Thursday, June 21, 2007
MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin is about to approve a reform of Russias state arms exporter in a move regarded as a political victory for weapons export chief Sergei Chemezov, a Russian newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Chemezov was quoted in the daily Kommersant as saying Putin would sign an order launching the reform within days and legislation would be passed by the end of the year. Kommersant said Putin would ask Chemezov to head a new state corporation, called Russian Technologies, into which the current assets of arms exporter Rosoboronexport would be absorbed. Investors are watching for any indications of who is gaining influence inside the Kremlin before Putin steps down in 2008.
Chemezov, 54, a former KGB colleague of Putins, has been identified by Russian media as a member of the Kremlin inner circle with direct access to the president. He has even been tipped as a possible successor. A Kremlin spokesman could not be reached for comment. First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, regarded as a possible candidate to succeed Putin, could be appointed head of the corporations supervisory council, Chemezov said. reuters
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\06\21\story_21-6-2007_pg4_3
Putin to reform Russian arms exporter
MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin is about to approve a reform of Russias state arms exporter in a move regarded as a political victory for weapons export chief Sergei Chemezov, a Russian newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Chemezov was quoted in the daily Kommersant as saying Putin would sign an order launching the reform within days and legislation would be passed by the end of the year. Kommersant said Putin would ask Chemezov to head a new state corporation, called Russian Technologies, into which the current assets of arms exporter Rosoboronexport would be absorbed. Investors are watching for any indications of who is gaining influence inside the Kremlin before Putin steps down in 2008.
Chemezov, 54, a former KGB colleague of Putins, has been identified by Russian media as a member of the Kremlin inner circle with direct access to the president. He has even been tipped as a possible successor. A Kremlin spokesman could not be reached for comment. First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, regarded as a possible candidate to succeed Putin, could be appointed head of the corporations supervisory council, Chemezov said. reuters
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\06\21\story_21-6-2007_pg4_3
