Russia 101202 Basic Political Developments

Working groups

Prior to the Mixed Committee session, sessions were held by the sectoral working groups.

The Tourism Group discussed progress on the matter of speeding up visa issue to Russian tourists who visit Spain and agreed on the need to increase Spanish tourism promotion in Russia in 2011 with a view to attracting more Russian tourists to Spain. So far this year, more than 560,000 Russian tourists have visited Spain (41% more than last year).

A report was also given on the receipt by the Russian tour operator, Natalie Tours, of the Medalla al Mérito Turístico [Medal for Tourism Merit].

In terms of energy the working group has made progress on the relations between Spain and Russia within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Matters of Energy Cooperation that was signed on 3 March 2009, which already establishes the regular discussion of common issues related to the energy sector.

During the official visit by Minister Miguel Sebastián, the two countries signed a new agreement regarding renewable energies and energy efficiency between the Spanish Energy Diversification and Saving Institute (IDAE) and its counterpart institution in Russia, the Russian Energy Agency, a federal public company.

Furthermore, both sides believe it would be a good idea to set up a new working group for the construction sector aimed at focusing its activity on the industrialisation of homes and urban development. This will enable the construction materials sector to be included among its tasks, as well as the treatment of solid urban waste and water management. Spain has advanced technology in all these sectors.

Putin rearranges government personnel

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=15738556&PageNum=0

02.12.2010, 11.27

MOSCOW, December 2 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has rearranged government personnel by relieving Stanislav Naumov, State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, and Vladimir Azbukin, Deputy Minister of Energy, of their duties at their request.

Isaak Kalina has been also relieved of the duties of the RF Deputy Minister of Education and Science in view of his transfer to another post. Earlier Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin appointed Isaak Kalina to head Moscow's Department of Education.

This has been announced at the official website of the RF Government.

Medvedev approves new commemoration date

http://english.ruvr.ru/2010/12/02/36102177.html
Dec 2, 2010 10:13 Moscow Time

President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree establishing the 15_th of February the Day to commemorate Russians who served their professional duty abroad.

The decree was approved by the Duma on 24 November, the Kremlin’s press-service reports.

Sergei Ivanov appointed to co-chair RF-Sweden panel

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=15738253

02.12.2010, 10.25

MOSCOW, December 2 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has issued an executive order appointing Vice-Premier Sergei Ivanov as chairman of the Russian side of the Russo-Swedish supervisory committee on trade and economic cooperation.

By the same order, Viktor Khristenko, RF Minister of Industry and Trade, has been relieved of the duties of the head of the Russian side of the Committee. This has been announced at the official website of the RF government.

Russian government to sell media outlets

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2010/dec/02/russia-press-freedom

Posted by Roy Greenslade Thursday 2 December 2010 09.00 GMT guardian.co.uk

All the newspapers, television channels and radio stations owned by members of the Russian government will be put up for sale.

Presidential aide Arkady Dvorkovich made the announcement following a speech by President Dmitry Medvedev in which he said that public figures should not be the owners of "factories, newspapers and steamships."

"They are to be sold, but the date hasn't been established yet," Dvorkovich was quoted as saying.

That would be some sell-off because it is estimated that around 80% of Russia's regional press is currently owned by the corresponding local authorities.

Though Dvorkovich talked of the need to focus on nurturing an independent media, sales may be triggered because of the high cost of running papers and TV channels.

Laws to bring Russian legislation into conformity with the legal framework of the Customs Union

http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/1394

December 1, 2010, 10:15

Dmitry Medvedev signed federal laws bringing Russian legislation into conformity with the legal framework of the Customs Union within the Eurasian Economic Community.

The Federal Law On Customs Regulation in the Russian Federation is aimed at bringing Russian legislation concerning customs regulations and customs procedures into conformity with Russia’s international agreements that form the legal framework of the Customs Union within the Eurasian Economic Community.

The President also signed two laws amending the Tax Code of the Russian Federation and the Law On Tax Authorities in the Russian Federation. In particular, the amendments concern bringing the applicable Russian Federation Tax Code terminology into conformity with the terminology used in the customs legislation of the Customs Union within the EurAsEC and the Russian Federation legislation on customs procedures.

December 1, 2010, 10:15

Russian leader declines to back Caspian European Integration Business Club

http://abc.az/eng/news_02_12_2010_49846.html

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia has refused   to support by his participation the forthcoming Caspian European Energy and Caspian European Business Forums to be organized in Brussels in November 2011 by the Caspian European Integration Business Club (CEIBC).

The CEIBC reports that a number of EU and CIS states’ presidents and prime ministers have already confirmed their participation in this activity.

“Yuri Schedrin, Russian Federation’s trade representative in Azerbaijan, declared this officially and noted that his response is considered to be an official reply to CEIBC’s letter addressed to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Schedrin assumed that this proposal probably was not of interest to the President of Russia,” it was informed.

Telman Aliyev, president and CEO of the Caspian-European Integration Business Club (CEIBC) noted that the forum would last for 2 days. Official meetings and speeches of Heads of State and Governments will be arranged on the first day. Top managers of state and trans-national energy companies will give reports on the second day of the forum.

Federation Council approves amendments to law on rallies

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=15737521&PageNum=0

01.12.2010, 23.49

MOSCOW, December 2 (Itar-Tass) -- The Federation Council approved new amendments to the law on rallies on Wednesday, December 1.

The initial version of the amendments was rejected by President Dmitry Medvedev. He vetoed them on November 6.

If adopted, they would have imposed severer penalties for violations of the law.

“The federal law aimed at establishing order in the organisation and holding of public events at transport infrastructure sites, including the use of vehicles, contains provisions that impede the free exercise of the constitutional right of citizens to hold meetings, rallies, demonstrations, processions and pickets,” the head of state said in the letter.

“The purpose of public events, as stipulated by the Federal Law 'On Meetings, Rallies, Demonstrations, Processions and Picketing' is free expression and formation of opinions, as well as the statement of claims on various issues of political, economic, social and cultural life in the country and foreign policy affairs. Thus, public events are one of the most effective forms of influence on the activities of governmental authorities and local self-government bodies through the expression of public opinion,” Medvedev said.

“The right to hold public events is directly linked with the rights of citizens to participate in the management of public affairs, freedom of opinion and other constitutional rights, the restriction of which is allowed only for the purpose of protecting constitutional order, morality, health, rights and lawful interests of other persons, national defence and security of the state. It appears that the restrictions envisaged by the federal law do not fully correspond to the above objectives,” the president said.

According to Medvedev, the rejection of the federal law does not mean that Russia's current legislation has resolved all issues relating to the order of organising and holding public events at transport infrastructure facilities. The federal law can be reworked subject to the suggestions made.

The amendments to the law were adopted by the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, on October 22, 2010, and approved by the Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, on October 27, 2010.

OSCE SUMMIT ASTANA