17 March 2004 16:35
Moscow press review for March 17, 2004
MOSCOW. March 17 (Interfax) - The following is a digest of Moscow newspapers published on March 17. Interfax does not
accept liability for information in these stories. POLITICS & ECONOMICS
Former First Deputy Press Minister Mikhail Seslavinsky will be
appointed head of the new Federal Press Agency, as former Press
Russia's Economic Development and Trade Ministry raised its 2004 growth forecasts to 5.8% for GDP, 5% for
industrial production and 10% for investment in light of continued high export prices and the sustained investment boom
(Vedomosti, p. A1).
Minister Mikhail Lesin turned down the post (Kommersant, p. 1).
President Vladimir Putin met with Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov Monday to discuss the priorities of the new
government, including taxes, natural resources and construction of affordable housing. The meeting confirmed
Zhukov's status as the chief coordinator of the government's work (Kommersant, p. 2; Vremya Novostei).
Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov met with the leader of Ajaria in an attempt to mediate in the autonomous province's
conflict with Georgia (Vedomosti; Kommersant, p. 9; Izvestia; Vremya Novostei; Moscow Times, p. 1).
group is supposed to transfer to a joint holding with Russian
electricity monopoly Unified Energy System (Vedomosti, p. A1;
Interview: Mark Medish, a former adviser on Russia and the CIS to former U.S. President Bill Clinton and current
foreign policy adviser to Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (Izvestia). HEADLINE NEWS
Russia's Finance Ministry has drafted a government resolution
that would reduce the price of third party liability motor vehicle
An explosion in the northern Russian city of Arkhangelsk destroyed part of a nine-storey apartment building, killing
at least 32 people (Kommersant, p. 1; Izvestia, p. 1; Vremya Novostei, p. 1; Moscow Times, p. 1). UTILITIES
The new CEO of Alfa Bank, Pyotr Shmid, fired four members of the
management board as part of plans to restructure Russia's largest
A Ukrainian court froze the assets of Energetichesky Standart, including shares in Ukrainian power distribution
companies that the
The National Association of Stock Market Participants (NAUFOR)
asked the government to repeal resolutions issued by the defunct
Kommersant, p. 16). BANKING, FINANCE & INSURANCE
insurance policies by 10% to 30% (Vedomosti, p. A1).
private bank (Vedomosti, p. B1; Vremya Novostei).
Federal Securities Commission that tighten requirements on exchanges and stock market analysts (Vedomosti;
Kommersant, p. 14). TRANSPORTATION
The East Line group, which runs Moscow's Domodedovo airport, will sell its eponymous airline and a holding
company that makes suburban electric trains. The proceeds will go into the airport, where the company could build as
many as eight new runways (Vedomosti, p. B1). AUTOMOTIVE & ENGINEERING
Foreign-made cars could win up to half of the Russian market within six years, while production of domestic
automobiles is expected to begin falling in 2006, according to a study conducted by Severstal- Avto (Vedomosti, p.
B1).
United Heavy Machinery (UHM) head Kakha Bendukidze is stepping down to make way for top executives from merger
partner Silovye Mashiny. Bendukidze, UHM's main shareholder, will be chairman of the board of the merged company
(Kommersant, p. 13) [RU ASIA EUROPE EEU EMRG PRESS AUT POL ENQ AIR POL GG INS FIN BNK MRG MCE VIO ELG]
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