17 June 2004 16:47
Russian government doesn`t want Yukos to go under - Putin
Tashkent, 17 June: Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the Russian government has no interest in Yukos
going bankrupt.
"The official Russian Federation authorities, the government and the country's economic authorities do not
have an interest in such a company as Yukos going bankrupt.
Putin noted that the problem of Yukos debts is an issue for the courts, for as long as they are considering those
debts.
"But the government will endeavour to act in such a way that the company does not collapse," Putin
said.
However, Putin stressed that to speak of such things as the prospect of Yukos going bankrupt "is fairly
sensitive".
"At the moment any word can be interpreted in various ways by the rival companies, by the company's
supporters, and by the company itself," Putin said.
However, Putin noted that "as soon as the case (relating to Yukos) goes through the courts, this will be a
different matter. And the courts themselves will have to speak about this during the case itself."
[Yukos shares went up by almost 20 per cent after Putin had said this, according to Interfax news agency, Moscow, in
Russian 1240 gmt 17 Jun 04.]
[Interfax news agency] |
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