The fourth issue

** President of the Russian Federation and his administration **

President V. Putin , speaking at a meeting on the development of energy sectors of the Russian economy, said that the Russian economy is developing in a pace that can cause a deficiency, especially of electricity. The head of state instructed the government to develop proposals for the modernization of electric power, in particular, to create conditions for attracting both domestic and foreign private capital to this industry. In addition, according to V. Putin, the government should present clear ideas about how and by what means the state will maintain the necessary influence on the network economy, hydropower and nuclear energy.

** Federal Assembly **

The State Duma accepted

... In the second reading, the new edition of the Law "On Advertising", which regulates relations in the Russian advertising market.

... In the first reading, amendments to the law "On individual (personified) accounting in the compulsory pension insurance system" regarding the deadline for providing the employer with information about insured persons during the liquidation of the enterprise to the authorities of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation.

... In the first reading, the bill on the introduction of the graphic designation of the ruble.

... a parliamentary request for measures aimed at restricting the growth of prices and tariffs for housing and communal services in 2006, due to a sharp increase in tariffs in a number of regions of the Russian Federation.

** Centerisbirck **

The Chairman of the CEC of the Russian Federation A. Veshnyakov said that he was opposed to the introduction of quotas for business representatives to participate in elections to the legislative authorities: "Experiments with artificial restriction of citizens' rights to participate in the election process we have already passed and left it." In his opinion, there is no "nothing unusual and bad" in that the business actively goes to the legislative power of the constituent entities of the Federation. "In the elections to the Kaliningrad Regional Duma, business representatives are about 30%. At the same time, citizens who are rarely mistaken or not decide or not," the head of the CEC emphasized. Having touched on the topic of establishing a single voting day in the regional elections, A. Veshnyakov noted that "the practice of holding regional elections on a single voting day has already established itself well, and there is no reason to abandon it."

** Regional news **

The Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation approved a comprehensive plan for exploration on the development of the mineral-raw base of the northern, spoke and polar Urals for 2006-2009. As noted by the head of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Yu.Trutnev , the prepared plan is associated with the construction of a transport corridor on the eastern slope of the Ural Mountains (the project "Ural Industrial - Ural Polar"). According to him, the construction of transport infrastructure will make the richest mineral-raw and forest resources of the Urals economically accessible, and search and evaluation in the region will allow for completely new deposits of ferrous, non-ferrous and noble metals, coal, and boxing ores in the future. Over 3.2 billion rubles will be aimed at the implementation of the comprehensive plan from the federal budget, in 2006, the amount of financing will amount to about 640 million rubles. The total amount of investment, taking into account the funds of subsoil users and budgets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, will be over 11 billion rubles by 2009, in 2006 - 1.7 billion rubles.

The governor of the Krasnoyarsk Territory A. Khloponin held a selector meeting with the editors of district newspapers on local government reform. According to the governor, "the Krasnoyarsk Territory is one of the most prepared for the requirements of the law of regions." “When forming the regional budget, budgets of all levels are calculated, up to the smallest settlements,” A. Khloponin emphasized. He especially noted the level of organization of local self-government in the North-Senisei, Berezovsky, Norilsk industrial regions, not counting large cities. Among other territories, Taimyr and Evenkia are absolutely ready to work in the new conditions, the governor added. "To date, there are no such powers transferred from the regional to the district, or from the district to the village level that would not be fully supported by financial resources," A. Khloponin said.

The governor of the Irkutsk region A. Tishanin and the head of the Ust-Ordynsky Buryat AO (UBAO) V. Maleev positively appreciated the course of preparation for the referendum to unite the two regions. V. Maleev said that "on February 14, a joint trip with the governor was organized to the Alarsky district of the district, where an agreement on agriculture will be signed." According to the head of the Autonomous Okrug, the main task of the UBAO authorities is to convince the population that "we will not lose the conquests that the district has and gain the opportunity to develop economically." "As for the district subsidies for the population, this issue was discussed with the governor, and perhaps this experience will be postponed to the entire territory of the united subject," V. Maleev said. In turn, A. Tishanin emphasized that at present in the Irkutsk region the percentage of poverty is on average 20%, in the district - 75%. “In addition to maintaining district allowances, when uniting, it will be a question of preferential subsidies, veterinary programs. On February 15, a road train for medical services for residents of the district will be launched,” the governor said.

The Baikal Economic Forum will be held in Irkutsk in September this year, said the governor of the region A. Tishanin . According to him, "the date of the forum is determined - on September 21-22, preparations are currently underway under the auspices of the Federation Council and the regional administration."

** Economic news **

The Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation increased the official forecast of inflation in Russia to 2006 from 7.5-8% to 8-9%. At the same time, the Ministry does not yet change the inflation bar for 2007-2008. It is planned in the interval of 6-7.5% in 2007 and 4-5.5% in 2008. The MART also increased the forecast of GDP growth in 2006 from 5.8% to 6%. In 2007 and 2008, the forecast remained unchanged - 5.7% and 5.8%, respectively. The forecast has been changed due to an increase in oil prices. Previously, the calculation was made based on the average annual oil price of $ 48 per barrel, now $ 51 per barrel is accepted as the base. At the same time, inflation in the Russian Federation from 1 to 7 February amounted to 0.5%.

* * * Director of the Department of Macroeconomic Forecasting of the Ministry of Economic Development A. Klepach said that

... GDP growth in the Russian Federation will reach 6.2% this year if the average annual oil price is $ 55 per barrel. If the price of oil by 2008 will increase to $ 60/barrel, then GDP growth in 2007-2008. will be 6-6.1%.

... MECHER predicts that the volume of foreign direct investment in the economy of the Russian Federation in 2008 will grow 2 times compared to 2005. According to the forecast, in 2005, the volume of foreign directings amounted to $ 16.7 billion, and in 2008 it will increase to $ 34 billion. The volume of all investments in the Russian economy in 2006 will increase by 11.3%, in 2007 - by 9.2%, in 2008 - by 9.4%.

... In the mayors, they consider it inappropriate to change the value added tax (VAT) to sales tax - “you need to bring to mind the administration of VAT”, and not replace it with another tax.

The Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation intends to introduce the concept of the project of the Environmental Code in March in March, said the director of the Department of the State Politics Department in the field of environmental protection of the Ministry of N. Boyarschuk . According to her, the main goal of the Code is to establish the principle of unity of legislation in the field of ecology and the formation of systemic regulation of this sphere that meets the modern economic development of the country.

The deputy head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) of the Russian Federation A. Kashevarov , during a speech at the College, noted that the FAS intends to initiate cases if there is a conspiracy between credit and insurance organizations on insurance when providing loans.

The Office of the Federal Tax Service (Federal Tax Service) for Moscow has developed the regulations for the actions of tax authorities, which will stop the creation and functioning of one-day firms, the deputy head of the Federal Tax Service of Suvorov said. “There are no new rule of law in it, it is based on existing laws,” she emphasized. In accordance with this document, the tax authorities of Moscow will transfer to the Department of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation information about firms that meet the signs of one-day firms, about the addresses of mass registration, about the founders and heads of organizations, which are simultaneously founders and heads of a large number of firms. The Office of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation for Moscow will send this information to Moscow banks, which, on the basis of the Law on Combating Laughter of Revenues, will not be able to open accounts to such companies.

** Banking news **

The Bank of Russia intends to extend the general procedure for evaluating loans to loans issued by banks to non -bank credit organizations, said A. Simanovsky, director of the banking regulation and supervision of the Bank of Russia. According to him, amendments to Regulation No. 254-P "On the creation of reserves for possible losses" are already approved by the Banking Supervision Committee.

Sberbank of the Russian Federation reduced the rates and the amount of the initial contribution on housing loans, increased the loan term, and also introduced a number of new credit programs, the bank said.

** Companies news **

OJSC Territorial Generating Company No. 10 (TGK-10) plans to send 2 billion rubles in Chelyabinsk to the completion of the second power unit of the TPP-3 in Chelyabinsk, said General Director of OJSC A. Shishkin . According to him, financing the final stage of the project will be carried out from two sources - about a third of the total investment will be attracted at the expense of depreciation, two -thirds at the expense of credit resources. A. Shishkin also noted that TGK-10 plans to translate the Chelyabinsk Generating Company, which are part of it, Tyumen Regional Generating Company JSC, Kurgan Generating Company JSC for a single action until the end of 2006

The main shareholders of Mechel OJSC reached an agreement according to which I. Zyuzin , the chairman of the board of directors of Mechel, will redeem the 42.2%share from the general director of V. Iorich over the next 12 months, the company's press release reported. I. Zyuzin considers various financing options, including transactions in the stock market or strategic partnership. Regardless of the chosen financing option, he will retain at least a 51%share in the joint capital of OJSC Mechel.

The company " Rusal " plans to invest $ 684 million in environmental programs for the production of aluminum production in environmental programs, said O. Burkatsky , deputy general director for the introduction of the Rusal Business STI . The total amount of funds sent for these purposes from 2004 to 2012 will amount to $ 1.2 billion.

Two members of the Board of Directors of the United Machine -Building Plants (OMZ) - S. Skatereshchikov and A. Kazbekov resigned, the OMZ said in a message. At the same time, it is noted that they indicated the possible divisting of the OMZ on Russian and international exchanges as the main reason for their resignation, the possibility of transforming the OMZ as part of a corporate restructuring from OJSC to CJSC.

** announcement of events **

February 11
- The President of the Russian Federation V. Putin will meet with the Ministers of Finance of the Eight Group.

- A meeting of the Greater Eight Finance Ministers will be held, which includes the Russian Federation, Germany, Japan, France, Canada, Italy, the USA and Great Britain.

- National press conferences of the Eight Group countries will be held; A press conference of the chairman of the meeting - Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation A. Kudrin will be held.

- The Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense S. Ivanov , as part of a visit to Sicily, will meet with the Minister of Defense of Israel and discuss the problems and issues of bilateral cooperation.

February 13
- The Prime Minister of France Dominic de Vilpen will arrive in Moscow on a working visit.

- Chairman of the Federation Council S. Mironov will meet with representatives of non -governmental organizations.

- a meeting of the commission of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation will be held

... on the issues of globalism and the national development strategy.

... for environmental safety and environmental protection.

- A meeting of the Committee of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs on Corporate Administration will be held.

- A two -day international conference is opened on the topic " Industry of precious metals and precious stones in the CIS ", at which the state, development prospects and investment attractiveness of the industry will be discussed.

- The 11th specialized exhibition " Agro -Industrial Complex - 2006 " will begin work.

- A press conference of the first president of the USSR M. Gorbachev will be held, dedicated to new phenomena in modern Russian reality.

-Rosbank will pay the 4th coupon of 5-year bonds of the 1st series. The volume of output is 3 billion rubles, the repayment date is February 15, 2009, the coupon rate is 9.25% per annum.

** Birthdays **

February 12 - Yakovlev Veniamin Fedorovich (1932), adviser to the President of the Russian Federation, former chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation was born.

- Reznik Boris Lvovich (1940), deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Information Policy was born.

- Briko Valery Nikolaevich (1939), chairman but the "Union of Gold Professors" was born.

- Samirkhanov Amirkhan Mirkadamovich (1938), member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Bashkiria was born.

February 13 - 65 years ago, Prostyakov Igor Ignatievich (1941), Deputy Plenipotentiary of the President of the Russian Federation in the Siberian Federal District, was born.

- Kuznetsov Vasily Fedotovich (1947), deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation for international affairs.

- 60 years ago, Korshunov Lev Aleksandrovich (1946), deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation for Federation Affairs and Regional Policy was born.

- 45 years ago, Nyudürbegov Asanbuba Nyudürbegovich (1961), deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation for Ecology, was born.

Read about the further development of events in the next issue of the monitor on Monday, February 13, at 10 o’clock.