The fourth issue

** Government of the Russian Federation **

Government at its meeting

In general, it approved the bill on amendments to the first part of the Tax Code in connection with the implementation of measures to improve tax administration, in particular, streamlining of tax audits.

Prime Minister M. Fradkov at a government meeting said that

... The Government within two weeks will additionally work on the grounds for re -tax audit of large taxpayers.

Deputy Prime Minister A. Zhukov said that

... Decisions on repeated inspections of the largest taxpayers could make a commission led by Minister of Finance. According to him, representatives of the Federal Tax Service, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Federal Financial Market Service, and representatives of other economic departments could take part in the work of this commission.

... In general, he supports the bill on the improvement of tax administration, since this document not only significantly strengthens the rights of taxpayers, but also improves the rights of the tax authorities, in particular, clearly prescribes procedures, a list of documents, terms, motives of inspections. According to him, the adoption of the bill will make relations between the taxpayer and the authorities more understandable and regulated.

... calls on as soon as possible to introduce a bill for consideration to the State Duma so that it is adopted at the spring session.

Finance Minister A. Kudrin said that

... The bill on the improvement of tax administration, which was developed by economic departments together with entrepreneurs, finds a solution to all the key problems posed by entrepreneurs.

... The adoption of such a bill is a step in the development of the tax system. According to him, "this bill is very important, because over the past six months, the feeling has become aggravated that a number of checks can be biased."

Deputy Minister of Finance S. Shatalov said that

... The Ministry of Finance, in the course of work on the bill on the improvement of tax administration, has not yet found a compromise with the business with regard to the mechanism of repeated away tax audits of the largest taxpayers. According to him, the main dispute affected the norm whether repeated tax audits can be assigned on the initiative of a higher tax authority in the order of control over lower.

... The Ministry of Finance proposes to limit field tax audits for a period of 2 or 3 months, depending on whether the taxpayer organization has separate units.

** Regional news **

In Samara, the ceremony of K. Titov’s entry was held as the governor of the region.

The Moscow government does not intend to terminate the contract with City OJSC - the management company of the project of the Moscow -City International Business Center. This was stated by the deputy mayor in the metropolitan government of I. Orzhonikidze . He emphasized that the disputes between the founders of City JSC (the structures of Guta -Bank and the company affiliated with the Norilsk Nickel MMC) are their internal business, and at this stage they cannot be qualified as loss of controllability from City JSC. According to the deputy mayor, "inciting passions and excitement around the City shares can be beneficial only to those who use the deficiency of shareholders, primarily individuals who want to warm the hands on this." The Moscow government carefully monitors the situation and will not allow infringement of the rights of shareholders, I. Orzhonikidze said.

** Political parties and movements **

The candidate for the chairmen of the Federal Political Council of the "Union of Right Forces" by N. Belykh said that

... I am sure of the positive prospects of my party. According to him, "in 2007 we will be able to take a normal, full -fledged revenge."

... In the ATP, they are ready to discuss with ex-Prime Minister M. Kasyanov his activities in the party, if he decides to directly engage in politics, but wait until he makes a decision.

... In the case of an election to a senior post, he does not believe that he automatically becomes the leader of the electoral list. According to him, "leadership and position in the party do not mean an automatic place in the list. All these places will be considered based on electoral efficiency."

... "We will take into account the electoral errors of the 2003 company, in 2007, based on the situation, of course, we will more clearly and unequivocally determine our position in relation to power."

* * * Secretary of the Federal Political Council of the ATP L. Gozman said that

... ATP refuses the Institute of Co -Chairing and introduces the post of chairman of the political council of the Union. According to him, this may happen on May 28 at the party congress.

... doubts about the possibility of uniting the ATP and "Yabloko". According to him, at the same time, it is possible that ATP and Yabloko will form a single list in the next parliamentary elections.

** Media News **

The head of the personnel and educational work of the Ministry of Defense, the Army General N. Pankov called the main shareholders of the National Television and Radio Company "Zvezda" . "Among the main shareholders of the television and radio company are Sberbank of Russia, Vneshotorgbank, the Russian Agro -Industrial Bank, as well as large oil and metallurgical companies," N. Pankov said. He emphasized that "not with all these large companies have already concluded contracts." That is why the general, according to him, cannot completely name the entire list of shareholders of this company.

** Scandals and incidents. Rumors **

The Altai Regional Council of People's Deputies at the session decided to appeal to the President of the Russian Federation with a request to dismiss the head of the Administration of the Territory of M. Evodokimov from posts in accordance with Articles 19 and 21 of the Federal Law "On the General Principles of the Organization of Legislative (Representative) and Executive Bodies of State power of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation".

The European Court of Human Rights decided to consider the complaints of the Yukos NK as a priority to the actions of Russian tax authorities, which the company regarding the illegal removal of property.

** Banking news **

Vneshotorgbank (VTB) was the winner of the open competition for the selection of credit organizations for temporary service funds from the territorial bodies of the Federal Bailiff Service (FSSP). According to the press service of the FSSP of Russia, this decision was made by the tender commission on April 20. Applications for participation in the competition were submitted by the Moscow Business World battery, AB "Gazprombank", OJSC "Sberbank of Russia", OJSC "Vneshotorgbank" and the Rosbank AKB.

Following the results of 2004 amounted to 3.54 billion rubles against 2.9 billion rubles in 2003 in 2003, according to the bank’s press release, according to the bank release, according to the bank release. The report notes that according to the results of last year, the VEB donalog profit increased by 20.5% and amounted to 4.35 billion rubles. In addition, the level of capitalization of the bank has significantly increased. As of January 1, 2005, this indicator amounted to 11.24 billion rubles, increasing in 2004 by 27%, which is more than 10 percentage points higher than the growth rate of the Russian banking system. The bank’s press release also states that as of the end of 2004, the volume of its loan portfolio increased by almost 1.5 times, the volume of loans provided to non-credit organizations last year amounted to $ 564.4 million.

** Companies news **

The Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company (UMMC) intends in 2005 to invest in the modernization and technical re-equipment of production in OJSC Theological Rudoist Management (Sverdlovsk Region) more than 80 million rubles, which is more than 2 times higher than 2004, the press service of the UMMC reports. According to the press release, the funds are planned to be directed to the reconstruction of the crushing and processing factory, the construction of the air heating system on the Novopeschan Ventilation Starle of the Severopeschanskaya mine, as well as for the purchase of new equipment.

The ship under construction at Wednesday, built at the Severnaya Verfa shipbuilding plant (St. Petersburg), was insured in the SK "Consent". According to the press service of the insurance company, the consent specialists are currently assessing the damage caused to the ship as a result of the fire. “It is difficult to name the preliminary amount of damage,” the company said without specifying the insurance amount under the contract.

Non-profit partnership "National Depository Center" (VDC) received the conclusion of the Federal Antimonopoly Service on the lawfulness of the acquisition of the NDC of the shares of CJSC "Deposit and Clearing Company" , the press service of the NP of the NTC said.

** announcement of tomorrow's events **

Russian President V. Putin will visit the Palestinian territories at the invitation of the head of the Palestinian National Administration of M. Abbas .

** Birthdays **

April 29 - Panina Elena Vladimirovna (1948), deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee of the FS of the Russian Federation on economic policy, entrepreneurship and tourism was born.

- Bochkarev Vasily Kuzmich (1949), the governor of the Penza region was born.

- 50 years ago, Ovcharov Sergey Mikhailovich was born (1955), Russian film director, Honored Artist of Russia.

50 years ago, Udovichenko Larisa Ivanovna (1955), a Russian actress, Honored Artist of Russia.

Read about the further development of events in the next issue of the monitor tomorrow at 10 o’clock.