Russia 100414
Basic Political Developments
· Prime-Tass: Russian calendar: Key events for April 14
o Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to visit Argentina, until Apr 15
o Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to hold meeting on modernization of healthcare
o Russian Industry and Trade Minister Viktor Khristenko to visit Italy, until Apr 17
o Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov to meet with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in Brussels
o Credit Bank of Moscow to offer bonds worth 3 billion rubles
o Russia’s Finance Ministry to offer 6 billion rubles worth of OFZ-PD bonds
· Itar-Tass: Medvedev ending visit to USA, departing for Argentina
· RUVR: Medvedev, de Kirchner to meet in Buenos Aires
· Itar-Tass: Russian minister to discuss industrial cooperation in Rome - Industrial cooperation issues will be the focal point of discussions that the Russian Minister of Industry and Trade, Viktor Khristenko, and the Italian Minister Claudio Scajola are going have Tuesday in the course of their talks in Rome.
· Kyiv Post: Russia will accept highly enriched uranium Ukraine has decided to get rid of
· Business Week: Bangladesh approves nuke power deal with Russia - Bangladesh has approved a draft for a deal with Russia to set up a nuclear power plant in the power-starved South Asian nation, a government spokesman said Tuesday.
· Russia Today: Iran will become nuclear nation in May - While most of the world is trying to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, Iran has declared that it is expecting to join the nuclear club in May. The statement comes from Behzad Soltani, deputy head of Iran’s atomic energy organization. He has come out to say that within one month Iran will become the newest member of the world nuclear club and that as soon as in May, Iran will become a “nuclear nation” that no other country will even think of launching an attack against.
· NUCLEAR SUMMIT
o Brookings: An Address by Dmitry Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation: Russia-U.S. Relations and Russia’s Vision for International Affairs
o CNN: Medvedev: Iran 'ignoring questions' on nuclear ambition
o Itar-Tass: Russia's Medvedev calls world nuclear summit very successful
o Reuters: Russia says needs time to develop political system
o Itar-Tass: Russian Pres says no revival of Stalinism in Russian society
o RIA: Medvedev ready to submit arms reduction pact to parliament in early May
o RIA: Russia ready to discuss further disarmament – Medvedev
o RIA: Russia-U.S. relations better than before – Medvedev
o RIA: Medvedev sees U.S. shale gas as stimulus for modernization
o RIA: Medvedev still counting on Washington's support over WTO entry
o Reuters: Russia wants U.S. to push harder for its WTO entry
o RIA: Russia's Medvedev blames Kyrgyz authorities for unrests, says civil war risk high
o WASHINGTON.Dmitry Medvedev met with President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich.
o Interfax: Russia ready to discuss Ukraine’s new proposals on gas price – Medvedev
o WASHINGTON.Dmitry Medvedev met with Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel.
o WASHINGTON.Dmitry Medvedev had a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
o Mainichi Daily: Japan, Russia to step up island talks, but don't discuss details - Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed Tuesday to promote top-level talks toward settling a longstanding territorial dispute over four Russian-administered islands off Hokkaido, but failed to discuss further details.
o Armradio: Foreign Ministers of Armenia, Russia meet in Washington - The interlocutors touched upon the cooperation between the two countries within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group and exchanged views on the situation in the region, including the process of settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
o Russia Today: Russian president gives interview to RT’s editor in chief
o Bloomberg: U.S.-Russian Ties Tested in Kyrgyzstan Revolution (Update1)
· RUVR: Russian, U.S. navies conduct joint anti-piracy drill: The Russian and U.S. navies have conducted joint exercises in the Gulf of Aden to rehearse anti-piracy rescue efforts. The drill involved ships of the Russian Pacific Fleet, including a large anti-submarine vessel and a U.S. destroyer ship. Both countries have been taking an active part in international anti-piracy missions.
· Reuters: UPDATE 2-US has new approach to Russia poultry spat-USAPEEC - U.S. approach could lead to quick end to Russia ban; USAPEEC declined to provide details; Russian official: US willing to stop using chlorine
· St. Louis Business Journal: Russian leaders to visit St. Louis to examine government
· CNN: Russian official: Adoption case points to need for monitoring
· ABC News: Petition Drive Urges Russia Not to Halt Adoptions
· Finnish Government: Finnish-Russian Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation meets in Helsinki led by Ministers Väyrynen and Nabiullina
· Brunei fm: Russia hoists flag at temporary embassy
· RUVR: S.Ossetia, Nicaragua seal diplomatic ties
· RIA: Medvedev signs national anti-corruption program for 2010-11
· RIA: Marine infantry land on Pyotr Veliky
· NTI: Russia to Place Early Warning Radar on Duty
· BarentsObserver: Putin to visit Murmansk this week - Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will pay a visit to Murmansk in the middle of April. According to unconfirmed information the visit will take place on Thursday this week.
· Premier.gov.ru: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with Kaluga Region Governor Anatoly Artamonov
· RUVR: Olympic construction in Sochi ahead of schedule - IOC
· Reuters: UPDATE 1-Russia's Usmanov not ruling out Arsenal bid
· Apa.az: Moscow Mayor Yuriy Lujkov issues order to build Muslim Magomayev’s monument in Russian capital
· Interfax: Media review: Islamic Puppeteers - Will Kadyrov become a Muslim vice-president of the Russian Federation? – by Alexey CHELNOKOV, "Argumenty Nedely" Russian weekly
· POLISH PLANE CRASH
o Georgian Times: Pole MP Apologizes for Blaming Russia for Smolensk Air Crash
o RIA: Death toll in Polish president's plane crash set at 97
o Epoch Times: More Remains Identified in Polish Plane Crash
· Russia Profile: In the Beginning Was the Web - Has the Internet Become Russia’s Only Medium of Free Information Exchange, and If So, Can It Too Be Up for Grabs?
· Moscow Times: Today in Vedomosti
o Editorial: Greece Needs Radical Spending Cuts
o Commentary: Exemplary Patriotism - Tens of thousands of Poles gathered in the streets of Warsaw to say goodbye to their president is a sight worth seeing.
o Less Sand and Concrete Needed for Sochi - Initial assessments of the building materials needed for Sochi Olympic facilities have been overstated.
· Russia Today: 14 April, 2010 in Russian Newspapers
o Izvestiya: Poland reflects on the tragedy
o Rossiyskaya Gazeta: The last battle - A brutal and mysterious crime was committed in the capital -- an elderly couple, who were veterans of the Great Patriotic War -- were shot and killed in their apartment.
National Economic Trends
· Dow Jones: Medvedev Adviser: Ruble Likely Won't Float Freely For Years
· Bloomberg: Russia Debt Cut to 8-Year Low in Funds as Eurobond Sale Nears
· Bloomberg: Russia Vulnerable to Budget Crisis, Renaissance Says (Update1)
Business, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussions
· Reuters: Russian markets -- Factors to Watch on April 14
· Bloomberg: TGK-9, Tatneft, Rosneft: Russian Equity-Market Preview
· Bloomberg: Weafer Likes Russian Infrastructure, Consumer Stocks: Video
· Vancouver Sun: Khan Resources says it's targeted by Russians
· Reuters: UPDATE1 – KazakhGold seeks Russia approval for Polyus bid
· Bloomberg: KazakhGold Says It’s Mulling Polyus Reverse Takeover (Update1)
· SteelOrbis: Russia to sell three large coal deposits in Ulug-Khem basin
· Money Times: Russians urge inquiry in Daimler case
· Capital McDonald's defended the rent of 1 ruble - Vedomosti
· Moscow Times: Sanofi Cleared to Buy Insulin Plant - Billionaires Mikhail Prokhorov and Suleiman Kerimov also got approval to consolidate their assets in the gold miner Polyus Gold, Artemyev said. Their Kazakhstan-based company, KazakhGold Group, registered on the island Jersey, will buy a number of Polyus-related units, he said.
· Abc.az: Run-up for market appearance of Russia’s Savings Bank and Gazprombank in Azerbaijan starts
· Bloomberg: Rostelecom Plans 30 Billion-Ruble Bond Sale, Vedomosti Says
· Reuters: BRIEF-Russia's Protek sets IPO price range of $3.10-4.50/share
· EasyBourse: Russian Drug Company Protek Sets Price Range For MICEX, RTS IPO
· Bloomberg: Rusal Awards Deripaska, Management IPO Bonus Shares (Update1)
· RUVR: Christie's opens office in Moscow
· Moscow Times: For the Record
o A 13 percent stake in insurer Rosgosstrakh may be sold in July or August, the Economic Development Ministry said Tuesday. (Bloomberg)
o Renaissance Capital is “on track” with its expansion plans in Africa and may enter three new markets this year, Patrick Mweheire, RenCap said Tuesday. (Bloomberg)
o Russian Technologies hired Renaissance Capital to help manage assets and lure funding at home and abroad, the companies said Tuesday. (Bloomberg)
Activity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory)
· Base oil Report: Russia's export duty on light petroleum products jump to USD 202 - 204/MT, While for Heavy petroleum products USD109 - 110/MT...
· Oil and Gas Eurasia: Russia: Time to Stimulate Innovation in Oil Production - Russian Natural Resources Minister Yuriy Trutnev has issued instructions to establish a working group to draft steps to provide economic stimulus for projects that will increase oil production, Prime-TASS has reported.
· Oil and Gas Eurasia: Russkoye Field Sees First Quarter Production Double
· Upstreamonline: Bashneft runs reserve tally - Russian producer Bashneft said its proven oil reserves stand at 1.27 billion barrels based on an independent audit.
· Oil and Gas Eurasia: TNK-BP Cuts Subeconomic Wells by 25 Percent at Sorochinskneft
· Your Oil and Gas News: TNK-BP Applies New Well Clean-out Technologies at OJSC Orenburgneft Fields
· Oil and Gas Eurasia: NOVATEK Increases Gas Production 20.8% In First Quarter
Gazprom
· Interfax: PwC the winner once again in tender for Gazprom auditor; fee reduced 7%
· Haaretz: Gazprom wants into Israeli gas scene - Representatives of Russian energy giant Gazprom have met with Ya'akov Mimran, the National Infrastructure Ministry's petroleum commissioner, to discuss the possibility of Gazprom being part of the group operating the Sarah and Mira offshore natural gas fields.
· Reuters: Gazprom looking at Israel natgas mkt –report
· Moscow Times: Gazprom Exec Receives Orthodox Honor - Alexei Zavgorodnev, chief executive of Gazprom Transgaz Stavropol, was awarded the Order of the Blessed St. Daniel of Moscow.
· Oil and Gas Eurasia: Gazprom Taps Thomas Paine for a “Common Sense” Approach to the Shale Gas Challenge
· Bellona: Comment: Gazprom’s secret society, or who will profit from Shtokman backroom dealings?
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Basic Political Developments
Prime-Tass: Russian calendar: Key events for April 14
http://www.prime-tass.com/news/show.asp?topicid=0&id=476813
· Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to visit Argentina, until Apr 15
· Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to hold meeting on modernization of healthcare
· Russian Industry and Trade Minister Viktor Khristenko to visit Italy, until Apr 17
· Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov to meet with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in Brussels
· Credit Bank of Moscow to offer bonds worth 3 billion rubles
· Russia’s Finance Ministry to offer 6 billion rubles worth of OFZ-PD bonds
Itar-Tass: Medvedev ending visit to USA, departing for Argentina
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=15022099
14.04.2010,08.51
WASHINGTON, April 14 (Itar-Tass) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday is winding up his visit to the United States where he took part in the Nuclear Security Summit and is departing for Argentina on the first ever visit of the Russian head of state to the country.
Before leaving for Argentina Medvedev will deliver a speech at the Brookings Institution where he will present Russia’s position on the nuclear non-proliferation problems, RF presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko said.
The Brookings Institution is a non-profit public policy organisation based in Washington, D.C. One of Washington’s oldest think tanks, Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and global economy and development. Its stated mission is to “provide innovative and practical recommendations that advance three broad goals: strengthen American democracy; foster the economic and social welfare, security and opportunity of all Americans; and secure a more open, safe, prosperous, and cooperative international system.”
After the events in Washington Medvedev will have an 11-hour flight to Buenos Aires. This visit that has the official status will become the first in the bilateral relations’ history. “The fact that it will be held in the year of the 200th anniversary of Argentine statehood, as well as the 125th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries gives a special significance to the visit,” Prikhodko believes.
In the Argentine capital where the Russian leader will arrive on Wednesday evening, Moscow time, the president will hold talks with his colleague Christina Fernandez de Kirchner that is expected to result in the adoption of a package of documents on specific spheres. The two leaders are expected to adopt a joint statement on cooperation.
RUVR: Medvedev, de Kirchner to meet in Buenos Aires
http://english.ruvr.ru/2010/04/14/6391996.html
Apr 14, 2010 08:39 Moscow TimeOn April 14-15 Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev will go to Argentina on an official visit, the first Russian official visit since bilateral diplomatic relations. He will discuss ways to tackle the economic crisis and energy and space cooperation with his counterpart Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. Talks will focus on the construction of hydroelectric and nuclear power plants in Argentina and the lease of icebreakers and helicopters for Argentina's Antarctic expeditions.
Itar-Tass: Russian minister to discuss industrial cooperation in Rome
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=15022056&PageNum=0
14.04.2010,08.24
ROME, April 14 (Itar-Tass) - Industrial cooperation issues will be the focal point of discussions that the Russian Minister of Industry and Trade, Viktor Khristenko, and the Italian Minister Claudio Scajola are going have Tuesday in the course of their talks in Rome.
Officials at the Russian Minister’s press service told Itar-Tass Tuesday’s meeting is but one in a series of negotiations where ministers of the two partner countries regularly “synchronizes their watches” as regards a number of industrial projects.