Russia's Natural Resources: a Blessing or a Curse? at our Russia Calling! Investment Forum. Vice President of LUKOIL Leonid Fedun was one of the key speakers. The main takeaways from what he said are as follows.
· ConocoPhillips May Sell Remaining Stake in LUKOIL Ahead of Schedule
· TNK-BP considering acquiring some of BP's international assets
· TNK-BP to acquire 5.5% in Verkhnechonskneftegaz
Gazprom
· Gazprom plans to bid for Algerian gas fields
· Gazprom: No revision plans for gas contract with Belarus
· Gazprom, Total Reassign Rights in Bolivia
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Basic Political Developments
10/07 10:37 Belarusian parliament to discuss relationship with Russia
http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=193763
Belarus President sends birthday greetings to Vladimir Putin
http://news.belta.by/en/news/president?id=586280
07.10.2010 09:31
MINSK, 7 October (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has congratulated Russian Premier Vladimir Putin on his birthday, BelTA learnt from the presidential press service.
“I am confident that your wide experience and authority as a leader will further promote partner relations based on mutual respect and fruitful cooperation,” the message of congratulations says.
Latest anti-Lukashenko report to be aired by Russian TV on Oct. 8
http://www.kyivpost.com/news/russia/detail/85324/
Today at 09:17 | Staff reports
The fourth installment of Godfather, a documentary film produced by Russian NTV, is scheduled to be aired on Friday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Minsk time.
Topics of the latest episode announced by NTV will be how a deputy mandate saved Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko from prison in the early 1990s, the 'faked' suicide of a opposition journalist Oleh Bebenin, how other opposition Belarusian journalists were killed, and revelations from a member of the so-called "death squads" responsible for killing opposition politicians in the late 1990s.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev harshly criticized Lukashenko on Oct. 3, accusing him of waging a "hysterical" anti-Russian campaign to boost his bid for re-election.
Lukashenko, 55, has been Belarusian president since 1994. He is widely regarded in the West as the last dictator in Europe.
October 07, 2010 10:57
Russia against any outside interference in Cyprus settlement – Medvedev
http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=193787
NICOSIA. Oct 7 (Interfax) - Russia considers attempts of any outside pressure on the parties involved in the Cyprus settlement process, both Greeks and Turks, to be unacceptable, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said.
"We continue to insist that the Cyprus issue should be resolved without any outside pressure and with the consent of the parties. It is obvious to us that the attempts to force ready 'scenarios' or an artificial schedule of negotiations between the communities, let alone setting limits for their completion and the institution of outside arbitration, are counterproductive," Medvedev said in an address made in connection with his official visit to Cyprus published in the Cyprus newspaper Phileleftheros.
"Russia as a permanent member of the UN Security Council provides constant support to the efforts aimed at achieving a fair and viable solution to the Cyprus issue," Medvedev said.