Russia

Russia 110405Basic Political Developments

Tokyo, Moscow looking at using Russian nuclear waste treatment ship - Japans government is squaring with Moscow the use of the Landysh ship equipped with a liquid nuclear waste treatment unit in clear-up operations at the trouble Fukushima-1 nuclear plant, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official told Itar-Tass on Tuesday. The ship was brought to Russia from Japan some time ago.

Small concentrations of iodine 131 found in water in Far East - Experts continue identifying iodine 131 /radioiodine/ in the concentrations posing no danger to human health as they study the samples of atmospheric aerosols taken in the air above Vladivostok, the press service of the Primorsky /Maritime/ territory center for hydrometeorology said.

Radiation levels in Russia's Sakhalin Region remain within norm

Ivanov: Economy links key to better Russia-US ties - Ivanov told the Council on Foreign Relations Monday night that in 2010, U.S.-Russia trade totaled just $23.5 billion.

Sergey Ivanov begins his visit to the United States - Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Ivanov began a Five day visit to the United States today that will include talks with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as well as Chairmen of both the House Committe on Energy and Commerce and the House Committe on Ways and Means.

WTO in summer or fall - Russia intends to join the World Trade Organization in the summer or autumn of this year, said Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.

Russia Seeks U.S. Guarantee on Nuke Targeting, Kommersant Says - Russias government wants legal guarantees that the U.S. wont use its planned missile shield in Europe to guard against Russias nuclear arsenal, Kommersant reported, citing an unidentified Russian diplomat.

Jury to try Russian pilot struck in New York

Head of the Muslims of the Caucuses raps Florida church's burning of Koran

Moscow calls for end to Ivory Coast bloodshed - "We address an insistent call to both Ivorian sides to immediately stop the bloodshed and begin dialogue with the aim of a political resolution of the conflict," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in a statement.

Moscow supports cease-fire in Libya - Alexander Lukashevich intends to travel to Libya and to meet with the warring parties.

Iran attends Shanghai meeting in Moscow

Fatollahi to represent Iran at SCO meeting on Afghanistan

King to visit Moscow - His Majesty King Abdullah will leave for Moscow on Wednesday on a working visit to examine means to advance bilateral cooperation and discuss recent regional developments.

Medvedev to meet Belgian Prince - President Dmitry Medvedev is meeting today with Belgiums Prince Philip to discuss closer cooperation in aviation, space, IT and nanotechnology, chemistry and biogenetics. Increased safety of existing nuclear stations will also be discussed.

Russia, Georgia to co-operate in the power industry - According to "Business Georgia", the memorandum of co-operation between the two countries must be signed between the JSC "Inter RAO UES", LLC "State Electric System of Georgia" and LLC "Energotrans".

Plenipotentiary For Co-Operation With Russia And CIS Muntiyan: Ukraine Might Join Protocol On Creation Of CES Customs Union In July

Russia, Azerbaijan to mark 19th anniversary of diplomatic relations

'Azerbaijani-Russian ties far beyond purely diplomatic procedures'

Council of Rus-French Energy Efficiency Centre to meet in Moscow - French Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry Christian Lagarde and Jean-Jacques Gillet, co-chairman of the Centre, will speak at the meeting on behalf of France. Timur Ivanov, president of the Russian Energy Agency and co-chairman of the Centre, will speak on behalf of Russia. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov is expected to take part in the work of the meeting.

Egypt: the Russians are coming (back) - Russias foreign ministry on Fridaydropped its ban on travelto Egypt after being forced two months ago to evacuate 40,000 sun-hungryRussian tourists who flocked to the region in droves despite signs of political uprising.

Medvedev dismisses several police officials - The above police officials have reached retirement age, while the Interior Ministry's institutions have begun restructuring, the Kremlin said.

Dmitry Medvedev dismisses 10 more generals - Medvedev organized early re-evaluation of candidate for chief positions in police structures in March. Approximately 50 police chiefs are to be dismissed. Over 20 generals have been dismissed.

RF govt raises money allowance for military servicemen - From April 1, the salaries of for military position and salaries for military ranks of military servicemen serving under contract were increased 1.065 times.

Putin to attend conf on better forecasting of calamities

Russia wildfires begin in south Siberia

Putin shuts down Azov City gambling zone in Rostov region

Russia launches one more missile boat in Caspian Sea - 11661K project Dagestan class missile boat of Russia for the Caspian Flotilla has been launched.

Medvedev says intransigent rebels must be detained or destroyed

West practicing Russia destabilization scenario in Mideast Kadyrov

Kadyrov predicts United Russia's State Duma election win in Chechnya

Islamist websites report Russia's "bin-Laden" still alive

Militan leader 'alive' after Russian air strike: Website

Bleak outlook for maternal and child health in the Russian North Caucasus

Russia's Soyuz TMA-21 with new ISS crew launched from Baikonur

Soyuz TMA-21 Gagarin spaceship takes off from Baikonur space center

Kiriyenko Opposes Cutbacks - "If thecountry curtails nuclear power generation, we will lose acompetitive nuclear weapons complex in10, 15 or, with abit ofluck, 20 years," Kiriyenko said. Theconstruction ofnuclear submarines, "which today guarantee thestrategic balance," depends onthe development ofthe nuclear power industry, he said.

Special search for Sapsan passengers - Tourists, traveling by high-speed trains, namely Sapsan train Moscow-St. Petersburg-Moscow, will be searched in special rooms organized at railway stations of Moscow and St. Petersburg. All the high-speed train services will be soon provided with such security measure.

Sochi builders jump the gun to meet Olympic deadline

Russian Press at a Glance, Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Russian Bankers May Replace Officials on Boards, Kommersant Says

Bankers to replace ministers at Russian majors-paper: Bankers, professional directors may replace ministers; Morgan Stanley banker nominated for Sechin's Rosneft seat

Sechin, Check Out - President Medvedev Weakens Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin While Setting Out to Improve Russias Business Climate

The benefits of space exploration - We need to explore new living environments and to learn how to feel comfortable in them. The future of humankind will depend on it, Yazev said. This is why a continuous human presence in space at first in orbital stations and later in fixed bases on the Moon and Mars is necessary. Their payoff will eventually be huge.

National Economic Trends

US QE attracts cash into emrg mkts-Russia's Kudrin

Russia's Kudrin: Pre-Election Spending Risks Chronic Inflation

Russias Services Sector Fails to Build Growth, PMI Data Shows

Russian Service Sector Activity Slows Marginally

RF govt approves social pension indexation rate

RenCap: Russian inflation - Less problematic than in other EMs

Business, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussions

Russia Stocks Climb 3rd Day on $108 Oil; Norilsk Gains on Buyout

Norilsk subsidiary starts open market purchases of Norilsk shares, ADS

Norilsk Nickel launches $1.2 bln share buyback

Yuan Bond Pulled as Rusal Plans Second Ruble Sale: Russia Credit

Russia's Rostelecom plans overseas listing in 2011

Mobile TeleSystems Turkmen Ouster Cost $137 Mln, Vedomosti Says

Polymetal delays Amursk POX plant launch by a quarter

Book for Russia Rusagro's IPO fully subscribed-source

UPDATE 1-Nomos to sell 20 pct stake in IPO

Russian tycoon Mamut could invest in Nomos-source

Prokhorov's Intergeo eyes Canada placement-paper

Canada's Kinross gold miner signs $350mln share deal to buy Russia's Kupol

UPDATE 1-Kinross to pay $350 mln for full ownership of Russia mine

GAZ creates another JV - Now with Sweden-based Bulten

Activity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory)

Gas output up 35% at NOVATEK, 1% in Russia; down 2% at Gazprom

Oil output up 1.2% in 1Q11 on Rosneft, Bashneft and Surgutneftegaz

Lukoil declares force majeure on Cote d'Ivoire project

INTERVIEW-LUKOIL applies for oil/gas licenses off Norway

Rosneft May Increase Dividends 20% a Year, Vedomosti Reports

Rosneft to build oil refinery in Chechnya

BPs alliance with Rosneft still in balance - By Sylvia Pfeifer and Ed Hammond in London and Sheila McNulty in Houston

BP seeks Rosneft share swap approval

BP BATTLES TO SCRAP BAN ON ROSNEFT DEAL

Russneft's Orenburgnefteproduct acquired to expand retail network

Gazprom

Gazprom Choosing North Sea Assets - By the end of the year, Gazprom will choose which field assets to acquire in the North Sea, the company confirms.Libya and Japan to bring additional $3.5 billion of revenue to Gazprom

New gas prices yet unclear - In March re