First release

** What to expect in the coming hours. Announcement of events **

Bujet Government
The government will consider the issue of increasing the salaries of state employees and military personnel and indexing pensions. The Minister of Health and Social Development Tatyana Golikova and the deputy focus, Minister of Finance Alexei Kudrin will make reports.

Migration-FMS
The priorities of the migration policy in 2008 will determine at an expanded meeting the board of the Federal Migration Service.

Forum-industry
The All -Russian Forum of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs will be held. According to the President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin, the forum in Krasnodar will open a week of Russian business.

In the CIS
The Georgian Parliament at an extraordinary plenary meeting will consider the issue of approval of the government of the country and its socio-economic program "Unified Georgia without Poverty" for the period until 2012

President Viktor Yushchenko will meet with the trade union asset of Ukraine and talk about his social initiatives.

The Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko, at a meeting with reporters, intends to state the position of BUT / Blok Yulia Tymoshenko / regarding the start of the second session of the Verkhovna Rada, scheduled for February 5.

North Korea Atom
Six -sided negotiations on the nuclear problem of the Korean Peninsula are in a "dead end situation", and the approval of positions may require several months, said Alexander Losyukov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, in an exclusive interview.

Africa Sammit
In Ethiopia, the summit of the countries of the African Union opens. Leaders of more than 40 states will discuss the problems of the Black Continent, among which an acute political crisis in Kenya, Somalia and Sudan is especially distinguished. Among other main topics of the meeting at the top are the industrial development of African states.

France-Zebastovka
The strike of the airline "Er France" begins - significant delays on the interior lines are possible.

To the UN
Famous American actor George Clooney will be officially presented as a messenger of the UN world.

Culture
In the Athenian film center "Trianon" opens a retrospective of films by Andrei Tarkovsky.

** Government of the Russian Federation **

The Government of the Russian Federation will today consider the bills to increase salaries and social payments, measures to reduce inflation

The Government of the Russian Federation will consider at today's next meeting the draft federal laws aimed at implementing decisions to increase certain types of social payments, monetary allowance and pensions of military personnel and equivalent persons, as well as the salaries of employees of the budget sphere. According to the government press service, the Minister of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation Tatyana Golikova and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation, Alexei Kudrin, will make reports.

The head of the Ministry of Finance A. Kudrin, Chairman of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation Sergey Ignatiev and Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation Andrei Belousov will report measures aimed at reducing the growth rate of consumer prices in the country.

The head of the Federal Tariff Service, Sergei Novikov, will offer changes to some decrees of the Government of the Russian Federation on state regulation of oil prices for oil gas.

The Minister of Culture and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation, Alexander Sokolov, will present a draft change to the provision on the ministry he headed.

Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation Vladimir Ustinov will execute on the signing of a protocol between the governments of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan on amending the lease of the Baikonur complex of December 10, 1994

The head of the Russian Ministry of Emergencies Sergey Shoigu will submit proposals for the issuance to the Government of the Republic of Sakha / Yakutia / state housing certificates to provide them with citizens who have lost housing as a result of a flood that occurred in May-June 2007.

** Centerisbirck **

The CEC will approve the text of the ballot for voting in the elections of the President of Russia

At a meeting on Thursday, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation will approve the text of the ballot for voting in the election of the President of Russia, said the head of the CEC Vladimir Churov.

According to Churov, the ballot will be A4. As in the elections to the State Duma, it is protected from fake with a special brand. Four presidential candidates will be indicated in alphabetical order: Andrey Bogdanov, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Gennady Zyuganov, Dmitry Medvedev. The head of the CEC noted that each candidate in the ballot is given an absolutely equal place. On the left, their surnames, names and patronymic will be printed, brief information about candidates (year of birth, place of work, who the candidate is nominated) will be posted in the middle, and the place on the right will traditionally take a square for the mark. Churov also recalled that the ballot is considered valid if the mark is affixed only in one square. The elections of the President of Russia were scheduled for March 2.

** Regional news **

The candidacy of Ravil Geniatulin is planned to be considered on the post of governor of the Trans -Baikal Territory on February 5, - the Chita region of the Chita region

The Council of the Chita Regional Duma will gather on February 1 to set the date of the extraordinary session of the Legislative Assembly. She will consider the issue of endowing the current governor of the Chita region Ravil Geniatululin by the authority of the Governor of the United Trans -Baikal Territory. According to the press service of the regional Duma, the estimated date of the session is February 5. "It is planned that on the same day this issue at its individual meeting will be considered by the Aginsky Buryat District Duma," the source noted. Russian President Vladimir Putin introduced the candidacy of Ravil Geniatulin to give the authority of the Governor of the United Trans -Baikal Territory to the Legislative Assembly of the two regions on January 29. The decision of the legislators of the Chita Regional Duma and the Aginsky Buryat District Duma on the endowment of the Geniatulin by the powers of the Governor of the Trans -Baikal Territory will be considered accepted if more than half of the deputies of each legislative assembly vote for it. 42 deputies work in the Chita Regional Duma, in the Aginsky Buryat District Duma - 18 people's chosen ones. The official date of the Trans -Baikal Territory, for the creation of which at the referendum on March 11, 2007, the vast majority of residents of the Chita region and Abao spoke out on March 1, 2008. To resolve all issues related to the formation of a new region, a transition period acting until January 1, 2010 is provided. Elections to the Legislative Assembly of the Trans -Baikal Territory are planned to be held on October 12, 2008.

In the Amur Region in 2007, almost 14.6 tons of gold were obtained, this is the sixth result among the regions of Russia

In the Amur Region, in 2007, 14572 kg of gold, the result of the previous year was exceeded by 285 kg. This was reported today in the regional Ministry of Property Relations, Natural Resources and Forestry. The flagship of the Amur industry - "Pokrovsky mine" made the most significant contribution to the overall success.

On his account is more than 7.3 tons of precious metals, and the company increased production by 900 kg compared with 2006. The reserves of the splendid gold in the Amur region are depleted, so there was no surprise to reduce the volume of production on placers. If in 2006 prospectors soaked more than 8 tons of gold, then in 2007 - only 7.4 tons. The industry development strategy in the region is based on the priority development of ore deposits. The first parties of Dragmetal gave the Obstolginsky factory. According to the heads of the ministry, "2008 should become a record for the region." Such estimates are backed up by the calculations of specialists, taking into account the input of the Berezitovoy Rudnik this year and the gold recovery factory at the Pioneer ore field. The company "Peter Hambro Mining" will be the largest in the Amur Region with prey of up to 10 tons of precious metals per year at the Pioneer field. In the coming years, it is planned to begin mining ore gold in the Malomyr and Bamsky deposits. The Amur Region takes sixth place in Russia in terms of gold extraction and can become one of the leaders. According to the Ministry of Property Relations, natural resources and forestry, "already in 2012, the region will be able to extract at least 30 tons of gold."

** Scandals and incidents. Rumors **

Companions of the owner of the chain of Russian stores Arbat Prestige, who settled in Denmark, stole $ 17 million from him

Denmark was involved in Vladimir Nekrasov, the owner of the Arbat Prestige perfume store, arrested in Russia for tax evasion. According to the informed newspaper Yullats-Posten, two businessmen of Russian origin in this small northern kingdom managed to steal $ 90 million /approximately 17 million dollars owned by V. Nekrasov.

According to the publication, V. Nekrasov invested in the company Arbat Prestige Holding, registered in December 2006 in Copenhagen by Steve Dunneholm / he is also Ivan Koshelev / and his business partner Michael Valevsky. Having received a translation, after some time they disappeared in an unknown direction, the source reports.

Representatives of Arbat Prestige tried to go on the trail of the attackers with the help of the Danish police and the private detective agency. A lawyer is found, representing the interests of Arbat Prestige Holding in Denmark. Upon learning of the disappearance of the multimillion -dollar amount, its owners hastened to declare the termination of cooperation with their discrediting customers.

It turned out that S. D. Deleneholm-Koshelev and M. Vlavsky were previously brought to judicial liability in Denmark on suspicion of involvement in fraud and economic crimes. Both of them are put on the wanted list, their foreign accounts are frozen.

** Resignation and purpose **

Vladimir Putin appointed Nikolai Smorodin as deputy director of the Federal Migration Service and dismissed Vyacheslav Podavnin from this post

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the appointment of Major General of the Internal Service Nikolai Smorodin as deputy director of the Federal Migration Service /FMS /. This was reported by the press service of the head of state.

In accordance with this decree, Vyacheslav Podavnin was dismissed by the deputy director of the Federal Migration Service.

** Economic news **

The salaries of state employees in the Russian Federation will be increased from February 1 by 14%

The salaries of state employees in the Russian Federation will be increased from February 1 by 14% instead of the previously planned 7% from September 1, a source in the Government of the Russian Federation told reporters on the eve of the consideration at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of the corresponding changes to the budget of 2008 and 2009-2010.

In addition, the source reported, the salaries of federal civil servants from February 1 are planned to be increased by 9% and from October 1 - another 9%. The monetary allowance of military personnel and equivalent persons will also be increased from February 1, 2008 by 9% and from October 1 of this year another 9% instead of the planned 15% from December 1. The official salaries of judges, prosecutors of the Prosecutor General and the Investigative Committee this year will be increased from July 1 by 8.5%.

The source said that to increase the remuneration of employees of federal budgetary institutions, monetary allowance of military personnel and the monetary maintenance of federal civil servants, judges and prosecutors this year, it is planned to allocate additional budget allocations in the amount of 90.9 billion rubles.

In addition, by 148.8 billion rubles will be increased compared to the planned budget allocations for raising pension provisions of citizens, including military pensioners, including 138 billion rubles from this amount will be sent in the form of an inter -budget transfer to the Pension Fund. An increase in budget allocations for the social support of federal beneficiaries will amount to 10.5 billion rubles. The source said that the federal budget revenues this year, according to the settlement of the Ministry of Finance, increase by 1 trillion 412.5 billion rubles compared to the previously planned volume. The total budget revenues will be 8 trillion 56.9 billion rubles, the volume of oil and gas revenues - 3 trillion 470.7 billion rubles. This year, the federal budget expenses are supposed to increase by 331.3 billion rubles compared to the plan - up to 6 trillion 901.6 billion rubles. The budget surplus is increased compared to the 81.2 billion rubles planned by 1 trillion. The total surplus will be 1 trillion 155.3 billion rubles. In 2009, the federal budget expenditures are planned to be increased by 831.6 billion rubles compared to the initially approved volume, in 2010 - by 944.6 billion rubles, the source said.

The base part of the pensions from August 1 will increase by 15% - the source

The basic part of the pensions is planned to be increased from August 1, 2008 by 234 rubles, or by 15%, a source in the Government of the Russian Federation told reporters on the eve of the consideration at the meeting of the office of the Pension Fund, the Social Insurance Fund and the Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund, as well as to the legislation in the social sphere.

The source recalled that the last time the base part of the pension increased from December 1, 2007 by 300 rubles. The insurance part of the pension from February 1, 2008 will be indexed by 12%, that is, for the actual inflation of 2007. Initially, the insurance part of the pension was planned to be increased by 8%, the source noted.

According to him, these purposes will require additional budget allocations of 29.9 billion rubles. The next increase in the insurance part of the pension is planned from April 1, 2008, the source said, but it still found it difficult to name the specific size of the increase. The total amount of additional budgetary allocations of the Pension Fund this year will amount to 138 billion rubles, in 2009 - 154.1 billion rubles and in 2010 - 219.1 billion rubles, the source said. According to him, at a government meeting, changes to the budget of the Social Insurance Fund for 2008-2010 will also be considered. The changes provide for an increase in the revenue and expenditure parts of the fund’s budget and an increase in payments for temporary disability, pregnancy and childbirth benefits, at the birth of a child, as well as social insurance benefits in case of accidents at work and occupational diseases. According to the source, the revenue part of the social insurance fund in 2008 will be increased compared to 42.9 billion rubles planned, or 14%, in 2009 - by 34.6 billion rubles (10.5%), in 2010 - by 48.7 billion rubles (12.5%). The expenditure part of the fund’s budget this year increases by 41.2 billion rubles, or by 12.7%, compared with the planned volume. In 2009-2010, an increase in the consumption part is not provided. The increase in the budget of the compulsory medical insurance fund in 2008 will amount to 7.9 billion rubles, in 2009 - 11.45 billion rubles, in 2010 - 15 billion rubles, the source said. According to him, this year, additional income of the Fund is planned to be directed to the financial support of territorial programs to align the level of medical support in the regions, for increasing transfer to the regions for medical examination of children in difficult situations. The subventions for payments to medical workers, according to the source, are planned to be reduced by 1.2 billion rubles compared with the planned ones, taking into account the actual number of these employees.

** Banking news **

The net inflow of capital in the Russian Federation in 2008 will not exceed last year by $ 82 billion, - the forecast of the Central Bank

The Central Bank of the Russian Federation predicts that the net influx of private capital to Russia in 2008 will not exceed the level of 2007, which, according to preliminary estimates, amounted to $ 82 billion, and this will create favorable conditions for reducing inflation this year. This is stated in the materials of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation prepared for a government meeting, which on Thursday will consider anti -inflationary measures. "In 2008, a pure flow of private capital is unlikely to exceed the level of 2007," the documents said.

According to experts of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, a sharp increase in the net inflow of private capital was an important reason for the growth of consumer prices in Russia in 2007. In 2006, the net influx of private capital amounted to $ 42 billion, and in 2007, according to preliminary estimates, it grew to $ 82 billion. "The influx of foreign capital is, of course, a positive process.

It contributes to the growth of investment, the spread of modern technologies, and increase production efficiency. At the same time, if the Central Bank maintains a stable national currency course, then a powerful influx of foreign capital can lead to a rapid increase in foreign exchange reserves and money supply, maintaining high rate of inflation, ”the Central Bank of the Russian Federation says that largely due to the influx of capital in Russia last year, a high increase in the money supply has been preserved, which amounted to 47.6%of the second one. Secondly. Waste. A factor that will create favorable conditions for slowing down the growth of monetary mass and price, the Central Bank considers the increase in imports and continuing the balance of the account of current payments of the payment balance. state participation. "

The materials of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation explain that large companies, one way or another controlled by the state, play a significant role in building external borrowing. “As a rule, foreign creditors consider them as reliable borrowers, as they are sure that the state will support them if necessary and will not allow their insolvency. For this reason, the conditions for obtaining foreign loans and loans for such companies are usually favorable, and the temptation to obtain“ cheap ”money and finance the necessary costs quite largely,” the Central Bank says. В документах, подготовленных к заседанию правительства, Банк России заявляет о намерении использовать для снижения инфляции в 2008 году все доступные инструменты, в том числе валютный курс рубля, процентные ставки, нормативы обязательных резервов.

** Companies news **

"Газпром" реализует задачу по строительству и вводу производственных объектов, которые станут основой развития российской газовой отрасли на долгую перспективу, - Александр Ананенков

ОАО "Газпром" в настоящее время реализует задачу по строительству и вводу в эксплуатацию производственных объектов, которые станут основой развития российской газовой отрасли на долгую перспективу. Об этом заявил накануне заместитель председателя правления "Газпрома" Александр Ананенков на совещании, посвященном итогам работы компании по вводу в эксплуатацию важнейших производственных объектов в 2007 г.

Как сообщило управление информации "Газпрома", участники совещания отметили, что в 2007 г "Газпром" выполнил основные задачи по вводу в эксплуатацию приоритетных объектов в области добычи, транспортировки и подземного хранения газа.

По словам А.Ананенкова, "компания выходит в новые стратегические регионы добычи газа, реализуя масштабные газотранспортные проекты, в том числе - международные. Системная работа, проделанная "Газпромом" в 2007 году, создает основу для реализации амбициозных планов компании в будущем и гарантирует надежное обеспечение газом российских и зарубежных потребителей".

По итогам совещания профильным подразделениям компании и дочерним обществам поручено продолжить работу по реализации важнейших инвестиционных проектов "Газпрома" в 2008 г.

В 2007 г, в частности, в соответствии с планом капитального строительства введены в эксплуатацию установка предварительной подготовки газа на Харвутинской площади Ямбургского месторождения, 84 скважины на Уренгойском, Ямбургском, Ен-Яхинском и Оренбургском месторождениях, а также дожимная компрессорная станция на Юбилейном месторождении мощностью 80 МВт.

Была продолжена работа по строительству и реконструкции первоочередных газотранспортных объектов, завершено строительство более 800 км линейной части газопроводов и отводов от них.

"Газпром" вел работу по реализации следующих приоритетных проектов: расширение Уренгойского газотранспортного узла, строительство газопроводов Грязовец-Выборг, Барнаул - Бийск - Горно-Алтайск с отводом на Белокуриху, Касимовское ПХГ - КС Воскресенск, газопроводов-отводов к городам Архангельск и Северодвинск и др. Введены в эксплуатацию компрессорные станции "Приполярная" и "Каменск-Шахтинская", установлены газоперекачивающие агрегаты /ГПА/ на существующих компрессорных станциях общей мощностью 184 МВт в соответствии с программой реконструкции.

Участники совещания подчеркнули, что работа по реконструкции и развитию объектов подземного хранения газа /ПХГ/ в 2007 г велась в соответствии с программой развития ПХГ на 2007-2010 гг. В частности, введена в эксплуатацию компрессорная станция на Касимовском ПХГ и установлены дополнительные ГПА на Канчуринско-Мусинском ПХГ общей мощностью 44 МВт, заменен на высокоэффективный 21 ГПА на других объектах подземного хранения газа.

От "ОНЭКСИМ" в совет директоров "Норникеля" внесены кандидатуры Олега Дерипаски, Михаила Прохорова, Виктора Вексельберга

Группа "ОНЭКСИМ" выдвинула в состав совета директоров "Норильского никеля" кандидатуры президента группы Михаила Прохорова, крупнейшего акционера объединенной компании "Российский алюминий" Олега Дерипаски, председателя совета директоров "Российского алюминия" Виктора Вексельберга, гендиректора "Русала" Александра Булыгина, гендиректора группы "ОНЭКСИМ" Дмитрия Разумова, а также четырех независимых членов совета. Об этом сообщили в группе "ОНЭКСИМ".

МегаФон может провести IPO в 2009 году

ОАО "МегаФон" может провести IPO в 2009 году. Об этом заявил гендиректор МегаФона Сергей Солдатенков, сообщили в компании.

По его словам, первичное размещение акций станет возможным после разрешения конфликта акционеров.

Также С.Солдатенков подчеркнул, что в текущем году компания вряд ли выйдет на IPO, так как акционеры пока еще не обсуждали этот вопрос.

Кроме того, С.Солдатенков отметил, что капитализация МегаФона в настоящее время на 15-20% ниже рыночной стоимости ОАО "Мобильные ТелеСистемы" (МТС) и ОАО "Вымпел-Коммуникации" (ВымпелКом), которые оцениваются примерно в $33 и $34 млрд соответственно.

Программа заимствований МегаФона на 2008 год, по словам С.Солдатенкова, не превысит $300 млн.

Вместе с тем, компания планирует во II полугодии текущего года приступить к оказанию услуг фиксированной связи, сообщил С.Солдатенков.

Напомним, что Altimo, управляющая телекоммуникационными активами холдинга "Альфа Групп", фонд IPOC и ОАО "Телекоминвест" в ноябре 2007 года договорились прекратить судебные разбирательства и отозвать все судебные иски в отношении друг друга. Права собственности Altimo на 25.1% Мегафона не будут оспариваться ни одной из сторон.

Конфликт акционеров МегаФона начался в августе 2003 года, когда Альфа-Эко, входящая в состав Альфа-групп, приобрела у LV Finance компанию "ЦТ-Мобайл" за $295 млн. IPOC утверждает, что подписал в апреле и декабре 2001 года два опционных договора с LV Finance на приобретение 100% акций Transcontinental Mobile Investment Ltd. (TMI) - единственного акционера ЦТ-Мобайла. Добиваясь аннулирования сделки, IPOC подал иски в судебные инстанции различных стран.

ОАО "МегаФон" основано в 2002 году, является третьим по величине сотовым оператором РФ, обслуживающим более 36 млн абонентов. Петербургскому холдингу "Телекоминвест" и фонду IPOC, владельцем которых называет себя датский юрист Джеффри Гальмонд, принадлежат, соответственно, 31.3% и 8% акций сотового оператора. Sonera Holding BV владеет 26% акций, Telia International AB - 6.37%, Telia International Management AB - 1.73%, подконтрольное Альфа Групп ООО "ЦТ-Мобайл" - 25.1%, ООО "Контакт-С" - 1.5%. Уставный капитал МегаФона составляет 62 млн руб. Компания эмитировала 6200002 обыкновенных акций номинальной стоимостью 10 руб.

Чистая прибыль МегаФона по US GAAP за III квартал 2007 года выросла на 54% до 10.372 млрд руб. с 6.749 млрд руб. for the same period in 2006. Выручка увеличилась на 33% до 38.094 млрд руб. с 28.548 млрд руб. Показатель EBITDA вырос на 41% до 20.193 млрд руб. с 14.313 млрд руб.

Read about the further development of events in the next issue of the monitor at 14 o’clock.