Russia - WikiLeaks

Russia 090518 Basic Political Developments . Russia ready to combat A/H1N1 flu: Medvedev - The vaccine against
the deadly virus will be made in the near future, said the Russian
head of state on Saturday when interviewed by the Rossiya television
channel.
. Russia-US START talks underway: A source in the Russian Foreign
Ministry told Interfax news agency that it will be "the first
substantive discussion" of a new treaty and not "simply an exchange of
opinions."
. New arms treaty between Russia, USA would meet security interests of
sides - general: A new Russian-U.S. arms limitation treaty replacing
START I expiring in December 2009 would meet the interests of
international security, Commander of the Strategic Rocket Force Col.
Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov said.
. U.S. missile shield may hamper arms reduction talks in Russia - The
controversy over U.S. plans for a missile shield in Europe may prevent
Washington and Moscow from striking a new strategic arms reduction
deal before yearend, a Russian business daily said Monday.
. President Medvedev counts on progress in Russia-U.S. relations
. AFP: Clock ticking as Russia, US kick off nuclear arms talks - Russia
and the United States open fresh nuclear disarmament negotiations this
week under pressure to strike a deal by year's end that experts say
will have far-reaching consequences for world security
. MT: Medvedev Hopeful on Obama Visit - President Dmitry Medvedev
expressed optimism Saturday about advancing relations with the United
States during President Barack Obama's visit to Moscow in July even on
divisive topics such as NATO's eastward expansion.
. Pentagon preparing for war with the enemy: Russia - By Rick Rozoff
. Today Russia's Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko to participate in a
video link between Moscow and Berlin on the Russian energy sector-
1200 GMT
. On 20 May, Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit to visit Russia
for talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
. Russia-EU summit to focus on energy initiatives, European security
-Chizhov
. EU FMs meet to prepare for EU-Russia summit, int'l issues
. WP: Damaged EU-Russia ties bode ill for summit - By Conor Sweeney
. Russia Profile Weekly Experts Panel: The EU Leaves out Russia -
Introduced by Vladimir Frolov
. Nicaragua Gets Free GAZ Buses After Supporting South Ossetia
. Joint Russo-Abkhazian forces assume positions
. Afghanistan's second vice president Mohammed Karim Khalili discussed
the current situation in his country with RT - We came here on the
invitation of the Institute for Demographic Migration and Regional
Development - and, of course, to mark the 19th anniversary of the
establishment of political and diplomatic relations between
Afghanistan and Russia. And, alongside this seminar, meetings with
Russian officials have been made.
. Who Is Natasha Tsukanova: The Kremlin's New M&A Adviser
. New presidential envoy introduced to Russia's Far East governors:
First deputy chief of the Russian presidential administration
Vladislav Surkov introduced new presidential plenipotentiary
representative in the Far Eastern Federal District Viktor Ishayev to
the governors of Russia's Far East.
. Japanese Delegation to visit Russia Far East in June
. Moscow police detained dozens of gay parade participants, including
organizer
. Russian security forces ended counterterrorist operation in Dagestan's
Karabudahkent area
. HIV on the rise in Murmansk - Only over the last three months, a total
of 163 new HIV cases have been revealed, which is a more than 30
percent year on year increase. National Economic Trends . Russia's Economy May Shrink 7.5% This Year, Goldman Sachs Says
. GDP Plummets 9.5% in Q1
. GDP Growth: The Mountain Is Too High to Climb
. Russian wage arrears fall 9.5 pct in April
. Russia daily c.bank swap limit at 5 bln rbls
. Russia - something is cooking, CBR to float the ruble?
. Domestic debt strategy - Rencap Business, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussions . Russia, Indonesia Upgrade at JPMorgan; China Cut (Update2)
. Gazprom, Rosneft, Sberbank, TMK: Russian Equity Preview
. Sberbank announces possible share issue terms around RUB 500bn via up
to 15bn shares
. Kerimov's representatives join Polyus Gold board - The board includes
another co-owner of Polyus, billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, and two of
his representatives, as well as Polyus CEO Yegeny Ivanov and an
independent director.
. Russia's big-three mobile operators acknowledged as strategic
. Commercial Port of Vladivostok Sums up Four Month Work 2009
. Efes Breweries Raised to 'Buy' at RenCap on Lower Russia Risks
. Rusisa's AvtoVAZ posts $198 mln loss in Q1
. UC Rusal creditors ask the company to transfer its 50% stake in BEMA
project and US$260mn debt to RusHydro
. Prokhorov Betting On Power Industry - Mikhail Prokhorov, Russia's
richest man according to Forbes, said he would expand his presence in
the country's privatized power sector as he opened a 52-megawatt power
unit built by TGK-4, half-owned by him, in the Lipetsk region Friday.
. IKEA sets itself for the long haul in Russia - Per Kaufmann, the Head
of IKEA Russia, spoke with RT about the homeware giants response in
Russia to the economic downturn, and its longer term plans for Russia. Activity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory) . Russian official shrugs off Iraq Nabucco gas plan - . "I don't see any
tragic events (in this Iraq deal)," Alexander Saltanov, Russia's
special presidential representative for the Middle East and deputy
minister of foreign affairs, told Reuters on the sidelines of the
World Economic Forum in Jordan.
. Rosneft's Processing Results - Rosneft processed 23 percent more crude
in 2008 than a year earlier and will press ahead with refinery
expansions.
. Novatek profit plunges - Russia's largest independent gas producer,
Novatek, posted a year-on-year decline in net profit of 71.5% today, a
steeper fall than forecast by analysts.
. Tatneft reports strong 1Q09 RAS numbers
. Russian TMK Is in Talks With EBRD on Loan, Shmatovich Says
. China starts construction of oil pipeline to Russia - China started
the construction of a crude oil pipeline to Russia, following a loan-
for-oil agreement between the two countries last month, the official
Xinhua news agency said on Monday.
. Russian firm seen as hostile bidder for Nabucco - A Russian oil and
gas company considered close to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has won
participation in Hungary's MOL petrochemical group, with the aim of
taking over this key member of the Nabucco gas pipeline consortium,
experts told EurActiv.
. Gas Talks Will Start Soon With Ankara - Gazprom will soon begin talks
on extending a delivery contract that expires in 2011, Putin told
reporters after a lunch meeting with Erdogan at his Sochi residence
. Gas Pipeline Fight Escalates Sharply - A fight to provide Europe with
natural gas escalated sharply over the weekend as Gazprom and Italy's
Eni agreed to double the capacity of their planned South Stream
pipeline and the rival Nabucco project finally secured enough gas to
become viable.
. RussNeft spent $3 bln in Q1 to buy Deripaska's Cyprus-based companies Gazprom . Govt cuts Gazprom dividend 70% to 0.37 rubles per share
. Gazprom board recommends sharp dividend cut
. UPDATE 1-Gazprom to pay lowest dividend since 2000
. Gazprom Will Acquire SeverEnergia
. Gazprom wins extension from Eni, Enel on payment for Severenergia
stake
. Vietnam Min: Gazprom To Supply Coal Gasification Technology
. Gazprom says offshore pipelines would lower transit risks
. Gazprom Ready to Buy All Gas From Azeri Nabucco Base (Update1)
. Gazprom reportedly sold 13.5bcm of gas to Ukraine 1Q09
. Gazprom parent deliveries weaker than expected in 1Q09 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------- Full Text Articles
Basic Political Developments
Russia ready to combat A/H1N1 flu: Medvedev
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/18/content_11391711.htm 2009-05-18 01:52:20
MOSCOW, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said that
Russia is ready to combat the A/H1N1 flu, although the country has so far
no report of the deadly flu case, according to local media on Sunday.
The vaccine against the deadly virus will be made in the near future,
said the Russian head of state on Saturday when interviewed by the Rossiya
television channel.
Medvedev said Russia in general has enough reserves of medicines.
"On the whole the situation is under control, and I believe we are
ready to withstand the flu," the Itar-Tass news agency quoted the president
as saying.
Medvedev noted that the entire world has engaged in the research and
development of the vaccine now, and it is necessary to attentively conduct
Russia's own researches.
"I think it will appear in the near future," he said, adding that
Russian epidemic services are working effectively.
"I think on the whole the problem (the virus spread and fight against
it) is quite solvable," he said.
Speaking of sanitary measures on flights from the two Americas, the
president said that the closely-watched supervision measures are quite
efficient.
Russia currently reports no suspected or confirmed A/H1N1 flu cases.
Local media reported that based on the virus sample provided by the U.S.
experts