Russia Today

[Ashot]

The Media Mirror :what's in today's Russian newspapers?

Thursday's papers focus on two main topics: Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's hundred minutes with the media, where he briefed journalists on Russia’s foreign policy. And, Russia as an “Island of Stability” in the ocean of world financial crises.

 

ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA writes that the atmosphere at the media briefing was different from such events in the past, when guests competed to ask the most scandalous question possible. This time the overall mood was one of deep respect to the Minister. His image has also changed: the paper says Sergey Lavrov shared a few jokes with the audience as if he were showing them his confidence: he was ready for any question, he also had a diplomatic answer to every possible question. The paper notes that for those at the briefing there was no doubt that Russia has finally resumed its seat at the elite club of states able to influence any situation in any part of the World.

 

VREMYA NOVOSTEI quotes the Foreign Ministry official representative, Mikhail Kamynin: “The targeting of the questions confirmed that Russia these days is present in every significant world process”.

 

NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA says that Russia’s foreign policy is totally independent from ideology. In the multi-polar, multi-centre world political set-up, continues the paper, Russia’s efforts are concentrated on the pursuit of its national interest and maintaining good and friendly relations with all nations who would wish to be its friends.

 

Now to Davos: ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA quotes the Russian Minister of Finance Aleksey Kudrin saying Russia remains an island of stability in the unfolding world financial crisis.

 

NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA says Kudrin promised that Russia will participate in the efforts to maintain a higher growth rate in the world economy. The paper also notes that for Aleksey Kudrin, who wasn’t even included in the Russian delegation that went to Davos last year, going there as the head of the delegation this time means a significant political gain, as well as a possibility of staying in government during the next Presidency.

 

[Ashot]

Gazprom to leave Ukraine out in the cold - again?

 

Russian energy giant Gazprom has told Ukraine that if it doesn't pay off a debt of $US 1.5 billion by Monday, gas supplies to the country will be cut off. Ukraine was forced to increase its dependence on more costly Russian supplies when deliveries from Central Asian countries were halted by bad weather.

 

Officials from Ukraine's Naftogaz will arrive in Moscow on Friday to try and sort out the disagreement.

 

According to an agreement signed in 2004, Ukraine receives gas from Central Asia through Gazprom pipelines.

 

However, this year, due to cold weather, Central Asian states were forced to cut the amount of gas they were able to sell.

 

Gazprom agreed to help make up for shortages by delivering more costly Russian fuel to Ukraine. But, according to the energy giant, the country failed to pay the price difference.

 

“Ukraine’s debt for Russia’s gas supplies is approaching $US 500 million, while the total overdue debt for gas to Ukraine has already reached $ US 1.5 billion,” Gazprom’s spokesman Sergey Kupriyanov says.

 

Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko says the Swiss-based company RosUkrEnergo, which is in charge of overseeing the transit of supplies, could be to blame.

 

Aleksandr Gudima, Ukraine’s Prime Minister energy advisor, says, “A week ago Ukraine's leadership officially decided to stop using middlemen like RosUkrEnergo”.

 

“Russia, particularly Dmitry Medvedev, backed our decision. They have to understand it takes more than a day to cancel these legal contracts. I am sure we'll pay all our debts in the next few weeks,” he adds.

 

Timoshenko now wants direct deals between Gazprom and Ukraine’s Naftogas.

 

But the country's President Viktor Yushchenko is against changing the transit scheme.

 

Meanwhile, Gazprom, which delivers its gas to the EU through Ukraine, promised the latest row would not affect European consumers.

 

However, the European Commission urged the two sides to solve the issue as quickly as possible.

 

Gazprom has given Ukraine until Monday to pay off the debts.

[Ashot]

Russian bomber flew over U.S. ship: report

 

A Russian Tupolev-95 plane flew over the U.S. aircraft carrier Nimitz on Saturday, according to a U.S. defence official who spoke anonymously to the Reuters news agency.

 

U.S. fighters are said to have escorted the Russian bombers out of the area where the Nimitz was operating.

 

The U.S. allegations follow earlier claims by Japan that a Russian Tupolev-95 bomber entered Japanese airspace on Saturday and was there for three minutes.

 

Russian Air Force command has rejected the claims, saying four Russian long-haul bombers were on a ten-hour patrol mission over the Pacific Ocean.

 

It says the flight was carried out over neutral waters and in strict accordance with international rules.

 

Russia Today

[Ashot]

New Russian blue chip is born

 

Shares of Hydro OGK, the world's second largest hydroelectric power company, began trading on Monday on both the RTS and MICEX in Moscow. The company has recently consolidated 21 companies and 50 hydroelectric power stations.

 

Currently Unified Energy System owns 78% of Hydro-OGK.

 

Russia's largest renewable energy producer has a market capitalisation of around US$ 17 billion.

 

It is expected to increase its free float to around 40% by July 1. And analysts are seeing a bright future for the new blue chip.

 

"Hydro OGK is a kind of special company. In terms of capacity it is about three times higher than average OGK or TGK. It is the largest energy company in Russia and maybe the largest tradable renewable energy company in the world and has state support for development of renewable energy in Russia. I guess Hydro OGK has all chances to be #1 in the world in terms of size in some period of time," commented analyst of Aton Capital Group Dmitry Scryabin.

 

Russia Today